#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1902-12-16

Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and fellow lover of all things twirly! Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday, the only blog that explores the glorious history of our favourite form of dancewear.

This week we’re journeying back in time – not to the distant past, but to 1902! I popped on my latest pink number (more on that later) and caught the train to the City of Lights, Paris – always a vibrant hub for everything fabulous, including, of course, the tutu!

1902 saw the tutu undergoing some truly delightful changes. Forget the stiff and rigid forms of earlier times – we’re talking about a new age of tutus that were designed to express the flowing and expressive style of the modern ballets. Imagine ethereal wisps of silk swirling and twirling, embracing the body rather than restricting it.

For me, a tutu should feel like a second skin. It should be as much a part of you as your smile or your twinkle in your eyes. 1902 brought a change to that mentality – there was this wonderful shift away from the rigidness and formality and the tutus now mirrored that gracefulness that allowed ballerinas to become veritable nymphs on stage!

A Quick Fashion Excursion: The real star of 1902's fashion world was the 'S-bend silhouette', making those flowing tutus all the more captivating! A tiny waist, a slightly rounded bosom, and a gracefully curved backside – it was all about elegance and that graceful form of motion. Imagine a tutu hugging a waist this shape and dancing a flowing piece. It’s a vision! I swear, it is no wonder the dancers looked like goddesses!

Speaking of dancers, did you know that the first ballerina to be photographed wearing a tutu was the famous Carlotta Grisi? Imagine, my dear friends, the impact of those early images on the ballet world – it was the beginning of a real icon!

Of course, to get a truly unforgettable glimpse of those incredible tutus from 1902, we must head to the opera houses of the world. Paris’s Grand Opéra was already legendary, as was the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden – each of them home to extraordinary productions featuring graceful dancers and swirling, majestic tutus!

Think of it: these majestic structures housing beautiful art that was an expression of the imagination, with tutus a huge part of it! The audience was enchanted – I can imagine the gasped and sighs, the thundering applause for a performance that had been crafted to make everyone smile and wonder.

Now, let’s get back to my personal fashion choices. Today, I’m rocking a tutu from a London boutique. Imagine the most perfect blush pink, light as a feather and absolutely dreamy! I call her "Sugar Plum" and she's absolutely the most adorable ballerina's companion you could find!

Why pink, you ask? Because, my darlings, it's the most versatile color! From delicate pastels to rich crimson, every shade of pink is beautiful and uplifting! Plus, who wouldn’t want to twirl around in a bright and whimsical color?

This week’s journey wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a few notable events of the day! On December 16th, 1902, Queen Victoria’s former residence at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight was gifted to the British Nation, marking a huge turning point for this beloved monarch’s legacy! Isn't it charming how even the grandest buildings eventually find their place in the hands of the public?

Oh, and this is important: the first ever performance of The Nutcracker was held on this day! Now, isn’t that a lovely way to end a tutu history blog post? Can you imagine all the pink tutus that would have graced that stage?

And there you have it! This week’s #TutuTuesday took us back to a magical time. 1902 – a time when ballet took an unforgettable leap forward, and the tutus embraced that forward momentum. What a remarkable journey!

Next week, we’re taking a dive into another captivating period in the evolution of the tutu, but for now, I am off to enjoy the wonderful, pink tutu world of London! And my dear readers, I am eager to hear about all your favorite tutu moments too! Share them with me in the comments below! Until next Tuesday, keep twirling and keep shining!

And as always, dear readers, remember that wearing a tutu is the first step to bringing magic into the world!

Love, Emma xx

[This post was written from Emma's blog, www.pink-tutu.com, post #3703.]