Hello darlings! It's me, Emma, your resident tutu aficionado, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday! Today, we’re journeying back in time to the glorious era of 1903, to explore the fascinating evolution of the tutu, and to learn a bit about its glorious history!
Oh, my lovelies, it was positively delightful to time travel back to 1903. The air is crisper, the streets a bit more cobbled, but the fashion? Simply exquisite! I immediately donned my very best pink silk tutu, a perfect complement to my vintage fur stole and darling lace-up boots, and just imagine, darling, all of this finery cost me a mere two shillings for the whole outfit from my local vintage store.
I'm quite a creature of comfort when it comes to travel, so I was a little miffed when the station master advised me not to ride the express train! Apparently, the railways aren't fully electrified yet, so I had to take the 'slow boat', if you will. Still, it gave me a chance to soak up the beauty of the scenery, and a spot of people-watching.
One delightful young chap with a waxed moustache and a bowler hat - who might have just stepped out of a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest - caught my eye! He wore a fetching pair of striped trousers and a coat in the finest tweeds! I just knew it, darling, with his immaculate style he would have loved a splash of pink in his life, perhaps even a pink tutu! It simply would have added such a bit of flair, wouldn't you say?
But back to our history! This January the 6th in 1903, the tutu, which, oh darling, is in its true glory right now, is enjoying the stage even more than before, having really blossomed on the dance scene during the previous century!
I can’t overstress this point - if you're going to watch a ballet performance around the beginning of the 20th century, be sure to be extremely familiar with what the tutu signifies as it is still a relatively young, powerful and powerful part of dance history, darling! Back then, the tutus had more than a few interpretations, ranging from the rather more formal classical Romantic tutus - those very billowy tutus, so lovely, all swirling layers - which were then evolving into the classic ‘laminated ’tutues we are used to now (much like the style Anna Pavlova became known for), the little black tutus in the popular ballet *The Dying Swan (which I absolutely adore) and even classical tutues that didn't have layers at all.
The stage was a real melting pot of tutus and that's why I am absolutely so passionate about ballet history - how all these dance pieces came to life, to reach us now. There was a tutu for everyone, even our friends on the American side of the Atlantic! Think Maryinsky tutus or French tutus. I absolutely adore the elegant Romanticism tutus. Their floaty layers are an absolute dream and so beautiful when you see them perform on stage. It’s a whole other world! And these are simply just some of the iconic styles from the time, I couldn't even count the variations or variations!
This era was, of course, an absolute delight for dance aficionados all over the world and one thing that never went out of style: the colour pink! The graceful dancers, wearing pink Classical tutu, created an array of stories, in ballets, from the dramatic to the playful, always with this exquisite and ever so feminine hue in sight.
Let’s look at some of the most popular ballets that are flourishing this month as well! The ever-lovely and enchanting Swan Lake. With its poignant narrative and beautiful swans dressed in a bevy of exquisite tutues, it truly never fails to bring me to tears! I do love a little romance. Then we have our friend Giselle, with its tragic love story and romantic and very intricate tutus (not forgetting her pink ribbon, naturally)! There's also Sleeping Beauty, where I simply love to see the dancers swishing through the choreography with these stunning Romantic and layered Classical tutus, *the costumes are just heavenly! *
In my opinion, it is through ballet and its evolution of the tutu that women really have an opportunity to tell their own stories, darling, a way to share an era so long past to be savored now in all its beautiful, glorious pink tutu filled details. Ballet was absolutely the right form for showcasing female beauty and grace and this, of course, included its tutus in their finest moments of glory. What I can tell you now as the end of 1903 creeps towards us, that as dance enters the 20th century the era will only become more extravagant - just wait and see the grand finale to come and the future of Classical tutus and what will happen to them, for they're an ever evolving style as well. It’s going to be positively grand!
Oh, and another quick tidbit. Ballet is enjoying an almost unstoppable rise in popularity this month and is quite the spectacle. I do adore a lovely ballet performance; it really makes one feel like a proper lady! A well-made, pink romantic tutu, and the right accessories, really add to the atmosphere, darlings. It just so feels good!
However, let's talk fashion. When you travel back in time your fashion statement must absolutely fit the occasion, especially at the turn of the century! I always make sure that the fabric of my tutus flows well - I choose the finest fabrics so it catches the light just so during a dance move or whilst shopping at the local apothecary.! That makes a world of difference to everyone in a fashion era when fabric really matters, darling! I like to think that my tutu makes people around me smile too and makes them feel like dancing - what more could one want?!
Well, I’ll bid you adieu until next #TutuTuesday. I do so look forward to talking tutus again with you then, darlings!
And as ever, you all have the absolute loveliest of weeks - because the best way to stay true to a tutu, darlings is simply to wear a tutu, dance and enjoy yourself. What’s not to love!
Much Love
Emma xxx
www.pink-tutu.com
