#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1903-09-15

Bonjour, mes amies! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to the most glorious of garments - the tutu! This week's #TutuTuesday finds us whisking back to 15th September, 1903, a date that marks a turning point in tutu history, a moment of swirling, glittering magic… Just you wait! 😉

For this little journey, I've swapped my modern London flat for a Parisian apartment, its windows overlooking the Champs-Élysées. It’s all very chic! Paris in 1903 - the heart of the world when it comes to fashion! But don't get me wrong, I'm keeping it simple, just as we'd find it back home in Derbyshire. A little lace, a delicate tulle ruffle, and, of course, the most heavenly shade of pink! (But I’ll save that story for a later post - I do love a good vintage fashion find.)

We're just stepping into a new era - a dramatic change in dance fashion! Remember how, only a few decades ago, dancers twirled around in heavy, voluminous skirts? Imagine all that fabric, so heavy it might have been better for an underwater ballet than a pirouette! 😅

Today, the 'Romantic' style is reigning supreme. Think Marie Taglioni, a legend, a dancer extraordinaire! The airy lightness of these new tutus, it’s almost magical, like a whisper of smoke against the stage lights! They create such breathtaking visual elegance, wouldn’t you agree?

And then, the movement, the fluid elegance of the choreography! It’s simply divine. You might catch me heading off to the ballet tonight, just to witness it all! After all, nothing beats watching these exquisite creations move like whispers on the stage.

One thing I simply cannot resist is searching out little bits of ballet history! And wouldn't you know it, 1903 brought us a new tutu in the grand Palais in Paris! Imagine all that shimmering white tulle swirling as graceful feet lifted into the air! It was called “the Fairy Doll,” and was, of course, pure magic!

But these historical finds? I do try to keep my personal collection to a bit more manageable - I've a pretty good collection from the Victorian era and up to now - and I can’t resist adding something new when I spot it. You never know what you might find! Who knew, maybe there’s a future fashion inspiration nestled amongst the antique shop shelves?

Speaking of shopping… the Parisian shops, oh, la la! Think silk gowns and dazzling jewels and endless hats – even more, the *tulle! There’s such a lovely feel in the air. I'll tell you, I simply cannot resist the *whisper of fabric, the luxurious shimmer, the graceful fall of tulle against a perfect dress…

It’s everything, mes amis! 😉

Back to our journey: It wouldn't be a real travel adventure without a good train journey. Imagine: I'm snuggling in my compartment, with the scenery rushing past.

We're in England one moment, then suddenly whisking across the channel and heading for Paris, to be greeted by all those stunning boutiques and bustling cafes! Paris is such an exciting city and I have a real fondness for train journeys. Nothing feels quite as charming!

This past week I actually went all the way back in time - 19th Century Paris! The costumes were so different then - a bit more full, even for the dancers, even a bit like Victorian fashions for the audience! What I really love is that a modern ballet dancer can learn so much by watching older styles - there’s an evolution here, and there are lessons to be learnt from every single one of those steps, and styles!

I am simply smitten with the historical perspective, how each era adds a new detail, a new twist to our dear tutus, and how those historical dancers must have loved dancing in their spectacular creations! It gives me a much better understanding of how ballet evolves over the years! And who knows what next week will bring - perhaps we'll find another magnificent dance and its historical tutus? Stay tuned, mes amies!

Until then,

Happy Tutu Tuesday!

Love,

Emma x

(P.S. Don't forget to follow along at www.pink-tutu.com for all your Tutu Tuesday adventures!)