Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! I'm Emma, your very own time-traveling tutu enthusiast, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be back with you today.
Itâs Tutu Tuesday, which means we're about to embark on another historical fashion journey. Today, my travelogue takes us to the 1st of December, 1903. And guess what?
This is a date ripe for fashion inspiration â because on this day in history, the Wright brothers made their first successful flight!
I know what youâre thinking: What on earth does that have to do with tutus?
Well, it's all about progress! Think about it: in 1903, just as the world was discovering flight, the world of dance was taking giant strides with the ever-evolving beauty of the tutu. Both revolutions were shaking things up!
And the most fantastic thing about the history of tutus? Itâs a story packed full of evolution, innovation and gorgeous fabrics. There's never been a dull moment for the ballerina - from the 17th century with its intricate bodices to the 19th century with its swirling and graceful romantic designs, tutus have always been in motion, always evolving. And there is no finer fashion statement in all of history than the elegant and flowing ballet tutu!
Now, imagine yourself in 1903, stepping into the glittering, magical world of the stage. The year is all about romanticism and opulence, and that goes double for the world of dance! Itâs no coincidence that my favourite historical period in fashion, the Belle Epoque, spans from the 1890s until 1914. All I see when I look at a photo of a ballerina in her beautiful tutu from the Belle Epoque is a gorgeous piece of fashion history. Itâs magic!
Oh! And the best bit? They just loved tulle! Back then, there wasnât quite the huge selection of different fabrics for tutus that we see today, so imagine it⌠an extravagant array of colours and styles - everything was more about creating elegant, cascading shapes.
Tutus are always my favourite type of fashion: Theyâre so practical for dance and yet they look utterly fantastic when you twirl! So for a bit of fun on this #TutuTuesday, why donât we step back in time and check out some of the iconic tutus that reigned supreme back in 1903?
*A Ballet Tutu Time Machine: *
Today's journey in time takes me to Derbyshire, England - a beautiful region in my lovely home country! I imagine Iâd have to journey there by train to reach a performance - my absolute favourite mode of travel (oh, how I wish train journeys in the future were always as leisurely as in the past! Itâs a long story, but you can trust me that the 19th century was a golden age for train travelâŚ)
Anyways! Back in Derbyshire, in 1903, itâs so very exciting - I just KNOW that I'd be going to see *"Giselle" * â a true ballet classic and a definite highlight in the repertoire! The dancing was quite revolutionary, too. I mean, we are talking about ballet during a period when dance and drama began to interweave - that is something pretty exciting!
I would be most certainly trying to find my favourite ballet tutu style back in 1903 â the* Romantic Tutu!* Think layers and layers of pale pink, lilac and even cream tulle , with exquisite embroidery, glittering crystals, and flowing ribbons that simply begged for a whirl! Such feminine magic! The romantic tutu, as you may know, has four to six layers of tulle, a very specific shape, and it is a very particular cut. The Giselle performance I saw back in 1903 showcased such delicate beauty in the movements of the ballet dancers â you just had to watch those exquisite dancers gracefully moving on the stage to see how incredibly beautiful the Romantic Tutu was.
I also saw plenty of "Le Corsaire" tutus at performances. Such beauty! This is my kind of ballet! I even remember seeing a group of women wearing similar tutus â they might have been dressed as fairies⌠(A bit magical! You know I would be rushing to check out what they looked like) This ballet was one of the first that showed a ballet with a strong Spanish vibe. You can tell that it really got me thinking about my love for all things frilly and full, which has only got stronger over time!
When we fast forward to the start of the 20th Century we see how all these wonderful pieces of fashion history come together to give us the fabulous âclassicâ tutu! It was around the early 1900âs when a Russian ballet company called The Ballets Russes changed how tutus looked for good - think of the âclassicâ tutu with a stiff, bell shape, which has so much grace! These designs really paved the way for a new kind of elegance â a style that was embraced with such passion throughout the early 1900âs and beyond, making its way to become a worldwide favorite in the history of fashion for dancers. A timeless classic!
Now letâs move on from ballet to the actual clothes we would see on the streets in 1903. In the streets, we find the same sort of romantic elegance as in the theaters â a celebration of all that is light, elegant and beautiful. A time for flowing silks, exquisite embroidery, a lot of lovely lace and those graceful *Edwardian silhouettes, such elegance! * I would be doing a little shopping, if I could, for an amazing gown. Those Edwardian-inspired dresses were so beautifully styled! Think of all the beautiful pastel shades and luxurious textures and lots and lots of embellishment! All that pretty, whimsical design was the ideal complement for the tutus of the era. A dream come true.
You see? Ballet and everyday life really werenât so very different in the early 1900s when it came to clothes! I love those long skirts and pretty styles â It makes me wish I had a chance to shop back then â so very dreamy, donât you think?
The Colour of my Heart
If you were to ask me about my favourite colour from back in 1903, itâs got to be pink. Just think, darling, of a pastel-pink romantic tutu, worn under a perfectly matched coat â a divine ensemble! So girly, feminine and incredibly dreamy! I just canât think of a colour more magical than pink, no matter which era I'm travelling through! It's just a fact - the power of a good shade of pink just transcends time, it seems!
And of course, that lovely pink shade extends into my world today. If youâre just starting out in the ballet world, youâll be well on your way to being a fabulous dancer once youâve discovered that classic pink! I wear my favourite tutu on every Tuesday â a fluffy pale-pink beauty that wouldnât be out of place at a 1903 ball or at a gala premier in New York, darling! Pink tutus are so timeless and eternally stylish, a look I always adore.
Speaking of pink and timeless⌠do make sure to tune in for next weekâs #TutuTuesday post on www.pink-tutu.com! Itâll be about the tutus that made it big on the stage. Thatâs next week! Until then, why not practice a few of those gorgeous ballet moves â Iâm off to do just that! *Stay fashionable and graceful, dear reader! *
