#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1904-05-24

Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's #TutuTuesday, and today we're taking a little trip down memory lane, all the way back to 24th May 1904!

As always, grab a cuppa and a biscuit (I'm having a rather lovely pink iced biscuit with sprinkles) and let's dive in!

Oh, 1904, you were a year of so much exciting change in the world of ballet! Can you believe, my dears, that this was the year the famed Russian Ballet graced the stage of the Châtelet theatre in Paris?! A veritable explosion of colour and artistry it must have been, and quelle surprise, it really did stir things up in the tutu world!

See, before then, our little tutu companions were pretty much stuck with their romantic silhouettes – those delicate, floaty designs that you've all come to know and adore (and that we at Pink-Tutu are definitely never going to stop promoting, no matter how much those edgy tutus become the must-have of the day!)

However, the Russians they brought a new kind of energy to the stage, darling, an energy that translated into, shall we say, slightly shorter skirts and, oh my, those daring, those breathtaking diagonals! And this, you can imagine, had some shockwaves for those of us who are true ballet fans. The length of a skirt could say so much, didn't you know?

In those days, you see, ballet wasn’t quite as common as it is today. Ballet was truly the province of those in the know, darling – the creme de la creme of high society. This meant the tutus were less about athleticism and more about being refined.

Just imagine: the Parisians (my goodness, we do love the Parisians) in their gorgeous outfits, gazing up at those marvelous ballerinas! I can just see those elaborate hats with their extravagant feathers. I'd be remiss if I didn't confess I'd probably be sporting one too, you know, a particularly exquisite design, with plumes of the most delicate pink...oh, it would simply be delightful!

This ballet, it was the perfect blend of elegant beauty and exciting artistry – what a wonderful pairing!, a blend of tradition and boldness. The perfect match to be found in those early Russian Ballet tutus!

But hold on a minute! Whilst all this Russian Ballet goodness was going on, there were other delights happening too! For you see, it was also a time of such brilliant designs, such stunning innovation in dress. Imagine! The most delicate silks, the finest satins, adorned with ribbons and lace. There was such a thrill in just getting dressed!

Oh, but before we let ourselves get too distracted by the fashion (after all, it's not easy to resist a fabulous, fashion-forward bit of flouncy), let's get back to our little tutus, darling, to their glorious and inspiring history!

So, this whole new edgy vibe, those shorter, more form-fitting tutus that showed off those dancers' graceful moves, what was going to happen next? What a glorious time to be alive in the tutu world!

I do adore those beautiful, longer Romantic era tutus! But those new, short and sassy tutus had something that was definitely a bit sparkling. Just thinking about it gets my imagination buzzing with excitement!

Of course, if you wanted the very latest avant-garde tutu style back in 1904, you needed a ticket to see the Russians. But then again, that was the beauty of this whole situation! If you wanted something more classic (perhaps you prefer something more refined, perhaps something more, dare I say, traditionally romantic), then you still had those beautifully flowing Romantic era tutus!

But no matter what your tutu taste, whether you fancy those edgy styles of the Russians or those stunning romantic beauties of old, one thing remains the same, my lovely ladies! The tutu is always an exquisite symbol of beauty and femininity. Tutus are magic! And remember, a girl always looks good in a tutu.

Now, while we're talking all about tutu history, don't forget that this is all part of a time traveller's mission! Remember my darling ladies, one day we all might actually find ourselves transported back to this glorious time!

So if we're all prepared to go to 1904, what's going to be in your bag, you say? I'm taking a pack of pretty pink tights, you just wait and see. What I'm not sure about, darling, is whether it's acceptable to have white tights with this type of outfit, or if the ladies of 1904 are still obsessed with pink, black, red and beige tights? This might just be an extra, extra bonus for one of my extra special, future #TutuTuesday blogs... but now that I mention it, the prospect of having a #TutuTuesday blog devoted to all the different colours of ballet tights - Oh my! How glorious and absolutely thrilling!

And, just as always, it would simply not be #TutuTuesday if we weren't taking a moment to talk about fashion. What's a fabulous fashion blogger to do without a spot of shop talk?

So my darlings, just imagine, you find yourself stepping into a boutique right there in Paris in 1904. Oh, how glorious and simply fabulous. And what are you going to see? Why, it's our friend the tutu, in all its beautiful glory! They had everything back then, I tell you - so you just have to get yourself a brand-new tutu.

Think about it, darling! * That fabulous *silhouette, a bit of extra flair – the ultimate sign of high style – all that gorgeous fashion and a whole new wave of creativity to boot! This is, in all likelihood, where we are all going to be getting inspiration for modern tutus. You just know it's true, darling!

But as much as I love talking about what you should wear, there is one single item that I can’t resist, darling – a pink silk shawl. Can you just *imagine, a pink silk shawl* ? It would look divine draped across those wonderful shoulders. Simply divine. A truly luxurious and versatile must-have for all the stylish and fabulous time travellers in this crowd!

And who knows, darlings, if we ever get a chance to actually make the trip back to 1904, I'm pretty sure the most glamorous place we could go for some delicious tea (or even a tasty and delightful chocolat chaud) would be The Ritz in Paris! A little Pink-Tutu stop off on the way, darling? You'll never miss that.

**Tutu-ful Tip: *

One thing that struck me, you see, about Paris in 1904, was that these days people always went out in their very finest finery. And my dears, when I talk about finery, you simply must make sure you are always looking extra, looking spectacular! There was definitely something about this era – and perhaps I do have to put a little pinch of this inspiration into my wardrobe - that demanded attention. A true, real-life, Belle Epoque look for our modern tutu-wearing selves, perhaps, with just a hint of the fabulous and totally delightful 1904!

Until next Tuesday my darlings! Keep your eye out for the next edition of #TutuTuesday and keep dancing!

Emma x

www.pink-tutu.com

*#tututimetravel #1904fashion #tutuesofparis #belleepoque #pinktights #vintagefashion #vintageballet #pinktutus #russianballet #TutuTuesday *