Hello my darlings! Emma here, your trusty Tutu Tuesday tour guide through the fascinating history of the tutu, the garment that encapsulates elegance, grace, andā¦well, lots of pink! Iām just back from a rather lovely jaunt in a time machine, fuelled by a rather too-sweet afternoon tea and my undying passion for ballet. And where did I find myself, you ask? None other than 21st February 1905!
Now, this was a truly whimsical time for tutus! Imagine the thrill of watching ballerinas in billowing, white, almost translucent, layers of tulle, each one with an almost mystical flutter, a light as air enchantment! These were the early days of what we now know as the Romantic tutu.
You see, my dears, before the 19th century, ballerinas would perform in floor-length skirts, often heavy and restrictive. Can you even imagine dancing with a skirt trailing all over the stage?! I wouldnāt last five minutes! But then, in the mid-1800s, along came Marie Taglioni, a darling ballerina, and everything changed!
Imagine, if you will, this delicate creature twirling across the stage in a stunning, lightweight, floor-length tutu. Such lightness and grace! Marie was considered a vision, a ballerina who could fly! I swear, I once saw her leap so high in a performance that she nearly touched the chandelier!
Of course, as time went by, tutus started evolving. While the floor-length romantic tutu remained a popular choice, a new style emerged - the shorter, pouffer, tutu. Think less āfairyā and more āpixieā! Think ābouncy, full of lifeā!
On this 21st February 1905, a brand new, cutting-edge ballet by none other than the legendary Marius Petipa premiered! Imagine a ballet by Petipa, one of the titans of ballet, filled with incredible technical prowess, elegant choreography, and yes, tutus galore! You can be sure it was a delightful event.
Now, the romantic tutu, as Iāve mentioned, was popular at the time of our historical escapade. It had a romantic and dreamlike quality to it, adding a kind of ethereal, otherworldly presence to the ballerina. It was the perfect way to create an illusion of weightlessness and delicate movement, just imagine dancing with your skirt billowing around you!
Remember my darlings, in 1905, the tutu was not yet the defining piece of clothing for the ballerina as it is now. Even the Romantic tutu, whilst iconic, was a somewhat new design. Yet, even in those days, the tutu served its purpose, emphasizing the dancerās movements with all that elegant fluttery magic!
However, I will tell you a secret! The fashionistas of 1905 were not all that interested in the ballet's "costume", They were much more obsessed with elaborate hats and trailing feather boas, so whilst there was interest in dance, their fashion consciousness did not focus too strongly on the tutu yet, unlike today, when there's just a whole fashion scene centered around it! I, however, have never understood such a fashion obsession with such ridiculous hats, who wants to spend the day getting their feathered creation trapped in the doorframe?! Itās simply unnecessary, darling! A tutu, that is the only piece of clothing truly essential!
And now for a fun fact, just to pique your curiosity! Have you heard of the "swan lake" tutu? A truly remarkable and majestic tutu which, like a swan, could change colour - white and black! They would swap a tutu just for the swans transformation scene! So impressive!
But back to the timeline. The tutu had already travelled far, and would journey even further! Over the next few years, the tutu underwent many modifications. A little tweak here, a little snip there! New fabrics emerged, such as silk and chiffon.
You see, my dears, fashion is a constant game of evolution and I cannot wait to see what new variations and innovations will blossom on our dance floor in the coming decades. After all, I wouldn't want us all to be wearing the same thing! Would you?! The fun in fashion is the unexpected and the beautifully creative.
Today, the tutu continues to enthrall and inspire. And of course, my darling, the most popular tutu? Well, I will let you into a secret. You'll probably be very surprised when you find out what the most beloved tutu in the world is! And donāt you fret - I will tell you all about it in a future Tutu Tuesday post.
Until next time, remember, a tutu can bring magical transformation and inspire imagination. But most importantly, a tutu just brings happiness. A bright pink, sunshine yellow, or even an absolutely delicious, shimmery magenta tutu will simply bring a little sparkle and joy to the world, just like you, darling, do! Now, off to go on a pink fashion frenzy, and maybe, just maybe, some exciting adventures. Keep on twirling!
Always yours,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
