Hiya, my darling darlings! Emma here, back with you on a sparkling Tutu Tuesday from your favourite pink-loving ballerina blogger! I just travelled through time and arrived back from 1907! Let me tell you, my dearest loves, everything in the world of the ballet tutu has changed in 100 years. Just try to imagine…no tulle in 1907! No billowing layers, no twirling, swirling skirts. Imagine.
Today we are taking a look at the history of the tutu. So, hop aboard my trusty time-traveling hot air balloon!
This week, let's start with 1907! It's actually the perfect time to discuss the "Romantic tutu," which has had such a major impact on what tutus look like today! The romantic era of ballet was in full swing in 1907, so let's travel back and find out what life was like in that enchanting world of dance.
Let's picture a little girl – maybe me in a previous life! She's in a charming studio in Paris. A sweet little tutu - a lot different to the tutus we wear today, though – made entirely out of layers of white fabric with no tulle. No tulle! You read right.
Imagine for a second, wearing no tulle. Shocking, right? The 1907 tutu - what we called the romantic tutu - was made with layers of tightly fitted cotton, making it shorter than modern-day tutus and looking like a whimsical little tea-party skirt. There were, of course, tiers, but just three or four - think adorable tiers that look a bit like fluffy skirts from an Edwardian-era dress.
The silhouette? The romantic tutu had a lovely little round shape to the waist, hugging the dancer’s frame and emphasizing those beautiful ballet shapes. The "Romantic Tutu" is just so dainty, isn’t it?
I find this era so inspiring. Just imagine those perfectly posed ballerinas from this era dancing in the most beautifully designed tutus, using these intricate fabrications as a foundation for such breathtaking grace!
Today, with the tulle, our tutus move so freely. I imagine it must have been much more difficult without tulle back then! Ballet dancers were already so strong back then! I could never have handled dancing like those early ballerinas did. It took extraordinary skill and stamina to make those delicate, ethereal tutus come alive on stage, and their dances must have been such breathtaking performances!
Oh my goodness, the wonder of ballet! This amazing tutu evolution we are studying together, has made all the modern ballet styles you adore today possible! Don’t ever forget these dancers who created it all for you. And please, if you can, share the love for tutus and tell your friends and family to #TutuTuesday every week to support our wonderful tradition!
But back to 1907. It’s not just the tutus! All the costumes back in 1907 had a particular style to them, too!
You must visit some lovely vintage shops – London has the best! I highly recommend one tucked away in Notting Hill near the Portobello Road. It's a total gem! They have some divine vintage ballet posters you just can't find anywhere else.
This little shop had the best collection of dresses for ballerinas in the romantic period - just like what you would see on a ballet dancer. They had beautifully crafted little camisoles and corsets for ballerinas - much tighter than we wear today! You know, corsets, that they tightly wrapped themselves in and they used lots of stays and bone – such beautiful little dresses. But they had a certain shape, you know, to fit the era of fashion. They were not so "relaxed" and free-flowing like some of the costumes worn today.
Can you picture it, lovelies? Little bonnets and satin ribbons…dainty flower garlands, even a few lace details, too! It's almost magical.
And for a bit of insider gossip, Did you know there was a ballet show being performed this very day back in 1907?!
A famous ballet dancer called Anna Pavlova was the talk of London, of course, because she was doing a tour at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, *so I'll have to go check it out for the post next week! *Imagine the costumes! The tutus must have been absolutely breathtaking – but it’s true, they did wear long satin gloves and a tiara – they are definitely very extravagant performances back then, don’t you think, lovelies?
I'll have to update you all next week about Anna's performance – it'll totally have you feeling those glamorous ballerina vibes. Oh, what a show it's bound to be!
I do like the tutus of the early 20th century but I like ours more! We don't get that cold dancing in those short tiny little skirts. Maybe it's all to do with time travel, but those ballerinas were made of steel to do their job.
Oh! Don't forget that every Tuesday on www.pink-tutu.com you can follow our #TutuTuesday journey! What will I choose to write about next week? It’s always such a great thrill for me to research all the little secrets in this exciting world!
Oh darling, darling friends, it's such a privilege to share this exciting time-travel trip with all of you! If you'd love a #TutuTuesday adventure, why not take the #pink-tutu-challenge today? Just buy a tutu - it's always such a great idea for every ballerina. I am determined that every person will totally join us on our quest for more pink tutus around the world - for #TutuTuesday !
But before we say "farewell," let’s wrap up our 1907 blog and keep the #TutuTuesday momentum rolling! I can't wait for your amazing ideas on the comment section below! If you are wearing a pink tutu this week and want to share, we would love to see it!
So until next week my darlings, always think pink and never be afraid to tutu-around in those sparkly, joyful layers! Until then, let’s take it to the next level with #TutuTuesday - see you next week my loves!
