Hello my lovely ballet-loving friends! Welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's Tutu Tuesday, and as always, we're going on a journey through the enchanting world of ballet history.
Grab a cup of tea (or pink lemonade if you're feeling fancy) and settle in! This week we’re stepping back to June 2nd, 1908. Can you believe it’s been over a century since then?!
Today I’m dressed in my most delicate pink tutu, all wispy and layered, inspired by the grace and elegance of the ballerinas who graced the stage in 1908. Can you imagine, these wonderful women pirouetting and leaping in tutus much like this one? The artistry of their movements would have been mesmerising.
You might think 1908 was all about long, sweeping gowns and structured, corseted designs, right? Well, my dear tutu lovers, even then, there were ballerinas pushing the boundaries of what fashion was expected to be. Let's take a step back in time!
A Step Back In Time
Stepping back to the late Victorian era in 1908, the world of ballet was evolving, and with it, the beloved tutu. Imagine the Parisian stage, bustling with excitement for the next performance. That excitement, I’m sure, was just as exciting back then as it is now, because we humans have an inherent need for creative expression, whether it be on the stage or on a train journey! I especially love a good journey by train. And on a trip like that, one has all the time in the world to admire a fellow traveler’s attire and the designs they choose to wear. For me, the more tutus on trains the better, don’t you agree?!
By 1908, the iconic tutu, so light and ethereal, had truly come into its own! It wasn't quite the short, fluffy explosion of frills we see today, but the romantic style of ballet in those times brought us the Romantic Tutu, so beautiful and dreamy, all swishy and soft.
The Ballet-loving Life
Today, we enjoy a vibrant and dynamic ballet world. Performances and schools are booming in cities all across the globe. It’s quite the life for a girl who loves to twirl and dance, wouldn't you say?! My latest passion project, for instance, involves learning a new pas de deux with my best friend for a theatre show in London. The whole process is exciting, I just can’t wait to wear my best pink tulle tutu onstage and to get my photograph in the paper. I'm always eager to see what new designs I can spot on fellow ballerinas and those in the theatre audience too! That’s a fun and stylish challenge. We really should all have a more fun approach to life! There’s so much beauty to be found. We just need to take time to really enjoy it.
And talking about beauty and grace, in 1908, ballerinas were pushing the limits of dance! Think graceful leaps, delicate fouettés, and those heart-stopping grand jetés, soaring across the stage with captivating ease! What an incredible feat to see, not just with my own eyes but also from a comfy seat in the audience with a hot chocolate. A good dance performance always ends with such a feeling of wellbeing and happiness! And then I head straight for a shopping spree at one of the Parisian department stores, to pick up the latest in Parisian trends and the finest in pink. Everything has to match the mood!
Fashionable Inspiration
You know what else I find incredibly inspiring? Seeing how ballerinas transformed their daily lives into balletic fashion statements. The way they embraced their elegance outside of the stage – in a whisper of silk or a perfectly coordinated hat with feathers. All the finer points of fashion, perfectly crafted and delivered! This period of history had a certain sophistication about it, but they certainly knew how to have a bit of fun. Who knew that the first flappers came about during this period. Those were stylish times for ballet and a new era of the flapper, the modern woman. We can find much in common with that new approach, especially the style, which has inspired us for the century.
I just have a hunch the women in 1908 were incredibly aware of fashion and their beauty and were bold and adventurous enough to take what they loved about the ballet, about grace and beauty and expression and twirling in elegant attire, and embrace that on a wider platform! We may take it for granted that we can wear pink and tulle anytime we like but back then it took some serious commitment to express themselves creatively and boldly. And it’s this boldness that drives us forward, even if it’s as simple as taking my train trip from my Derbyshire hometown to the heart of the action in London to take in a ballet and buy a new tutu. It’s the joy that matters!
Now, you might be thinking: What can I wear today to feel the magic of this bygone era? Let me give you some inspiration:
Romantic Twirls: Look for a soft and flowing skirt or dress, the more delicate fabric the better. A vintage style with floral accents would be perfect! Add some lovely pink for a ballerina flair.
The Parisian Touch: Go for a bold red lipstick, some statement earrings, and don’t forget the en pointe footwear! A cute pair of ballet pumps would go perfectly.
Celebrating a Century of Twirling
You see, fashion in the time of ballet has such a rich and intricate history! But to me, that history is all about the art of expressing oneself. That’s what drives me, that’s what brings out the pink-tutu-wearing fashionista in me.
The spirit of 1908 is a reminder to embrace our own inner ballerina, to wear what makes us feel elegant, stylish, and empowered, to dance with joy and delight in whatever way feels good. So go forth, embrace the grace, and let your own personal expression take center stage. Don’t forget to grab a new pink tutu - every tutu wearer can tell a different story about the spirit of fashion.
Until next week, may all your tutus twirl with joy and grace!
Love,
Emma
Pink Tutu
- www.pink-tutu.com
