Hello darlings! Welcome back to another week of #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com! This week, we’re going on a time-hopping adventure right back to November 24th, 1908, to see how the fabulous tutus of the past compared to ours! It’s post number 4013 – I know, I'm addicted to writing about these beautiful ballet creations! I just can’t get enough of them!
It's been a whirlwind week here. You won’t believe where I’ve been! I popped over to London, for a delicious spot of shopping on Oxford Street – oh, the bargains I found! (A bargain is a bargain, don’t you agree, lovelies?) Of course, the big draw for me was the grand ballet at Covent Garden! Such divine dancers! I mean, perfection is the only word that fits their artistry. The story – something about swans and princes and… oh, who remembers those details anyway? All I really remember is how amazing the tutus looked as the ballerinas spun and swirled! You know me, all about the details.
Now, let's hop into the Wayback Machine (well, technically my secret time-traveling purse… shhh!) and have a proper look at those beautiful tutus back in 1908!
Imagine this, my darlings: A world without a million different tutu styles to choose from! No tulle, just layers upon layers of luxurious silk and satin! Imagine that – silks as fine as cobwebs and colors that would melt your heart! The skirts would have been superbly full, like clouds of fluffy softness. There wasn’t that boing-boing movement you see in tutus nowadays, with all that stretchy tulle – it would have been a graceful sway, like willow branches in the breeze!
Remember, my loves, 1908 was all about those gorgeous long lines. Ballerinas back then weren't wearing those cute, short bodices we see these days! Imagine something stunning, a long, flowing gown actually – all covered in lovely ribbons and ruffles. Just the sheer weight of those fabric panels – oh my! – I think it would take someone like me, with my passion for all things tutu, to tackle it. Let’s be real – even the most determined ballet student would struggle to lift their legs with such lavish skirts. I’d imagine that the choreography back then was more about flowing movements, all those elegant extensions and slow turns – beautiful and regal!
And just think, those skirts – the ones that would take an entire team of seamstresses months to construct – weren’t just worn on stage. They were a real statement piece offstage too, for all the parties and social gatherings of the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if those elegant women strolled down Oxford Street for tea and biscuits – the height of fashion! Imagine, that's my dream, walking into afternoon tea, all eyes on me!
But the most exciting bit, darlings, was that tutu colour. Back then, they were so vibrant. The red of rubies, the emerald green of a rainforest – those colours would stop traffic. I so want to take a trip back in time and borrow one! Oh, my! Imagine that red one against my natural Derbyshire complexion. Gorgeous, I know! I think they might actually make a comeback, these luscious silks and flowing skirts! Maybe it's the romanticism of the whole time period, the elegance. The way they embraced slow fashion. Everything was meant to be seen, meant to last – just like those beautiful old silk tutus. It was crafted with love. Quality before quantity, something I absolutely adore!
Of course, it wouldn’t all be beautiful ribbons and velvet, darlings! In those days, women were practically living in corsets. And my darlings, no matter what the designers tried, that old-fashioned corset just wouldn't create the right shape! No wonder there was an abundance of long, flowing skirts! The tutu itself – that little, poofy layer we think of as a ballerina’s trademark – well, back then, it was all about supporting that super-long gown, keeping it all lovely and gathered, and giving the whole thing that beautiful curve and line! A corset beneath all that silk? I'd need someone to pack a snack in my bodice, just to get through the performance, no joke. I could just imagine the ballerinas with their powdered faces, and their hair slicked back in elegant buns, sigh It really is a wonder they could even take a breath, never mind execute a perfectly-timed triple pirouette!
And that’s my take on the tutus of 1908! All about the luxurious fabrics and intricate detail – something you can really see a ballerina appreciate today! I do love a good modern tutu, with its airy fabric and swoon-worthy silhouette! And those high kicks – love it! It just makes everything feel powerful and exciting. But those long, luscious, old-school skirts will always hold a place in my tutu-loving heart.
I’m off to grab my train ticket, a good book, and a pink, perfectly frilly outfit – the train is my chariot, my beloved carriage, to explore a new city, a new country, a new century! I can’t wait to share my new adventures with you next week – remember, #TutuTuesday! I'm sure you have the same insatiable fascination for everything fabulous that I do – all you need is that right colour of tutu. Every woman can be a ballerina, lovelies! Until then, have the pinkest and most stylish of weeks, and stay tutu-licious,
Lots of love, Emma
P.S. This is one special Tuesday, lovelies! The news is ablaze about the groundbreaking event that took place just one day before my journey back to 1908 – The very first airplane to take flight across the English Channel! Can you imagine, it was a journey of over 25 miles! The possibilities! Maybe my time machine isn't so outlandish after all, hmmm?
