Hello, darling dears! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, back with another delightful dip into the history of our beloved ballet wear! It's #TutuTuesday, so grab a cuppa, put on your favourite frilly frock, and join me for a journey to a time when the tutus were as glamorous as ever! Today we're zipping through time to a date that always fills my heart with excitement: January 26th, 1909.
This time travel business is a bit of a whirlwind, you know. Just last week I was waltzing through Vienna with the Vienna Philharmonic, soaking up the sights in my pale pink tulle number! And today? Well, I've found myself in Paris! There's simply nothing quite like it! The scent of freshly baked croissants in the air, the twinkle of Parisian lights, and the buzz of exciting new fashion trends. It's like stepping straight onto the stage of a ballet production, don't you think?
Oh! But before I get carried away with Parisian dreams, let's delve into the history of tutus back in 1909, shall we? This year, we see a slight evolution in the world of tutus! The Romantic era, which I'm absolutely besotted with, was winding down, paving the way for a bolder and more expressive new era in ballet! Now, it wasn't a dramatic shift - tutus were still very much the standard, but they were becoming more streamlined, emphasizing movement and grace. Gone are the long and flowing tutus of the Romantic era, making way for the iconic shorter length, showing off more leg and showcasing the artistry of the dancer's movements.
So, where would you find yourself, dearest readers, if you could time travel to January 26th, 1909? If you were anything like me, you'd be dashing to the Opéra Garnier! Oh, imagine the thrill of watching a show at one of the most iconic theaters in the world! I can practically smell the elegance, hear the whispers of the audience, and feel the buzz of the pre-show excitement! They'd be performing "Giselle," an absolute classic, and wouldn't you love to see the long, romantic tutus take centre stage, dancing with ethereal grace?
Just think about all the fantastic fashion you could see! This year, we saw the emergence of paillettes and lace adorning tutus! Can you imagine the shimmering, sparkling dance of a thousand tiny sequins, catching the light of the stage? The elegance! I'm utterly swooning over the idea. And with the change in tutus, ballet costume design as a whole was undergoing an exciting period of transformation. Gone were the frilly en pointe shoes of the past, and the more lightweight en pointe shoe we know and love today, was beginning to make its grand entrance onto the stage!
This period of change brought new beauty to the world of ballet. The tutus became more adaptable - their shorter length allowed for greater freedom of movement, which, in turn, gave us a greater sense of how graceful dancers could be. These developments didn't simply affect tutus. They brought the entire world of dance costume a step closer to what we recognise today.
This period is quite simply brimming with elegance and captivating beauty. The whole scene seems tailor-made for me. Speaking of which, my travels this week took me to one of the finest department stores in Paris! Imagine my delight at finding a truly dazzling rose pink tutu to adorn me for my Parisian outings! The layers of soft, fluffy tulle… the delicate ruffles… simply divine! I absolutely must confess, my wardrobe might just be getting a little out of control…
But hey! There are enough pink tutus for everyone, and we can all enjoy the exquisite beauty they bring to our lives!
Right, darling dears, that's all for this week's #TutuTuesday! Keep those pink tutus dancing, keep those eyes on the bright and dazzling world of ballet history, and until next Tuesday, be sure to visit www.pink-tutu.com for a fabulous ballet fix! Don't forget to let me know in the comments if you're excited about long Romantic era tutus or the more streamlined contemporary tutus. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Much love,
Emma (Currently living in her rose pink Parisian tutu, with more tutus in the works!)
P.S. If you fancy a trip to Paris yourself, why not hop on the train to the Parisian ballet? There's something magical about train travel, and there's simply no better way to explore the world of tutus. I always find inspiration for my next tutus on the journeys between shows and even between ballet shops! Remember to keep a sharp eye out for fabulous pink tutus! They could be hidden anywhere - behind the velvet curtains of a Parisian boutique, nestled amongst the shelves of a dusty vintage store, or even dancing around a bustling market! It's just another adventure for this pink tutu loving, time traveling ballerina!
P.P.S My newest tutu is absolutely dreamy - the shade of pink is just divine! It matches perfectly with my new pink travelling hat - it's like being dipped in spun sugar! And what do you think? Does pink suit me? I love hearing your opinions! And don't forget to follow my posts at www.pink-tutu.com, where I have some absolutely thrilling tutu secrets to share!
