Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where we celebrate all things tutu! This is Emma, your time-travelling ballerina blogger, and it's another #TutuTuesday, which means we're about to delve into the fascinating history of our favourite garment - the tutu.
This week, I'm popping back to June 8th, 1909, right here in the heart of Paris, where else! Paris is where tutus are just everything - a whirl of tulle and lace. Think shimmering silk, elaborate designs, and an absolute riot of colour! It’s absolutely enchanting and makes every day feel like a dream! Oh, how I wish I could just swish around in these divine creations everyday!
Today's Parisian streets are alive with excitement! This week sees the debut of a new and innovative show at the Opera Garnier, one of the most beautiful, opulent opera houses in the world. Imagine crystal chandeliers, opulent decor and dazzling gowns! I’m so excited to see it and I just know I’m going to fall in love with the costumes!
But let’s talk about tutus. You know how I adore a good fashion history lesson! On this particular day in 1909, ballet tutus were very much the "Romantics" style. You can spot these beautiful creations with their enormous pouffy skirts – think a whole cloud of tulle! These romantic tutus were all about grace, ethereal beauty, and femininity – perfect for capturing the beauty and fragility of those ballets of the past! It’s hard not to fall in love with these fluffy, fairytale-inspired designs. I would give anything to own one of these creations.
These magnificent tutus have such an incredible backstory. The romantic tutus started becoming popular during the early 19th century when romanticism blossomed into a major cultural movement. You know, we were tired of grandiosity! The romanticists felt the need to escape from the rigidity of the Neoclassical era into an idealized past filled with imagination and emotion. You can definitely see that reflected in the lightness and whimsical spirit of these tutus!
Let's think about how this shift was a beautiful rebellion – almost like wearing a tutu today is a kind of rebellious statement! Back then, ballerinas danced barefoot, with little structure in their clothing – they felt unfettered and free. I can imagine the impact these stunning new designs would have had – they were almost like poetry for the stage!
Fast forward to 1909, the early days of what we call the “Late Romantic era” in ballet, and things start changing. These tutus still embody that romance – all about delicate charm and elegance. We saw these styles on stage for decades and we're still seeing them used today in modern performances! Ballet just doesn’t seem to want to let go of the romantic tutu - it’s absolutely timeless!
One thing to remember is that all tutus have a big influence on modern design! Remember our first tutu, born from *Marie Taglioni’s dancing dreams! The way it has changed throughout the decades is like a history of dance in a few layers of fabric!
I'm getting excited to hop into a time machine soon and explore even more tutu trends – I am on a quest to see as many tutus as I possibly can in the name of #TutuTuesday! In the meantime, tell me:
What’s your favourite tutu style? Share it in the comments!
Now, I'm going to run off and get ready to go to the Ballet! My dress, of course, has a beautiful pink tutu attached! Remember darlings, keep it positive, keep it sparkly and wear your own little pink tutu.
See you next #TutuTuesday,
Emma x
This is blog post #4041 for my #TutuTuesday series.
You can find this and other fabulous tutu tales on my website www.pink-tutu.com
