#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1909-08-10

Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things tutu-tastic! This week, as usual, we’re taking a delightful journey through time for our #TutuTuesday history blog. This time, we're hopping on the Orient Express and whisking ourselves back to the grand year of 1909 - a time of exquisite elegance and a burgeoning love for the art of ballet!

Now, darling, I must admit, I had to dust off my most dramatic hat for this trip. This wasn't a "pop in for a cheeky cream tea" type of time jump. This was all about grand theatres, sparkling costumes, and a burgeoning ballet world!

Picture it, darling! Paris! The very heart of chic and sophistication. In 1909, Paris was bursting with ballet brilliance. The beautiful Opéra Garnier was brimming with shimmering stars like Anna Pavlova, a veritable darling of the ballet scene, and Vaslav Nijinsky, the embodiment of grace and artistry. Imagine! So much dancing magic! My imagination, as you can imagine, went absolutely wild,

Now, the tutus of the time weren't your typical poufy beauties that we see today - imagine, more like a sleek, graceful whisper of tulle that skimmed the legs. But even then, my dear, these exquisite garments had an undeniable flair. They shimmered like dew drops on a summer morning! It’s as if every stitch was created for the pure, flowing art of the dancers.

One of the main things that got me truly giddy, however, was the fact that in 1909, fashion was experiencing a love affair with the ethereal beauty of the ballerina. Think dainty, delicate touches in fabric - lots of beautiful, flowing, pastel silk and lace dresses that whispered of ballerinas and fairy tales. Isn’t that simply divine? I just adore seeing how fashion trends reflect our love for the world of ballet!

But wait, let’s pause here for a second. You might be thinking, "Emma, 10th August? That sounds incredibly boring - nothing exciting happened then!" Oh, my sweet dears! Allow me to shed some light. This particular day was one of momentous ballet history!

A young ballet dancer from a town called Saint Petersburg was celebrating her birthday. Do you know who she is? Well, darling, allow me to unveil the mystery - this delightful dancer was the one and only Tamara Karsavina! This absolutely sensational talent went on to dance with Serge Diaghilev's groundbreaking company, The Ballets Russes. The most exquisite combination of elegance, drama and skill. The world of ballet has so much to thank her for!

Just imagine, 10th August 1909... little Tamara was starting to ignite her passion for dancing - and the rest, as they say, is history!

Now, to transport my time-travelling self back to this particular period, I opted for a thrilling journey on the Orient Express - such an opulent and historical experience! The glamour of travelling by train and soaking in all the grandeur of a bygone era truly makes you feel like a character in one of your favourite novels! But the journey itself is just part of the adventure, darling. Every place you reach in the past offers new treasures, be it beautiful ballet shows, exquisite couture, or stunning historical landmarks.

But I think the biggest joy of this kind of time-travelling, aside from the gorgeous tutu I wear everywhere, is the sheer delight of experiencing history. Ballet has changed so much over time - the steps, the stories, the tutus - and yet the core of this magical artform remains the same. A universal language of movement that speaks to everyone's hearts, whether you're in the past, the present, or the future!

Of course, dear readers, as a pink-loving ballerina extraordinaire, it was a given that I had to find some fantastically pink vintage finds to wear in 1909 Paris. My wardrobe for this journey involved silk dresses and satin blouses with gorgeous floral motifs and even some beautiful floral headbands that were a touch too grand, even for me! It really set the tone, and I absolutely embraced the whole experience! But the piece de resistance? Why, that's the delicate, perfectly pastel pink tulle skirt - an ethereal reminder of my own special ballerina essence! It truly did feel as though I were in a painting - pure Parisian elegance, my dears!

So, until next time, darlings, continue embracing the exquisite elegance of a tutu, whether it’s on a dancer at a theatre, a costume hanging in a museum, or even, yes, darling, even in your own closet! It is this joy of ballet that fuels my life, fuels my writing and fuels this whole pink-tutu fuelled obsession, so spread the word, tell everyone about the magic of ballet, and keep those beautiful, graceful steps going! See you next #TutuTuesday!