Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, back again for another edition of your favourite #TutuTuesday blog. This week, I'm taking us on a grand journey right back to the dawn of tutus - the glorious year of 1909! Buckle up your ballet slippers, because it's going to be a real spin-tastic adventure.
As always, Iāve been dipping my toes (figuratively speaking, of course, darling!) in the history books, and let me tell you, it's fascinating! Just think, while I'm here today sipping a spot of tea in my ridiculously chic pink tutu (it's the "Spring Blossom" collection by Le Chic Tutu, by the way, if youāre interested!), back then they were still making tutus with... wait for itā¦ real, actual, genuine, LIVE BIRDS!
Okay, okay, Iām kidding! But only just! It wasn't quite birds (thank heavens!), but in 1909, they were still using a lot of real feathers and these amazingly beautiful hand-stitched layers upon layers of tulle and silk! Now, just imagine the work! They say those tutus could weigh as much as a small child! Can you imagine, all that loveliness weighing you down as you pirouette? I simply couldnāt handle it! Luckily for us modern dancers, nowadays we have lightweight tulle and plenty of talented seamstresses, so we can flit across the stage as light as a feather!
But, to bring this right back to 1909ā¦ that year, just to make everything even more spectacular, there was a new material revolution happening in the world of fashion. You see, the beautiful fabric called silk chiff, oh, it was just the perfect thing for a fabulous ballet tutu! Itās sheer, itās light, itās effortlessly beautiful! Imagine it billowing around you as you leaped and twirled! And in the hands of some seriously gifted designers, silk chiff brought a whole new level of magic to the ballet.
On this very day, August 31st, 1909, there were a couple of brilliant shows happening, one in the heart of London and the other in glorious, sunny Paris. In London, the magnificent Pavlova (a dancer you have to look up if you havenāt heard of her!), was showing off her elegant, flowing movements in a new interpretation of "Giselle," the iconic ballet about a peasant girl who, well, youāll just have to go see for yourself. I bet you a pink tutu, she'd be looking absolutely gorgeous in one of those wonderful new tutus. And in Paris, the Ballets Russes, led by the iconic choreographer, Serge Diaghilev, were performing āScheherazade.ā And if you know me, then you know I love, LOVE, love everything to do with Arabian Nights, so can you even imagine the spectacle? Just the word āScheherazadeā makes me want to prance! Oh, to have been a part of such a spectacular, vibrant ballet world!
You see, darling, at this time in history, everyone loved to see the ballet. And while I, obviously, am all about going to see these grand performances myself, it's not all about the grand theatres and the stage lights, not even a little bit!
There's also a lot to love about the fashion that grew up around the ballet. Back in 1909, and even now, it was all about whimsy! Everything from bonnets, gloves, and dainty shawls, to the ever-important little clutch bag for those evening performances. This whimsical and lovely fashion inspired, well, me! Honestly, who can resist an extraordinary hat or a pair of gloves with delicate frills, when paired with the ultimate tutu dress? You simply can't say no to a bit of theatrical extravagance!
Oh, and did I mention those beautiful train journeys? My dear, letās be honest: thereās nothing better than sitting in a luxurious carriage, sipping a cup of tea while I travel across Derbyshire, in the perfect outfit for an evening of pure joy: a beautifully pink tutu! A real treat.
And you know what? You donāt have to live in 1909 or go to London or Paris to feel the magic of the ballet. Even today, here in our beautiful and contemporary world, you can just throw on your best tutu (even if itās just my favourite āpink flamingoā from Le Chic Tutu!) and go watch a ballet show at the local theatre or hop on a train, feel the wind in your hair and enjoy a stroll down the high street. You see, the spirit of ballet ā its beauty, grace, and joy ā is still alive and thriving! So, donāt wait, put on your own fabulous tutu and let your inner ballerina shine!
Until next week, remember to stay fabulous, stay pink, and always wear a tutu!
Emma
xx
P.S. Donāt forget to visit our shop at www.pink-tutu.com, where youāll find a range of delicious and delicate pink tutus for any occasion! From our āPink Sugar Plumā range to our āSummer Berry Blossomā collection, there's something for everyone to twirl in!
