Hello my dearest tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday adventure on www.pink-tutu.com. This week, we're waltzing back to July 5th, 1910, and trust me, there's some truly inspiring tutu history to be had!
This post is a little different because, as you know, my adventures are all about tutus and how they evolved through time. Now, we're venturing into a period where, believe it or not, tutus weren't quite as dominant in the ballet world. Think less "pink" and more "practical" - and yet, they still held that magic!
For those of you who are new to my blog (and this post marks an incredible number 4097 - yes, you read that right, four thousand nine hundred and ninety seven!), I'm obsessed with ballet and the stories behind our fabulous costumes, especially the tutus. I time-travel for a living - I can't get enough of seeing the shows and seeing the clothes and seeing how things were different for ballerinas! So hop on board my time-traveling train as we venture into the fascinating world of the 1910 tutu!
From Fluffy Frills to Practical Perfection
1910 was a fascinating time for ballet. We see a shift towards something less... dramatic. Think of a ballerina's tutu like a delicate snowflake – beautifully intricate, yet incredibly fragile. In 1910, the designers opted for a bit more "winter coat" style - the fluffy tutus we all know and love had actually just started being introduced at this time! It wasn't all about extravagant layers, but about the elegant lines and flowing movements.
The Inspiration Behind 1910 Tutu Design
While the "whirl-inducing" tutus were yet to become the main attraction, ballerinas weren't wearing anything boring! They were taking their style cues from fashion trends at the time, with beautiful and lightweight gowns flowing about their graceful movements. Remember the famous "Gibson Girl" silhouette? This look was a HUGE influence, focusing on creating a slim and elegant look for ballerinas, allowing for a fluidity in their movements. It was all about graceful lines! It gave the performers more room to execute their intricate dance steps. Imagine those high leg extensions and fluid jumps!
The "Real" Stars of 1910 - Ballet's New Era
Now, to spice up our little ballet-time travel, let's focus on the stars of the day - the ballet world was in a real renaissance! One of the absolute pioneers who brought this "simpler but stronger" look was the iconic Vaslav Nijinsky. Think graceful lines, fluid movements, and an incredible level of athleticism – something we definitely see echoed in the amazing ballet dancers today! It was all about showcasing their skill in a fresh way!
He was a dancer and choreographer extraordinaire who led the way for this whole new wave of elegant ballet. Even if tutus weren't the biggest thing in his time, you could tell that dancers had something special going on. If you love all those ballet leaps and jumps, he was definitely paving the way. What he gave to the ballet world was almost as important as what any new style of tutu could have.
And let's not forget the gorgeous ballerinas who absolutely embodied this elegant style!
What was happening in the world of ballet?
Remember when I said this was a big year for the ballet world? We weren't just talking about fancy costumes, it was a real revival! 1910 saw the dawn of exciting innovations in choreography! Can you imagine - a new style of dance AND new costume ideas to boot? Exciting, right? Imagine it - new steps, new music and new ways to dance on stage. The tutu wasn't just a costume; it was part of a whole new expression of dance and it was getting bigger!
In particular, the company of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes was really starting to turn heads. It was a groundbreaking, trendsetting group that made people fall head over heels for ballet – kind of like how I'm a little bit in love with pink tutus!
Time travel outfit
And to really celebrate my 1910 visit, I donned a gorgeous light pink and grey costume with lace sleeves that were just begging to be twirled. It looked a bit like something you'd see in a grand salon, and it was very pretty! It didn’t have all those tiers that we're used to seeing now but had flowing elegance which just captured the mood of the whole era! I found a gorgeous little feather headpiece which made me look really fancy!
A Celebration of Every Era, Every Style, and Every Tutu!
Of course, we can't talk about 1910 without thinking about how it influenced the tutus we love today. It was a step into a new direction. Think about the flowing elegance of tutus. If you see those wonderful "swan-lake" kind of outfits – they are almost certainly influenced by these 1910 trends. I find that very interesting – that’s why I’m so passionate about tracing all of these influences. It’s like solving a fashion puzzle!
It’s so inspiring to look back and realise how every little change and design shift really plays a role in what we see in the ballets we love today!
My dearest tutus-obsessed readers, I hope this little historical adventure has left you with a love of those older tutus as much as the newer, fluffed-out ones.
Next week, we’re travelling to the year 1911! I can't wait to show you what this magical time had to offer in terms of style and beauty! And remember, stay fashionable, stay twirly, and always embrace the beauty of the tutu, in any form it comes! Until next week, stay happy! 💖
Don't forget to visit my blog www.pink-tutu.com every Tuesday to get the latest scoop on tutu history!
#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #FashionThroughTime #LoveTutUs
