Hiya, lovelies! It's Emma here, back with another blast from the ballet past, direct from your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-traveling blogger. This week, we're stepping back in time to 1910 - a truly fascinating year for the tutu, my dears! I mean, what better time to visit than when the tutu was practically bursting with style, just as it was for all those darling actresses of the era? It really was the heyday for tulle, and what a delightful journey it was for a tutu enthusiast like myself!
Oh, did I tell you about the most exquisite vintage shop I found in Vienna? The tulle, dear reader, it was like spun moonlight, truly! The fabrics, the styles, it was positively intoxicating! It was hard to choose, but in the end, I snagged a delicate pastel pink, one for my beloved collection of course! I couldn't help but envision a grand performance, under a shimmering chandelier, wearing a shimmering pink tulle creation, a masterpiece made just for me, by a craftsman who, dare I say, truly understood the tutu.
My travel this week took me right into the heart of the Austrian capital. It was just divine! Not only was the opera magnificent, but I even found a lovely boutique in the middle of the city that just seemed to whisper "tutu!" It had every colour under the sun, darling! You see, back in the day, there was something wonderfully whimsical about the length of the tutus. They were still very full, very big, very long, giving the dancers the air of beautiful butterflies flitting around the stage. Such grace!
Now, a quick note on how we get around here, as this may be of interest to you lovelies, as you can get a great idea of how time-travelling works from these experiences! So, this week I went by train, a rather plush carriage with a compartment just for myself - so dreamy! I had my own little table to lay out my knitting, I mean, my writing pad, of course! The compartments were just too quaint. I made myself some sandwiches, took my sewing out and wrote some blog ideas on the journey - don't worry, it was absolutely thrilling. It would definitely be the perfect way to travel! Oh! And do you know what's wonderful? I found a whole row of comfy seating to take a nap during the journey! Oh my, a complete and utter dream.
So, hereās the interesting part: in 1910, the classic romantic tutu took centre stage! No more cumbersome, billowing dresses, my dear! Think long, flowing skirts that gracefully swirled with every movement. It truly had such an impact.
The romantic tutu style was so popular, in fact, that it completely dominated the scene - you simply couldn't have gone to a ballet without seeing one. And you know me, darling! Iām a stickler for fashion history. You see, those flowing tutus, so unrestricted, were a major game-changer for dancers. They werenāt just about elegance, they also allowed for incredible freedom of movement, so you can just imagine the breathtaking pirouettes and graceful leaps that were captured. This new style, my lovelies, helped to truly showcase the art of dance in its purest form.
To give you some perspective, remember those early early-century ballets, such as La BayadĆØre and Giselle? Well, they're iconic because of the elegant long tutus, making each move so elegant, and just gorgeous! Youāve seen the pictures, and imagine the delight it brought to everyone to watch such glorious movement and poise in those exquisite outfits.
But this period in time had a huge change, something that makes my heart race to this day, in the world of ballet, and in the fashion world for that matter:
*The introduction of the āClassical Romantic tutu.ā *
Isnāt it just the perfect name? Think graceful layers of tulle, a simple design that allows for breathtaking, graceful, delicate movements - just picture them! This style is considered the iconic image we know of the ballet, my dears. In this day, and in all days to come. Just so, very delicate and graceful and pretty.
To my tutu-loving, fashion-forward sisters, let's remember this pivotal point in ballet history! The classical romantic tutu wasnāt just about fashion. It marked the birth of a style that changed everything, making ballet all the more captivating. Think about this, as we stand here in a period of such beautiful style. It has remained as popular as ever since, you'll see it all the time!
Now, just as much as I love those long flowing tutus, thereās a touch of something unconventional that drew me to this year! While it's no surprise that most ballerinas adored the elegance of the romantic tutu, there were a few daring women who opted for something else entirely Think shorter skirts, that still looked positively amazing! Just imagine those exquisite tutus that just skimmed the knee and offered such incredible movement on stage.
Just picture the dramatic poses, those long leg extensions, and oh my, how that would have turned heads back then. To see something that was less formal on stage would have had an impact in the grand world of ballet. Now, as much as I enjoy that iconic style of ballerina, to me this is the best way to showcase the graceful leg movements so well and they're as stunning as anything!
I find myself pondering, what would the tutus have been like if pink were more common, more accepted as a colour, back then.
Oh, it just takes my breath away to think about the potential! But what's even more important is to remember why the tutus in this time mattered. They werenāt just clothes, they represented a revolutionary shift in ballet's style, allowing for new expressions of movement. Just wonderful!
Iām always learning new things and Iām sure I will be, right until I get back to the 2020s. I always say itās a good day when you can see an enchanting world of history as well as learn a bit of ballet history to bring you into today. And as always, darlings, keep twirling and spreading the love of all things tutu! Iāll see you next Tuesday, and make sure you tell me about your adventures!
Your Tutu-Loving Friend,
Emma
P.S. Now, darling, for you die-hard tutu fanatics like myself, have I got a treat for you! Did you know that there was a whole section at the Opera house dedicated to the history of the tutu, right where they show off different materials and all of those incredible shapes? The pieces of ballet fashion through the ages. Oh my, the history! The stories! I swear, it was like opening a chapter from a fairy tale! I just have to keep repeating myself - my adventures are divine, I truly do find some magnificent pieces and interesting, valuable information as well!
Oh, and speaking of stories! On 4 October 1910, there was a beautiful show at the Imperial Royal Court Opera in Vienna! If you want a bit more of that Victorian feel with those flowing dresses and tutus. I bet the costumes were truly breathtaking and Iāll have to do a little more digging to find a description, although Iām pretty sure the romantic tutu was a main part of that and I'll let you know about it in my next blog post! So, please do come back next week!
