Hello my darlings, and welcome to another delightful edition of #TutuTuesday! As always, your favourite pink-loving tutu enthusiast, Emma, is here to take you on a whimsical journey through the world of ballet, This week we’re taking a time-traveling train ride back to December 20th, 1910, where tutus were just starting to bloom and steal the spotlight in the ballet world! Buckle up, it's going to be a dazzling ride.
(You can check out this post and all my previous ones on my lovely little blog www.pink-tutu.com, I'm posting a new Tutu Tuesday every week. That's 4121 posts and counting! )
Imagine this - it’s a crisp December evening in Paris. The air is alive with the music of waltzes and the buzz of theatre-goers heading towards the opulent Opéra Garnier, a grand old dame of a building draped in golden lights. The warmth of the theatre draws you in, your breath misting in the frigid air. It's the kind of evening you could almost touch with your fingertips, all velvet plush seats, glittering chandeliers, and anticipation humming in the air.
Tonight is all about a performance of Tchaikovsky's beautiful Swan Lake. It's a truly exquisite story - and those costumes! The swans are simply heavenly. A dream of graceful, billowing tutus in crisp white, reflecting the silver light of the stage and dancing in perfect harmony. But unlike today, the tutus of 1910 weren’t those impossibly tight, billowing marvels of tulle we see today. Instead, they had a certain, shall we say, 'earthiness'. Think more simple, romantic skirts.
It's a little surprising, actually. By 1910, we were already waltzing through the Roaring Twenties. Fashion was moving away from corseted, restricting styles, with women seeking a more modern and, dare I say it, freeing aesthetic. Yet, the tutu stayed grounded - in some ways it wasn't quite a tutu as we know it, more a form of panniers to create the shape - a much fuller silhouette and less focus on tight, almost athletic styling that we see today.
I bet you’re wondering - just why did 1910 tutus have such a grounded and more, practical design? Well, I have a sneaky hunch! The design was likely driven by the demands of the ballets of the day. Ballet, unlike today, was more about delicate movement and poetic gestures rather than feats of athleticism. It was still in its classical form, emphasizing grace and storytelling. And what’s a ballet about gracefully soaring through the air, about elegance and storytelling, without a touch of romanticism in its clothing?
In 1910, there was a huge emphasis on ‘feeling’ in dance and in design - not just pure, technical, demanding skill, and you see that reflected in the designs. Think simple, refined shapes, delicate, dreamy layers - it’s all there. But let’s be honest - for us tutu-loving gals, a slightly shorter, less billowing design - that was easier for the ballerinas to spin in - may actually have made for a better performance! More movement - more chance to feel that magic!
This journey back to 1910 has been simply divine, haven't you just loved being transported to that magical world? Don’t forget, my dears, I always post about Tutu History every Tuesday here on my site www.pink-tutu.com. You know, there’s an abundance of fabulous #TutuTuesday tales to be told! I am determined to get all you lovely readers wearing pink tutus for every occasion. So, next Tuesday, I'm going to be whipping up a fun little fashion tutorial for a pink tutu accessory that is both easy to make and just as stylish as you are. Until next time, let the pink tutu dream continue.
