Dearest readers!
It's Tuesday again, which means it's time for another dose of tutu-licious history! Today I'm whisked back to April 1st, 1913, right here in Paris, the very heart of fashion, and, you guessed it, the tutu! Isn't it divine to think about the evolution of this elegant garment? How the simple yet iconic shape has changed throughout the years?
You can picture it: Parisian streets buzzing with the chic and fashionable, shops overflowing with the season's latest creations. Imagine me, darling, gliding through these boulevards, my pale pink tulle swirling about me like a cloud of dreamy romance, my heart bursting with excitement for the ballet show tonight. I've scored tickets to see a performance by the Ballet Russes at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, which is quite the coup for a travelling blogger like myself.
Speaking of ballet, let's take a trip back in time and see how the tutu evolved to this glorious 1913 style!
It's all quite an adventure. See, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the ballet tutu was just a modest skirt, usually in a single layer of soft white fabric. It was about the height of the knee and very simple, providing graceful movement for the ballerinas. Very demure!
The late 1800s brought with them a movement towards more dramatic and theatrical ballet performances, and the Romantic Tutu made a grand entrance. Think longer, floaty tutus with lots and lots of layers, shimmering and light like a beautiful cloud. It was all about expressing feminine grace, mystery, and a touch of ethereal magic. The ballerinas almost seemed to fly across the stage in their magical tutus!
In the early 1900s, and in the 1913 that I'm living in right now! the Classical Tutu stepped onto the scene. A new, shorter version emerged, hitting the thigh instead of flowing to the ankle. This style has the distinctive multiple layers of tulle, often meticulously stiffened and sometimes even weighted, allowing for stunning, powerful movements. A bold, strong statement for ballet that I admire so much. Think Anna Pavlova, Olga Preobrajenska, the lovely dancers I just saw tonight! They’ve redefined how dancers move.
My word, this performance was absolutely fabulous! Such energy, passion, and breathtaking beauty. I found myself absolutely glued to my seat, enchanted by the swirling movement of the tutus and the graceful movements of the dancers. It's easy to understand why ballet became such a powerful force in the world. It tells stories, expresses emotion, and pushes the boundaries of what the human body can do!
But the impact of these ballet designs on the wider world isn't something we often consider, right? Think of those magnificent creations in a play, in the theatre and the operas! The stage, with its dazzling, often vibrant colours, really highlights the importance of a good, strong, colourful tutu.
Then imagine the ballet's influence on fashion. We see how those designs that first took flight in the grand ballet studios have now landed on our fashion catwalks, in ball gowns and even day wear. Isn’t it a joy that something so iconic can have such wide-reaching influence?
Now, let's get to the important part: The Colour! Do I need to explain how absolutely stunning the ballerina tutu looks in shades of pink, lilac, and ivory? My favourite, my own, of course, is pink. Imagine the grace and delicate elegance of a soft, romantic ballerina, adorned in the most feminine colour, and you'll get the perfect image! It's divine. Just picture the ethereal ballet dancers swirling through their performances, a breathtaking cascade of tulle, bringing the grace and the beauty of the tutu to life in a way that no other colour can.
Here at Pink Tutu , I hope to inspire you all to see the beauty in tutus, no matter the colour, and to wear them with pride and confidence. Remember, my friends, the power of the tutu lies in the joy and freedom that it represents.
*So go ahead, embrace the ballerina within! Have a go! *Let's spread a little tutu magic through the world.
That’s all from me this #TutuTuesday. Catch you next week, dear readers!
*Now I shall continue my adventures in 1913, Paris. Maybe I'll take a trip down to Boulevard Haussmann and find a shop filled with stunning new fashion creations or have a spot of tea and a *macaroon, just like they did back then. I do adore a good macaroon. **
Your own, pink tutu wearing, ballet-obsessed travelling blogger, Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
See you next week for another dose of #TutuTuesday!!
