Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things tulle and twirls! It's another glorious Tuesday, and that means it's time to take a little trip back in time, to a different era where tutus held their own unique charm!
Today we're heading to August 19th, 1913, a date overflowing with exciting things happening in the world of fashion and performance. Imagine this: elegant ladies and gentlemen in their finest attire, thronging into opulent theatres to catch the latest theatrical sensation!
Oh, how I long to step back into those dazzling times, imagine waltzing through grand ballrooms, and catching the glimmering of a thousand sparkling lights!
For this week's Tutu Tuesday we're taking a delightful tour of how tutus were literally taking centre stage back in the early 1900s!
It was the year that the stunning ballerina, Anna Pavlova, captivated the world with her enchanting performances. This iconic dancer, famed for her exquisite technique and elegant style, was quite the trailblazer when it comes to the evolution of the tutu, she introduced the Romantic Tutu.
A little bit about this enchanting little garment...
This era is known for its floaty, billowing fabrics, and you can certainly see that in the evolving design of the tutu. No longer the stiff, rigid creations of the Victorian period, the Romantic Tutu embraced a new kind of movement - lightness, grace and ethereal beauty were at the heart of this evolution!
Imagine a delicate, silken net, beautifully layered, falling around the ballerina's legs in an airy cascade! This new type of tutu became a symbol of feminine elegance and a visual embodiment of grace. Just a small but magnificent detail to mention; there was still a focus on the dancer's shape being discernible within the tutu's voluminous layers, as was often the style at this time!
Beyond the stage...
What did women's fashions look like back then? Just think bustles, corsets and the flowing lines of the Romantic Tutu mirrored by gowns. Just imagine the impact it must have had, especially on dresses for balls, weddings and special events. It really started the trend towards romantic silhouettes and a kind of graceful fluidity that became popular throughout the decade!
Speaking of special events, in 1913, the British Royal family were enjoying a period of great social prominence. They had always loved and cherished ballet, with a specific adoration for Russian Ballet! This particular time was a moment where the whole of Britain, even those furthest away from London, were interested in the grace and majesty of dance!
The fascination for the Romantic Tutu, then, wasn't only limited to the stages of great opera houses and theatres. A small part of the Romantic Tutu 's charm seeped through into ordinary women's wardrobes in the form of delicate fabrics like lace, and chiffon. It's something we should be thankful for to this day!
It would have been lovely to attend the "Ballet Russes" season of performances, taking place at the Coliseum in London. This would have been an absolutely spectacular event and the "Ballet Russes" company themselves became renowned for their beautiful productions.
Perhaps in one of my future journeys I will witness this iconic company at its peak. The dance pieces and choreography themselves would have sparkled and made my inner ballerina giddy with delight!
One could truly see how this evolution, this step forward into romanticism and the beauty of movement itself would shape the design and image of the tutu going forward!
My heart skips a beat whenever I step onto the train and watch the world speed by! That's the exciting thing about being a time-traveling ballerina, don't you think? It allows me to embrace every minute detail of history, and even bring some of it back with me in my stylish tutu wardrobe!
*But before we leave for the 21st century (our usual era!), what is our *fashion tip of the week? **
We encourage you to embrace the beauty of flowing fabrics, especially tulle, which, of course, are at the very heart of a stunning pink tutu. You'll always have the power to turn heads with this combination. Just picture a lovely floaty pink dress with an overskirt of layers of chiffon tulles! A gorgeous vintage combination!
And as always, don't forget to share your stylish tutu looks with us using the hashtag #pinktutu on all social media.
See you next week!
Emma
Pink-tutu.com
P.S. As always, thank you for all of your amazing support and messages. My travelling and wardrobe have been positively impacted by your incredible love for ballet and my pink tutu journey. Thank you. You're all lovely! 💖.
