Bonjour mes amies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-traveling guide to the whimsical world of ballet history! This week, we're taking a grand jeté back to the opulent 1913, where the Parisian ballet scene was all the rage, and I'm thrilled to say I'm right in the heart of it all. Imagine: cobbled streets, art nouveau buildings adorned with vibrant flowers, and the air abuzz with the infectious energy of the arts!
I must say, there's something rather special about the atmosphere here. Every Parisian café has a sense of theatrical magic. They all seem to be just bursting with witty repartee, whispers of avant-garde art, and the clinking of glasses celebrating the newest theatrical productions. It’s all incredibly stimulating and it makes me feel quite the sophisticated lady. Especially as today’s fashion statement, my very pinkest pink tulle tutu with its delicate layers, feels very much at home amongst the finery of 1913 Paris.
Now, you may think the ballet world of 1913 is all about grand romantic ballets and opulent, flowing gowns, and you wouldn't be entirely wrong! We are, after all, in the age of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. It’s truly an extraordinary experience watching the sheer brilliance and theatrical spectacle of his productions – all the more enchanting as a pink tutu-wearing fan. And don’t even get me started on the costumes – a feast for the eyes with colours, textures and embellishments beyond anything you'd find in a regular dress shop! They certainly inspired my own taste in ballet outfits – and, naturally, helped convince me to bring my love for pink to every single one.
However, as we always do here on Tutu Tuesday, let's delve deeper than the shimmering surface, shall we? This week, the day is 30th September and Paris is already abuzz with anticipation. You see, a truly iconic event is just on the horizon! In a mere 6 days, we'll see the grand premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s revolutionary, truly revolutionary, ballet "Rite of Spring." A groundbreaking piece that's guaranteed to challenge conventional notions of music and dance and leave a mark on history. Now, that's a ballet show I just HAVE to see!
Speaking of history, let’s travel back a few years. Now, 1913 might feel like a time when tutus are fully established in ballet, but they're actually still in the relatively early stages of evolution! It wasn’t until around the early 19th century that the classic tutu started to take the shape we know and love today.
For years and years, women in ballet wore cumbersome, heavy dresses that restricted their movements and didn’t make it easy to execute intricate footwork and leaps. You know, exactly what I'm hoping to avoid! But thank goodness that’s changed – the world needs more twirling, more grand jetés, more elegance. And a pink tutu certainly does make those steps all the more exciting!
Back then, the Italian dancer Carlo Blasis helped pave the way for the change we see today with the introduction of a more streamlined design. The shorter tutu emerged as a means to showcase the incredible footwork and agility of ballerinas. And then came the innovation we can all thank – the invention of tulle, a super light fabric! That changed everything! With this new fabric, ballet clothing could finally be soft, flowy, and airy – all while highlighting the grace of movement, even with that extra bit of pink tutu puffiness. I have to say, my wardrobe is positively thankful for the development of tulle!
So you see, those lovely, light-as-air tutus that now define classical ballet weren't always a thing. But they’ve paved the way for the fabulous array of tulle designs that are popular even today. And what I particularly adore is that even the ballet world doesn’t stand still. From classic white to shocking pink and shimmering metallic, you see a beautiful variety in colours and fabrics that truly inspire my own design ideas for my Tutu Tuesday blog. Just wait till you see my next Tutu Tuesday outfit, darling, you’re going to absolutely love it!
Before I depart, it's time for a little tea time ritual that keeps me going on my time travelling adventures – a pot of chamomile tea, a good dollop of honey, and of course, a piece of homemade cherry cake! Delicious! There's a rather lovely patisserie down the road – do stop by when you're in the neighbourhood and tell them Emma sent you! The patissier will certainly tell you all about the latest fashions and where the coolest dances and ballets are being held. The more elegant Parisian women can tell you about it all.
Until next week, remember – there’s no time like the present for some graceful pirouettes in a fabulously pink tutu!
XOXO Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
