Hello darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time-travelling fashionista, bringing you another installment of #TutuTuesday, a celebration of the most exquisite of garments: the tutu!
This week we're twirling back to 17th March 1914. Oh, the excitement! Just picture it: London's streets are alive with the bustling energy of spring, the scent of blooming hawthorn in the air. The scent reminds me of that lovely vintage perfume, Parfum de Nuit, which I found at the antique shop down the road, but that's a story for another day.
We're still a few years away from the First World War, so a certain optimistic frivolity reigns. It's a time when fashion, like the can-can at the Folies Bergère, is full of pep and flourish! It's no wonder we're seeing a plethora of fringe, feathers, and lots of ruffles on the scene. Think corseted silhouettes, hats that look like bonnets, and shoes that are the epitome of dainty - all the things a lady should love, right?!
Speaking of delicate and lovely things, we can't forget about tutus, darling! Now, back in 1914, the tutus we see weren't quite like the ones we know and adore today, they were evolving into what they would become. Gone were the bulky skirts and bulky shapes that earlier ballerinas endured, the Romantic era gave way to something altogether more slender. Now, picture a short, frothy skirt of tulle, a single layer perhaps, that would have shown the grace of the ballerina's form in its finest light, and of course, pink. Oh yes, pink was the colour of the day - pink and the colour of her slippers!
Imagine a scene from the Russian Imperial Ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. It's grand, opulent, filled with velvet curtains, plush seats, and the glint of chandeliers that make you feel like you've stepped into a fairytale. And, there, dancing amongst the grand artistry, a dancer in her pink tulle skirt takes the stage, graceful, airy, and so beautiful! She seems to float, a feather in the wind. Isn't it wonderful? The dance is the focus, a truly magical and fleeting vision.
Now, speaking of magical and fleeting visions...you know how I fund these delightful trips back in time? Well, wouldn't you know it, my trip back to 1914 was courtesy of none other than the esteemed Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Oh, those legendary performances! It's simply enchanting! To watch Petrushka and be whisked away to the vibrant colours of the Russian soul, or see Nijinsky dancing the part of the Faun - I tell you, darlings, my heart still skips a beat. The artistry of these dancers was pure magic and something I could never forget. To think of these dancers gliding across the stage, adorned in their exquisite costumes and twirling those delicate tulle tutus...it's a moment I will never, ever, forget!
Now, I can't write a #TutuTuesday post without sharing my latest shopping finds, can I? Last week, I found the most beautiful pink feather boa in the Covent Garden market. Just imagine, it's like the very whisper of a fairy tale. I'm going to use it to trim my newest tulle skirt...it's so light and fluffy that it practically dances in the wind. It's the perfect piece to wear for a Parisian picnic under the Eiffel Tower, or perhaps a fancy tea at the Ritz.
And for all my fellow tutu enthusiasts, I want to remind you that #TutuTuesday is more than just a celebration of fashion, it's a way of life. I want all of us, from Derby to Dusseldorf, to embrace the sheer joy and lightness that a tutu brings! It's about expressing yourself, and feeling fabulous, every day! Think about it, every day can be a little bit more magical, don't you agree? So go forth and dance, my lovely darlings, and let your inner pink tutu-wearing ballerina shine.
Stay lovely,
Emma xx
P.S. Don't forget to share your favourite pink tutu pics with me! You can post them on my blog or find me on social media using #PinkTutuProject. I want to see your dance moves and share the love!
