Hello my lovely tutu-loving darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday adventure in Ballet Tutu History, where we delve into the fabulous evolution of the most beautiful garment ever created! Today's date? August 4th, 1914.
It’s such a scorcher today that even my fluffy pink tutu feels a little warm, but hey, a bit of heat can't stop this Pink Tutu Queen! I’m just back from an amazing journey in a beautiful French town. Did you know Paris is utterly charming? Especially when you're seeing it with your own two eyes from the perspective of the 1910s.
Now, let me rewind for a second. You see, it’s just impossible for me to visit a new time period without visiting its theatre and experiencing its performances, even if they're completely different from our modern shows! And so, my trip wouldn't be complete without a little trip to the opera. Honestly, the costumes were dazzling. They seemed less about being perfectly balanced and more about making a dramatic, bold statement. There were more feathers, beads, and a whole lot of glittering, shimmering embellishment! Just imagining all that gorgeous craftsmanship on each one! I'd love to have seen them up close.
Speaking of up close… the one thing that really made an impression on me this time wasn’t a ballerina, or even a costume. It was the theatre itself! It was like a whole world unto itself! I mean, just imagine - it was designed just for beauty, with the most stunning details you can imagine. Imagine stained glass windows and rich velvet seats and chandeliers. Imagine the scent of the floral decorations, the hushed whisper before the performance began! It’s just beautiful. And so inspiring for someone who's obsessed with beautiful garments!
Today’s Ballet Tutu History isn’t really about a tutu at all. In 1914, we’re not talking about our beloved ballerina form of dress just yet, my dears! We are talking about the beginnings of what we'd call ‘contemporary' design. It’s hard to imagine the history of the tutu without considering the history of fashion as a whole, and how it led to today's incredible tutus! You see, fashion was all about beauty. There was so much love and passion, and not a care about the comfort of the person wearing it. Just beautiful, expressive fabric! Just like today's tutus, they were created to show movement.
Speaking of movement, we all know how important dance and movement were to history! Let me just tell you about this delightful dance, "La Belle Dame Sans Merci." I fell utterly in love with it! I even took a little lesson or two, with the teacher in a super cute corset that made her look just like a fairy tale princess. You can't deny there’s something quite special about getting all twirly and swirly in your own en pointe shoes and expressing yourself through dance, no matter what era! It's like a journey of self-expression that goes beyond the steps; it's about feeling free, elegant, and beautiful.
While the tutu was still a few years away in this era, the history of dance and ballet is so connected with fashion, as they both reflect the tastes and times! Just imagine how a delicate and flowy piece of fabric can look even more stunning when paired with elegant, soft pink tutus. Oh, just a little imagination on this Tuesday - how lovely, wouldn't you agree? Imagine seeing an entire dance piece inspired by 1914s styles with dancers in our gorgeous tutus! I might just have to stage something for the website! Imagine the lovely flowing skirts of "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" and all the graceful, twirling action of the ballet steps just emphasized even more with the perfect fluffy, sparkly pink tutu.
Let's take a moment to chat about my latest adventures, shall we? You see, it’s always exciting when I time travel and I've really started to enjoy the luxury of trains - the journey adds to the whole experience! Imagine arriving at a train station in an elegant, historical city! The excitement in the air as passengers from every corner of the country, even other countries, arrive with bags, baskets and all sorts of bundles ready for their new adventures.
Now, it might seem as though all this is a long way from my dear #TutuTuesday, but as I look out my window, and even feel a slight breeze wafting the pink tulle around me, I start to think it’s not. The fashion of 1914, and what followed, and how we embraced the new silhouettes and the incredible use of detail – it's a huge influence in creating what the ballet looks like today! You just can’t separate these ideas of what people thought beauty meant at that time! In a world of innovation and discovery, they created and developed these things like lace, beads, and sequins… All these things create the look of a ballet, from its costume to its dance stage to its theatre to even the music they played and the stories they told through the dancers! It's all one huge interconnected tapestry of creativity.
As always, my lovely tutu-loving friends, I hope you enjoyed today’s #TutuTuesday! I’d love to hear all about your fashion dreams, from the past or the future, so leave a comment below! And of course, please follow along as we continue our fabulous tutu journey!
As for me, I'll be taking a quick little trip to London this week! Just imagine – shopping on Oxford Street for the newest and cutest tutu designs. Who knows what treasures I might find for next Tuesday's blog! Stay tuned!
See you soon,
Emma x
