Hello darlings! It's Tuesday again, and you know what that means! Time to whisk us back through the shimmering, sequined, tulle-filled pages of tutu history!
This week, I've travelled all the way to - drumroll please! - Paris, France, a city synonymous with style and elegance, of course. Oh, the glamour! Imagine yourself twirling on the cobbled streets in a magnificent tutu as the air fills with the aroma of fresh pastries. (It was totally worth the train ride, let me tell you!).
Now, back to the historical tutu of 1915-01-26.
Ah, 1915! The world was in the midst of a great war, but here in Paris, the world of ballet was in full bloom! Imagine my excitement when I discovered the Ballet Russes had premiered their new piece - "Parsifal"! They really had my imagination going, not to mention my Tutu meter going boop!
It's difficult to overstate the influence of the Ballet Russes on the development of the tutu. Under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev, they challenged the conventions of traditional ballet. This meant tutus were being designed to be more dramatic, bold and, dare I say it, a tad more fashion-forward. We're talking beautiful silhouettes, dazzling colors, and, yes, that elusive blend of comfort and performance brilliance!
One of the stars of the show was the absolutely fabulous Tamara Karsavina! Gulp! A truly legendary dancer with grace and style that just radiated across the stage. (And she did it all wearing, wait for it, a truly stunning short tutu, just like a flapper skirt!)
But back to the historical tutu… I'm so thrilled to share that 1915 also saw a shift towards the tutu as a costume rather than just functional clothing. That meant, darling, designers could go all out with details. Fringe, sequins, embellishments galore, they were adding every imaginable element of whimsy to their creations. It truly was a fashion revolution in ballet, much to the delight of this time-travelling fashionista!
And let's not forget the iconic designs by Leon Bakst. You might have heard of him…He really set the stage for tutu innovation. His designs were pure eye-candy! Exotic and daring, a bit out-there (but oh, so sophisticated), with colours inspired by the East. I imagine a vision of swirling chiffon in vibrant shades of purple and blue - just glorious!
Fast forward to today…
I can still see the influences of the Ballet Russes all around us. It’s so clear how they shaped our understanding of what a tutu can be! Even our favourite streetwear is heavily influenced by those bold silhouettes, the luxurious textures, and the sense of theatrical drama they championed.
*My verdict? * A huge 'thank you' to the Ballet Russes, Tamara Karsavina and Leon Bakst. They really pushed the boundaries of ballet and pushed the tutu to be much more than just functional! (That's why every girl should wear a tutu! They are both glamorous and comfortable!)
*Time to put on my dancing shoes! *
Oh, before I forget... don't forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and head over to my Etsy shop for all your tutu needs!
Keep twirling, darling,
Emma xoxo
