Bonjour, mes chĆ©ries! š©°š
It's a beautiful day here in Paris, and the crisp Parisian air smells of freshly baked croissants and the promise of a delightful ballet performance later this evening. Today's #TutuTuesday post is a particularly exciting one, taking us back to the magical year of 1917 - a time of elegance, innovation, and, of course, the dazzling dance of ballet.
Let me spin you a story, darling, about how the tutu took its place on the world stage, and how this year, 1917, saw some truly groundbreaking steps in tutu history.
Now, as you all know, I'm an absolute devotee to the tutu. They're so very pretty, and oh, so wonderfully elegant. I believe everyone should own one. Pink, naturally! And there are so many fabulous styles!
Now, picture this: 1917, right? War is brewing, but Paris still has a sense of grandeur and glamour. Fashion is booming, and, darling, ballet is where it's at. The Palais Garnier, oh, how it glitters! It's just oozing elegance. And thatās what's reflected in the ballerinasā costumes, especially those magnificent tutus!
What did a typical 1917 tutu look like? It was longer, darling, sweeping dramatically towards the floor. They'd often have a long, romantic flounce. Imagine yourself floating like a feather with all that lovely billowing tulle. And those colours! The rich jewel tones, the elegant, muted shades, the softest of pinks. Simply beautiful!
An era of dance giants
Now, my dearest fashionistas, if you happen to be in Paris today, do visit the OpĆ©ra Garnier, home to the Ballet de lāOpĆ©ra National de Paris. Itās where some of the absolute giants of dance were performing. Names like Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky! Their performances were legendary. They revolutionised ballet and transformed what a tutu could express!
Nijinskyās groundbreaking dance style was an artistic rebellion. He wanted movement to be free, graceful, like a bird in flight, a perfect image to embody with a diaphanous tutu! Anna Pavlova, another icon of this era, took the ballet world by storm, known for her impossibly light and ethereal dance. And do you know what her most memorable tutu looked like? White, of course! So elegant! A true fashion icon.
This year also saw the debut of "Jeux," a masterpiece of modern dance. This wasn't your typical romantic ballet, though. This dance took the ballet world by storm. Imagine it: the music is exciting and lively, the dance movements daring. And what were the ballerinas wearing? Short, chic tutus! These tutus are short and form-fitting. Just imagine it: sleek and sharp. A definite style revolution!
But my, that wasn't all, darlings! The ballet world is constantly changing, you know!
There was so much energy in this period - fashion, style and dance were intertwined. Fashion houses like Poiret were bringing elegance and style to ballet costumes. What they did for fashion, they brought to the tutu!
The year 1917 brought excitement, revolution, and above all, change. Itās a testament to how powerful ballet and fashion were in their fusion and innovation. The tutu in particular - itās a symbol of the fluidity, beauty, and ever-evolving artistry of dance.
I just know it will remain a timeless icon of elegance!
So remember, darlings: wear a tutu today. The colour? You guessed it, pink! And if you do happen to be in Paris this week, catch a performance at the Opera!
A bientĆ“t, darlings, until next Tuesday's #TutuTuesday! šš©°
P.S. Oh! I forgot to tell you. Remember those gorgeous feathers and jeweled accents in ballet costumes? Well, the trendsetter behind the first costume adorned with feathers was Coco Chanel! You know, Chanel, that gorgeous designer whose clothing revolutionised women's fashion. She added a gorgeous black ostrich feather to her creations! Genius, wasn't it?
And donāt forget to follow me on Twitter for even more tutu fun! @PinkTutuFashion
About Emma:
Hello there, I'm Emma, and Iām here to to bring some āpink tutuā happiness into your world! My life's mission is to spread the love of pink tutus, and to bring the dazzling history of the ballet tutu into the light!
Every Tuesday, I share a #TutuTuesday post to help you delve deeper into the history of ballet and the delightful evolution of this iconic garment.
Iām a big fan of anything with sparkle, but my passion lies in fashion history, particularly the era of early 20th century Paris. There's no place like Paris for ballet, beautiful clothes and endless elegance. But who needs to just travel to Paris, when, through the wonders of time travel, I can bring the magical experience of early 20th century Paris to you? I get to visit historical periods through ballet and fashion shows. And you get to travel the world with me via my blogs.
Letās step into a magical, historical ballet together! Stay fabulous, darling!
