Hello my darling dance devotees, and welcome back to another fabulous #TutuTuesday! This week, my pink-tutu-clad time machine has whisked me to a thrillingly fashionable moment in 1917, a time where ballet was really starting to make its grand entrance into the hearts and minds of the world!
Oh, it was a treat, darling! I arrived right in the midst of a glorious performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Can you imagine? Imagine a theatre bursting with energy, glittering with chandeliers, and abuzz with the excitement of a captivated audience. And of course, there on the stage were those breathtaking ballerinas, swirling and leaping in their tutus, all shades of ivory and blush.
My dear, they were nothing like those cumbersome, heavy, "Romantics" that they would wear later! No, these were light as a feather, floaty dresses, almost like they were a delicate extension of the dancer themselves. The tutus, of course, were flowing, the perfect partner for the ethereal, almost dreamlike, moves that the ballet showcased. I must say, the graceful leaps and swirling pirouettes that unfolded before my very eyes simply mesmerized me!
But you know what else was interesting? That 1917 was a truly pivotal year for tutus themselves! Imagine this, dear friends: Sergei Diaghilev (now there’s a name you must remember), he of the Ballets Russes, was presenting this new, daring, and utterly magnificent ballet - "The Rite of Spring." * Now, can you guess what caused a *massive stir in that audience, dear reader? That's right, the costumes!
And this brings us to one of my favourite points, something that we all know and love... the pink tutu. You know that deep, ravishing, utterly stunning shade of pink? The kind of pink that radiates energy and power, and yet still feels feminine and delicate? It’s no wonder it was all the rage in 1917! Imagine, it perfectly reflected the revolution happening all around! Oh, you should have seen those pink dancers!
Speaking of dancers, Tamara Karsavina, Anna Pavlova, and Vaslav Nijinsky, were the superstars of this era, my dears! I think their names deserve a little "tut, tut" in honour of their legendary talent, don't you? I’d even seen them outside the theatre! (Do you ever get that feeling of "Oh my goodness, that's her!?" I swear, the sheer wonder, the elegance, even in their day clothes!) They wore fashionable, daring clothes with so much elegance, such simple sophistication. They're true icons.
And of course, in the world outside the ballet theatre, everything was swirling and dancing in a different way, just like those amazing twirls on stage. Think: Empire waist gowns, and the most dazzling headdresses made from silk flowers, oh darling, the feather boas (some even pink!), and the most spectacular, voluminous hat creations! I mean, what a joy to witness fashion and creativity flourishing like this.
But wait, there's more, dear readers! I couldn't resist popping into a few boutiques to catch a glimpse of the fascinating fabric trends of the era. I can tell you this, you wouldn't believe how many times pink satin graced those shop windows. It was truly breathtaking. The silky soft sheen, the delicate draping, just perfect for those charming feminine dresses, darling! Not to mention, the delicate, pastel colours like lilac, azure and baby blue, which blended with ivory lace and silky fabrics… the dreamy shades perfectly reflected that time of hope and new optimism.
My dears, fashion and ballet, hand-in-hand! You’d think they'd be an impossible pairing! But believe me, 1917 brought the magic of the ballet into the very fabric of daily life! Those lovely, romantic ballerinas weren’t just performers; they were the epitome of modern style!
Speaking of style, did you know there are so many amazing fashion boutiques to explore around the Mariinsky Theatre? We could hop onto a trolley, or if we are really posh, a drosky, a beautiful horse drawn carriage and whizz over there now! Just imagine, all that shopping, just thinking about it gets me spinning in circles!
It truly feels like I was living a fairytale! I even managed to sneak in a glimpse of some breathtaking vintage fashion designs, some were even on display! These creations were from Parisian couturiers, like the inimitable Coco Chanel, and the equally remarkable Paul Poiret!
Don’t you just adore this era’s fashion, dear friends? How about you let your imagination run wild this Tutu Tuesday, and dream about 1917.
As always, please leave me a comment about your favourite ballet era. And of course, don’t forget to wear your favourite tutu!
Keep dancing,
Emma. 💖
P.S. My latest adventure to the Mariinsky has made me realise, we must preserve *heritage. My next trip will be to Derbyshire, where I will be taking a close look at *Derbyshire’s *Victorian *tutu makers. Let's bring those old timey treasures back! (Yes, that will be a new series, right here on pink-tutu.com! )
