Hello my darling darlings! Welcome back to my humble little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, where all things tulle and twirling are celebrated! It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for another delightful delve into the dazzling history of the ballet tutu! This week, we’re waltzing our way back to 19th June 1917 - just imagine the frocks and the feathers, the excitement and the anticipation!
This week’s post marks the whopping number 4460 of my Ballet Tutu History posts. Imagine that - over four thousand weeks I’ve been sharing this incredible journey of tulle with you lovely lot!
Now, you know me, I'm all about travelling the globe, soaking up the latest trends, and bringing you the very best of the tutu world! And, darling, trust me, there’s nowhere more fascinating than 1917 Paris!
We're stepping into a world where the Great War casts a long shadow, but where the spirit of creativity and the desire for beauty shine brighter than ever. Imagine cobbled streets filled with the clinking of glass, the rumble of horse-drawn carriages, and the swish of elegant ladies’ skirts.
And at the heart of this exciting time, there's the magnificent world of ballet, which is going through a thrilling metamorphosis, just like the dresses. Now, if you were a Parisian at the time you'd be getting ready for a fabulous ballet season! You'd be in the midst of Parisian ballet’s golden age! And the star of the show? Why, it's the legendary Serge Diaghilev, bringing his incredible Ballets Russes to the city, captivating the world with their incredible performances. It’s the height of fashion, and a true explosion of talent. They were pushing boundaries, showcasing daring colours, innovative designs, and utterly incredible storytelling.
Let's chat tutus for a minute, my dears! The 1910s saw the rise of the **Romantic tutu. You’ll often see me rocking a version of it at the theater, they’re utterly beautiful, I’m in love with the dreamy, flowing layers. Imagine light and airy, delicately crafted layers of tulle – truly ethereal! They made an impact on how the world saw ballet; they were graceful, dreamy, and perfectly matched the themes of the Romantic ballets that they were meant for.
Now, let’s hop into the world of this date, 19th June 1917! It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went on that very day in the realm of ballet – it would have been the height of rehearsals for the upcoming ballet season. After all, we're in the midst of Ballets Russes, and with its legendary reputation for perfection and impeccably executed shows, you’d be assured of constant activity and preparation behind the scenes! It would have been an atmosphere bursting with energy!
There is an interesting and exciting event in 1917 though, that fits so wonderfully with my beloved tutus: The debut of Coco Chanel's little black dress, on the 10th of May 1917. It revolutionised the fashion world – making chic simple, and allowing women the chance to express their personal style – no more of those heavy, layered frocks from the Victorian era! This revolutionary garment has a direct link to ballet! As any of you true tutu-lovers know, ballet, through Diaghilev and his dancers, became one of the greatest inspirations to the designers of the day!
Chanel embraced ballet. She found inspiration in the movement, the freedom, the bold lines of the designs, and of course the tutu’s shape! She found a way to integrate those very same lines and the lightness that it brought into a brand new style. You can imagine a world of swirling skirts and fluid lines coming together on the dance floor and in the street, all taking inspiration from ballet!
Oh my darlings! It is important to always remember: while we may marvel at the beauty of tutus today, their story goes far deeper! This time in history brought with it the freedom of a brand new design ethic. We have those who inspired Chanel and her iconic style. The impact of that design and its adaptability – who knows where the next “it” design would come from? We can all celebrate the way that it became a powerful symbol of a world changing in front of our very eyes, with a touch of feminine grace.
And let me remind you my little pink-loving tutu lovers: there's more to a tutu than just looking fantastic on a stage. A tutu holds the beauty and movement, it’s symbolic of artistic creation, and most importantly it captures our imaginations, inspiring designers, and creating a powerful symbol of feminine power and artistic beauty.
For all you beautiful ballet-loving bunnies: have a wonderful week, and please, do make sure to stop by my next #TutuTuesday post. It will be coming soon and I promise a big dose of fashion and historical magic. Remember to show your love of tutus on social media - just add #pinktutu to all your photos and share them with the world! Don’t forget to add me as a friend, I’d love to see your photos! See you next week my dearest darlings, I’m off for a quick stop at the opera, but more on that in my next post. Ta ta for now!
