Oh darling, how utterly delightful to be back in my #PinkTutuBlog today! As you all know, every Tuesday is my #TutuTuesday, dedicated to the wondrous history of this most iconic of garments. Today weāre going to step back in time to the 8th of January, 1918. A year still marred by the awful Great War, yet a year where hope, even in the darkest of hours, managed to flourish!
Fashion: An explosion of colour!
Oh, the fashion in 1918! The first year after the war had ended and a real feeling of hope and energy in the air. Remember how restrictive the Edwardian times were, darling? Dresses and skirts practically touching the ground? Well, by 1918, all that had been thrown to the wind!
The silhouette was shifting, with shorter skirts and straighter, looser dresses. Even the bustline was liberated ā yay! It was an age of colours, darling ā vibrant colours! Think sapphire blues, emerald greens, ruby reds. Such a lovely departure from the grey and muted tones of war times, donāt you agree?
But darling, what about the tutus?
Well, 1918 was a year of exciting change for the tutu. Back then, darling, it was still predominantly the āromanticā tutu. This wasnāt quite the voluminous confection you see today, but still a fluffy, romantic shape. They were often created with tiers of tulle, swirling beautifully and so, so romantic. Think about it darling ā a bit like a whisper of clouds, only spun from the most ethereal fabric!
The dance world in 1918
While we couldnāt possibly go without mentioning the devastating effects of the war, there was still plenty of joy and inspiration happening in the ballet world! Some truly magnificent ballets, like The Sleeping Beauty, were beginning to become mainstays on the European ballet circuit. Imagine being able to see this magical performance in full glory! Oh, to see the Auroraās magnificent costumes and those majestic scenes, so perfectly suited to the āRomantic tutu!ā
But what really happened on the 8th of January, 1918, you ask?
Well, we had our own little piece of history. It wasnāt a particularly notable day in the grand scheme of things, no magnificent premieres or extraordinary ballet performances to report. It was more a day for quiet, understated grace, for perfecting turns and arabesques in the warm glow of the rehearsal studio, as if to prepare the stage for the glorious return to normalcy that was about to take hold of the world. Think of all those delicate movements in the rehearsal rooms, ready to blossom into those stunning ballets!
And this, dear readers, is the magic of ballet. It offers us beauty and escape even during the darkest times, reminding us that within us all resides a little bit of the beautiful and extraordinary, much like the lovely tutu Iām wearing.
Until next #TutuTuesday, my lovelies. Keep dancing! And remember to always, ALWAYS, wear a pink tutu!
Yours truly,
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
Postscript: You can bet Iāll be posting lots more about 1918 in the coming weeks! The story of the āromantic tutuā and its gradual evolution into the modern tutu is a truly enchanting tale. Stay tuned! And, darling, do write and let me know which eras in ballet history you'd love to hear about.
P.S.S. Speaking of my time travel adventures, I was lucky enough to see the Royal Ballet perform a stunning production of Swan Lake earlier today, here in London. It's absolutely impossible not to be swept away by the majesty of such an elegant art form!
P.P.S And speaking of fashion, have you all seen the new designs in the boutiques here in London? The latest gowns are quite the sight! I have a sneaking suspicion I might have to make a purchase... just for a little extra flair!
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And don't forget to wear your own pink tutu, darling!
