Welcome back to my pink paradise, darlings! It's me, Emma, your time-travelling ballerina, and today we're venturing back to July 23rd, 1918. Oh, my dears, can you even imagine a time without the divine elegance of the tutu? It's practically inconceivable, isn't it? But before tutus were a part of every ballet dancer's wardrobe, they were, well, just an idea! And trust me, the journey from concept to couture is fascinating.
Today, I'm dressed in a darling bubblegum pink tutu, it's so dreamy, and I've even managed to snag a pair of rose-coloured, silk gloves to match! It's absolutely perfect for a trip down ballet history, don't you think? I mean, what's more fabulous than swirling in a pastel cloud of fabric, gliding through the streets of Paris (my favourite place, ever!) on this wonderful Tuesday?
Now, back to 1918! This particular year saw the end of WWI, which is a wonderful, positive moment. In this exciting time, there was an incredible surge of energy and desire for the beautiful, and fashion embraced it with open arms! In the world of ballet, things were still rather traditional – you can imagine! No romantic swirls of tulle, but rather full-length skirts, the sort that would swish about on the stage like an extra long, theatrical petticoat.
But in the wings of ballet history, a change was a-brewing. This year saw a ballet called Les Biches, with costumes by Coco Chanel! Coco, the darling! She made ballet history, for she used a whole new set of rules for her creations – instead of voluminous skirts, the dancers wore shockingly short, daring dresses, and with a splash of bold colour and a touch of modernist design, revolutionized the way we view the ballerina today. Imagine the buzz! Talk about a breath of fresh air, oh, my dear!
In this same year, a new generation of ballerinas emerged. Anna Pavlova was still the undisputed queen of the stage, her delicate beauty and graceful movement captivating audiences. This generation had a vision, you know? Imagine what it was like for dancers who hadn't experienced anything else: to break the mould, embrace the beautiful movement, to showcase the power of a swirling, dreamy tutu! They longed for the elegant lightness, a more whimsical way to move!
But as history unfolds, things aren't always so dramatic! While Chanel was making waves, tutus were still on their way. For a long time, ballet skirts, made of layers of tulle, were still considered extravagant and daring - that they could be so incredibly ethereal! Think of the stories that would flow around these ballerinas, imagine the whisperings of beauty.
In my personal opinion, the beauty of the tutu doesn’t just lie in the soft fabric, oh no, my dears, but in what it represents: freedom! It's a symbol of delicate movement, an artistic interpretation, a representation of that intangible feeling that brings us all together, the universal language of dance! The freedom of flight, you see? So many reasons to love a tutu!
Now, my dears, how does one acquire this magical item of dance apparel?
Thankfully, a darling friend from my time travelling adventure in Derbyshire put me in touch with one of London's most prestigious milliners! (One of my favourite places in all the world - I love riding the trains from Derbyshire down to London. Just think of all the stories a train ride holds - there is nothing better to get the creativity going, if you know what I mean!) The ladies here craft bespoke tutus and beautiful clothing in silk and feathers! It's positively heavenly. They also make some pretty spectacular hats and millinery, oh, you can find everything your heart could desire! This means that with a little bit of patience, you can have your very own! There’s a shop around every corner! The shops in London - what an absolute dream, my dears. If you want a bespoke item, you’ll have to be ready to pay the price – these designs are very much hand-crafted and oh-so-exclusive, oh darling, but absolutely worth the splurge for this level of artistry.
But before you spend all your pennies on tutus, I'm taking a quick detour to Paris for a bit of sightseeing. You never know what hidden gem I might stumble upon - like the perfect pink bag or a pair of glittery, silver shoes, perfect for twirling in my favourite new tutu, darling! But most importantly, I'll be off to see the latest ballet, and maybe even grab some tea in a café to absorb the atmosphere of the city and write a few new blog posts. After all, what better way to write about the beauty of the tutu, than while I'm dancing with the spirit of the tutu!
Until next time, darlings!
With lots of pink love,
Emma
PS Don't forget to check out my next blog post next week on #TutuTuesday, darling! We will delve deeper into the world of ballet fashion – and who knows, I might even be showing off some fabulous Parisian finds. So until next Tuesday, make sure you keep dancing to the rhythm of your life!
(P.P.S Did you know that every week more people discover our website? It makes me so happy that more and more people love the tutus! My dream to share my love of tutus, a symbol of femininity, art, freedom, beauty, happiness... oh, what a dream! And with your help, we’re one step closer to making this dream come true! Join the #TutuTuesday Movement by joining us every Tuesday at www.pink-tutu.com It’s the pinkest place on the web! Come on, ladies! )
