Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your #TutuTuesday correspondent, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be back with you on this fabulous Tuesday, ready to waltz you back through time! I've been busy this week, of course, trying on new tutus, catching the most divine performances at the Opera (it's been quite the season so far, you wouldn't believe the feathered headbands! Simply exquisite), and scouring the boutiques of Paris for the newest fabrics - lace, silks, and that beautiful blush tulle!
But let's not get distracted. You know what time it is! It's time for a little #TutuTuesday trip down memory lane, our journey taking us back to 11th November 1918, and to a very significant year indeed - the year the war finally ended!
Yes, my darlings, just a week after this date, on the 11th of November of this momentous year, Armistice Day was signed, ending the Great War (as they called it back then) and marking a new era of peace. There were celebrations, and hope, and for the first time in years, people were able to breathe freely, and finally - and importantly - dance!
Now, this might come as a surprise to some of you, but ballet, during the war, was far from neglected! Despite the dark times, audiences longed for beauty, for escape, for artistry. The ballets in 1918 were actually full of joy, even with an undercurrent of longing for better days. They brought lightness and movement to a world weary of war.
Now, speaking of lightness and movement, let's dive into the history of tutus, my love, shall we?
I'm actually in Paris at the moment, which, as you all know, is the epicentre of tutu-ness! Back in 1918, as the war raged, ballet here in Paris was just about entering its golden age, with choreographers like Michel Fokine and Serge Diaghilev breaking the boundaries of classical ballet, and transforming how tutus were used.
In 1918, a little Parisian ballet called Le Sacre du Printemps (which means The Rite of Spring) completely revolutionised what a tutu could do! Remember how we talked about the tutus being 'lighter' before? Le Sacre completely changed this with the rigid, straight skirts and blocky, almost abstract designs it introduced! They didn't focus so much on flow and twirling; instead, the rigid lines of the skirt gave these new ballet tutus more power and purpose, echoing the bold themes of the story! It was really something!
But just a month earlier, there was Les Biches - a lovely little ballet about, well, fawns! I'm picturing tutus so delicate and romantic. And very, very short, almost more like skirts! A touch of the Roaring Twenties a little early? Perhaps. They even wore little silk bras with them - quite revolutionary!
Imagine it: delicate, wispy tutus, barely covering anything! In the romantic era, before this time, tutus were long and billowing, covering the ballerinas' feet like clouds. Now the shorter tutu was becoming a sign of modernity, freedom - an echo of the changing times. I absolutely adore the way designers took inspiration from the period and reflected it in the clothing. What can I say, I'm a fan of femininity in all its forms!
So, here we are, my darlings! A beautiful, elegant, and incredibly significant year - 1918. War was over, new ballet styles were emerging, tutus were taking on different shapes - and the fashion, the oh-so-feminine, fabulous fashion, was just about to erupt into a kaleidoscope of colour and new possibilities! And I, darling, will be right there with you, wearing my blush-pink tutu, twirling and dancing, in celebration of the ever-evolving, fabulous world of fashion!
Now, off I go, to explore some beautiful Paris boutiques! Stay fabulous, my loves!
Until next week,
Emma
xx
**(Post number: 4533)
Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more exciting content about the world of tutus, ballet, and fashion! You can also follow my adventures on all social media platforms @PinkTutu. I just love to see you lovely people rocking your tutus!**
This week's recommendations for Tutu-lovers: * Film: "The Red Shoes" (1948) - The ballet sequences are absolutely stunning, and it will give you all the ballet inspiration you need! * Book: "The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" by Catherine and David Bailey - A poignant, charming tale about Degas's iconic sculpture - and the fascinating history behind it! * Podcast: "The Ballet Podcast" hosted by Judith Mackrell - This weekly podcast will satisfy all your balletic needs.
