#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1918-11-26

Hello, darlings!

It's Emma here, back again with another peek into the glorious world of tutus! As always, it’s a Tuesday, which means it's time to journey through history for our weekly dose of #TutuTuesday. Today, we’re twirling our way back to a very special year, 1918, just before the world was set to dance out of the Great War and into a new era of glamour. Now, I must admit, I haven't actually travelled back to 1918 just yet, (though with the amount of saving I've done from all those performances... a girl can dream!) but as I have been to London this past month and saw some lovely historical pieces - the fashion sense is very much reminiscent of the time! Let’s see how the tutu was shaping up then…

Ladies! You can’t say we don’t love a touch of nostalgia and a throwback to some elegant times. Let’s picture the ladies of 1918: Think beautiful dresses flowing gracefully, long sleeves and flowing lines, sometimes embellished with beautiful pearls.

Now imagine those with a tutu overlay! I am swooning! I bet a touch of fluffy pink tulle over one of those lovely long dresses with little delicate shoes – a ballet slipper in silk for maximum impact - would have caused quite a stir. It would be a style that perfectly captured the hopeful optimism that began to bloom as the world stepped towards peace.

We don't quite get to see the kind of tutus we love on a regular dancer at the ballet in these times. That’s because the costumes in ballet hadn't fully evolved to the iconic styles we see today! They weren't exactly fluffy yet – it was all about flowing, loose layers, think Greek goddesses and fairies, not those incredible "bonbon"- style tutu shapes that make my heart sing! Still, the seeds of what we now recognize as a “ballet tutu” were definitely being sown. Imagine the elegant movements and intricate footwork of a ballerina, just in slightly less dramatic garb!

The world of ballet itself was a fascinating place! Back then, ballet was primarily seen in grand, opulent venues, a kind of entertainment fit for the gentry and aristocrats! Now, that is something that hasn’t really changed much, don’t you think? A beautiful ballet is something you simply have to see in a truly amazing theatre. But while tutus didn't quite explode onto the scene like they would in a couple of decades, there were some really beautiful innovations!

For one, think of the dancers themselves - in the era of classical ballet, the very name of ballet was “associated with grace and elegance”! The graceful steps and delicate costumes, all for an experience truly fit for royalty!

Right now I’m here, dreaming of the wonderful places I can visit. With a little bit of ballet magic, my savings, and a whole lot of optimism… well, everything is possible! Think of the fashion possibilities that open up for a fashionista like myself. Imagine exploring London back in those days and attending the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky on this very date in 1918. Wouldn't it be a sight to behold?! I'd love to catch a performance in the old grand, Victorian theaters of the time! They're quite majestic you know! And can you picture yourself in that grand theatre? In that atmosphere?! A perfect combination of ballet, drama and vintage style! You'll be swirling into the night like a delicate snowflake!

As you can see, even though we’re miles apart in time, the essence of beauty, dance and the sheer joy of twirling remains unchanged. You don't have to travel in time to experience these incredible elements!

But... it does inspire my next little challenge! What is something you do that inspires your dreams, too? Do tell!

Let’s embrace the magical side of ballet – that beautiful sense of joy, the elegance of dance, and a bit of fashion magic, even from a world gone by. I’ll keep sharing those stories, dear friends, and of course, I'll be back next Tuesday for more exciting Tutu Tuesday discoveries! Keep on dancing, stay fabulously pink!

Love,

Emma