Hello my darlings! Emma here, your very own tutu-tastic time-travelling blogger, back again for another #TutuTuesday! Today, we’re whisking back to 18th March, 1919. Buckle up, my loves, because it’s time for a pink-tinted peek into the world of ballet just after the Great War!
Oh, the anticipation of this journey! It's like a beautifully wrapped present, you can’t wait to open it! My mind is overflowing with dreams of glorious costumes, magnificent dancers, and maybe even a spot of afternoon tea. sigh Doesn't life just get better and better with a touch of pink and a twirl or two?
Now, I might be a little late this Tuesday - a sneaky bit of vintage shopping in London set me back, you see - but darling, don't you just adore those charming vintage tea dresses?! Oh, I must show you the new bloomers I found! But anyway, back to business...
We’re venturing into a time of incredible change in the ballet world. The war years may have brought darkness, but out of the ashes rises an era of re-invention! Artists were trying new things, experimenting with techniques, and breaking new ground in the world of dance! Can you imagine?! It's almost as exciting as a new pair of pointe shoes!
Now, while the year 1919 might seem a bit too old fashioned for your average Tutu Tuesday reader, darling, this is no ordinary year. It's when the Diaghilev Ballets Russes were about to grace the stage of the London Coliseum, and believe me, it was a spectacle not to be missed!
The Diaghilev company, for those who aren't in the know, were the game-changers, the innovators, the creators of a vibrant, bold, and thoroughly theatrical style of dance that swept the world. It was ballet gone wild, my love, full of bold colors, extravagant costumes, and innovative storytelling. If I’m honest, it might be my absolute favorite ballet style of all time!
Just imagine a stage adorned with dazzling costumes, a touch of sparkling rhinestones, maybe a little feathered flourish for good measure! Vividly colored fabrics, inspired by Russian folk art, brought a touch of vibrancy and joy! It was an explosion of color and artistry!
I think it's perfectly fitting that I'm doing this post in London too! They say that this was where the company really thrived, where they got their wings (and feather boas, I presume) and spread their beautiful magic throughout the world! Can you imagine the joy, the excitement, the energy on that night at the London Coliseum! I'm almost ready to hop back into my time machine and go watch it myself!
Let's chat about that lovely tutus: Back in 1919, you'll find a serious lack of those soft, airy tulle creations you love to see on me, my darling. While some companies began to experiment with a lighter, softer fabric, many ballerinas were still forced to dance in heavy, more structured garments, like long skirts, sometimes in layers! Can you even imagine?! I wouldn't be caught dead in them!
It's a far cry from the airy tutus we see in the grand ballet today. Those fluffy, beautiful works of art! Even if they're still a touch too fussy and extravagant for everyday wear (though, don't tell anyone, I do have an after-five, party-ready tutu hanging in my closet... ), it's simply divine. I don’t think the 1919 dancers quite realized what a glorious future we had in store for the tutu - the ultimate expression of feminine grace and movement!
That being said, even in those more conservative times, dance was still an art of expression, wasn’t it? And there is a certain elegance, a je ne sais quoi, to those Victorian-inspired costumes.
Oh darling, I almost forgot to tell you what else was going on in 1919! That same year, Anna Pavlova took to the stage in The Swan, and, well, the audience couldn't get enough! The stories coming from that production were astounding! The world went wild, you see, for this magical creation! There was a real spark, a kind of magic in that performance - just the kind of inspiration we need for Tutu Tuesday. Don't you agree, darling?
Of course, in true #TutuTuesday style, it wouldn't be right without a little bit of fashion fun, would it? 1919 was still the peak of the "flapper" era, and with it came an entirely new world of fashion: loose fitting garments, dropped waists, flared skirts, and the unprecedented (but oh-so-stylish!) length of "the flapper"! Oh, and it goes without saying that everything was adorned with the lustrous gleam of beads, feathers, and sparkles - all the perfect accents to bring an outfit to life. And of course, ladies loved to embrace bold colors and vibrant prints, the perfect touch of rebellious charm! It all comes together, wouldn't you say?
Imagine it: A beautiful tutu worn underneath a gorgeous, vibrant dress with all the glitter and glamour you could wish for, perfectly fitting those daring new styles and attitudes! And speaking of the sparkle… well, my darling, I can’t let you leave this Tuesday without showing you my favourite new discovery! In a shop tucked away in an alley behind Covent Garden, I found the most stunning vintage costume jewelry: beautiful necklaces, ornate brooches, and headbands with little glittering stars – perfect for adding that little bit of magic to your daily outfits! You know me - never shy to let my inner sparkle shine!
As for my travels? I'm absolutely smitten with the trains, darling! The train carriage is practically my new home away from home! My trusty, pink-trimmed steamer trunk (oh, it’s so chic!) carries my carefully chosen wardrobe (no pink tutus left at home!) - oh, it’s the most glamorous way to travel between the epochs! And then there’s the anticipation! As the train rumbles, the world whizzes by, I can’t help but feel that it’s only a matter of time before I find the perfect new piece to add to my ever-growing collection. I tell you what - a good wardrobe refresh is more effective than any energy drink!
So darling, thank you for joining me for another #TutuTuesday, filled with magic, history, and a touch of pink, of course! Let's take a spin back in time again next Tuesday for another pink-filled escapade!
Don’t forget to head over to the pink-tutu.com for more on this fascinating time - or to pick up a new pink tutu to embrace your own sparkling side! I can't wait to see all those happy faces. Let your inner ballerina out and twirl into the next week!
Emma, your Tutu-tastic Time Traveller
*P.S. Have I mentioned I'm completely in love with Paris, the ballet's magical heart? It’s the perfect place to twirl the hours away, darling! Maybe a trip there is in order for our next *Tutu Tuesday... I’m dying to explore the ballet studios, the costume designers, the cafés! Maybe, just maybe, I’ll even get a new tutu while I’m there! * 💖🌸🩰 *
