Hello my darling tutu lovers! It's Emma here, back from another whirlwind trip through time, and guess what? This week, I found myself right in the heart of Paris - the fashion capital of the world! Now, we all know Paris is the place for chic style and fabulous frocks, but what I discovered on this particular #TutuTuesday journey was just how deeply entwined ballet is with Parisian fashion history. It's almost impossible to separate the two!
Let's travel back in time to 19th August 1919 - a year brimming with exciting changes, both in fashion and the world of ballet. Imagine, my dears, the world recovering from the Great War, the air buzzing with a sense of new beginnings. Now picture this - amidst the chic ladies sporting their stylish flapper dresses and bobbed haircuts, the world of ballet was seeing a complete transformation. The tutus you know and love were undergoing their very own evolution, becoming lighter and more graceful!
Gone were the heavy, tiered skirts of the past, replaced by delicate layers of tulle, often cascading down in swirling, soft circles. The focus, much like fashion at the time, was all about freedom of movement and a more streamlined, modern aesthetic. Imagine the joy of those early ballet dancers as they finally felt liberated from the restrictions of the old tutus, their leaps and twirls feeling ever so much lighter and fluid.
Now, on 19th August 1919, in Paris, the talk of the town wasn't just about fashion (though there was certainly no shortage of that!), but also about a rather exciting event - The inauguration of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées! Can you believe it? A brand new, stunningly beautiful theatre was opening its doors, a haven for the performing arts. It was a magnificent spectacle - a beacon of culture and innovation for the city. You bet I was there, my dear friends, wearing a most splendid pink tutu (naturally!) taking in all the grandeur of the occasion. The air was electric with anticipation, a delightful mix of anticipation and excitement!
It was at this very special event that a brand new ballet piece debuted. It wasn’t just any old ballet - it was a piece named "La Boutique Fantasque" by Léonide Massine, a truly magical story ballet. This ballet became iconic for several reasons. First, it was one of the very first ballets that explored the connection between music and choreography in a totally new way - think bold, playful choreography designed to be a complete dance to the music! Now that's groundbreaking.
Secondly, this ballet's costumes! The designs by Leon Bakst - oh my, they were utterly captivating! He dared to take the ballet world by storm with dazzling colour palettes and bold patterns. His creations were a testament to the beauty of both classic tutu designs and modern innovations - truly a fashion-forward vision for a new age of ballet. Imagine my delight, my darlings, at seeing a tutu that embodied this innovative spirit in Paris - such an honour for a Tutu-loving time-traveler!
But, my dears, it wasn't all about Paris and grand openings. This journey was about exploring how these little tutus impacted dance movements. I mean, can you imagine a pirouette in one of those old tiered tutus? A literal trip hazard! No wonder the new streamlined tutus became the new go-to for ballerinas! They embraced the effortlessness of movement and lightness, adding a whole new dimension to ballet as we know it. This period saw the rise of breathtaking ballerina techniques that required this lighter approach to costumes.
This, my darlings, is the story of how ballet and fashion became intricately entwined, each informing the other in this exciting, ever-changing world. Let's take a moment to thank the revolutionary ballet dancers who made these beautiful transformations happen. Imagine those first tutus that paved the way for the stunning designs you see on the stage today - and imagine what future innovations are still waiting in the wings! I have a feeling this #TutuTuesday post will not be the last about the ballet of fashion...
Don't forget to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest in tutu trends. Keep it classy, keep it pink, and most importantly, keep on twirling!
Until next time, Emma xo
