Hey lovelies! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, back again with another trip down #TutuTuesday's memory lane! Today, we're travelling right back to November 18th, 1919, to a time when the world of ballet was absolutely buzzing. Now, while tutus are absolutely iconic today, it's fascinating to see how they were just starting to blossom as the must-have garment for a ballerina.
Oh, darling, it’s thrilling to time travel, and the magic of dancing under the twinkling lights of the stage definitely makes it all worthwhile! My trip today was made extra special, though. My trusty pocket watch whizzed me to Paris – and I'm just swooning over all the incredible things that happened on this day. The sheer sophistication and beauty of Paris in the 1910s is something I just can’t get enough of. Let's take a little trip back and have a little nose, shall we?
A Whirlwind of Paris:1919 in Paris… wow, it was bursting with energy and elegance! The city was just getting its feet back on the ground after the war, but there was still such a strong feeling of joie de vivre, a real sense of looking forward to the future.
I waltzed into the grand old theatres, you know, the ones with all the opulent, sparkling chandeliers that leave you just breathless? You can almost feel the thrill and anticipation as the crowd buzzes with excitement for the ballets, the ones I’ve seen only in old photos or documentaries until now.
What makes it all even more special, though? Just the sheer variety of dresses, of all shapes, sizes and styles! I’m talking about beautiful, shimmering, floor-length gowns and extravagant headpieces adorned with the most wonderful colours and textures! The stage itself must have just shimmered with a magnificent mix of bright reds and greens, royal blues and sparkling gold, all brought together with exquisite costumes!
It was fascinating seeing how ballerinas were still experimenting with different looks! They’d embrace classic lines and flow with their long, ethereal skirts – just the absolute epitome of grace, and elegance. And even though the famous tutu we know and love today had yet to become the ultimate must-have, they started appearing in shows with more frequent pannier effects, giving that wonderful bell-shaped skirt a real air of volume! Just picture it… a sea of tutus shimmering under the spotlights - so glamorous!
Of course, no time travel adventure would be complete without some serious shopping! I found myself surrounded by beautiful, flowing fabrics and trims at shops that offered the finest couture - imagine how those clothes would feel against my skin! But as a proper tutu devotee, I made sure my mission was clear: find out where the most exciting designs for ballerina dresses and tutus were coming from, so I could take a peek back into the time and see them up close!
You're right - even with those pannier-tutu outfits that started emerging around the end of the 1910s, the world of ballerina costume was all about elegant silhouettes, not full-on flounce like we see on the ballet stage now. The fabrics - satin, tulle, organza, lace - were light and soft but crafted with such an eye for detail. Every little ribbon and lace added such a special, beautiful touch! It's no surprise, I think, that dancers and costume designers kept pushing the boundaries and innovating in this area… to this day, tutus remain as captivating as ever!
A Little Parisian Chic!Did I mention the incredible clothes that the Parisians were wearing at this time? My! I was smitten with it all - from the beautiful fabrics and elegant silhouettes of dresses to the luxurious furs, feathered hats and shoes that seemed to sparkle even in the twilight! I have to say, I really admire the creativity and resourcefulness of the Parisian ladies back then, embracing their feminine sides with absolute joy and grace. That Parisian style, those colours!
While tutus definitely are my absolute go-to item, the beautiful, long, feminine dresses worn in 1919 – all flowy and elegant – had something rather captivating about them too. Imagine being whisked away to a delightful soirée, wearing a dress with soft fabric, swirling gracefully and reflecting all the candlelight … pure fairytale, darling! Just like the ballet!
This Parisian style is something that is still captivating today - and the ladies have embraced a lot of what we saw back in 1919: long dresses with layers of lace, soft fabrics, pretty bows and pearls... There's a timelessness about it, something that always seems to make a comeback.
As I say - it’s all about how much we embrace femininity, a beautiful blend of sophistication, elegance, and style!
A Twirl to Remember:My #TutuTuesday trip to Paris was full of inspiration and pure wonder! Every bit of the 1910s seems to resonate so beautifully with how we look at things today. Those elegant, classic dresses are still so effortlessly stylish. We see hints of this throughout ballet costume history – the evolving design of tutus! And, yes, I can absolutely see how much we owe the ballerinas of that time and the costume designers for those very early influences that made ballet so beautiful!
I have a strong feeling I'll be spending lots more of my Tutu Tuesday journeys with ballerinas in 1919 Paris, finding new designs to share, and of course, inspiring us to make tutus absolutely everywhere!
See you all next week for another #TutuTuesday adventure!
(Emma xox)
www.pink-tutu.com
