Hello, my darling dears! It's Emma, your pink-tutu-loving time traveller, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com. This week we're hopping aboard the time machine (well, more like a vintage carriage, really - can't get around by time train just yet!) and waltzing our way back to March 2nd, 1920. Buckle up your tap shoes, girls, it's going to be a whirlwind tour of the glamorous world of ballet!
It's post number 4601 for this blog, you know! That's a lot of tutus! I've been getting quite a few emails this week asking what's on today. Well, in the 21st century it’s just another Tuesday, but back in the 1920s, there's something utterly fantastic going on...
Firstly, 1920 marks the start of the Roaring Twenties! Think dazzling parties, jazz music, flapper dresses, and that je ne sais quoi of glamour! A bit of a wild time, let me tell you! We'll delve a bit more into the fashionable links to ballet a little later on in this post...
Right now though, our time machine lands us in a ballet studio, and there, I spot something incredible: The tutu! It’s still mostly known as a “Romantic Tutu” – very fitting, as it really was quite the romantic style! This graceful, wispy creation has become an absolute classic, just slightly shorter and more form-fitting than the tutus worn in the past. The designers back in this era, such as the famous Carlotta Grisi were truly visionary - their creations just swirl so beautifully.
Why were these changes taking place, you might ask? Well, think back to what dancers were capable of a hundred years ago - these ballerinas are the absolute prima donnas of grace and athleticism. So, this era is all about bringing the elegance and delicacy of their moves to the forefront.
Imagine it! You are in the audience. Lights are dimmed, a hush falls, and then... she appears. Swirling in a gown of gossamer fabric that looks almost like it’s spun from moonbeams! Now that is a spectacle that would make anyone’s heart flutter, isn't it? And that is the Romantic Tutu's charm! It literally creates the image of dancing on clouds, of light, and, well, romance, naturally!
Oh, and talking of romance, wouldn't you agree that our Pink Tutu fits this historical context perfectly?! So incredibly feminine and just the colour to bring a touch of Parisian enchantment! I've even got this super gorgeous rose-gold headpiece I'm saving for my trip to Paris, in case I run into Coco Chanel. Wouldn’t that be incredible? The perfect blend of elegance and bohemian flair - a true meeting of minds and styles.
Oh, and guess what? Back here, our Parisian sisters in fashion, with their bold flapper dresses and cloche hats – oh my goodness! They are drawing huge inspiration from this Romantic era, from its delicate elegance. They are starting to bring a touch of ballet into everyday wear! It's just beautiful!
Oh, now we have got to talk a little bit about the famous dancer of this era, Anna Pavlova. A true star of the era, you know, darling dears! *She has inspired everyone, from artists to dress designers - *Pavlova herself inspired a tutu that took centre stage for her portrayal of The Dying Swan. Oh, she looked utterly stunning in this breathtaking white creation, don’t even get me started. You've probably seen the beautiful illustrations and photographs! A legend, no doubt, Pavlova is an inspiration to us all. I can just see why, if I could ever see her in real life, she’d take my breath away!
And speaking of inspiration, we also need to acknowledge the absolute Queen of ballet herself – Anna Pavlova‘s best friend, and her fellow Ballets Russes member – the divine Tamara Karsavina! What can I say about this incredible dancer? Magnifique is all I can utter, absolutely magnifique!! I imagine that we must learn a lot about dance history, as well as costume and fashion from this iconic dance troupe, wouldn’t you agree? And I must totally see them perform when I go back in time! It's going to be an epic show, I can tell.
Now, of course, one of my favourite places in this world, Paris, is about to witness something very exciting. Oh my! You see, Paris is just beginning its ballet craze! * In a few weeks, the renowned French ballet dancer, *Serge Lifar, will start to show up in every Parisian fashionable venue - from chic coffee houses to art galleries, to the Grand Palais in Paris where we can catch the world-famous Ballet Russes performing! You can just imagine how Lifar’s appearance, and his unique artistry is going to start a whole new era for the ballet world! What a vision.
Of course, for me, the real joy is seeing how ballet weaves its way into fashion, darling dears. All that lace, those swirling silhouettes, that ethereal air of delicacy! It makes my pink heart flutter with pure joy! I do love to see how these iconic dancers inspired such stylish women and artists of the era!
Don’t even get me started on the shops. Imagine this: silk gowns, flowing like dreamy ribbons, oh, I need to buy one for myself! The hats - those wonderful cloche hats! They make me wish I had invented my time machine a little bit earlier. I can even see the shops where the ballerinas would buy their accessories! The fashion inspiration! *Divine! * You can just tell I love the glamour!
And on that note, I hope you have all enjoyed this fabulous journey into the past with me today! Remember, my dear readers, wear your tutu with pride – it's not just for dancing, it's for life! Be sure to share your favourite memories with me. Now, I’m off to plan my trip. Oh, and I need to start planning which performances I need to fund my trip, that's if my favourite tutu shop is still around. That's an important destination, wouldn’t you say? I shall be adding my shopping trip itinerary into my list! Until next #TutuTuesday, darling dears! XOXO. Emma.
Postscript: Let's not forget, this post was written to be in a light-hearted style and does contain some embellishments for fictional storytelling. As your #TutuTuesday time-traveling friend, Emma's enthusiasm is a fun, creative part of our blog. Enjoy the journey and let's embrace all things Tutu-related, in both the real world and the fantastical world of our blog!
