Hey gorgeous girlies, welcome back to another thrilling #TutuTuesday adventure! It’s me, Emma, your tutu-obsessed time-travelling friend from Derbyshire. Today we’re dipping our toes (literally!) into a fascinating ballet timeline, specifically the year 1921. Imagine Paris, that haven of all things elegant and chic. That's where we are today! We're whisking ourselves back to a time when ballet, like a beautiful swan, was gracefully entering a new era.
So, darling readers, grab your favourite teacup and put your feet up (preferably in your most fabulous ballet slippers), because we're taking a trip back to where it all began. Let's delve into a bit of ballet history – but don't worry, we're not going to bore you with a stuffy lecture. We’ll keep it light, bright, and oh-so-stylish!
Now, we've established that tutus are pretty fabulous. But did you know that the tutu we see today, the puffy, whimsical thing we adore, wasn't always the norm? Imagine a world where ballerinas twirled around in floor-length skirts. Honestly, imagine it. Such a waste of leg room, am I right? The evolution of the tutu was as exciting as watching a ballerina gracefully glide across the stage.
In the mid-19th century, the Romantic Era saw the rise of "romantic" ballet. Think airy, delicate, flowing garments. It was all about grace and beauty. And for that, the designers of the day took their inspiration from the dresses worn by women of the period. They basically sliced off the bottom bit to reveal those gorgeous, nimble legs. A big step, no pun intended, for women's fashion and ballet!
The tutu as we know it, the shorter, airy, tutu of today, took shape during the mid-1800s and had quite the fashion statement! We saw tutus start to embrace that beautiful "bouffant" shape – remember all those frills and layers from our childhood fairy tale books? It's the stuff that childhood dreams are made of! These fluffy tutus allowed ballerinas to make bold leaps and pirouettes. They let them move with a graceful freedom, bringing ballet to life in an unprecedented way.
As for the famous "Romantic" or "Classical" tutu that makes the heart of any tutu aficionado beat faster - that came a bit later. It debuted during the mid to late 19th century in the hands of a talented ballet dancer named Marie Taglioni, a renowned Italian ballerina who truly embodies the romance of the tutu. Imagine a ballerina with a crown of flowers in her hair, swishing a glorious, featherlight, and slightly puffed tutu as she glides through a fantastical scene. That’s the image that inspired the Romantic tutu.
Now, let's fast-forward to the era of the fabulous "flapper" and a change in style that revolutionized everything. By 1921, a new, vibrant and oh-so-sophisticated era, also known as "The Roaring Twenties", took centre stage! While the Roaring Twenties was all about fun, fashion, and changing societal roles, the tutu embraced a daring and daring new look! Think less bouffant, less voluminous and more svelte! Think a tutu that embraces a slightly straighter look, but with the same graceful, swirling motion! Just picture yourself wearing it – how amazing would you feel twirling and turning? We're talking freedom, lightness, and elegance, which is perfect for the time and an absolutely perfect complement for a vibrant time like this. It truly brought the dance world into a new and fashionable dimension. It was the same graceful flow of fabric, but with an edgier, streamlined approach – it was perfect!
Here is another fascinating thing. Did you know that during the early 20th century, a tutu-themed fashion phenomenon even took to the stage in the world of high society? You might be shocked! I certainly was. It's not exactly a trend that anyone thinks of when they think of 1920s fashion! In 1921, tutus found a place in ladies’ wardrobes as everyday wear. Yes, I am being serious. Tutu dresses were not unheard of for fashionable parties!
And let's not forget the colour. For a modern tutu enthusiast like myself, we see pink! Pink is the epitome of everything delightful and magical in the tutu world, wouldn't you say? Imagine a pink tulle dress flowing gracefully! It is divine! Sadly, for the fashion world back in 1921, it was not all pink. They weren’t really obsessed with the colour yet, even in the high-fashion society.
Well darling readers, that is all for today. Thank you so much for joining me on this fabulous tutu journey. Now go out and dance, shop for some fabulous clothes, maybe even take some ballet classes, and remember, let your inner pink tutu girl shine bright! Until next week, darling!
