Welcome back, fellow tutu enthusiasts, to my weekly dose of tutu history! This week, we’re dipping our toes into 1923, a year buzzing with creativity and the beginnings of something utterly fabulous…
It’s #TutuTuesday, and I’m feeling as pink as my very own special pink tutu, the one I’ve named Priscilla! It’s going to be a fun one today, I can just feel it.
I recently journeyed through time, arriving at the magical (and oh-so-fashionable) city of Paris. I can’t deny that a Parisian adventure was exactly what Priscilla and I needed after spending a rather frosty fortnight in Moscow. Paris, the city of love and elegance, was absolutely brimming with fashion and an exciting artistic energy!
Parisian Dreams, a Tutus & DancesThe most magical place I visited was the Opéra Garnier, such an iconic building, wouldn’t you agree? Just imagine… elegant chandeliers, plush velvet seats and the air shimmering with the expectation of an extraordinary performance. It’s simply breath-taking. I actually caught myself doing a little pirouette in the foyer. I couldn't resist!
This date, the 16th of January 1923, just so happens to be the day that a new production, Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel), premiered at the Paris Opéra. Imagine a story full of magic and fantasy, with exquisite costumes and intricate sets! I hear they were quite something. And speaking of costumes... This production was groundbreaking! The ballet dancers were in fabulous tutus! Well, it was a more ‘mature’ kind of tutu – one that I think is perfect for all kinds of ages and is still popular to this day. These tutus were called 'Romantic tutus,' which I find delightfully apt.
These 'Romantic tutus' weren’t the airy, flowing creations we see in ballet today. They had a rather fuller, stiffer skirt. I'm quite smitten with them; a romantic and ethereal look that’s almost reminiscent of the big, beautiful ball gowns from the Victorian era!
My love for fashion was absolutely piqued at the Paris Opéra! They were just dazzling.
But it wasn’t just the beautiful dancers who caught my eye. While in Paris, I ventured into a wonderfully luxurious department store on the Rue de la Paix – oh my, the name is so elegant! The Parisian fashion scene is just absolutely intoxicating, even compared to the excitement of the West End back home in London.
As I sashayed through the shop, I came across some fascinating items - think luxurious silk dresses and glamorous evening coats with a dramatic flair that was all the rage at the time. The fashions were bold and exciting - all about luxurious fabrics, chic lines, and a dash of sparkle!
I can only imagine the stylish ladies of Paris swishing through the streets in their magnificent outfits! A lovely gentleman I met - I even tried out a few pirouettes to see if my steps still worked! - told me about a popular style called "La Garçonne", where ladies embraced shorter haircuts and boyish figures. Imagine it – that is the epitome of sophisticated chic! And then of course there is always Chanel – no introduction needed for a name so stylish and iconic. Her little black dresses became absolute sensations! I mean, just the sound of that phrase - little black dress, it rolls right off the tongue! It really says so much.
While I was completely absorbed by the captivating fashions, my eyes always keep searching for those beautiful tutu shapes.
As I spent some time at the Opéra, I discovered some rather exciting fashion magazines with their stunning pictures of theatrical fashions, which had several beautiful designs for tutus - for a variety of ballerinas of different ages. Tutu-wearing has really come into its own! Not only did the Paris Opera feature stunning performances but a large number of other dancers from various troupes had opportunities for performances and of course there was a real need for tutus to meet all these performances!
## Traveling by Train... and Dancing!
I’ve got to mention something that was both a comfort and a pure delight during my travels... Train travel! Travelling from Russia to France, I found myself whisked away in a luxurious compartment on a majestic express train. My oh my, was it a dream. Imagine soft plush seating and grand panoramic windows! My own carriage was so elegant. The plush interiors, elegant chandeliers, and polished surfaces – what a delightful treat for my eyes!
Even more exciting, the carriage provided the most glorious view of the changing scenery as I traveled through Europe – the rolling fields of France were a sight to behold, especially after those Russian plains. The gentle movement of the train as we traversed vast landscapes, a little like my graceful turns on the stage! The gentle swaying made my ballet shoes start tapping away. It felt almost like dancing itself! I caught several glimpses of beautiful dancers, practicing and even rehearsing in other train carriages. This was perfect for those travelling ballet troupes - a truly fabulous way to see the world!
While I'm not entirely certain what my next time travel escapade will be, I can tell you that my eyes are definitely set on finding more fantastic tutus to discover their stories. And don't worry! I'll keep sharing my exciting #TutuTuesday journeys with all of you on my lovely www.pink-tutu.com website.
This blog is post number 4751 on my site – do leave me a comment or message me with your favorite stories. And, just for fun, send me some of your most stylish, whimsical, fabulous #PinkTutu photos. Keep dancing, stay sparkly, and most of all – stay passionate about ballet!
Happy tutu-wearing everyone! I hope to see you here next Tuesday! Love, Emma.
