Hello, my darling tutu-lovers! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina blogger, writing to you from my favourite place in the world - Paris! It's a dream, this city. Everything is chic, sophisticated, and oh my, the shops! I can barely contain myself! 🛍️ I could spend hours here just browsing for the perfect vintage pink feather boa. But don't worry, I won't let Paris distract me from the real reason you're here: Tutu Tuesday, of course!
This week, my tutu-loving darlings, we're diving into a fascinating moment in tutu history, back in the shimmering year 1923. You know me, I always love to learn a bit about the story of this elegant and fabulous garment. So let's twirl back to the time when flappers were dancing and the Charleston was all the rage! 💃
1923: A Year of Change
Oh, 1923! The roaring twenties had arrived with a flourish, full of exciting changes that swept through everything, including, yes, you guessed it, the ballet tutu! This period was an exciting one for ballet and the world of dance. Think dramatic leaps, stunning pirouettes, and a move towards lighter, freer, more exciting choreography. And the tutus? Well, they were transforming too! We’ll dive into this more below, but I do like to note, of course, my own personal favourite style, the romantic, gauzy, diaphanous style, as you may know, it's the one that makes me swoon the most, is still very popular!
And as if that weren't enough, 1923 also marked an exciting turning point in how we appreciate tutus: Ballet companies became increasingly glamorous! They toured all over, drawing audiences in droves to watch their performances, creating a whole new public excitement for the art. People went mad for ballet! Even in small towns, audiences flocked to see these elegant performers swirling and leaping in their incredible tutus.
Ballet in the 1920s: A Time for Experimentation
Back then, you could say ballets became less rigid and more, well, daring. Think about it, they were using tutus in revolutionary ways to embody emotions. Can you imagine how beautiful the costumes looked gliding around on stage, like birds in flight! 🦢
The "paquita" tutu, with it's tiers of layered, airy fabric was the popular style. This is where, in my humble opinion, we saw the most change in the tutu, with its layers being shortened to allow for greater freedom of movement - perfect for all the amazing jumps, spins, and powerful leaps we saw in dance then. The beauty of these airy tutus made for even more graceful movements on the stage, capturing every tiny shift in weight and flow with the fabric of their movement. It made everything more expressive and engaging!
Of course, no change is universally welcomed, and some still stuck to the traditional long tutus, those styles which reached right down to their toes - there’s something so dramatic and elegant about a flowing tutu! But by 1923, a new tutu style began to flourish. The "romantische" tutu arrived in gorgeous and soft colours - just like my favourite shade, pink, of course! 🥰 I adore those. Think sheer fabrics and beautiful layers – that is what I like to call the "ballerina fantasy" !
And the stage costumes weren't the only ones with a bit of Parisian oomph It seems the new trends filtered right down to everyday women, even for casual occasions. Imagine being able to buy your very own tutu - a wonderful, fluffy little masterpiece just like the ballerinas wore on stage. What a fun, festive way to be bold with your fashion!
I can just picture those lovely, playful Parisian ladies skipping along the boulevards of Paris in their lovely new ballet style outfits. That’s what makes my tutu-loving heart thump with excitement! 💗
A Touch of Nostalgia
I have a little secret. Before every time I journey through the eras with my tutu time travel device, I spend time going through archives and historical materials - there are some truly wonderful costume shops! In these repositories of tutu-tastic history, I see pictures of ballerinas from decades gone by, they’re almost like whispers from a different era. They inspire me to get creative and put a new, exciting spin on how we look at ballet style today!
My 1920s Fashion Must-Haves!
Here are my favourite trends that I've plucked from the past for your tutu-rific inspiration:
Feather boas, for added sparkle: Oh my! Imagine wrapping one of these around your shoulders, feeling like you’re ready to dance! I just love the light, ethereal feeling they bring, and in a delightful pastel hue, they'll pair perfectly with that beautiful pink tutu, wouldn't you agree? 💖
- Silk scarf headbands, the ultimate feminine touch: Tie one of these chic and gorgeous scarves around your head, adding that chic Parisian style and feel. If you're bold and you’ve got the attitude, then why not drape one around your neck too? I just know you will turn heads!
- Flapper-inspired dresses for an unforgettable flair: Imagine you're wearing a light and breezy flapper dress – oh my! So elegant! They flow beautifully and can highlight the elegance of your ballerina silhouette, I think they pair perfectly with a tulle or nylon ballet-style skirt! The longer ones that fall to your knees create such an enchanting effect.
- Ballerina flat shoes, perfect for every occasion: Now, the lovely thing about ballerinas is that they work with almost any outfit. They're stylish enough to pair with anything - and you know how I love that! Let’s get comfy! Plus they're practical! Let’s be real - I'd prefer a stylish pair of flats that are good for all-day wear, a little touch of ballet elegance for a night on the town or a lovely picnic in the park, what do you think?
But... What About This October 30th?
Let’s skip forward in time for a little bit now, back to the future, back to 2023, that's where we are! What exactly was happening this week back in the future and how do things relate to tutus? 🤔
Well, 1923 is an interesting year when we talk about the origins of ballet. We were still deep in the era of innovation and experimentation! But the trends that were emerging are still present today! Can you believe that tutus are even more diverse now than they were then? You can even wear them for an everyday event now! The modern ballet scene is much more global now and it’s more popular than ever.
Today we can see tutu-style skirts and tutus being adopted in so many fashions: From fancy evening dresses to rock bands and street performers to ordinary everyday clothes, the popularity of this whimsical, elegant garment seems to be growing every single day. I, for one, am living for it.
I even have plans for my next design collection. I'm thinking an array of vivid pink tulle pieces - from short playful skirts to longer romantic tulle outfits - the idea is that they will all be perfect to wear while attending a modern, exciting ballet production. They will be my own version of the 1920s, tutu styles updated and even better, all because the world has taken this wonderful fashion icon to heart! 🩰
And just to end this blog with a flourish – 1923 marked a shift in style, a dance into the exciting, playful, daring and fun, and I for one feel truly happy to live in this tutu-loving moment.
What about you? Do you enjoy dressing in tulle and wearing your tutu to ballet performances or for other fun, fabulous events? What is your favorite tutu outfit? Let me know in the comments, and remember, don't be afraid to share your passion for pink and for tutus, because my lovely friends, when it comes to tutus - the bigger the fluffier, the better!
See you all next Tuesday for the next Tutu Tuesday history adventure! 💕
Yours, Emma (your tutu-loving blogger from Derbyshire, England)
