#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1925-09-29

Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday – your weekly trip into the fabulous history of the ballet tutu! I’ve got to tell you, I've been absolutely buzzing after this week’s travels! Not just for the time travel adventure, you understand, but because I found myself in Paris, oh la la! That city is simply teeming with fashion and culture - and tutus!

For those of you new to my blog (Welcome! So thrilled you're here!), Pink-Tutu.com is where I take you back through time to see the fascinating history of the ballet tutu! Think of me as your friendly neighbourhood tutu historian and fashion time-traveller, bringing the glamour of ballet to your fingertips. And how do I finance these fabulous excursions? Well, you guessed it – through performing! Luckily, there’s always a performance happening somewhere, and there’s nothing quite like performing in front of a live audience - they love to see a girl in a pink tutu, wouldn't you agree?

Today we’re going back to the roaring twenties! That's right, 1925, the year the world was changing! It was a time of glamour, joy, and new styles in fashion and dance! In a world still recovering from the war, this was the perfect antidote! But I don't want to keep you waiting! Let's jump back in time!

Stepping off the train and into Gare de Lyon on 29th September, 1925 was like stepping into a scene from a flapper film. Parisian chic was all around me - ladies with bobbed hair (absolutely adored!), and men in their finest suits - dashing, darling! There was a real sense of joie de vivre hanging in the air – after all, we’d had the First World War, and a good time was needed! It was quite a contrast to my Derbyshire hometown back home - although the locals had definitely embraced the Charleston as the dance craze of the moment - so you can see that the world was embracing a new, faster rhythm!

My main reason for coming to Paris though was for one thing, and one thing only - to see Sergei Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra - and oh my heavens, it was the ultimate treat for the eyes! I managed to score tickets to see "La Pastorale", which had premiered just a few weeks before! And if you think tutus today are glamorous, the tutus in that ballet were on another level!

The entire set and costume design had a magical realism air about it, with* colourful tutus of all different shapes and colours, the ballerinas looking like fairies on the stage.* Imagine: bright emerald green and lilac-tinted silks dancing amongst the trees and moonbeams. Honestly, it made my little tutu heart soar with joy - not just the beauty but the energy and colour! It really took tutus to a whole new dimension!

You may not have realised, but tutus haven't just lived on stage! Even in 1925 they were influencing street fashion in ways you wouldn’t expect! After the exuberance of Diaghilev’s “La Pastorale,” I simply had to venture into the world of Parisian boutiques! And my oh my! Did they have a love affair with tutus! I swear, I spotted a few Parisian women even rocking those airy skirts out and about! The fashion of 1925 embraced bold colour and movement! With the Charleston in full swing and those amazing flapper dresses, who better to provide inspiration than the glamorous ladies on stage in those sensational tutus! I even spied some shops selling “tutu” style evening skirts – they even came in pink, of course, a huge highlight!

Fashion just loves to emulate what is happening on stage, and Paris, well, Paris simply breathes it! What you saw on stage became what you wore! You couldn't help but notice how it inspired the dresses - those drop waist dresses, flapper fringe, even the hairstyles with tiaras - the influence was everywhere! And I saw pink everywhere! A wonderful shade of light pink, with a tinge of orange, so much chic and whimsy! A new style that we haven’t seen since, even back home! Oh how I wished I could bottle the feeling!

As a dancer who absolutely loves her time-traveling adventures, seeing that ballet was a true inspiration to fashion, well, that truly touched my little ballerina heart! Even today, tutus have so much impact on designers across the world! I must confess, it did make me want to try on a fabulous Parisian tutu of my own, so I did! I couldn't resist venturing into a local shop, and even snagged one a beautiful silk and pink tulle design, all trimmed in little pink rosettes. A bit of a treat for my travels - how can a time-traveling tutu-loving ballerina possibly say no?

I mean, a ballet is nothing without a tutu, is it? That extraordinary symbol of joy, artistry and whimsy! And let’s be honest – what other garment can inspire a sense of magic and playfulness all at the same time! Tutus were designed to express - to make a statement - just like every piece of your outfit. Every ballerina knows what I'm talking about!

This trip to Paris in 1925 reminded me that dance, fashion and history are all intricately entwined. And I'll leave you with this – never stop being curious, always wear a pink tutu if you have the chance and stay tuned for more time travel tutu adventures on next week's #TutuTuesday!

See you all soon!

Emma. xxx