Hello, my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where we celebrate all things pink and fluffy. Today, as you know, is #TutuTuesday, and we’re venturing back in time to 1925, a truly delightful era for ballet and for tutus.
I’ve just returned from a fabulous trip to Paris, a city that, even then, was overflowing with style and elegance. It’s not just the Eiffel Tower and croissants you know, darling. (Though I do adore them both, let’s be honest!) Paris has been a fashion haven since time immemorial. My journey was a true whirlwind of couture and, naturally, involved a LOT of tutus.
Now, back to our fascinating history of tutus. I recently purchased the most exquisite vintage fabric in a stunning shade of blush pink – perfect for a new tutu, of course! – in the famous Les Halles market, a labyrinth of delights. It reminded me just how influential the early 1900s were for the evolution of the tutu.
1925 saw the blossoming of “La Belle Epoque” (the beautiful era), with a resurgence of creativity and a reawakening of femininity across Europe. And just as the designers embraced new fabrics and silhouette-enhancing styles, ballet started taking a more contemporary approach.
This meant, of course, a complete shift from the heavy romantic tutus, with their layers of romantic tulle. You might recall from our earlier #TutuTuesday posts, darling, how ballerinas looked more like clouds than dancers! Imagine trying to pirouette in that, not a pleasant thought. Thankfully, the late 19th century ushered in an era of streamlined beauty, with lighter, more practical, and much more stylish, tutus!
We now saw shorter tutus, crafted from gauzy tulle, a perfect blend of weightlessness and movement. And that wonderful blush pink shade I was just telling you about? Well, it's definitely a reflection of the times, with fashion embracing pastels and soft colors that exuded elegance and ethereal grace. Imagine, for example, a ballerina gracefully twirling in a soft pink tutu under a canopy of crystal chandeliers, a scene straight out of a Parisian fairytale. How heavenly!
Speaking of graceful twirls, one of the most celebrated ballerinas of the time was the beautiful Anna Pavlova. She was an absolute darling! She had this incredible ethereal quality on stage, which paired beautifully with the shorter, airier tutu designs. It created such an airy, light, graceful movement. Think of her in Diaghilev's production of "The Dying Swan" - oh my, what a truly emotional performance, all thanks to a stunning ballet outfit.
As much as we love a bit of pink (and I always wear mine with pride, dear readers!), we also appreciate the fact that this was a momentous era of creative evolution for ballet tutus. The combination of technical prowess and the burgeoning avant-garde movement ushered in the era of the "modern tutu," sleek, minimal, and utterly fabulous. We owe so much to this time period for allowing tutus to evolve into the breathtaking pieces of art we cherish today.
Now, let's talk about what happened on this exact date in 1925, a rather important one for tutus and the arts, if you ask me! On the 22nd of December, a wonderful event known as the Ballet Russes opened their doors in the legendary Palace Theatre, New York. The iconic theatre that later became Radio City Music Hall - just imagine the opulent gowns and dashing gentlemen in that space. Oh, what a spectacle that must have been! It's one of the places I'm dying to visit when I next have a chance to go on my time-travel spree.
So, my loves, I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through ballet history with me. This era, with its innovative use of tutus, reminds us how dynamic this art form is, constantly evolving, and yet, forever preserving its timeless grace. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment below. What is your favorite tutu style?
And remember, we want everyone to embrace their inner tutu. The world is a much more vibrant place when it's full of fluffy pink!
Until next #TutuTuesday,
Your loving tutu enthusiast, Emma
