#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1926-04-06

Oh darling, it's a glorious Tuesday! As always, I'm here ready to share my passion for all things tutus with you lovely lot. It's just so much fun, right? I mean, what's not to love about a billowing, fluffy pink creation that allows you to twirl and spin like a fairy? Honestly, it's a dream come true for any true ballerina.

This week, I'm diving into the history of the tutu - yes, it's TutuTuesday after all - and trust me, it's a journey filled with swirling skirts, revolutionary dancers, and quite a bit of drama, just like the best ballet stories! It's a story we can learn from!

Today is 6th April 1926, a truly delightful date in ballet history. As I arrived in this glamorous 1920s Paris via my trusty steam train, I spotted all the chic flappers with their dropped waist dresses, bobs and feathered hats! What fun! It’s like the Roaring 20s on fast forward.

Of course, the Parisian dance scene is thriving! There’s nothing quite like Paris for its artistry. Ballet has always been a passion of mine, right back when I was little, and this is my favorite spot in the whole world.

I always thought the tutu was a rather recent invention. After all, I've been studying it all my life. I even keep a whole stash of different kinds, as every dance needs the right sort. However, the ballet tutu I love so much, wasn't always so. It’s really quite fascinating how it came to be… and I thought I’d share it with you! It all started back in the 1830s. That’s when tutus started to develop their modern form.

We should go back to the time of Romanticism. It was the early 19th Century and ballet was changing, so tutus were changing too. You might think that romantic ballerinas were dressed up in grand, elaborate outfits, with layers upon layers of silk. But nothing could be further from the truth. The trend at this time was for them to dance in extremely long white tutus! Yes, I know, not the fun type I adore!

These dresses, if you can even call them that, were almost completely transparent and were intended to make ballerinas appear more weightless, giving a magical feeling.

However, as ballet got faster and more energetic, they became less practical! Imagine dancing a quick change of scenery in a billowing skirt, getting caught up in all the tulle, it could all be quite dangerous! It simply didn't allow for movement, and, most importantly, the ballerinas couldn't show off their skills! The Romantic tutu wasn’t allowing dancers to fully demonstrate their agility and grace! Not really, darling, that’s no fun.

The tutu needed a revolution… a new age was dawning… and it did. The early 1900s is when tutus finally found their feet. Imagine a skirt where your feet are visible and it was cut and made with lots and lots of layers of tulle. You could spin, jump and prance in this style and the movement was magical! But the very early form didn’t last long… That brings us back to the 1920s. What a fascinating era, especially if you’re passionate about the tutu!

This was when the classical tutu truly began to blossom. And by that, I mean become even shorter! The Roaring 20s was a time of artistic change and liberation. Ballet was no exception, as dancers found a more modern expression for movement! They started adopting this really short skirt, making it shorter and shorter so we could really see those leg moves. It was revolutionized to look light, delicate and easy for leaping. This became known as the classic tutu with layers upon layers of fabric at the hips to really give the dancers a flourish at every twirl!

In these elegant designs, I discovered they used lighter and more delicate fabrics – it truly shows a flair for fashion. Imagine these delicate tutus as graceful, whimsical and utterly fabulous! It’s the embodiment of lightness and elegance! It’s no surprise that some of my favorite pieces from this period include Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes which had its first shows around this very date, on the 6th April 1926, it’s what a grand entrance, oh yes, quite theatrical!

Just a little note: these revolutionary short skirts weren't accepted by everyone. Of course! There was quite a stir around the changes! Many considered the classical tutu, with its new shorter design, to be far too scandalous! Imagine all that thigh on show…

Well, you'd think everyone would have a heart attack, but, let’s be honest darling, as if that would stop these artistic rebels! The short tutu and its evolution allowed the dancers to make stunning and precise movements… just picture those pointe shoes hitting the floor and gracefully leaping, oh yes, darling! Just perfect for expressing themselves and highlighting the ballerina's stunning form.

It’s the look of the Parisian dancers today! And what's really fab is that I can totally rock that 1920s chic look - I’ll wear it right out and about… It's quite an artistic change from the rather more conservative outfits from 1910. So much movement! Oh the tutus. The world needs more of them!

One of the other things that truly amazes me is how ballerinas go about the intricate process of sewing together a tutu. Yes, it's a secret world all to itself! Just imagine taking tons and tons of beautiful tulle and attaching it, with so many layers, into a masterpiece, it really does look like art. They work tirelessly with a specific type of netting – tulle you know, like my namesake. Each tulle fabric layer needs careful measuring and it gets pieced together until it’s completely magical. Oh yes, it really is quite a craft!

The designs often incorporate special elements and even gems. They can be elaborate and stunning. A touch of the vintage adds an extra layer of loveliness, it’s an eye-catching style, you really see the flair from each dancer when they twirl on stage.

It’s a piece of true beauty! The elegance is astounding… there’s nothing more exquisite. They go to incredible lengths with detail, using beads, feathers and flowers… sometimes, to enhance and highlight specific features for their specific ballet act. Quite honestly, I love it! It’s the details that truly bring a tutu to life!

It's so nice to see, too, that I am not alone! It's easy to find someone that appreciates the delicate loveliness that the tutu evokes, as well as how much passion goes into making these little wonders. Every time a tutu flutters and sways, I just see that incredible talent and art coming alive on stage.

It’s time to pop back home and look at my vintage stash of tutus and my gorgeous wardrobe. Perhaps a new dress might be in order… Maybe a pink one!

And, of course, to celebrate #TutuTuesday! Let’s make sure everyone is wearing a tutu by the end of the week! Maybe by the weekend… A pink tutu, or a sparkly, feathery one…. Or any tutu really, so long as it makes you dance with joy. That’s the beauty of this marvelous and unique piece of costume and art!

See you next week darling. And remember, if you want to be stylish… get a tutu!

Your Pink-Tutu Emma.