Hello, darlings! Emma here, your favourite tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, bringing you another slice of history for our weekly #TutuTuesday. Today we’re diving back to 1926, and let me tell you, it's a treat!
(This is blog post #4957 on www.pink-tutu.com! It feels like I've been doing this forever! Time travel, while a wonderful way to see the world and get my fashion fix, is tiring! But oh, the stories...!)
Now, I’m feeling a bit peckish. Maybe I’ll stop for a bite on my travels. There's a lovely little café around here I quite like - I love a bit of cucumber sandwich and a spot of afternoon tea. But, before we settle in for some dainty nibbles, let's get back to our journey through the past, shall we?
Imagine London, bustling with energy. Cars whizz by, men in bowler hats rush to and fro, and women, adorned in fashionable flapper dresses with shimmering beaded fringes, stroll down the pavement. Today, it’s a very special date - the 28th of December! And what does it mean to me, you might ask?
Well, today, we are experiencing the peak of the ‘golden age of ballet', and darling, there's nothing more fabulous! You see, London, the capital of theatre and creativity, is absolutely buzzing with balletic passion. Ballet schools are thriving, audiences are flocking to performances, and dancers are taking the stage in costumes that will have you saying 'oh la la!'
I have just been watching a performance by Serge Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes. It was spectacular, dear! Imagine: shimmering tutus of tulle and velvet, adorned with dazzling jewels and intricate embroidery. Each costume was a piece of art! And those dancers… divine! Every move so graceful and powerful, their leaps so high, they practically touched the sky! They had us all enraptured.
You see, in 1926, tutus weren’t just for ballet performances, dear. Imagine strolling down Regent Street, perhaps heading for a spot of shopping (oh how I love a good spree, my darlings!), and who do you bump into? Well, wouldn't you know it, there’s a young flapper rocking a glorious pink tutu! Why, yes, tutus were all the rage in 1926, even for street style!
But enough about fashion – let’s delve into ballet a bit more, shall we?
Now, the 28th of December is not just about London’s booming ballet scene. It’s also the birthday of a legendary dancer! I’m talking about Dame Margot Fonteyn, a ballerina of breathtaking beauty and grace. A true icon who will forever grace the history books of ballet! (And, you know, perhaps I'll time-travel back to the late 20th century and try to get a photo with her for my Instagram – can you imagine?! The envy, oh the envy!)
But what's a #TutuTuesday without some actual tutu history? Let's discuss the very essence of these frothy delights! I have this wonderful pink tutu that goes beautifully with everything, but did you know it has a long and exciting history, dating back all the way to the Romantic period of ballet! And do you know who's partly responsible? That's right, the iconic Maria Taglioni! Her effortless leaps and graceful movements took the stage by storm. But those romantic notions of swirling, dreamy tulle didn't stop there!
Remember that perfect tutu length, that sweet balance of covering and revealing? That was the innovation of Marius Petipa who changed the design to highlight the beautiful lines of the ballerina's body during the turn-of-the-century. Can you imagine having such talent to change ballet forever? He became the Tsarina's pet (pun definitely intended, dear!) designer – and who wouldn't love to have such exquisite and imaginative costumes designed just for them?!
But what would be a proper TutuTuesday without me trying on something special from the year? Today’s journey has reminded me to dust off this wonderful ‘Twenties’ era dancing dress. Look! Isn't it adorable? A hint of tulle and satin and sequins. I've been inspired by this whole adventure. So let's all dance!
Now, dear reader, are you a tutu enthusiast? Have you ever wished you could just whisk yourself off to another time, just like I did? And while we're at it, do you think everyone should wear a pink tutu? Let me know in the comments, dear, and don’t forget to tag us @pink-tutu with your photos for a chance to be featured!
Until next Tuesday, when we journey to another time, I bid you all "au revoir, darlings"!
Your pink-loving, time-traveling, ballerina, Emma.
(Don’t forget to pop by www.pink-tutu.com for more fun, fabulous, and totally tutu-licious adventures!)
*P.S.: *I am off to the station, the steam train is waiting. London is calling. See you next Tuesday, lovelies!
(Don't forget: I’ll post photos of my trip to the café and what I wore, including that beautiful dance dress – you don’t want to miss it!)
