Welcome to my blog, darlings! Emma here, your ever-so-fashionable tutu-loving guide to all things ballet! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another delightful dive into the captivating history of the tutu. Buckle up, my dears, because we're whisking ourselves back to the glorious 1920s!
Post Number 4988 ā a milestone, if I may say so myself!
And how delightful it is to be back in Paris, the very heart of the ballet world. The air here practically crackles with the thrill of āLes Ballets Russesā, where I am most certainly sipping tea and gazing upon the magnificent sights. Now, what's a trip to Paris without a splash of vintage shopping and a splendid ballet show? Today I am feeling positively splendid in my pink feathered tutu which perfectly matches the vibrant pink floral fabric adorning my hat. As always, it is absolutely impossible to go to the theatre without my pink handbag. My very special pearl beaded pink handbag that, of course, is always overflowing with the essentials, my powder puff and rouge and, most definitely, a few sweets to enjoy.
Speaking of āLes Ballets Russesā, on this very date, August 2nd, 1927, this innovative company brought āLa Boutique Fantasqueā to life. Now, āLa Boutique Fantasqueā ā the "Fantastic Shop" - is a truly beautiful ballet in two acts! Imagine a toyshop bursting to life with mechanical dolls dancing a delightful ballet. It's sheer enchantment, pure Parisian charm, wouldn't you agree? This particular show boasts some wonderful costuming and choreography, perfectly capturing that era of creativity and beauty.
Now, we must absolutely chat about tutus and their role in the story of this delightful ballet. Picture this: exquisite, billowing tulle skirts taking centre stage, swirling and dancing like butterflies caught in a whirlwind! A vision of Parisian femininity, right down to the exquisite ribbon trimmings and charmingly oversized pink bows. Each movement and twirl brings the audience's hearts to life, and for those few magical moments, you believe that those mechanical dolls can dance just as beautifully as the ballerinas.
But letās rewind to before this date in our glorious journey!* The 1920s marked an exciting era of evolution in dance history!* As a keen dancer, I know the history of our tutus like the back of my hand. Remember the Romantic Era? That delightful time of flowing skirts and ballerina lightness, like graceful little birds taking flight. But, as always, fashion, my dears, is always evolving, and the 1920s ushered in a new era of chic and elegant movement. The classic Romantic Era tutu is still making its grand appearances in beautiful ballet productions, but the shorter, more contemporary "tutu" began to gain traction. This shorter style of tutu allowed for more fluidity, and emphasized the ballerinas' exquisite grace and control, the real key to this form of dance. That freedom of movement, itās almost like watching clouds dancing on a summer day!
Imagine how beautiful the ballerinaās movements look enclosed by this elegant, yet delicate, piece of material. * This was the time for the rise of the *"ballerina" in fashion. Just as our wonderful dancers began experimenting with new shapes on stage, so did designers and stylists * outside the theatre, creating fashion pieces that looked like miniature versions of *tutus.
Isnāt fashion wondrous, my dears?
And donāt even get me started on the colour palette in the early 1920s! The soft pastel pinks, light blues and delicate greens so beautiful in their muted beauty. These were the colours which brought the romantic feel to the shorter, more sleek ātutuā. The delicate nature of the costumes* was meant to embody the new *softer style* that was all the rage at this time. The dance is always reflecting life, but also the opposite is true: fashion reflects the style of the day and what is beautiful to our eyes. This, my dears, is a lovely dance ā the two worlds mirroring each other.
My lovely dancers always loved the āromanticism" of the ātutuā and this meant so much to their dance. For those that werenāt lucky enough to own this essential piece, fabric shops and cobblers had become a place to buy ātutu materialā. It was even used for home decoration! Imagine your bedroom in soft shades of pink tulle fabric, that truly does capture that elegant, soft and whimsical romanticism.
And of course, my darlings, no #TutuTuesday post is complete without a special message. I want all of you to take inspiration from the magnificent tutus of the 1920s: * embrace creativity! Embrace style! * Embrace the elegance of twirling and let your tutus, my lovely ones, *take flight in a glorious ballet of pink joy and elegance! *
Remember my dears, always take time for some ballet-inspired whimsy and delightful days of dancing! * And to those who havenāt *ever considered wearing a pink tutu: do have a go - I guarantee you'll be amazed at how fabulous and elegant you feel, both inside and out.
*Catch me here again next #TutuTuesday, my darlings! Until then, keep those tutus twirling! *
Love always,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
