Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, for another installment of #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History. This week's post is extra special, because it marks my 5025th post, and let me tell you, this one is a real corker! Today, we're travelling back to 1928 and diving into a world of dazzling dresses, flapper fashions, and, of course, the iconic dancewear that we all adore, the tutu!
I've packed my very best pink tutu, one that is quite literally the shade of blush, and I'm ready to whisk you all away on a whirlwind tour of Parisian chic and theatrical grandeur! After all, my loves, it's not just the colour pink we're here for, it's the stories behind the sparkle.
As we journey back to April 17th, 1928, imagine the Parisian air abuzz with excitement, a sense of roaring optimism, and a touch of artistic rebellion, all stirred together like a cocktail of vintage champagne and daring dreams. In this heady mix of art deco architecture and jazz age elegance, tutus were no mere piece of attire, they were symbols of liberation, movement, and sheer artistry.
A Touch of Parisian Glamour
Oh darling, we have to begin with the Parisian ballet. That's right, it's a world where elegance is as much a part of daily life as the smell of fresh bread and coffee in the mornings! In those days, a tutu wasn't just something worn on stage, it was a symbol of Parisian joie de vivre.
It was so popular that you'd spot young ladies flitting through the streets, the soft swish of a tulle skirt announcing their arrival with an air of feminine charm. Paris, my dears, was the place to be to indulge your passion for all things tutu!
The 1920s - The Golden Age of the Short Skirt
I'm not saying that we should be trying to make a come-back to flapper dresses (although let's face it, there's something undeniably glamorous about that era), but what the 1920s did do, and did very well, was redefine femininity. The way I see it, that revolution had a powerful impact on ballet, and therefore on the tutu. It made the skirt shorter, the fabric lighter, and it certainly gave the whole idea of the ballerina a fresh, vibrant, and distinctly modern feel.
Think about it - the same era that gave us the flapper dress and the Charleston was the one that encouraged a more fluid, daring, and even revolutionary style of ballet dancing. That sort of energy was literally infused into the tutu, and believe me, it was exciting.
Tutus on the Stage and Off the Stage
1928 was a year brimming with dazzling ballet performances across the globe. From Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes, travelling like a theatrical storm across continents, to the intimate performances of the Parisian Opera Ballet, tutus were centre stage, creating breathtaking stories and expressing artistic emotions in a language only they could understand.
It was also an era of rising star ballerinas, with legends like Anna Pavlova, who, like a true diva, toured the world with her own company, spreading the magic of dance. Now, wouldn't it be amazing if we could get a hold of the costumes she wore?! Can you imagine what a true #TutuTuesday that would be!
I was actually at a performance in Moscow a few weeks back (did I mention I love taking the train?! It gives me such time to think about all my #TutuTuesday blogs and reflect on what it all means, you know? The power of the tutu, how much it represents... anyway, I digress...) So I was in Moscow for the Bolshoi Ballet - it is just absolutely superb, with its combination of artistry and elegance, it takes me straight back to 1928! It really makes me think, you know? Sometimes the traditions and the passion that you see in the great dance companies all around the world is the stuff of true time travel. And yes, of course, I bought a new pink tutu there too, with fabulous sequins. Pink and sequins go so well together!
Looking Forward... with Pink Tutus in Our Hearts
My darling tutu-lovers, every #TutuTuesday is a little bit of time travel, but 1928 was particularly poignant. It was a year of revolutionary shifts in dance, fashion, and attitudes. I’d say the era has been the driving force of our world today. It has shaped our appreciation of the female form in dance and empowered women to move, twirl, and embrace life's joys with the same boundless energy and confidence of a Parisian ballerina in her chic pink tutu!
Now, while my heart goes out to those romantic flapper dresses (seriously, don’t underestimate a girl in a great flapper dress!), for me, the legacy of that era isn’t so much in fashion as in attitude, in the spirit of the time, in that willingness to reimagine what we see as beautiful, elegant, and powerful. That, my darlings, is what keeps my tutu collection ever growing, what makes me love sharing stories, and what gives me such delight to bring my #TutuTuesday journey to you every week.
So, keep the tutu dream alive! Let’s carry those sparks of artistic vision and rebellious charm from 1928 into our modern lives, and wear our pink tutus proudly!
Much love, Emma x
P.S For those who've been following my posts, you'll know I’m off on my next big journey! This time it’s to New York, my lovelies! New York City is, as you well know, a world of dreams, possibilities, and unbridled creativity - just like my favourite kind of pink tutu. It’s a place that breathes and pulses with history and the drive to reinvent the world, so you know I'm going to soak it all up. Oh, and keep a look out for #TutuTuesday posts from the Big Apple, because I’ve already spied some incredible tutu opportunities that I just have to share!
Until then, remember: pink tutus forever!
