#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1928-06-19

Hello, lovelies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-loving guide to the magical world of dance! I’m so excited to welcome you to my #TutuTuesday, my weekly trip into the past where we explore the history of this iconic garment! Today, we're twirling back to 1928 - a year when the tutu was just starting to really bloom! 🎉

As always, it was a ballet performance that sent me hurtling through time this week. (Honestly, sometimes it’s quite a shock landing in the middle of a grand jeté!) This time, it was a truly enchanting rendition of "Swan Lake" in the heart of London. And trust me, even though I’ve seen hundreds of performances of Swan Lake (this one involved a charming Prince Siegfried with exceptionally strong fouetté turns!) this performance sent my inner ballerina swirling back to the 1920s, which is when things started getting really interesting for our tutu history!

So buckle up, grab a cup of tea (or a nice glass of bubbly, we're celebrating, darlings!), and let's dance our way back to a time when the tutu was really coming into its own...

You might think that the tutu has always been a part of ballet. But that's simply not true! Imagine a ballerina, all graceful movements and intricate steps, wearing a big, flowing dress! (Actually, a little shocking, don't you think?!).

Ballet actually began as court entertainment with the focus on graceful movements, but it was often performed in elaborately adorned clothing (and I mean a lot of embellishments!). Over time, as dance technique and movements became more intricate and demanding, it became obvious that a lighter, more revealing silhouette was necessary to make those fabulous grand jetés happen!

Now, this might shock you, but early tutus were far from the airy, feathery delights we see today. The very first 'tutus' were nothing more than humble peasant skirts, shortened to give the ballerinas more freedom to move! But think about this, from those humble peasant skirts evolved the ballerina’s most treasured garment! Isn't that utterly wonderful?!

Ah, 1928! Such a glamorous time! Flapper dresses, bobbed hairstyles, and oh, the music! (A truly fabulously era if you ask me, which you did - haha! 😉). Ballet, too, was undergoing a major change! In 1928, the tutu began its transformation from a simple, short skirt into a much more delicate and expressive garment!

Imagine a vision of light, airy tulle, gently floating around a dancer as she takes flight across the stage. (The tutus of 1928 weren't yet reaching the romantic lengths we see today - they were still a bit closer to those short skirts!) The shift towards these light and romantic tutus is attributed, in part, to a few crucial factors, especially a famous ballerina whose name has been forever connected with our beloved dance garment!

This amazing ballerina Olga Spessivtzeva truly changed the history of the tutu.

Remember, in the beginning of our journey, the focus of ballet was not always on the dancer as the artist. Imagine being trapped within an opulent dress with multiple layers, feeling stiff and restricted! There wasn’t as much focus on movement or grace; the dance steps were just as important, but the focus was not the beautiful line and movement the ballerina made! You just wouldn’t see how gorgeous a pirouette or arabesque would be, with a dancer hampered by their garments. (Sometimes it does feel like a shame the early ballerina's dresses are all so complicated - they were so elegant, imagine all the wonderful details in the beautiful dresses getting lost within their intricate patterns!

Olga Spessivtzeva came into the dance world, like a bolt of sunshine, changing the focus, with her lightness, her energy, her agility, with a real joy and lightness in the way she danced!

She loved the lighter, airy tutus. I imagine her feeling like a true ballerina bird, floating across the stage, as the more flowing tutus revealed every single movement! A lightness and energy radiated from her - such beauty! (It reminds me a little of those gorgeous dresses they used to wear at the end of the Swan Lake Second Act!)

Of course, it isn't just Olga who helped evolve the tutu! It’s all been part of a wonderful and continual evolution in design, from those humble skirts, all those years ago, to the modern day beauties. I think the design of the tutu always mirrored what was happening in fashion, with each generation pushing it to the next level!

Just to give you a bit of a timeline:

• 1830s –The early ballet world went wild for short, full tutus, designed for freedom of movement, with intricate floral designs and gorgeous colours! These tutus became a symbol of ballet’s emerging romantic era!

• 1840s and 50s –Romantic tutus went longer, longer, and longer! They were more delicate, flowing with many, many layers of tulle (like a dream in chiffon)! (These tutus would often feature long, flowing, and dramatic sleeves - you know me, always an extravagant sleeve! I wish we would make a comeback for those! Maybe a dramatic shoulder on one side - very theatrical! 😂)

• 1880s to early 1900s –The “Russian Style” - the ballerinas took a break from the more romantic, romantic designs, adopting something more fitted, like the elegant lines of an evening gown, a look with a hint of decadence. This trend included a beautiful combination of layers of tulle and velvet. Imagine how breathtaking those combinations would be!

• Early 1920s –Oh, the glamour! This decade really pushed tutu style further and further towards that iconic streamlined, fitted look you see in many " Swan Lake" and "Sleeping Beauty" productions. Think shorter and fitted tutus for beautiful legs to be revealed, with an overall "effortlessly sophisticated” vibe. I've worn some fantastic examples from the era. I have to admit that this is the period which best matches my vintage aesthetic! 💖

• 1930s - Here we see those iconic tight, knee-length tutus - that are the definitive tutus, and my favorites! These short, tight tutus made the most of a dancer’s beautiful form, and showcased their elegant moves perfectly! Oh my!

• 1940s and 50s - This was the era for "poetic" tutus. The tutu became slightly fuller again, reflecting the “New Look" in fashion. We are seeing the modern tutu slowly start to develop. This period saw longer, wider tutus made of the lightest tulle - you know I’m talking beautiful layers and layers of soft and airy tulle that dances so beautifully!

• 1960s onwards - The ballerina silhouette started changing - we saw less of a tutu! There were very simple tutus – maybe just one or two layers. Some productions didn’t even use a tutu! The focus became even more about the dancer’s strength and skill. (A beautiful, elegant, strong, yet delicate look for modern ballet, but I sometimes miss the extravagant details of earlier periods - don't you? 💕

Of course, today, the tutu still holds a special place in ballet! (We all have our own preferences, darling!) There’s a diversity of designs that keeps our eyes glued to the stage. You have all the lengths and silhouettes for all different types of performances and we see ballerinas still dancing and performing at the highest level - we are so fortunate to be witnessing a magical time.

Whether you’re a dancer or not, let's look for inspiration everywhere around us! You don't need to be in a ballet studio to embrace your tutu moments. Just remember, we don't all have to dance to feel like ballerinas!

Here are my favorite tutu inspiration finds from the glamorous world of 1928:

1. Vintage Fashion: Remember the “flapper dresses” - all those gorgeous details? We can incorporate elements from the fashion world into our style: tulle skirts, silky scarves, and feather trims all lend a bit of that magical vintage look. Just be careful! Not all vintage is created equal - vintage fashion can be tricky. Sometimes there are gorgeous looks in vintage, but some items are quite out of date! Do check what is currently in fashion, so as not to clash with trends! I sometimes end up a bit of a fright, in some of my older vintage finds - maybe too much embellishment! It's easy to over-do a look! 😂

2. Art Deco Architecture: Look for those gorgeous, curved lines and abstract patterns! They’re not just in buildings, either. (Oh darling, I could go for days just admiring art deco - it’s just divine!) We can see it in fabrics, jewelry, and even in those sparkling tutus of the time.

3. Art Deco Jewellery: Think geometric designs and metallic colours – perfect for adding that “Art Deco flair” to any outfit. Imagine a beautiful diamond necklace, a geometric bracelet - I could write a book just about Art Deco jewellery. They were fabulous - such statement pieces, but a few really important items can really lift an outfit, don't you think? 💕

4. Music from 1928: The rhythms! The jazz! The big band sounds! Oh darling! It truly infuses everything with so much glamour, don't you think? These are a great starting point if you want to add a bit of a dance-party atmosphere to any event or outing. (Be careful! Some music isn’t always acceptable for every setting! Haha! 😂 - don't want any awkward moments - imagine trying to have a “jazz jam” during afternoon tea!)

Don't forget to join the #PinkTutu movement by popping over to www.pink-tutu.com. You will be surprised what a few pink tutus can achieve, whether you’re trying to create a unique, stylish look, or trying to bring some colour and cheer to your world! Just remember, a pink tutu is like an expression of yourself - and how delightful is it to be happy!

That’s all for today! Thanks for joining me on this Tutu Tuesday journey back in time. Keep dancing, keep twirling, and keep believing in the magic of the tutu!

See you next week, lovelies, for more fabulous tutu-related fun!