Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, Pink Tutu! This is your one-stop shop for all things twirly and fabulous. It's Tuesday, which means it's time to take a spin through history with your favourite pink-clad ballerina! Today's date is the 4th of August 1931, and you're not going to believe what happened in the world of dance…
Before we jump into the story, let me tell you all about how I got here, using a super-secret time travel technique I’ll tell you about sometime, involving a sprinkle of fairy dust and a good pair of dancing shoes (never leave home without those, darling!). I’m currently in the gorgeous city of Paris, France, the hub of all things stylish and chic. And wouldn't you know it, the city is absolutely buzzing with the most delightful ballet performances.
But what are performances without a good tutu? Oh, darling, I've been to the theatre last night, and the tutus were dreamy. Imagine swathes of soft tulle, floating and fluttering, catching the light like whispers of tulle, and - the most gorgeous shades of ivory, cream, and peach! So elegant! It’s simply enchanting to see these dancers glide across the stage, almost ethereal. And speaking of enchanting, today's history lesson takes us back to the origins of that ethereal beauty, the rise of the Romantic Tutu.
#5197 The Romantic Era:
Now, you're probably thinking, “Emma, we know about the romantic era! What’s so special about 1931?” Well, darling, it’s 1931 in my time, but let's hop back a little over a hundred years, to the early 1830s! That’s when the tutu we know and love today began to take shape. Think delicate, ethereal gowns made of yards upon yards of gauzy fabric! And this new look, oh it was a revolution, a storm of passion swirling around the stage!
The story begins with Marie Taglioni, a true pioneer in ballet! Her dancing was so incredibly light and graceful, almost ethereal, and it truly was like watching a bird take flight!
That was precisely what she wanted to convey in her groundbreaking choreography! For a piece titled “La Sylphide,” Marie worked with costume designer Eugene Lamy to create something that mirrored this new and daring style of dancing, an incredibly free-flowing movement of effortless, captivating grace.
Think of those delicate layers of tulle in her signature tutu - the layers meant that movement looked incredibly soft and weightless, it's almost impossible to describe, you have to see it to understand the pure beauty! They designed a dress which showcased these movements; with a shortened skirt, the "Romantic Tutu," which is so light and elegant, so ethereal and free. And it took the world by storm!
Suddenly, everyone wanted to see the new look, the beautiful swirling motion, like whispers of fabric! Even the way Marie styled her hair, soft, loose, a perfect match to her movements! She even wore simple flats! It was all about light, weightlessness, the idea of a ballerina literally “flying” across the stage.
Tutus Everywhere!
It is all so breathtakingly beautiful, even now! Can you imagine being in the audience back in the early 1800s seeing a performance in a Romantic tutu? I would've loved to be there.
This kind of elegant movement revolutionised ballet; it completely changed the way women danced, not to mention it sparked an era of innovative fashion that spilled over from the stage into everyday life! Suddenly women wanted to express this graceful and elegant style. It had a major impact on how society saw women and ballet dancers alike, and I for one am incredibly thankful for the legacy of these pioneers!
Of course, not everyone embraced the “Romantic” style. Some thought it was just a bit too revolutionary! Oh, the fuss, but it wasn't just the dancers who loved this movement. It's all about the story of “the sylph,” an air spirit that’s captivating, graceful, and almost otherworldly. And the tutus brought that magical air spirit to life on stage, and that is what everyone wanted to see!
In fact, La Sylphide had audiences gasping! Imagine the crowd at a ballett in the mid-1800s! This is a big deal, ladies. The first tutu, the Romantic tutu! It set the stage for all the exciting ballet fashions to come. The tutu we love today can all trace their history back to Marie and her captivating and elegant “La Sylphide”
So much style, so much history. This really is TutuTuesday, my darlings!
And as if that wasn't enough, this new Romantic tutu opened the door to other amazing developments, which brings us right back to 1931.
Parisian Delights
My Parisian stay is quite delightful. Let’s get this one thing out of the way: Paris is a fashionista’s dream! Imagine cobbled streets lined with boutique after boutique filled with the most gorgeous, whimsical creations imaginable. If you are thinking what you think, then yes, of course I’ve already found myself in some beautiful vintage shops, scouring the rails for gorgeous silks, velvet, lace, and, of course, tulle! It’s simply divine.
It is truly the city of ballet! I’ve seen more exquisite dancing than I can even put into words. And, let's be honest, you know what I've been admiring most? You got it! The tutus! They've become just as fabulous and daring as ever, all inspired by that beautiful heritage, the “Romantic” spirit, and it's thrilling to see.
What else is Happening?
Now, before you go out there twirling in the beautiful, sunshine of today, take a peek into history. It's the 4th of August 1931, and the world's buzzing! This is a time when news traveled fast, mostly by telegraph or wireless, a wonderful, quick communication that was so important for things like... ballet news, you can imagine!
Back then, the latest Parisian fashions were making headlines across the world. I have to tell you, darling, a certain someone's new "Evening Gown Collection" has taken Paris (and maybe the rest of the world!) by storm! Oh yes! They call her the "Fashion Icon of the Age." Her name is Coco Chanel! What's more, if you love reading as much as I do, take a quick peek into the library, "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley was released earlier this year.
Oh darling, my lovely readers, this TutuTuesday has been such a pleasure. Remember, keep your heads high, your hearts open, and your twirls fierce! I’ll catch you all next Tuesday, and - don’t forget to keep dreaming of pink tutus, you lovely little lovelies, until then. Xoxo Emma
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