Hello my darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, Emma, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday history. This week, we're stepping back in time to the glorious 29th of September, 1931! Buckle your tap shoes and hold onto your tiaras, it's about to get fancy!
Now, picture this: the year is 1931. The roaring twenties are fading into the streamlined thirties, and fashion is shifting. Flapper dresses are still fashionable, but they're becoming a bit more structured, a bit more elegant. The glamour is still there, just with a dash of sophistication added. In the world of ballet, this means a growing interest in creating tutus that were just as modern and captivating as the rest of the fashion world!
The Rise of the "Romantic" Tutu
As we left the wild and rebellious flapper era behind, ballet tutus mirrored this move toward something more delicate and romantic. Now, don't think this means that our tutus weren't full of personality! Think soft, airy layers of tulle, just skimming the knees. It was a far cry from the cumbersome and rigid tutus of the late 1800s, and oh how it freed the dancers! It allowed them to soar and glide across the stage with grace and lightness.
One of my favourite dancers to have graced the stage with these romantic tutus was none other than the breathtaking Margot Fonteyn. I'm absolutely positively smitten with this British ballerina! Her captivating performances in roles like Giselle, with her ethereal and expressive movement, is truly what made ballet enchanting for me. She looked divine in those soft, delicate, romantic tutus!
The London Ballet and a Dash of Colour
You know how I love colour, right? It's one of my weaknesses! Well, 1931 brought about a beautiful wave of colour in ballet tutus. No longer confined to white or the occasional pastel, the London Ballet embraced colour with open arms! Now, while I adore my pink tutus, the colour craze in ballet went beyond my pink obsession, with hues of sky blue, shimmering silver, and even bold reds taking centre stage. Just picture it - vibrant tutus twirling and twirling, their colours a visual delight for the audience!
On This Day, September 29th, 1931:
Now for some specific tidbits about our magical date of September 29th! This very day in 1931, The London Ballet Company opened their season at the Sadler's Wells Theatre with Les Sylphides. Oh, and can I just say how much I love a good theatre performance! This timeless ballet features a lovely pas de deux, and imagine those ballerinas in their billowing romantic tutus! It must have been magical. Les Sylphides is a romantic masterpiece - a perfect fit for the soft tutus that graced the era!
Fashion and Style: What Were We Wearing?
This was also the year that one of my favourite fashion houses, Chanel, introduced its famous quilted bag! Now I think this deserves a "tut-tut" of appreciation. Chanel bags are the epitome of classic elegance, just like a beautiful ballet tutu! If you saw me waltzing around the time travel salon with a quilted Chanel handbag, don't be surprised!
So that's my dear #TutuTuesday post for today! Make sure you follow me on the pink-tutu website - you know, www.pink-tutu.com! - and tell me what you think of this journey into 1931. Do you dream of being a dancer in a romantic tutu? Tell me your thoughts in the comments section!
And, most importantly, remember - a little bit of pink goes a long way, especially when it's wrapped around a beautiful ballerina tutu. Until next week, keep on twirling!
Emma xo
