Hello, darlings! It’s your favourite pink-loving tutu enthusiast, Emma, back again with another peek into the fascinating world of ballet tutu history! I'm positively giddy to be bringing you this week's blog post from a rather lovely spot - Paris, France, the heart of fashion, and a place where tutus are practically a second skin! I took the train, as always - such a romantic journey - and arrived just in time for a magnificent ballet performance last night, utterly spectacular!
This week we’re taking a little journey back to 13th October 1931 - oh, what a grand time to be a ballet fan! Can you imagine, my darlings, the excitement of this day? The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was performing their first-ever production of 'Le Lac des Cygnes' in London! Can you imagine? Now, if you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing ‘Swan Lake’, it’s simply a masterpiece of elegance and grace! The story is a fairytale - Princess Odette cursed into a swan - but the costumes and the dancing are truly ethereal.
And speaking of costumes, darling, I simply had to go to the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris - just imagine! Such a magnificent theatre - a true beacon of dance! And I took some lovely snaps of their costume workshop! Now, of course, tutus are practically synonymous with ballet, but in the 1930s, they weren't quite so... well, popular! They were just starting to make their mark! In this time, it was much more about long, flowing skirts in layers, just begging for twirls!
Today's ballet tutu has its roots in these lovely layers, you know. The tutus we know and adore, with their airy, gossamer forms, were gradually adopted, becoming the star of the show! A story in progress!
Just picture yourself at the Paris Opera House, darling. You'd be looking up at a chandelier with sparkling crystals that would make your head spin - all surrounded by exquisite ladies in fabulous dresses! What I wouldn’t give to have been a part of it! I'm almost jealous of my past self! And I'm convinced that my time travelling has led to a much wider appreciation of the beautiful tutu - why, you see them in fashion stores, restaurants, even high-street cafes now!
Let’s talk a little bit more about fashion. Imagine those fabulous dance costumes - silk so smooth it feels like air itself, flowing in beautiful swathes! It makes me think of a romantic dance with a handsome partner on the stage! There was, and still is, such a delightful sense of glamour - a truly captivating affair for the senses!
So, this Tuesday, darlings, let’s take inspiration from those swans from 'Swan Lake'. Let's float like graceful creatures in the dance of life! If we look amazing in our outfits, we'll feel amazing too! Wear your prettiest pink tutu, get yourself a good pair of ballet shoes, and practice a twirl - just like the beautiful ballerinas from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. I can almost guarantee it will be the best tutu Tuesday ever!
And darling, I wouldn't forget to indulge in a little treat - some exquisite pastries with a pot of tea? Why not? After all, a ballet show is an experience that deserves to be savored in style! You don't have to be a princess cursed into a swan to appreciate a little sparkle, you know. Let's wear that sparkle with a smile!
See you next Tuesday, dearies, and do remember,
LiveLifeLikeItsADancexx,
Emma
