Hello, my darling dance-lovers! 🩰
Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another week of fabulous tutus and fantastic history! This week, I've taken my trusty pink tutu and time-travel machine back to the 8th of November, 1932. Let's go!
I just love travelling through time! Today I am in Paris, oh, the chicest of cities. It's bustling with energy, the scent of pastries, the click-clack of elegant shoes against the cobblestone streets - just heavenly! It's a city that's just bursting with artistry, and today I am going to immerse myself in its ballet scene.
Let’s Talk Tutu History
Tutus! Oh, the history of the tutu! It's like a beautiful, flowing story - as enchanting as the stories they tell on the stage. But it wasn’t always the frilly, glamorous, fashion statement it is today!
Today in 1932, I saw Giselle at the Opera Garnier. Can you believe it, darlings? Imagine a story about a beautiful country girl, betrayed by love, transformed into a heartbroken Wilis, doomed to haunt the forests forever! But don’t worry, dear reader, it's truly magnificent, with some beautiful dancing. The choreography is graceful and enchanting, showcasing both the tenderness of romance and the raw passion of betrayal.
Giselle is one of those classics that shows the true power of ballet.
And speaking of ballet - the tutu. 1932 is around the time where we start seeing the evolution from the shorter, romantic tutus into something a bit more dramatic and flamboyant, leading us to the stunning long tutus, often called 'Russian' or 'Imperial' tutus that became popular later on in the century! The tutus have become fuller, with more layers and a stronger silhouette, emphasising the elegant lines of a dancer’s body. Just like the art deco architecture all around me in Paris!
A Night Out with Ballet Stars
Tonight, I was at a glorious opening night of the season at the Opera! After watching Giselle, it was onto a lavish, glittering celebration. There were dancing, beautiful people, champagne, and I even bumped into the amazing dancer Serge Lifar. Can you imagine, darlings?
Serge was all the rage, you see, his dancing was wild, expressive, modern! The press absolutely adored him and there are pictures of him on magazine covers everywhere. His dance style was such a breath of fresh air and broke the traditional boundaries of the time, a touch of modernity for a ballet lover!
There were lots of ladies, adorned in beautiful dresses, jewels sparkling under the warm candlelight of the room, all buzzing about the theatre scene. A world away from the simpler country style that the beautiful and naive Giselle wears!
Fashion Finds
One thing that particularly caught my eye were the new designs in ladies' fashions – sleek gowns with simple elegance, just like the graceful lines of a ballerina! My personal style has a slight ‘1930s flapper’ influence. The style of this era, for me, is a gorgeous mixture of vintage romance, with an alluring and rebellious spirit that just shouts "I'm a woman! Hear me roar!".
After spending my day here, I must say, there's a particular grace to how ladies dress and a real sense of sophistication in how women behave here, something I'm definitely taking back with me! Oh! Don't forget to watch for my next #TutuTuesday. Next week, I am off to the Italian opera, in Milan for an exciting new ballet and hopefully a lovely little dress for my collection! Until then, don't forget, darling!
Stay twirling, and always remember the magic of a perfect pink tutu! 💕
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
