Bonjour, darling tutudophiles! 🩰✨
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, where tutus are always in fashion, and time travel is just a leap away. Today marks a momentous occasion – #TutuTuesday number 5286! That's a lot of tulle, my dears!
This week, my time-traveling tutus have whisked me back to the year 1933, a period of elegance, sophistication, and, you guessed it, breathtakingly beautiful tutus! The air was abuzz with the anticipation of spring, the smell of blooming lilac hung heavy in the air, and Paris was shimmering under a crystal clear blue sky.
The perfect location to feel the spirit of 1933's ballet, my loves! Paris was the ballet capital, the undisputed queen of the dance scene, just as London still is, a close rival, to be fair! It's where legendary ballerinas like Anna Pavlova and Tamara Karsavina graced the stages. Even today, the artistry and the dramatic movements of ballerinas from this era are so beautifully iconic and inspire young ballerinas like me even now!
Now, where should we begin with our ballet-centric 1933 adventures?
First up: A little historical ballet bonanza, darlings!
You see, in 1933, ballet was undergoing a magical metamorphosis! It was no longer just a purely classical dance. It was beginning to blossom into more expressive forms, with bolder storytelling and incredible modernistic techniques, think Isadora Duncan, the innovator. I imagine her flowing white dress moving gracefully with every elegant move she made. That's pure drama and elegance at its very best! It truly makes my inner dancer and, shall I confess, my inner costume designer swoon!
Think of the beautiful ballerinas like Margot Fonteyn. She was a child star. Can you imagine being such a talented little lady? This was a time of amazing talent blossoming and she truly was a star! But it wasn’t all serious classical ballet back then. 1933 saw the arrival of new exciting choreographers. One of the first and most impactful was the legendary Frederick Ashton who revolutionised English ballet as we know it.
Let's hop on that vintage train, dear tutudophiles! Our next stop is a breathtaking ballet show!
And, oh, my dears, did we find a treasure! The Paris Opéra Ballet was putting on a stunning production of “Le Lac des Cygnes,” known in English as Swan Lake, one of the most famous ballets of all time! Can you imagine seeing it performed in a beautiful, grand opera house with crystal chandeliers, gold and red velvet seats, the scent of lilac perfume in the air, with your best friend sitting next to you all decked out in a pink silk dress? We’re practically on a film set from an elegant, old Hollywood movie! Oh, what a dream! The dancing! The costumes! The beautiful romanticism!
The story of Swan Lake was enchanting - a princess transformed into a swan! Such a heartbreaking, tragic but romantic ballet - just perfect for 1933’s love of romantic, poetic storytelling. Oh, my dears, if you had only seen it! The elegance, the beautiful swan tutus, the dramatic white feather headpieces…simply breathtaking! And can we just talk about the tutus?! The romantic swan tutus!
Speaking of tutus, did I mention the absolute thrill of 1933 ballet fashion? Tutues became a central part of the performances, no longer merely being the simple cotton skirts we see today. No, they were the epitome of graceful sophistication. There were intricate hand-sewn flowers, delicate ribbons, and layers upon layers of the finest, most beautiful tulle you could ever imagine! Just the sight of a dancer floating onto the stage, swathed in yards upon yards of tulle…it was simply magical!
The color, too! Oh, the exquisite colors, and textures. Pale pastel colors, muted pinks and delicate lavender - everything a little bit dream-like and ethereal. And then there were the sparkly, glittery tutus - absolutely dazzling! This was the period for beautiful feminine design! A total love letter to tulle! I dream of 1933 ballet tutus! I really want to recreate one – you know I have to. Just a little challenge for my fabulous team back at home – I can't wait to see it, though of course it will be in pink tulle!
And, dear tutudophiles, did you know that even the ballet shoes were different? They weren't the delicate pink satin shoes of today. No, they were made from the finest white kid leather, carefully crafted for ultimate support and comfort! Ballerinas could effortlessly pirouette, leaps and bounding through their performance and make the most wonderful graceful dance steps, but also show off their shoes at the same time - a win-win for our graceful ballet stars.
Speaking of a graceful step, it’s time to move onto the heart of 1933 – the shopping and fashion scene! Paris in the 1930s was a fashion haven for ladies who loved dancing and twirling! We all wanted a touch of that ethereal and stylish look!
For our outfits, you simply had to have a classic black dress. A short sleek skirt and a fitted bodice for that fabulous hourglass silhouette! Of course, all finished off with a touch of Parisian chic. A bright red hat to complement your lips with a little feather on top, a lovely pink floral pattern on a little bag and matching shoes to create an elegant statement. If you didn't have these essentials - you simply weren't fashionable! Then it was time to head to the couturiers, my loves, for a touch of magical tulle and a sprinkle of fabulous design!
Did you know that Parisian fashion houses like Coco Chanel and Madeleine Vionnet revolutionized fashion back in the 1930s? They were big on simplicity and fluidity with the movement of the fabrics being incredibly important. That, of course, goes hand in hand with ballet's movements - all grace and effortless sophistication, making them very fashionable for those who liked to dance. This era was about freedom of movement and that was all captured in their gorgeous dresses. Think silk and georgette fabric - all beautiful colours and the use of lace and exquisite embroidery! It's enough to make your inner fashionista heart flutter, don't you think? We have to talk about Coco's revolutionary little black dress. Such elegance. Such glamour! She brought her elegance to ballet!
Let's also give a nod to the glamorous dancers themselves, my darlings! Their lives were far from the simplistic cotton tutus that the world would embrace in a few decades. You see, in 1933, dancers were treated like the royalty of the stage. You would see them in elegant limousines! Then they would be adorned in shimmering beaded gowns after their show, sipping champagne and being applauded and adored by the public.
What else can I tell you about this wonderful time? Perhaps a little bit about the amazing social scenes! There were all kinds of exciting balls and charity events. The dances were as elaborate as the grand opera house and every single ballerina twirled, waltzed, danced in circles and swirled with elegance! Oh, the thrill of the waltzing and the swirling. The excitement and passion and the joy of all things dance was truly in the air!
I hope you loved my whirlwind through 1933! It was certainly a time for celebrating the sheer beauty and joy of ballet, and the magic of the tutus, both on and off the stage. The movement of dance, fashion and a dash of drama - that is exactly how I feel about my travels through time, and this is the exact feeling that I want you to have with every single time-traveling blog! So stay tuned, tutudophiles!
For now, let's embrace the joy of twirling, and never, ever forget the magic of the tutu!
Yours in tulle and time travel,
Emma
P.S. Did you know that in 1933, ballet was one of the top trending hashtags on all the most popular social media sites? #ballet #ballerina #balletlife #dance Well, at least that’s how I imagine it was. Oh, the fashion world! And to celebrate, why don't you all pop over to my www.pink-tutu.com website to get yourselves the best, pinkest tulle possible! And let's bring back the glamor to dance, darling!
Don't forget to share your favorite tutu memories with me. It could even make my next time travel destination!
See you next Tuesday for more #TutuTuesday adventures! ✨
