Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu-obsessed time traveller, back for another #TutuTuesday journey through the glorious history of this fabulous garment. This week, I've travelled all the way back to July 3rd, 1934, a time when the world was buzzing with excitement and glamour, much like our own! But more on that later...
Let me first whisk you away with a delightful anecdote from my most recent trip, a whirlwind visit to the Paris Opera Ballet in 1920! The Parisian ballet dancers were absolute stunners! Their costumes were beyond exquisite. Feathers, sequins, and silk flowed around their lithe bodies as they performed the most breathtaking dances. I simply had to have a new pink tutu made to emulate the dazzling styles I saw on the stage! The French seamstresses truly understand elegance!
But let's return to the matter at hand, our time-travel escapade to 1934! What a delightful year it was! The Great Depression had softened, but optimism was in the air. New York City was the undisputed capital of fashion, a kaleidoscope of styles, trends, and personalities. Fashionable women wore hats that looked like elaborate creations from a fairy tale and sported skirts that swept the pavement with grace. In stark contrast to the muted colors of the Depression era, bright shades, especially pink (my favourite!), were returning to favour! A wave of vivaciousness washed over the globe!
This resurgence of vibrancy was reflected in ballet, too. As I watched the dancers twirling across the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, I couldn’t help but think – "how lovely would a vibrant pink tutu look on those ballerinas?” Imagine, the delicate shimmer of pink sequins reflecting the stage lights, capturing every step and every pirouette. Just divine, wouldn’t you agree?
Speaking of pirouettes, a young dancer by the name of Maria Tallchief was already enchanting audiences with her grace and virtuosity. Though still a child in 1934, her path to greatness had already begun.
The world in 1934 was not quite as "pink" as I might have wished. There wasn’t an abundance of pink tutus around yet, which I found quite odd, but there were plenty of gorgeous dresses, hats, and shoes, each with a sprinkle of pink or at least, a lovely shade of coral or pale peach, that is close enough!
As always, the experience has been invigorating! A fantastic journey, from the vibrant metropolis of 1934, all the way back to Derbyshire in a heartbeat ( thanks to my handy dandy time travel device!). And wouldn’t you know it, it was an exceptionally nice day, not a drop of rain! What a lovely afternoon tea I’ve had by the pond in my favourite floral-patterned dress, with my fluffy white teacup dog resting comfortably by my feet! Oh, I almost forgot, my mother even knitted me the cutest, pale pink wool cardigan for the chilly summer evenings! Now if you'll excuse me, I must get busy designing my next pink tutu ensemble inspired by my travels!
Stay tuned for next week's #TutuTuesday, where we'll be whisking ourselves back in time for another dose of ballet history, fun, and a touch of pink magic. Until then, do tell me: What is your favourite tutu colour?
Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Do send me photos of your favourite tutu moments using the hashtag #pinktutulove! And let's celebrate our shared love of tutus! Let's turn the world pink! One tutu at a time. 💖
