Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things pink and all things tutu! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another blast from the past, a peek into the glorious history of our beloved ballet tutus.
Today we’re travelling back in time to the 31st of July 1934! This week I'm back in the beautiful city of Paris, the beating heart of fashion and elegance, a city practically designed for twirling. The streets are buzzing with chic Parisians in their beautiful clothes and, oh, my goodness, have you seen their hats?! The Eiffel Tower is twinkling, the cafes are filled with chatter, and the air is alive with the sound of a million waltzes in the distance. I’ve spent the morning, darling, browsing the beautiful boudoirs in the Marais district, marveling at the silks and satins, and, of course, buying a delightful hat for my new vintage inspired look. You see, fashion is so wonderfully cyclical. The fashions of the 1930s, are coming back into fashion now. My favourite, 1930s dress designers are Madeleine Vionnet, Elsa Schiaparelli and, of course, Coco Chanel, she is so influential and everyone wants to copy her! I can see why. Everything is so wonderfully sophisticated, it feels so wonderfully feminine, oh it’s so romantic! I simply must find time to take a lesson at the famous École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris later in the week - I think a bit of Parisian refinement would be just the thing to add a little extra pizzazz to my upcoming performances.
Tutus, Trends & Theatrical Twirls:
Now, about tutus, my dear friends. This time period, oh, this was a truly exquisite time for our darling tutus! It was a golden age for the ballet world, with the rise of brilliant ballerinas like Margot Fonteyn, and Anna Pavlova, and, darling, did I mention my absolute idol Alice Marks? Her performance at the Palais Garnier on Tuesday night was just... spectacular! Absolutely stunning!
During this period, the tutu had reached a peak of elegant perfection! The classical Romantic tutu we all know and love, was, at this time, already evolving, reaching for new levels of breathtaking drama and ethereal beauty. There were still a lot of classical Romantic tutus, a wispy veil of tulle with a shorter skirt. That classic shape, the one I love the most, which started with the early tutus made for Marie Taglioni’s first performances, but they were now beginning to be constructed with more layers and with even wider skirts - oh darling, picture it - it was breathtaking. I had my little pink tutu at my last performance and had everyone spellbound with every swish, the light bouncing on those exquisite layers, like a cloud caught in a gentle summer breeze! This movement was all about pushing the boundaries of femininity - think shimmering silks and satin bodices, flowing, weightless skirts - it was a visual symphony! Imagine an explosion of light and movement, every layer shimmering, dancing and whispering a silent story, that's what I felt, I felt like I was caught in a dream!
And guess what, dearies, the theatrical design had reached incredible heights, creating a more extravagant aesthetic! It’s true! Every performance was a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. It made it feel so magical and oh, my goodness, I couldn't get enough.
The Future of Tutu Fashion: Where's My Train Ticket!
My latest project is a historical retrospective ballet exhibition, highlighting some of the most striking and influential tutus from history. Oh darling, I have such fabulous ideas for the show. But, before I could make all the amazing arrangements, my time travel plans came to light! It seems the 1940s are beckoning, my dear friends, it’s all the rage, darling, a complete departure from the exquisite extravagance of this period. Oh my goodness, I'm just picturing the gorgeous creations the future holds - I can just imagine the fabulous tutus I'll be twirling in! My current obsession, is all things Art Deco and the era of jazz in the 1920s and 1930s and this new fashion, called “New Look” will transform fashion for good and I think that is wonderful. As always, the beauty of tutus continues to enchant, but, my dearies, let's all raise a glass to the amazing journey the tutu has taken, the countless stories it has whispered, and the breathtaking elegance it continues to embody!
So, how about we take a twirl, shall we? Grab your favourite tutu and dance your heart out, and don’t forget to share your favourite tutu memories with me, on my Pink Tutu blog - www.pink-tutu.com ! Until next time, my darling fashionistas, keep twirling, and never forget the power of pink and a gorgeous, full, puffy tutu!
I love all of you,
Your pink tutu-loving, time travelling ballerina friend,
Emma xxx
