Oh my darlings! How's it going? I’ve just stepped off a glorious train journey and I'm brimming with inspiration, as always, for a new #TutuTuesday blog. Today I’m going to be exploring the world of tutus – and believe me, darling, it’s a magical journey! We’re whisking you away to July 7th 1936, right to the heart of Paris, France!
As I said, I just arrived on the train, having travelled from Derbyshire – England, darling, it’s a bit cold compared to the warmth of the French sunshine, and frankly, I feel so stylish wearing my new floral print dress paired with a bright pink ballet tutu, complete with soft tulle. But don't you worry – you won't catch me dancing at the Gare du Nord today. I have much grander plans, darling, much grander!
This date, my darlings, is an absolutely perfect day to chat tutus in this amazing city. It’s where the ballet truly blossomed, where grace and artistry were, and are still, adored and revered, and this is precisely where you will find the tutu as a staple of dance, reaching its pinnacle of refinement and artistry. It was here, at the esteemed Paris Opera Ballet in 1936, that the most innovative designs were taking centre stage.
Let’s get ready for our whirlwind trip back in time! But remember darling, my pink tutu will always be with me.
First of all, just imagine: 1936! I’m so glad the train carriages weren't crowded today as I boarded in the heart of England to reach my French paradise, Paris! This era – it's all about luxurious simplicity and sophisticated charm. The fashion, of course, darling, oh the clothes! You'll see beautiful cocktail dresses, tailored coats, and so much chic, oh-so-elegant elegance. Paris was the fashion capital of the world, and for a budding dancer and blogger like me, that was always the perfect destination to take in some stunning looks and absorb all that creative energy.
For ballerinas at this time, the designs were bold, sleek and truly, truly glamorous. Think beautifully gathered skirts, intricate corsetry and intricate fabrics that twirled and floated with every movement – such an elegant ballet story just waiting to unfold.
You see, ballet tutus are the essence of our movement, the ultimate expression of art and style, my darlings. And we, dear readers of pink-tutu.com, love the tutu, right? I've got to get more of you darlings in pink tutus! It's like a feather-light hug from the very essence of grace and artistry itself! Oh, and the best bit about this era, my darling? Think of the perfect colour for a pink tutu enthusiast – a bright shade of rose, oh darling, you can’t go wrong!
And speaking of elegance, let’s imagine ourselves inside the majestic Parisian opera house for a moment – that magnificent grandeur with chandeliers twinkling, so beautifully captivating! The Paris Opera Ballet, darling – just so stylish – it’s like the world itself had come together to see a dazzling ballet performance!
Can you picture it – an atmosphere full of energy and anticipation. We all dress up to the nines and feel a delicious buzz of excitement. You can almost hear the rustling of fabric and the tinkling of jewellery! It's so alive, so passionate. Just incredible.
Now let’s talk about the real highlight – the ballets, of course! Ballets like The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Giselle. What do we have on this glorious day? A fantastic ballet performance of The Sleeping Beauty - so iconic darling. This day I’ve seen how the tutu comes to life, twirling with absolute artistry on a magnificent stage.
Now imagine a dancer moving like a dream, her costume flowing around her – the light from the stage lamps creates magical shadows and the music swells and dips like waves. This is a perfect match, darlings.
For that era, the tutu design had an elegance and fluidity that complimented each movement perfectly. Tulle flowed as naturally as a breath of air. Oh how I've learned about the evolution of the tutu through time! From the grand costumes of the early days to this elegant style - every detail was designed to enhance the performance and draw in every eye in the theatre! It was the culmination of years of artistry – a harmonious blend of fashion and movement – creating truly captivating performances!
On this historical day in 1936, we could say, darling, the ballerina was just the perfect embodiment of this enchanting elegance - she’s not just wearing a costume – she's a part of the ballet itself. I could easily picture a ballerina like Anna Pavlova in her prime. Imagine the perfect tutu style, beautifully styled with that enchanting grace – such magic!
Paris was so special and so vital, my dear darlings – because, it is the world’s stage! This city embraced the theatrical and created something utterly unique - I think it's important for me, as a ballerina and fashion blogger, to learn about this and honour our legacy! The tutu is a beautiful piece of art that allows ballerinas to truly express themselves, just like my dear blog does, darling.
You can understand why this is my passion, my love – ballet history, style and dance are what I’m truly made for, my darlings. I always feel so joyful about discovering a little bit more about the wonderful, dazzling history of the ballet, it inspires me! I'm now so excited to continue sharing all of these gorgeous finds from 1936 with you, and of course, sharing more magical history, as well as inspiring style ideas - because my ultimate mission is to make everyone wear a pink tutu, darling. This time travel stuff, it really brings the passion, darling, oh so beautifully, my dear darlings! And now you see how our own love of the tutu is intertwined with the history and passion of our amazing ballet, the grace, the dance and oh darling - our glorious love of Paris!
But darling, that’s it for now! I am looking forward to a delicious dinner here at my French Hotel - followed by a long hot bath. A full day of dancing, blogging and fashion has certainly given me the need for some pampering.
Until next time darling - join me for our weekly #TutuTuesday. See you on www.pink-tutu.com !
Your eternally pink-tutu loving, Emma
