Hello, my darling tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing time traveller! It's Tuesday, so you know what that means… Ballet Tutu History!
This week we're swirling back to the glorious year of 1936. Oh, the glamour! The elegance! It feels like a lifetime ago, but the tutu was still very much in its prime. Today we're talking about how tutus, in all their frilly glory, were sweeping across the stage, and in a sense, the world!
As usual, I've travelled to the very heart of it all - Paris, darling! Nothing beats the thrill of arriving in the City of Lights on the Orient Express, all flouncy pink tutu and Parisian chic! This week, I found myself right in the middle of a bustling Rue de Rivoli, surrounded by shops showcasing the latest in couture and all the fashionable delights Paris had to offer. It's enough to make a girl dizzy with excitement!
But first, let's talk about tutus! The 1930s was a real renaissance for the tutu! Designers like Coco Chanel were making waves with their interpretations of the iconic garment. We were all about the Romantic Tutu in those days. The full, floaty, multi-layered dream we see in productions like "Swan Lake". Remember, those designs often mimicked the style of ballerinas like Anna Pavlova, a truly enchanting figure on stage, and a role model for all us tutu lovers!
1936, oh darling, you're a beauty! It was a year brimming with beautiful ballets. Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, which is so integral to how the tutu has shaped up over the years, was still captivating audiences. But the 1930s also brought a burst of innovation. Balanchine's "Apollo", first performed in 1928, was growing in popularity, inspiring a wave of fresh takes on the classical ballet style, often using the tutu as a starting point for creating something even more thrilling.
You know I love the classics, and 1936 had a classic feel, but there were already stirrings of something new. Ballets were incorporating themes of modernity, often paired with beautiful geometric patterns – can you even imagine, darlings! Tutues made of different lengths, interesting shapes – it's all about embracing innovation and creativity, isn't it!
Now, to continue our fashionable tour of 1936, let’s talk a bit about what else I found when I stepped into this world of vintage fashion. What's more thrilling than a good show? A good show followed by some fabulous shopping, darling!
We're in the golden age of the classic feminine silhouette! Sleeveless dresses were all the rage, think sleek and flowing gowns, perfectly accentuated with bold details like a belt around the waist! This era loved to emphasise the figure!
And let's talk accessories, darling. HATS! 1936 couldn't get enough of them! Think fascinators, pillboxes, cloche hats - every occasion had a hat, and every hat was perfectly coordinated to your look! It was truly a hat-lovers dream! The perfect finishing touch to a gorgeous Parisian outfit, it wouldn't be 1936 without them.
And now for a very special occasion: on 4th August 1936, the 1936 Summer Olympics were officially opened in Berlin! It's incredible to imagine this event with so much history being wrapped up with our ballet obsession, right?! And imagine the tutus! You bet I’ve done some digging for photos and articles, and let me tell you – these events are overflowing with excitement and grace! Just like a ballet performance!
We saw an elegant mix of elegance and sporty chic, with beautiful attire on the ladies watching, of course. It's a glorious mix! So imagine all those wonderful outfits alongside all those grand Olympic venues! Talk about iconic. It was a big year in history, for sure!
But I'm a ballerina through and through, darling, and you know what really captures my heart about 1936? It was the dawn of the ballet street performer!! It's something we are seeing now in many countries around the world! People taking the beautiful artistry of ballet to the streets, performing in squares and festivals! Can't you see those wonderful street performers wearing amazing tutus! So romantic and elegant - and oh so joyful! I even spotted some amazing street dancers on my visit to the Latin Quarter – so, it really is all about expressing yourself through movement, darling, wherever you may be!
That's a wrap for #TutuTuesday, darling! But do check back next week. We've got so much more exciting ballet history to share, and as always, you're invited to share your thoughts and stories too. Stay stylish, stay glamorous and don't forget to embrace your inner tutu diva, my darling!
See you next Tuesday,
Emma (The pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, who loves everything from Ballet to hats and fashion! 😉)
Remember, the Tutu revolution is alive and well! Let’s keep it dancing and spinning forever!
www.pink-tutu.com
