Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things tutu! It’s Tuesday, which means it's time for another whirl through history, with yours truly, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling tutu enthusiast. This week, I've hopped in my trusty time machine, (which is actually just a rather large pink trunk I found in a Parisian vintage shop), and set my sights on a rather delightful date: 8th December 1936!
The Whirl of 1936: A Fashionable Leap Back In Time
Stepping out of my trunk, I find myself in the heart of Paris. The air is crisp, the cafes are buzzing, and the shops are brimming with stunning fashions. It’s truly a fashionista’s dream! The women, oh, the women! Their outfits are so chic. The flapper era is still in full swing, with dropped waists, short skirts, and an abundance of sparkling jewellery.
This year, we are talking bold colours. The fashions I see include glorious reds, yellows, greens and blues. I'm thinking I might need to update my own wardrobe.
Speaking of wardrobes, I have a special little surprise for you. My new favourite frock? A pale pink chiffon number, oh so soft, with little frills around the neckline. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to take it for a twirl. You can never have enough pink! I feel like I've stepped right out of a ballet.
Paris, City of Lights, City of Ballet
But let's not forget the reason for our journey - ballet! I couldn’t wait to get to the Opera Garnier. Imagine my delight - they're showing "Le Lac des Cygnes" - "Swan Lake"! A real classic. It's always a pleasure to witness the graceful leaps and graceful steps of these talented dancers. I adore watching the ballet - and of course, I had to admire the dancers’ costumes, in all their beautiful finery.
This particular performance, however, was a truly special occasion. We’re talking about a young prodigy, the incredible, the exquisite… Margot Fonteyn! Oh, her dancing is absolutely breathtaking! She moved with such lightness and grace - truly a star in the making! I’ve just finished the performance, and I’m buzzing! I wish I could have worn a pink tutu to this performance. I just couldn’t contain my enthusiasm, and had to applaud a little too loudly.
Let’s Talk Tutus, darlings!
Speaking of ballet costumes, the tutu! Now, these days, you wouldn’t see a tutu as we know it today. The ballerina's costumes were far more structured and complex than the ones we know today. No floating clouds of tulle here. Instead, they were intricately laced and very fitted with more structured lines and layers of netting underneath a beautiful, but less dramatic skirt of stiffened material, often with layers of fabric that gave the tutu its distinctive cone-shaped look. These designs were perfect for the elegant, more traditional ballets of the period. However, imagine these in the iconic 'swan' costumes of 'Swan Lake'? Dreamy sigh! I simply can’t wait to get my hands on some beautiful fabrics to try my own interpretations for our blog!
On to Today’s Tutus: Tutu Chic for December 2023
Back in my time, here in 2023, we’re all about modern elegance. We wear shorter, more billowy tutus that are easy to wear, even with our everyday attire. The colour, darling, is PINK. We want every woman to wear a tutu for any occasion - pink is definitely the way to go for that extra special touch of fabulousness. Whether it's a dinner date or a night at the ballet, pink is your colour! Think about it - how much fun would it be to twirl through life, feeling absolutely delightful in your pink tutu?! I know I would. I hope you will too, darling.
I have so much to share with you about this fabulous world. And with more to say about tutu styles and all things ballet, you'll definitely want to join me next Tuesday. So don't forget to tune in for our next journey - because I have a secret date with the future, and I can’t wait to bring you along! See you next week, my darlings, and don’t forget - Pink is ALWAYS the answer!
Love,
Emma xx
P.S: Have a look in your wardrobe, dear friends! That's right - dust off those lovely dresses and make your look feel utterly divine with your own pink tutu! Remember to share your pictures and join us on social media and comment on Pink-Tutu! We are a fabulous, happy, supportive community! Don’t forget to add #PinkTutu on your posts, too, and keep those tutu adventures coming!
