Hello, my lovely tutu-loving friends! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where it's always TutuTuesday! Today, we're going to be taking a little trip back in time to 7 June 1938, to a world where the waltz was king, and ladies' hats were positively gigantic. It was also a very exciting year for the world of ballet, with a brand new production hitting the stage – I can't wait to tell you about it!
Now, I’m so happy to have you all joining me today in this week's #TutuTuesday blog post. If you are reading this, you are obviously already very much in love with the tutu, my little fashion angels! We have come so far in our tutu journeys - from their origins back in the 18th Century to today.
And what better way to kick off the journey than with a bit of a vintage travelogue? After all, a pink-loving ballet-obsessed time traveler such as myself does have a bit of a love affair with those fabulous steam trains! The Derbyshire air and the scent of woodsmoke and steam? Divine! I could easily imagine myself taking a trip by rail over to London to see the most delightful ballet performance, don’t you think? I’d always be looking fabulous, of course, in a fabulously chic pink tutu! I love London! The air is so exciting, full of theatre and performance. What a fab place to see and be seen! And the best thing? We are in for a real treat in terms of fashion!
So let's talk a little bit about 1938 fashion, shall we?
The roaring 20s were behind us, the big hair and big hats of the 1930s are in and the 40s were fast approaching. This was a time when fashion really was becoming more practical - less fussy and more geared towards the demands of war time, which was just around the corner! The big shoulder pads and the nipped-in waists became less common and we see a more flowing, lighter fashion that is feminine without being restrictive.
However, the big names like Christian Dior are already in full swing, ready to put their stamp on fashion - they were coming soon, and were poised to change the fashion scene for good!
Imagine walking through the grand halls of Covent Garden or The Royal Opera House with a beautiful tutu flowing in your wake and your gorgeous Christian Dior ball gown tucked underneath ready for the after-party, surrounded by your equally glamorous friends all wearing chic pink tutus too, wouldn't that be incredible? And the hats, darling, the hats! Think glorious headpieces like wide-brimmed felt hats adorned with feathers and jewels. This was also the time when hats started getting really creative – like the small, saucy hats made of veiling that sat on your head with the chicest little panache! Just so you know, pink is definitely going to become my next hat choice, if I’m being honest, darling!
But the star of the show is absolutely the tutu. What can I say? They’re practically the embodiment of femininity! Let's head to the theatre now!
Back to the Future: What the world saw in June 1938!And this week, I am very excited about what the Ballet Theatre had going on. It was the opening week of a production that would take the dance world by storm. And why wouldn't it?! I love the original choreography. If you like ballet, you’re already familiar with this piece. I can't give away all of my top secrets, but if you're ever lucky enough to find yourself back in 1938, this is definitely an absolute must-see. I'm talking, of course, about Leonide Massine's “Le Beau Danube,”.
Imagine, darling, the sheer magic of a ballet based on a piece by none other than the legendary Johann Strauss! A dazzling spectacle, a romantic waltz-driven dream, and a beautiful portrayal of love and longing in all its splendor!
Think flowy, swirling tutus for the ballerina, as light as air as she dances! Imagine a magical ballet where a lady of society dances on the moon, darling. Oh my! What an exquisite night, that’s a total dream come true, if you ask me!
Let’s just say, the whole thing was absolutely bursting with creativity! And that, my dear tutulovers, is a great example of how this golden age of ballet had such a great influence on the future of the tutu itself!
Speaking of tutus… let me know how you love your pink tutu! If you are interested, I am going to show you a great selection of tutus and pink clothes from the past as we step into the magical realm of the past - stay tuned for more great stuff!
Love and Tutus,
Emma 💖🩰
