Hello, my lovely tutu-lovers! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we celebrate the glorious history of ballet and, of course, the iconic garment that is the tutu! This is your darling Emma, reporting live from… well, that’s a little bit of a secret! As you know, my time travel adventures take me to the most amazing places, and I always try to pop in on some legendary ballet performances while I’m there. But don't worry, my pink tutu stays with me through all of my escapades – because let's be honest, there's no better travel companion!
Today we're celebrating September 20th, 1938, and what a magical day it was!
This is post number 5569 of my Ballet Tutu History blog and my #TutuTuesday weekly posts here on www.pink-tutu.com!
Now, before we delve into the tutus of the era, I simply must tell you about the most exquisite dress I spotted on the train journey to get to this wonderful city (yes, that's a tease, I’ll let you figure out where I am!). This stunning ensemble featured a full, flowing skirt that would make any tutu proud. A splash of rich burgundy velvet graced the top of the dress, with hints of delicate lace peeking through, and it was all tied together with a beautiful little bow of satin ribbon at the waist. It’s definitely giving vintage glamour and you can bet your bottom dollar I was trying to figure out if it had a twin in my own collection when nobody was looking. That’s right, folks! Fashion isn’t a spectator sport for yours truly - we gotta find those pieces that catch our eye, so I don’t hesitate to get my hands on a vintage treasure, either. After all, sometimes you can spot the same style trends in fashion that carry on over the decades!
Tutuland in the 30s: A Time for Whimsy and GlamourSo, let’s take a look back at 1938 and how tutu fashion was rocking it in the ballet world! We’re right smack-dab in the midst of the golden age of ballet. And let’s just say, the tutus were feeling extra glamorous and quite frankly, delightful! Think long, flowing, romantic designs that had a touch of ethereal charm.
And don’t think I haven't noticed – tutus from this period often had a lot more going on than simply netting and ribbons. I’m talking about intricately sewn lace panels, tiers of delicate tulle, and, if I’m being totally honest, more sequins than you can shake a stick at. It’s all a perfect match for the grand style that swept up the world of fashion back then, you see!
And to be quite honest, those 1930s ballerinas had some serious confidence – not a whisper of shyness about their own grace! In this era, the tutu wasn't just about function, my lovelies. It was about creating a vision. A vision of feminine beauty, with a captivating blend of ethereal softness and undeniable grace. They moved like liquid, didn't they? So magical!
Spotlight on ChoreographySpeaking of moving like liquid, September 20th, 1938 was quite a special day for the world of ballet!
On this day, The Sleeping Beauty, a gorgeous ballet masterpiece, was presented at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. The company featured Margot Fonteyn (I’m absolutely fan-girling out right now), one of the most influential and celebrated ballerinas of all time. Just thinking about those exquisite costumes, all those intricate details and that incredible "Bluebird" pas de deux gasps! ...I think it was the gorgeous blue of her tutu in that scene that truly sealed the deal for my whole life of tutus, honestly. She is what makes it all magical. And the music, the story ... a masterpiece!
Oh, and there is the sheer thrill of the show itself! Imagine a beautifully decorated theatre, chandeliers glimmering, the orchestra warming up, and the anticipation in the air. Ah! There is nothing more delightful in the entire world! If only you all could see what I am seeing right now, you would just want to book your own time travelling tutu tour - oh the fashion possibilities are just… incredible! And remember this, you guys – we can all feel like a ballerina, regardless of if we’re dancing onstage or on a street somewhere. Because that’s the magical part of all of this - tutus make us feel extraordinary, and a sense of grace makes everyone so wonderfully confident, right? It's all about letting your inner sparkle shine, whatever the time period or wherever your feet might be, you know?
A Few of my Favourites…Before we head off to take on the rest of 1938 and then back to the 21st century, here's my list of top three favourite fashion moments in the tutu world of this specific period:
*1. The Tutu with the Ribbon: * The addition of the ribbons around the legs! Oh my, was that an incredibly whimsical and delightful touch. Those ribbons flowing through the air during an elaborate arabesque were absolutely mesmerizing, like the wind was playing a joyful game with their tutus.
2. The Lace Embellishment: The incorporation of delicate lace accents into tutu design. You’re seeing lace on sleeves, even down to the shoes. There's nothing more elegant and beautiful than the sight of delicate lace swirling around a ballerina’s feet. And those floral embellishments - well, let’s just say those tutus were making a statement for sure.
*3. The Poofy Skirt: * Remember when I was telling you those ballerinas were quite confident with their costumes? That’s because these skirts, folks! We're not talking simple netting here. Think layered tulle that created that incredible billowing look as ballerinas pirouetted around the stage.
This, my dear readers, was all about fashion, elegance, and a whole lot of ethereal romance.
Let's all raise our imaginary glass of pink champagne to those who dared to dream big, who danced their hearts out, and who embraced the power of the tutu to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary!
See you next Tuesday, my precious tutu-lovers!
Love,
Emma
P.S. I know we didn’t talk about fashion trends outside of the ballet world – but you can rest assured, your favorite time-traveling pink-tutu wearing ballerina has also made sure to stock up on some fabulous finds in this amazing time. From shoes to accessories, every fashionista dreams of traveling back in time just to find an amazing fashion vintage moment to bring back to today's style!
