Hello my beautiful tutu lovers! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things frilly and fabulous. Today we're taking a trip back in time to a delightful era, the roaring twenties, but with a tutu twist!
So climb aboard my imaginary time-travelling carriage (imagine it's pink, naturally!) and hold onto your hats because we're about to hop back to October 3rd, 1939, and oh boy, there's much to be excited about. Now, you might think this date would be steeped in post-war gloom, but you'd be wrong! This date marked the opening night of “The Sleeping Beauty” at London's prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre, performed by none other than the legendary Margot Fonteyn, who became known for her delicate artistry and pure elegance! How could we resist a little tutudicious travel to such an occasion, darling?
Imagine the glamour: sparkling costumes, elegant gowns, and a dusting of theatrical magic – it’s almost enough to make this Derbyshire girl forget about those darned ration coupons! But back to tutus, you lovely lot, the focus of our delightful travels.
The Early Twenties – A Time for Grace & Innovation
Picture this: 1920s England. Flapper dresses are in vogue with short skirts, loose fits, and oh, so much daring, but imagine my excitement at seeing the “Dance Mania”, the fashion for all things ballet! As you know, the tutu came about with a more romantic air in the 1800s but it's this period that truly catapulted it into a star. We’re not talking about our glorious modern-day tutus with their stiff tulle and extravagant panniers, dear reader, oh no! The tutus of the 20s were much more understated: wispy, flowing and delicate.
Now, the beauty of this style? Imagine how these tutus were all about showcasing the ballerina’s graceful movements, flowing with each pirouette and elegant leaps. We can almost picture the movement with these wispy layers - they would have almost danced in the air themselves! Imagine if that’s how we all walked around – that's a whole lot of twirling I'd encourage!
And speaking of tutus, you all know I'm all about those classic, ballerina pink ones. What a colour! A truly divine shade. In this decade, the dancers favoured tutus in soft pastel shades like Pale Pink and Cream, because, well, darling, just picture those colors against the stage lights! Dramatic!
The 20s – Beyond the Theatre
But it’s not just on stage that we see this love of ballet style. Oh no, the 20s embraced this whimsical air even on the streets! Picture ladies wearing pleated, silk dresses inspired by those enchanting ballerina skirts – the joy! Those beautiful lines were so flattering. The whole spirit of dance found its way into everything: from the delicate beading and silk to the loose fits of the clothing, just so perfect to spin around! I'm pretty sure a tiny touch of ballerina inspiration must have even snuck its way into the ladies’ headbands!
And then came the ‘30s
We entered the ‘30s with a growing interest in ballet and an even more feminine, yet sophisticated approach to dress. Now, we start to see the tutus evolving, even though I still adore those delicate styles. They’re still light and breezy, yet starting to incorporate a more dramatic look, with layers and perhaps even a touch more frills. You’d see a beautiful balance: that delicate, feminine style of the Twenties meeting the sleek silhouette of this new decade!
Finding My Tutu Inspiration
Of course, all this tutu history isn’t just academic, dear readers! No, it’s about finding inspiration! It's amazing to look back at these moments and see how fashion, like dance, evolves beautifully, incorporating new trends while staying true to its core. And oh, do I find this so inspiring! It’s almost enough to make me wish we had the amazing style of the twenties alongside the freedom of today, all while twirling in my pink tutus of course!
Remember to embrace that classic yet elegant feel for all your Tutu looks, darling. Find a tutu that flows beautifully – let the fabric sway and twirl like it's doing a grand jeté. But, remember that there is no one style for all. A classic pink tutu, soft and light is divine, or perhaps try a fuller skirt for a dramatic touch. Play, and express yourself with style and joy!
Don't forget to head over to my website www.pink-tutu.com for more history and, of course, my favourite tutu picks!
See you all next week for more exciting tutus!
Love,
Emma xxx
