Hello darlings! It's Emma, your Tutu Tuesday host, back again for another whirl through time! This week, we're waltzing all the way back to August 20th, 1940. Ooh, fancy dress, darling! The war is raging on, but London is still holding on to its glamour, even with the blackout and rationing. We're not going to let a little thing like the war dampen our spirits, are we? Now, who's ready to put on their dancing shoes? Let's take a spin through time and get those tutus twirling!
I arrived at Paddington Station, my darling pink tutu catching the eye of a rather dashing gentleman. “Good heavens! What a fine, fabulous tutu you've got on, my dear!” He exclaimed. It's such a joy to see the joy that a tutu brings. Even in the midst of the war, there's always time for a bit of feminine delight, isn't there?
Now, on August 20th, 1940, while bombs are falling in London, the ballet world keeps on turning. That evening, Covent Garden was alive with music and dancing. Giselle was on the program, a classic romantic ballet - all swirling tutus and passionate emotions. I snuck a peak in and boy oh boy, the performance was utterly captivating. Even wartime could not stop the magic of ballet, a testament to the human spirit's unwavering drive for beauty and grace.
Speaking of grace, oh darlings, just look at these amazing ballerinas! The war years were tough, of course, with material shortages affecting everything from tights to the length of our tutus. (Honestly, a tiny bit of wartime rationing and they wanted us to go short on fabric? Not a chance, darlings!) Thankfully, we did manage to keep the tutus flowing, a symbol of resilience and a testament to our unwavering faith in beauty and dance.
After the show, it was on to a wartime bash, the perfect chance to waltz and jitterbug. Everyone's in their finery - my darling tutu really was a hit - but I do notice something quite different about the fashion in 1940.
It's a world of victory rolls, perfectly coiffed hair, and those glorious cinched-waist suits with that lovely nipped-in waist that just screams elegance. Oh, I just adore the forties silhouette.
However, despite the war, one thing remains unchanged, darling. That passion for ballet. A little hardship, a bit of chaos - that doesn't deter us. You simply put on a beautiful pink tutu, twirl to your heart's content, and everything seems a little bit brighter.
After a day of wartime glamour and captivating ballet, I’m feeling utterly inspired, darlings. Just as ballet continues even in the midst of hardship, let’s remember that even when things are difficult, there is always room for a little magic. So, grab your favorite pink tutu, put on a song, and dance! It’s the perfect way to inject some loveliness into any day!
Until next week, darling! And don't forget - let's make the world a pinker place!
Emma xx
