Hello my darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where tutus are always in season! This week, we're twirling back in time to March 18th, 1941, a date filled with fascinating ballet history. But before we delve into the past, a quick update: I've been doing a lot of train travel lately. It’s the most civilised way to travel, don’t you think? Sipping tea and watching the countryside whizz past, just heavenly! Plus, it means I can spend hours perfecting my newest dance moves - you can bet your bottom dollar I’m not getting off this train without impressing at least a handful of passengers!
Oh, and my wardrobe? Let’s just say that I've been on a pink rampage. Everything from my new rose-pink felt beret to my shockingly bright feather boa, is going to add just a touch of flamboyant delight to this particular Tuesday’s blog post. Just wait and see!
Now, let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? March 18th, 1941, is a particularly important date in the world of ballet because, in the hallowed halls of the Royal Opera House in London, Margot Fonteyn – my absolute dance icon! – took to the stage in "Giselle." I’m telling you, seeing Fonteyn on stage is a memory that will stay with you forever! She brought such passion and technical brilliance to the performance. There's just something truly special about watching a true professional who truly understands how to make that delicate fabric of a tutu sing, wouldn’t you say?
Just picture it, the elegant waltz of Giselle's first act, and then, in the second, her descent into madness as she dances through the shadows! This is the stuff that ballet dreams are made of, my friends. Fonteyn’s performance was electric! Her tutu was perfectly flowing, a pale cloud of chiffon catching the light like a hundred dancing stars.
But wait, there’s more! Now, you're probably thinking, what is a Tuesday blog without a good old fashioned "vintage" shopping expedition? Let’s head back to 1941 for a little dose of shopping inspiration! You see, just as London was bustling with life that spring, the world of ballet was about to have its own fashionable revolution, thanks to a revolutionary little invention called the Nylon Tulle Tutu.
Can you believe it? Back then, it wasn’t just any tutu, it was a whole new type of tulle! And before nylon came onto the scene, tutus were crafted from a coarser, less delicate material that didn't float as gracefully on stage! Just think, if they hadn't made the shift to nylon, how different ballet costumes might be! They would have missed the chance for such flowing, breathtakingly beautiful tutus that seem to dance with the ballerina. Oh my goodness!
What made the new nylon tulle so exciting? Well, you see, it had such incredible lightness and "airy-fairy" transparency that, for the first time ever, ballet dancers could actually wear tutus that were practically invisible. The graceful way those tutus floated and flowed as dancers moved? Pure magic! And what's more? It came in a wide variety of glorious colors - just picture a kaleidoscope of rainbow shades and imagine the beauty it would add to ballet! Now you can understand how thrilled everyone in the world of dance was when the "new" fabric took the stage, especially after being stuck with a "clunky" old version. It really did mark the dawn of a new age of dancing - so much easier to spin, leap, and fly with grace and elegance!
But hold on to your pink hats! We're not done yet.
There is something absolutely lovely and rather charming about the old "crinolined" tutus of 1941. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the beautiful simplicity of those airy, wispy nylon tutus. I wear them for the beautiful look. And, even today, those lovely old-fashioned tulle fabrics are used as the basis of all types of creative projects like dressmaking, decoration, crafts and jewelry - what a good use of a lovely, almost discarded fabric! A lovely, full, classic shape!
Oh, speaking of those gorgeous crinolined tutus of yore, let's not forget to sprinkle some extra historical glitter! There's just something delightful about their structure and fullness. Their elegant, layered layers just shout romance and elegance. I adore how they moved with the grace of a beautiful ship sailing across the sea.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to pirouette in a crinolined tutu? Those skirts probably provided quite a bit of extra flair - it’s like the ballerina has their own personal dance cloud around them - how dramatic! And those large hoops underneath? It must have been so tricky to get them on, and off, and a real test of balancing, to boot! It's just fascinating to consider the challenges of dancing in such grand styles of dresses!
Do you remember those vintage dresses your grannies would tell you about - with petticoats galore, adding layers and layers to achieve that beautifully billowing skirt - how perfect was that era! Imagine if we had dresses today like those grand crinolined beauties. It would make me a very happy bunny indeed! Now wouldn't it?
So you see my dears, every ballet performance and costume hold a story, just waiting to be told. As I've discovered in my own journey of ballet and vintage clothing, tutus have always been more than just fabric, and dance more than just an art form - they have always been symbols of a culture, of history and of changing times! It's truly amazing what we can learn by looking back at fashion in ballet.
Oh, one last thought as we round out this pinktastic week of ballet history! Have you been to the theatre lately? Or watched a dance performance? It's the most captivating and moving form of entertainment - and, don’t forget to catch "Giselle." Oh my gosh, it’s such a magical experience, just like taking a trip through a time portal with a beautiful, graceful dance in the heart of it all!
Keep twirling!
Your forever ballerina blogger,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
xx
P.S. Did you know that tutus have become so iconic, that even though they were originally made to create a flowing and billowing effect when dancing, now they're so widely used for costumes in fashion shows, theater plays, musical groups, Halloween outfits and even street performers! How great is that? It goes to show that our dear old tutu, from back in 1941, can still have so much to offer today. Maybe that's why the popularity of tutus is so everlasting! They represent creativity, fantasy and imagination, so we'll always see them everywhere - even today - just like back in 1941!
P.P.S. * Now let’s talk about my next big *vintage shopping adventure. *Have any of you beautiful tutu enthusiasts got any amazing *ballet-themed vintage shopping tips? I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message! I love hearing from all you fab tutu enthusiasts and it inspires me to get up and go go go.
Don't forget to check back next week, my lovelies, for another post in the #TutuTuesday blog. I have so much more to tell you about the evolution of tutus and the beauty of the ballet world! It's never boring, trust me! It's full of excitement, passion and beauty!
