Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your trusty #TutuTuesday guide to the wondrous history of our beloved ballet tutu. As always, I'm hopping into my trusty time-traveling tutu and whizzing back in time for a delightful dose of history.
This week, we're heading back to 1941, a year steeped in history but also brimming with balletic brilliance!
The world might have been a bit chaotic, but ballet continued to enchant and inspire. Imagine the incredible dancers of the day, the shimmering fabrics, the grand stagesā¦ a true symphony of art!
(PS - if you're new here, you can check out all of my other Tutu Tuesday posts on my site, www.pink-tutu.com - Iāve got over 5700 now - Iāve been busy, darling!)
1941 was the year of the glorious ballet, āGiselleā, starring none other than the divine Margot Fonteyn! You might have heard of this lovely ballerinaā¦ Imagine dancing on the grand stage of Covent Garden, her elegance and poise captivating the audience ā dreams really do come true! She just embodied everything a tutu was supposed to be: romantic, ethereal, and oh so graceful.
Just imagine, 1941! A whole world of beautiful and vibrant ballet. If we could just steal a bit of the fashion from this era! And darling, letās talk about the outfits! Can you believe that the iconic āGiselleā was revived in 1941? A triumph for this timeless masterpiece! With every twirl of her tulle, Fonteyn painted a picture of pure elegance, and all in a beautiful tutu! The Romantic Era of ballet really took center stage and we all saw the beauty of the tutu during this time.
Back in my time, Derbyshire, 1941 wasn't exactly the center of the ballet universe, but it wasnāt for a lack of love! Everyone, and I mean everyone was smitten with the grace and beauty of the ballet! Remember that this was a time before social mediaā¦ No Insta-ballet to admire, but just imagine what the newspapers must have looked likeā¦
But back to the past! Now, what is even more exciting, is that in this time period, the tutu itself is evolving! While the traditional romantic tutu of yore is still prevalent (and my favourite), the ballerina skirt begins its foray into the realm of the "tutu of today".
(Psstā¦ Keep reading for some tutu-tastic fashion tips from back in the day - you donāt want to miss out!)
Remember that in my last post (which was about the time when ballerinas began wearing actual tutus rather than a single hoop skirt ā which was quite impractical!), we talked about the transformation of the tutu. Well, the tutuās journey in 1941 took another thrilling step! It began taking on new forms, becoming shorter, more voluminous and more exciting.
And do you know why? Itās simple ā this allowed ballerinas to *leap and twirl and just look * absolutely *fabulous!* Just imagineā¦ it must have been completely electrifying to see these amazing ballerinas fly through the air with never-before-seen grace! I simply adore the history of the tutu and all its little changes. Now, for all you dancers out there, donāt just stop at ballet class. Dance on the street! Do some ballet walks on the promenade, and in front of the shopsā¦ the drama, darling!
(Psst ā in 1941 there weren't any TikTok dance challenges ā which I know we all miss dearly ā so all the dancing had to be real! Isnāt that brilliant? They really knew how to enjoy their lives!)
You know, ballet really was the height of fashion in 1941! Every designer wanted a bit of that grace and glamour in their creations. A touch of the romantic tutu here, a swish of tulle there... all in the name of bringing elegance to the everyday. (I mean, can you think of anything more delightful? Pink tutu anyone?).
In 1941, you can see how this ballet mania just spread like wildfire! *Everyone had a bit of the "ballet spirit," and who can blame them? *But back in the 1940s, it's not about the "streetwear ballet look." (Now that is fabulous, don't get me wrong). Itās more about how people tried to embody that balletic style in their daily livesā¦ think twirling a bit while you walk! Maybe wearing some delicate and sparkly attire to make the mundane a little bit glamorous. Imagine, the whole country dancing to a new rhythm! It just shows how powerful the ballet magic really isā¦ Iāve definitely seen it make my time-travel journey completely worthwhile!
Now for a bit of fun, and practical advice for my fellow fashionistas, in honor of 1941:
Go for a twirl: Thereās no better way to inject some ballet-inspired flair into your life than to add a twirl! Even the most basic outfit looks and feels much more fabulous if you give it a quick swirl. Don't be shy to give the passersby a delightful glimpse of a swishing dress or a flowing skirt. Who doesnāt love a little twirl, right?
Wear the colours of ballet: You know my absolute favourite shade - and it really was in the spotlight in 1941! But the elegance of white or the boldness of black never goes out of fashion. For some extra excitement, try some delicate laceā¦ maybe some soft, sweet pink? You can always make it work in any time periodā¦
Experiment with flowing silhouettes: Channel that ballet-like grace and get inspired by the flow of those long, lovely skirts!* Think soft layers, graceful movement, and a hint of the romantic.
Dance your heart out: 1941 may not have had dance battles (although there might have been a few friendly duels behind closed doors - wouldnāt that be a great photo op?). But we can all be inspired by that sense of playfulness. So put on your favourite tunes, dance like nobodyās watchingā¦ (though the neighbourās might not appreciate too much jazz in the afternoon, though!).
Well, darling, thatās all for this week's Tutu Tuesday! Remember to twirl, to dance and to find that inner ballerina within. And remember that fashion can bring so much joy and can help create a joyful connection to the past and a glorious sense of fashion!
(PS - Have you noticed that all my time travelling is really bringing pink tutus back into fashion? Youāve been inspired too, right? Letās just get the whole world wearing pink tutus ā what a way to spend our time on this gorgeous Earth!)
*And as always, darling, keep that tutu fabulous! *
Emma
(Oh and check out my Instagram too: @pink_tutu)
