Hello darlings! Emma here, back again for another week of your favourite tutu-filled Tuesday! Grab your cuppa and get ready for a trip back in time, to June 8th, 1943, just before I popped into Paris for a spot of shopping at a very exciting little store called Chanel. You won't believe what I found there! But more about that later...
Today, I'm going to be chatting about the evolution of the tutu and how this garment has really, truly become a fashion icon! Imagine – there are actually eras where ballet and tutu fashions were very different!
But how do I know all this, you ask? Well, darling, being a time-traveling ballerina is a pretty cool gig, isn't it? Let me tell you, I've had the pleasure of seeing tutus transform through the centuries! My love for this wondrous garment just keeps growing, with every decade, with every year!
Now, June 8th, 1943 – wartime London was a world away from the lavish grandeur of the Paris Opera Ballet. That doesn't mean things were boring, though! The year saw some fabulous new ballet productions. Let's take a look back...
Dance and the Second World War:
We've talked before about how wartime had a real effect on dance in Europe. While ballet kept going, and even saw the emergence of some truly magnificent pieces, there were challenges. In the United Kingdom, everything felt different, everything felt… well, wartime, to put it simply. It was the era of austerity, with a strict "Make Do and Mend" mentality for clothing. It's fair to say, tutus were pretty short in supply in 1943!
However, a new generation of ballet stars was rising – the era of Margot Fonteyn was in full bloom, and she became an inspiration to audiences all over Britain.
For our trip back to 1943, let's hop aboard the train, darlings! We are going to visit a very special, little place: Sadler's Wells Theatre. This London theatre wasn't just a theatre, oh no – it was the home of Britain's national ballet. They'd been doing some ballet there since the 1930s. This time period was particularly challenging for them.
This is how Sadler's Wells, and its new little sister, the company known as the Sadler's Wells Ballet became so iconic to us. Sadler's Wells Theatre took up the role of a haven for dancers during this time, creating a haven of creativity, and they made their mark on the history of the tutu forever.
For those of you who haven't visited Sadler's Wells in person (what are you waiting for? It's gorgeous!) , just picture it in your mind. A bit of a grander scale, with beautiful Georgian architecture and then... the theatre. An intimate and warm space, designed for dance and beauty. It’s absolutely wonderful to experience a ballet in such a lovely setting!
Sadler's Wells' 'Twelfth Night' & Our Ballet Fashion Story:
Let's step into our mental time machine, and visit June 1943. On June 8th, a production of the Twelfth Night, based on the Shakespeare play of the same name was in its last days. A great British ballet tradition!
I love Twelfth Night, it's such a sweet play, all the fun, costumes, the little fairies, even if a little dramatic, don't you think? But it was one of Sadler's Wells most loved productions! This wasn't your everyday Shakespeare performance. It was one where we saw real changes to the design and the style of ballet costumes - and we got the birth of some great fashion moments too! The production featured a lot of dancing and, more importantly for us, gorgeous new tutu designs by the creative, talented Carrickfergus Moore.
This time period especially, was a real one for how ballerinas moved and how their costumes fitted and moved. Think about all those jumps and graceful twirls. Imagine a dancer gliding effortlessly across the stage, the ruffles of her tutu swirling, catching the light in a captivating dance of shadow and light. It must have been truly captivating.
Moore made a name for himself, really, with how unique his creations were. It was more than just about dancing in those times, though! It was about performance. Moore's creations really put forward the sense of theatre and the 'show' nature of dance at this time, so it's really exciting to reflect on it! I can't help but feel he's really in touch with what we want in fashion, today.
Moore’s ‘Twelfth Night’ tutus were a real style statement - they were a bit shorter and made from very lightweight materials! Imagine – delicate tulle and layers of satin, creating a breezy, whimsical effect for those dances, perfectly showcasing those ballerina jumps. What Moore had created was the first real peek into what would become one of the key trends for tutus. This little bit of inspiration started right at the time of 'Twelfth Night,' during the era of the Second World War and, oh darlings, look at where it has led us! The tutu that we love now began right then. Just as a quick peek into the future today's style isn't that far away at all. It's such a fascinating concept!
I love thinking about the ballet stories and the way they've moved into history, and it's wonderful to see just how things change and how dance stays connected with time and fashion.
What will We be wearing in the Future?
Moore and Sadler's Wells are now, some of my favourite haunts, just in terms of the history, when it comes to this part of the ballet journey, and the whole time travel thing! This whole evolution of the tutu is an amazing thing to watch unfold!
We have much more to discover about the history of the ballet tutu, and you won't believe what comes next - tutus and how they were transformed during a certain fashion era later this week. And what’s even better is I have some fabulous pics to show you – I'll pop some up on Pink-Tutu.com later today, so you can see them for yourself!
But in the meantime, darlings, what's your favourite tutu design? Do tell me all about it in the comments below!
I can’t wait to hear what you think! Until next time, let your light shine!
XOXO, Emma
P.S Be sure to check out www.pink-tutu.com for some super fun tutu posts and exciting competitions, including our ‘Win a Tutu-rific Trip’ to the Paris Opera Ballet, oh, and of course, my newest pics. Don't forget - Tuesday is TutuTuesday, so make sure you wear pink (you know I love pink)! Just a little suggestion! Don’t forget your own pink tutu, or your dream tutu! Love that pink vibe, I have loads more, and loads to show you, but for now, happy Tutu Tuesday, darling. Keep dancing,
