#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1943-10-12

Hello my darlings, and welcome back to another edition of Tutu Tuesday! It's your girl, Emma, coming to you live (well, not live live, but you get the gist!) from the wonderfully vibrant, oh-so-chic city of… wait for it… London! That's right, I've taken a little trip back in time to experience the fashion of the fabulous forties. It's 1943, the war's on, but the spirit of beauty and elegance never wanes, darling!

Let's talk tutus…

As a professional ballet dancer with a lifelong obsession with tutus, I had to hop aboard the time machine to discover just how this iconic piece of dancewear has evolved throughout the decades.

Now, 1943 wasn't exactly the boom of the tutu, but it was an important year in the dance world. You see, during the war years, fabric was rationed, so ballerinas were often left with limited options when it came to costumes. Can you imagine that?! Limited tutus? Oh, the horror!

This is where creativity came to the rescue, dear readers. The dancers, ever resourceful, utilised every scrap of fabric and material to create some amazing looks. Short, puffy tutus, almost like a frilly little petticoat, became the norm. They were graceful, playful and certainly made the most of the materials at hand.

A little side-trip: Theatrical delights in 1943

Speaking of creativity, I simply had to pop over to the London Coliseum last night. You wouldn't believe what a magical show I saw – a performance of "Giselle," a ballet classic, featuring one of the most beautiful, dramatic white tutus I've ever seen! It had this exquisite flow, a sort of airy weightlessness that took my breath away. You know I'm obsessed with white tutus, and this one definitely made it to my list of all-time favourites!

Afterwards, I indulged in a spot of window-shopping. Oh, the lovely displays! There were so many gorgeous clothes and accessories. You can definitely see how the wartime style impacted everyday fashion, with bold floral prints and striking geometric patterns in colours that make my pink-loving heart sing!

Did I tell you about my pink tutu?!

My latest design? Swoon it’s absolutely heavenly! Imagine a perfectly tiered, slightly fluffy tulle masterpiece in the most vibrant pink you’ve ever laid your eyes on! It practically vibrates with happiness and good vibes. If only I could find a pink dress in 1943 to go with it! But that's for another post, maybe we could go on a vintage shopping spree in Paris in a future post!

Time travel tips…

My little trips to the past are always quite a challenge. It’s a bit tricky explaining where I've "been" when I travel by time, but luckily I've perfected the "I just really love ballet and history" cover-story! You know what they say, Never give up on your dreams! And if your dream is to wear a pink tutu while traveling through time… well, why not?

I’ve got to be quick, darling. My next performance is scheduled, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world! And it’s a good thing, too, since time-travel isn't cheap. These beautiful, delicate tutus that I perform in have a tendency to burn a big hole in my pocket! It’s a bit of a balancing act: pirouette, prance, perform, repeat. I love my job though, it definitely gives my life that magical “pink-tutu-wearing-time-traveller” kind of glow!

See you next Tuesday, darling! Keep twirling!

Much love,

Emma