Hello darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling fashionista, bringing you another delightful dive into the fabulous world of ballet history! Today we're going right back to 1944, the middle of the Second World War, but even then, the dance world kept on twirling! It's truly inspiring to see how ballet, even amidst such turmoil, could still offer an escape, a moment of beauty and grace.
Let's hop onto the train, my loves. The station smells faintly of coal smoke, but my oh my, the elegance of the compartments - it's like travelling in a boudoir! Our destination is, of course, London, England! This grand city, with its proud history and magnificent theatres, is still brimming with theatrical life even during these challenging times. The London Coliseum is our target tonight! The Royal Opera House is unfortunately closed, its stage darkened to spare power for war efforts, but the Coliseum, they say, is hosting a fabulous show by the Sadler's Wells Ballet - a troupe I absolutely adore for their adventurous, innovative style!
And guess what's going to be on stage tonight? The most famous of all ballerinas, Margot Fonteyn! Now this lovely lady has graced London stages for over two decades, dazzling with her grace and expressive dance style. Today she will be performing one of her signature pieces: Giselle, a tale of love and betrayal, loss and grief. How wonderful that even during times of such global hardship, audiences could find solace in such moving stories, woven in exquisite steps and elegant costumes.
Of course, no ballerina worthy of her salt could step onto a stage without a gorgeous tutu! Imagine, darlings, Fonteyn's beautiful silhouette in her classic, romantic Giselle tutu! White, of course! Pure and pristine like a summer snowdrift, just enough of that tulle layered around her waist to create a magnificent, flowing skirt, whispering secrets with each gentle pirouette. It's this delicate, graceful movement that has made tutus the symbol of ballerina beauty since they were first introduced, even though these styles can differ greatly.
A trip through the time tunnel makes me think - what will Fonteyn's Giselle tutu be like compared to the tutus I saw last week in the 1980s? I love the sleek elegance of modern, minimalist styles, the use of sheer fabrics that add movement and drama to even the simplest choreography! You know me, always fascinated by those layers and ruffles!
Oh, how I've enjoyed this trip! We even popped by Harrods before heading to the theatre. And let's face it, even during wartime, ladies still love a good fashion splurge! Such beautiful fabrics - silk, velvet, lace - oh, I could simply get lost in their vibrant colours, their soft textures...
Tonight, after the show, I'll sit back with a delicious pot of Earl Grey and write up my latest thoughts on tutu design for the #TutuTuesday blog, the Pink-Tutu.com website, where we spread the message of love, happiness and pink tutus all over the world! Now, where's my travelling trunk? It's full of ballet shoes, pink tutus, and all my favourite makeup! Time to catch a train back home, back to Derbyshire, England, back to a more familiar time - but the wonder and history of ballet remains ever present. And it always will be, no matter what challenges we face! Till next Tuesday, darlings!
