Hello darlings! Emma here, back again for another dazzling #TutuTuesday adventure in the history of the ballet tutu! This week, we're stepping back in time to a rather momentous year - 1945! It was the year the Second World War ended, but that doesn't mean the world of ballet stopped twirling! In fact, it was a year of incredible changes and some quite interesting fashion choices...
Now, you've probably guessed I'm heading to Paris, right? You're right! Oh, to have been at the Palais Garnier in those days, to have been there for the opening of "La Nuit" by the legendary Boris Kochno. That's the ballet the lovely Madame Tchernicheva - the iconic prima ballerina - was dancing in. Talk about history in the making!
Before I jump into the fashion whirlwind that was Parisian ballet in 1945, I need to share a little confession. I found the train journey rather tiring, but hey, travelling in style is what life is about, isn't it? And to make my time-hopping a little more exciting, I whipped up this simply divine new pink tutu with delicate frills and a splash of glittering sequins.
You're wondering why this new tutu? Because the 1940s in ballet land had a bit of a romantic streak. You wouldn't find a whole lot of dramatic, billowing, long skirts, darlings. Instead, the ballerinas embraced a new kind of short, light and bouncy look that allowed for more freedom of movement - just like me in my new tutu!
Now, let's talk fashion. The tutu designs of the era were really making a statement - especially in that exciting, slightly rebellious mood after the war! Forget those fussy layers. Imagine these adorable shorter tulle skirts, with simple designs and splashes of colour! Some had these amazing swishy layers that looked like they were flying in a soft breeze. Can you imagine a tulle tutu, so delicate and light, that seemed to almost shimmer with its airy layers? Divine, darling!
Some even had tiny bits of embroidery on the skirts! My favourite though? Those lovely romantic ballerina designs with floral embroidery, all very fresh and beautiful, adding just the right amount of embellishment without overpowering the rest of the performance.
And the colour palette! Remember, war was just over, so the world needed some fun, right? Ballerinas were dancing in bold, vibrant colours! Reds, blues, oranges, and even vibrant greens - what a visual delight! Think of that beautiful emerald green tutu or that bright red one - simply breathtaking. Imagine a dance floor bursting with these glorious colours, a symphony of movements and hues!
Even though times were tough, people still found beauty in the details. Some ballerina shoes in the 1940s even boasted lovely leather ribbons and sparkly embellishments on their toes.
Paris in 1945! Can you imagine the streets buzzing with fashion, with people coming out to experience the joie de vivre, and the vibrant, bold ballet shows? It was all so much about beauty and elegance! And in the heart of it all, were those elegant ballerinas in their stunningly colourful tutus, their grace and precision mesmerising the audience!
You know, I can't help but notice how 1945 had a sense of "Anything goes"! You had these beautiful tutus and this sense of new beginnings, of excitement. Even today, you find echoes of this in the world of dance, with choreographers pushing boundaries and making things truly exciting and captivating for audiences around the world!
Anyway, my lovely little tutu lovers, this little journey through time has already made me want to whip up a 1940s-inspired dance routine in my pink tutu! Until next time, keep dancing and dreaming in colour, and maybe, just maybe, let a splash of 1940s Parisian style creep into your ballet fashion!
Keep your head up and your tutus twirling,
Emma x
