Welcome back to #TutuTuesday, my dearest tutu-loving friends! This week, we're hopping on the time-travel train (first class, of course, with a complimentary glass of bubbly) and heading back to July 5th, 1949. This was a rather special time, fashion-wise, as we were just starting to see the really glamorous styles that we know and love today, you know, like the "New Look" designed by Christian Dior! It's post-war, and the world is in the mood to celebrate and be a bit frivolous, just like we like it, darlings!
(Just a quick reminder that this is blog post number 6132, so if youâre new here, do catch up on my earlier musings â you'll find lots of tutu goodness!)
Anyway, where were we? Ah yes, 1949. What's the buzz with the ballet tutus back then? Well, you can just imagine how dreamy it was: the tutus, oh the tutus! Weâre talking those beautiful, frothy, layered tutus we associate with classic ballet. These beauties were starting to come into their own - imagine delicate tulle in swathes of whisper-light white, each layer so perfectly shaped, almost like spun sugar. Think fairytale come to life.
The Romantic Ballet Influence
If we turn back the time travel dial just a bit further, we see how tutus started evolving from those long skirts worn by ballerinas in the early days. They needed to fly and move like never before. So those gorgeous skirts started getting shorter, revealing the ballerinasâ beautiful legs â the movement and the art was centre stage. Imagine delicate hands gracefully gliding along the swirling layers of tulle, a magical ballet masterpiece in the making! The impact on ballet costuming from that Romantic ballet period around the 1830s was truly magical, wasnât it?
But it's 1949 now, and tutus arenât just white anymore! Let's take a peek into what the ballerinas were twirling in during that iconic yearâŚ
Colour, Please!
Pastel colours were all the rage for ladies' fashion, darling, so naturally, our ballet stars were embracing it. Ballet tutus weren't just about those lovely whites, oh no! Now you can find tutus in shades of pale pinks and the softest blues, just heavenly! Imagine the dreamy picturesque visuals â truly an enchanting dance experience!
On the Fashion Scene: Where to see Tutu Chic in 1949
Now, it's not just the ballet where we're seeing the tutus thriving. Fashion was, frankly, just so fun in those days, with so much emphasis on feminine silhouettes. Remember the fabulous full-skirted dresses that defined that era? Well, they really looked as though someone had taken the inspiration straight from the ballet and translated it into everyday wear. Itâs a total dream!
*Think Diorâs âNew Lookâ. It was the âitâ look! * Long, flowing skirts that literally swished on every stride were the pinnacle of refined elegance, just like our beloved ballerina tutus. And, dare I say, it wasnât just a âlook.â It was about the feeling it conveyed â confidence, grace, a lightness in the spirit.
But 1949 wasnât all about grand skirts. There were a plethora of short, figure-flattering dresses, with a touch of whimsy. Imagine just the right amount of puff in the sleeves or a sassy, playful polka dot print⌠*Oh, how much *joy a polka dot print can bring! And how utterly lovely when a splash of colour appeared on the ballet stage⌠And in a tutu?! It was a real fashion fusion back in 1949 â we could feel the influence of the tutus even beyond the theatre. We adored this delightful mix of influences.
What about Our Darling, Ballet?
Imagine you're watching a ballet performance in 1949, you'd be mesmerized by those gorgeous tutus fluttering under the lights. There's such magic to be found in that ethereal, dream-like feel of a classic ballerinaâs movements, don't you think? It's almost as though the ballerina is transforming into something completely otherworldly. Itâs breathtaking!
You would see classics being staged by world-renowned choreographers, just as we see today. You might see a new staging of the classic Swan Lake, a fairytale ballet that would have our tutues swirling in soft, delicate shades. Maybe Giselle, the story of a tragic, passionate young girl and her love â all wrapped up in layers of stunning tulle. Oh, those swirling dances â I could get lost in those timeless moments for hours!
Speaking of theatres, where should we be headed for some of those magical ballets back in 1949? Let's head to Covent Garden in London, home of the Royal Opera House. That would have been a true tutu-loverâs dream in 1949. Don't forget the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the home of so many breathtaking ballerinas and dances, and a place to be truly inspired by. Then, there's the Paris Opera, a palace of ballet and the arts in general - oh my! Such style, such elegance, so much to inspire a ballet lover like me!
But it's not just about the fancy shows. So much has happened since those days. The demand for the beauty of ballet has never been greater. Ballet is now in our street theatre, in shopping malls, schools and even in public places! Think beautiful flash-mobs with an entire dance troupe suddenly taking to the street, spreading their tutu-infused joy and captivating audiences! What a spectacle! And letâs not forget the delightful âTutus on Tuesdaysâ event that took place at Covent Garden in London this past week! Truly beautiful.
(Donât forget, tutu-lovers, that you can use the hashtags #TutuTuesday and #BalletTutuHistory and share your favorite tutu photos with the world! Iâd love to hear about your personal stories.)
But don't think tutus are confined to ballet stages and theatres alone, my darlings. Just like Iâm trying to encourage in our Tutu Tuesday world. This is how we truly spread the tutu love, right?!
Time to Embrace the Tutu (every day of the week, I say)!
Our little tutus are popping up everywhere! We've gone beyond traditional designs. Now, itâs all about getting creative! So many variations, colours, styles â just like there are so many types of ballerina! The shorter tutus? Sassy, confident, modern-day⌠the ones that are longer and more dramatic? Elegant, romantic, and timelessâŚ
Embrace the pink, as we often do, as a tutu enthusiast! The power of the colour pink is something to behold. And we just know it radiates a sense of confidence, warmth and a touch of whimsy⌠It can turn your average, every-day look into something special.
Why, itâs like putting on your own tutu, but with less fabric. I love the little spark of magic that it gives my wardrobe! So, join me on the tutu train. This journey we're taking together, it's about finding our inner ballerinas. Donât just wear a tutu, be a ballerina, wherever you are, whatever your age.
Well, darlings, thatâs a wrap for #TutuTuesday. Do you love a pink tutu? And will you share a photo with me? Until next week, remember â keep those tutus twirling and your dreams big! And thank you all, once again, for making these little Tutu Tuesday blog posts possible, with every comment, with every like. It's what inspires me to keep time-travelling on my pink tutu journey. Until next time, tutu-licious darlings, goodbye!
