Greetings, darling dears! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time-traveling fashionista, back with another #TutuTuesday blast from the ballet past! I just love learning all about the history of our magnificent, twirly, tutus and this week I'm jetting all the way back to February 20th, 1951, a date that was brimming with graceful ballet brilliance.
Now, before we whisk ourselves back to the glorious fifties, I have a confession: I've just purchased the most stunning pink tutu, and my bank account is weeping, but I swear, darlings, the tulle is the colour of a cloud dipped in cotton candy!
I can’t wait to bust a few moves in this beauty, though, you're all going to have to wait a few weeks to see me twirl in it on my social media channels! Now back to history!
Oh, the sheer joy of ballet! Today we're travelling to the heart of the ballet world - *New York City, darlings. And let me tell you, ballet was truly buzzing on this particular date. On 20th February 1951, the *New York City Ballet, (then known as the Ballet Society) had their very first performance in New York's Metropolitan Opera House, now just called The Met. *Imagine all the stunning tulle and shimmering sequins twirling on stage, it was like a dream! *
As you can see from this little history gem, we're going right back to the beginning of New York's ballet scene. Just imagine the thrill! And did you know that 1951 also saw the creation of the legendary "Firebird", that fiery masterpiece that still sets the stage ablaze with it's beauty. You've got to catch it if you get the chance, darlings. **
What's trending in 1951's ballet world? * Oh, my darlings, 1951 is an absolute gold mine for tulle, if I'm honest. It’s the time of *the *long, full tutus, * with more tulle than you could ever wish for. Imagine swirls of light, fluffy layers cascading around you as you spin – pure ballerina magic!
And speaking of magic, did you know the 1950s were the age of ballet-inspired fashion? It was the era of ballet flats, the perfect little slip-on shoe with ballerina-style straps (don't get them mixed up with ballerinas, the more delicate open toe version! That will come later. I promise, I’ll go through ballet shoe history soon). *I am truly grateful for ballet flats as it allows for the ballet elegance to be infused into the most simple daily tasks
1951 was all about delicate elegance, and if you look around, you can still see that refined air of beauty in fashion today! Ballet had such a massive influence, just like the impact the full skirt of the tulle tutu had on *dresses, the 'New Look' in the early 1950s, and that's no surprise, my dears! It's no coincidence the Dior 'New Look' arrived in the 1950s.
This was an era that absolutely adored femininity, so, of course, that translated onto the stage too. And don't even get me started on all the gorgeous colours! Imagine *bright shades of blue, dreamy greens, and stunning shades of pink and red * cascading all over the stage – absolute perfection!**
*My mission, darlings, is to *spread the ballet love, one tutu at a time! And that includes travelling back in time, as you already know. As always, I find my travel funds via ballet performance - sometimes it’s a glamorous performance at The Royal Opera House, sometimes I just play music and spin my tutus at the local village hall, but it keeps my travel expenses down, it keeps my blog up, and the joy of sharing my tutu-ific fashion and my love of the graceful arts makes it all worthwhile. **
Speaking of travelling, did you know train travel was all the rage back in the 1950s and oh my dear darlings, that is one of my favourite methods of travel!* *Who doesn’t like an opportunity to change into your favourite pink tutu in a beautiful, stylish carriage, just for a spot of reading and catching up on my history books! It truly makes train travel just that bit more more beautiful and just a little bit more luxurious. **
Let me know your favourite ballet moments! Don't forget to check out our gorgeous collection of *pink tutus at pink-tutu.com! * and check back next Tuesday for our next #TutuTuesday ballet adventure.
And darling dears, * remember my ultimate mission - to get every one of you twirling in a *pink tutu! Let's make this dream a reality! Keep it graceful and stay twirly!
*Until next time! *
Lots of love, Emma
