Welcome, lovelies! Emma here, your very own time-traveling ballerina, ready to whisk you away to the glamorous world of ballet tutus, past and present!
Today marks the 6248th edition of our #TutuTuesday blog – can you believe we've been doing this for so long?!
But, as ever, we’re excited to dive into our weekly history lesson about those beautiful, billowing wonders we know and love: tutus!
Today we're travelling to 25th September 1951 - what a day for ballet! We’re stepping onto the grand stage in, let's just say, one of the most magical locations: New York City! This vibrant, cosmopolitan hub is buzzing with life, and ballet is absolutely thriving. The city's pulse beats to the rhythm of the iconic American Ballet Theatre. And my goodness, have they got a show lined up for us tonight.
Time-Travel Outfit Inspiration!
Speaking of grand entrances, how gorgeous does a classic ballerina bun look against a New York skyline backdrop? My hair is up in the most elegant chignon imaginable, perfectly balanced by a pink ribbon, just to match my dazzling pink tutu. Today, I'm sporting a gorgeous, swirling, double-layered confection of tulle, each layer radiating like the most beautiful pink sunrise, it’s so chic. But you know, my girls, New York is the place to be for inspiration, with all its fashion icons.
You simply must have the right shoes with this look. It's got to be pointe shoes! You can't be waltzing into 1951 New York looking like anything other than the star ballerina that you are!
The Art of Dance!
Now, let's step into the magnificent theatre - the Met! It’s everything we imagine from those 1950s classic black and white movies - sleek, chic, and impossibly stylish. It is quite literally bursting with the crème de la crème of the dance world. The American Ballet Theatre are ready to showcase some of the finest dancers of their generation in a piece titled ‘Giselle’, an absolute masterpiece, and you know I'm not missing a minute!
This timeless masterpiece tells the heartbreaking story of a peasant girl, Giselle, and her tragic love for the charming but disguised Duke. It's a beautiful combination of power, grace, and intense emotion! There are, naturally, magnificent tutus everywhere, twirling and dancing across the stage! But the costumes for Giselle herself have truly got my fashion-loving heart skipping a beat - intricate floral patterns, exquisite colour palettes. Talk about ethereal! My pink tutu can only dream of being as beautiful as the tutus in ‘Giselle’!
And can we talk about the ballerina's ‘hair style’ too?! The updos and buns are so chic, elegant and a beautiful display of sophistication, It's enough to inspire me to practice the perfect bun! Maybe I can use this inspiration to ‘make a statement’ for the next dance performance I give?
Ballet as a Time-Traveling Tool
After soaking up the beauty and elegance of 'Giselle,' I'm off to explore this magnificent city. But before I take a twirl through Central Park or even catch a performance at Radio City Music Hall, I can’t resist a little detour – my favourite vintage fashion boutique. Imagine a shop packed with stylish designs - it's heaven for a tutu lover like me!
You see, ladies, in this era, ballet costumes - and those amazing tutus, naturally! – are not just confined to the stage. They're stepping out into the real world! They’re seen in everything from elegant fashion magazines to art galleries. You just need a little imagination to find the inspiration! That’s how my time travelling budget stays in check - I’m always performing ballets somewhere in time, the perfect reason to go shopping for new tutus, for a reason, right?!
But there's also a magic to ballet that I feel deep inside. It’s a beautiful world where stories unfold through movement. It connects you to history and to the present, even if you are just on your way to the dance studio. That’s why it's a passion that I’ll always carry with me, across the continents and through the years.
See you next #TutuTuesday!
As always, remember that in our world, it's not about what you wear, it's how you wear it. And, my dear friends, a tutu is more than just clothing; it's a way of life!
Love, Emma
