Hello my dearest tutu-loving darlings! đ©° Welcome back to another enchanting #TutuTuesday here on www.pink-tutu.com.
Today we're going on a time-traveling adventure, taking our twirls back to 1951! Itâs such a lovely day here in New York City, with crisp air and the promise of golden leaves just starting to appear on the trees. Honestly, the perfect weather for twirling, and it reminded me that autumn is also a great time for celebrating all things ballet. đ
Ballet History: The '50s in the Spotlight
This particular date in history, 30th October, 1951, was a Thursday, but I think of it as a âTutu-Thursdayâ - and a special one at that. Can you guess why? It was the day that Margot Fonteyn, the famous English ballerina, performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. What a legendary moment in ballet history! Can you imagine being there, in the audience, watching one of the most exquisite ballerinas of all time grace the stage?
Now, I havenât had the privilege of seeing Margot perform, as I'm a time-traveling ballerina, after all! It's rather difficult to juggle tutu maintenance, blog posting and flitting through centuries all at the same time. Oh, the things we do for fashion and history! However, through my time-travel exploits I've gathered up some truly fabulous vintage finds that tell a story of fashion evolution and a celebration of dance. And who better to illustrate the ballet of the 50s than the magnificent Margot Fonteyn herself?
The â50s were an exciting time for ballet, bursting with fresh talent and a love of bold colour and feminine shapes. You might picture all-out frills, tutus with a full skirt and more lace than a wedding dress, but ballet of the time, despite the romanticism of the look, was a move towards more dynamism. I must say, as someone with a real penchant for frills and frills (more of both, please!), even I can appreciate this new energy!
Imagine: flowing lines, longer tutus (almost ankle length!), a splash of vibrant colour and some gorgeous jewellery too. Youâll spot many stunning examples in photographs of Fonteyn and other leading ladies of the era. They look like graceful fairies spun straight from a classic ballet!
Tutus for all Tastes
You know I'm a big advocate for wearing tutus everywhere! I believe that a tutu can brighten any day, bring out the inner dancer in all of us, and frankly, it just looks terrifically chic! This year I've noticed a rise in shorter, fluffier tutus in bright, eye-catching shades, like cobalt blue and cherry red. These are inspired by the âfairyâ ballerinas of the early â50s who favoured bright, jewel-toned tutus. Don't shy away from this era's influence on your own ballet-inspired outfits, darlings! Itâs not just about dancing! This fun, expressive era also spilled over into fashion and clothing design, even though people of that time wouldnât wear a tutu to a wedding!
The Tutu Chronicles: It's all about Style
Now, we can't talk about tutus in the '50s without mentioning the ever-so-iconic white tutus. They were almost synonymous with ballet itself - elegant, pure and symbolic of grace and lightness. And you know what? I adore those tutus. There's something just so special about that pristine white, that creates such a beautiful contrast against the colourful stage. It's like magic. I actually discovered a vintage one myself at a market in New York recently, and itâs my absolute favourite! I love the story of the people who wore it before me. Maybe they performed at the Metropolitan Opera House like Fonteyn. I'll never know, but I just love imagining those moments of grace, dedication, and expression.
But I also admire how the styles changed a bit from the previous eras:
- Longer Length: Say goodbye to those ultra-short tutus of the previous years - â50s ballet tutus flowed down longer, creating elegant lines as ballerinas moved across the stage. I must confess I find that extra length flattering on me, as my legs go on forever - not that I mind that, but shorter tutus would emphasize just how long my legs are! It mustâve been so chic, so theatrical! I can just picture how mesmerized the audience must have been as the tutus swirled and twirled beneath the lights.
- Embellished with Lace: You know how much I love a little embellishment! Well, â50s ballet tutus incorporated this lovely detail as well. They used lace, flowers and other pretty touches to add more depth and richness to the overall look, creating almost magical tutus!
- Flowing Fabrics: While the fabrics themselves werenât really different - lots of silk, tulle, satin, and chiffon! - Iâve found, with time, the use of fabric in fashion just becomes even more refined. Designers of the â50s, particularly for ballet, learned how to give a fuller, almost dramatic feel to each and every movement. Just look at photos of the ballerina Moira Shearer in "The Red Shoesâ film from 1948 and youâll see how the fabrics were made to enhance and make visible her movement on film. How fantastic, how truly captivating!
Now I donât mean to suggest the '50s were the absolute pinnacle of the tutu. There are many other periods that deserve mention, and weâll revisit those through future #TutuTuesdays. We have many journeys to go on!
Life's a Performance
However, even now, the '50s had such a distinct style - a distinct femininity. It makes me want to dance my way down the avenues in New York City, all decked out in a long, soft, and slightly shimmery tutu, and maybe a splash of bright lipstick!
If youâre keen to catch some live performances yourself (perhaps after purchasing that fantastic, shimmering new tutu - my blog always features wonderful shopping suggestions!), I encourage you to go and watch some of the contemporary pieces inspired by that classic style of the â50s. It's just a delight! But if not, take my word for it. Those tutus? Truly amazing, and a visual masterpiece of its own.
Until next time my darling twirlers, letâs keep the spirit of the â50s alive with plenty of graceful movements, bright colors, and never, ever underestimate the power of a perfectly designed and elegant pink tutu.
Yours truly,
Emma
P.S. If you want to add a little bit of "vintage ballet" glamour to your next outfit, look for those flowing lines, fabrics with a bit of drape and a nice soft, feminine look. Keep it stylish and keep it colourful! And, as always, wear pink! đ
P.P.S. My upcoming time travel escapade next week will take us back to the year 1721, a time when ballerinas were actually called âdanseusesâ. Exciting!
