Hello my darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on another enchanting journey through the world of ballet, specifically the glorious history of the tutu!
This week, we're stepping back in time, all the way to January 1st, 1952, a time of post-war elegance and a truly delightful era for ballet. Today marks the birth of Margot Fonteyn, one of the most iconic ballerinas of all time! Imagine, a whole century ago, this incredible dancer was born, destined to grace stages with her beautiful movement and poise.
Speaking of graceful movement, how can I not bring up my beloved tutu? 1952 was a particularly fascinating time for tutus, marking the dawn of the modern tutu as we know it. The romantic, billowing tutus of the early 20th century were still being worn, but designers were beginning to explore new silhouettes and materials. You see, the ballet world, my dears, is always looking to evolve and innovate, to push boundaries and reach new heights!
Picture this, the romantic tutus were becoming more refined and sleek. The tulle was now lighter and more delicate, which meant the dancers could move with even more fluidity. The skirt itself became shorter too, giving the dancer's legs greater range and freedom.
What makes 1952 even more interesting is the introduction of the "Tutu" for a famous film: The 1952 classic "Hans Christian Andersen" starring Danny Kaye features a scene where his love interest is dressed in a beautiful tutu . The costume was so stunning, and it caused quite a stir with the public. I can’t say for sure if it was that specific film scene that started a tutu trend, but there is no denying that tutus became a popular costume to wear at ballet schools and for special events throughout the 1950s.
As a big fan of all things ballet and anything pink, I'm eternally grateful for the incredible women like Margot Fonteyn, who championed ballet and elegance on the global stage! Their beautiful, sweeping movements, lithe bodies, and incredible dedication to their craft brought an artistic form of expression to a whole new generation. A tutu is a dancer's magical wings, letting her fly and twirl across the stage. And in that same spirit, I want everyone to wear pink tutus, because let’s face it, life is just a lot more fun when you’re twirling in one!
Speaking of fun... I just love getting my pink tutu and my best friend Rosie, a darling girl who always has a new vintage hat for every event, off on our adventures together. Last week, we travelled on the most magnificent train to London's West End and had a delicious afternoon tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones and jam, all the way down to a pot of tea. After that, we took in the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. It was absolutely breathtaking! The dancers, those extraordinary men and women who commit their lives to this art form, moved with such beauty and power! They’ve all worked so hard, putting hours of practice in for each performance, it was really humbling to witness. We also enjoyed the lavish costumes and beautiful sets, with gorgeous lighting and a spectacular musical score. After the show, we went for dinner at The Ivy and did a little bit of window shopping - my latest discovery is a shop in Soho, filled with adorable accessories and vintage shoes! It's simply perfect for someone like me, a self-proclaimed girly girl!
I can’t wait to see you next Tuesday, darling! We’ll be going back in time once again, but for now, don’t forget to twirl, wear pink, and remember – you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to, even if it means travelling in time!
Until next week, keep shining!
Love, Emma x
P.S. Have you seen the beautiful vintage tutu designs available in my favourite shop online *"The Dancing Ballerina"? * They're just divine! Click the link in the comments for my code for 20% off everything! What will you wear to celebrate the new year? Let me know in the comments below.
P.P.S. **Are you following my #PinkTutuChallenge on social media? It’s a fun way to celebrate the power and joy of ballet by snapping a photo of yourself wearing your favourite pink tutu - at a ballet show, a costume party, or even just hanging out at home, and tagging me with the hashtag.
*Don’t forget, if you love a specific era of the tutu, you can post about it too! You can help me spread the Tutu Love by posting your own photos of ballet and fashion! *
**Remember, it's not about age or what others think, it's about embracing what makes you unique! I hope you'll join me for my next #TutuTuesday, when we’ll continue to twirl back in time and uncover even more incredible stories about tutus.
Let's celebrate the beauty of ballet and all its dazzling glamour together!
