Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your very own tutu-tastic time traveller, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday! Today we’re whisking back to the glamorous year 1954, a time when full skirts were all the rage, and of course, the ballet was no exception!
This is post number 6411 on the www.pink-tutu.com blog and if you've just arrived, don’t worry, I love newcomers! I’m on a mission to make tutus the most adored outfit of all time - and what better way to inspire everyone than by sharing my journey through history, tutus in hand, naturally!
(Insert a picture of a woman in a full length pink tutu smiling broadly, doing a relevé with the Eiffel Tower in the background.)
Well, I’m currently soaking up the Parisian sunshine after an incredible ballet performance last night - imagine, Giselle in the Palais Garnier, the iconic home of the Paris Opera! Honestly, you simply cannot imagine the exquisite feeling of being transported by such phenomenal dance and then shopping the cobbled streets afterward. And let's talk tutus, darlings. It was a vision! Those perfectly structured, billowing skirts swirled like magical clouds.
But today's trip through time takes us back to November 9th, 1954, and specifically to a world premiere you wouldn't want to miss - La Strada at the Rome Opera House! Now, La Strada is an Italian film about a young woman who is sold into servitude, but the ballet adaption, created by Léonide Massine at Rome's Teatro dell’Opera, tells a whole new story! This premiere brought to the stage an intricate mix of classical ballet with theatrical touches, showcasing the beauty of the expressive forms within ballet.
(Insert a picture of a tutu in the style of ballet's era, preferably with a description below the picture.
So let’s talk about these tutus in this magical year 1954. A time when everything seemed infused with such romance, femininity and glamour, and you just had to feel it in every stitch of these fabulous skirts. You have to imagine, though the designs haven’t changed much, they used finer materials, more elaborate embellishments, and certainly, the way a dancer carried herself was so graceful.
You have to remember, back in 1954, we weren’t quite rocking the tights and leotards we see today! Back then, Ballet skirts were the ultimate dance accessory. A soft layer of tulle or net worn over a full length slip, making them more reminiscent of a dream than a dancer's attire. You'd see them layered with frills and ribbons for extra fluff. You might spot a beautiful lace trimming the top edge of the skirt for that added touch of sophisticated elegance, because when I think of this time in ballet history I think of fairytales and grace.
(Insert a picture of Emma in a pink tutu holding a vintage 1954 ballet ticket.
This year has a few special tutus that deserve their moment in the spotlight, just for you:
The Tutu of a Debutante: Now darling, if you ever found yourself waltzing around a grand ball or a theatre premiere, the Debutante Tutu is where it's at! Picture the graceful swirl of the skirt, perfect for catching a gentleman's admiring glance, as you twirl with confidence. This tulle skirt with its soft billowing shape and dainty ribbons was the definition of charm and sophistication in this decade. The epitome of elegant and ladylike with that soft tulle making those movements absolutely sublime, imagine this tutu and you've got a princess at a royal ball!
The Swan Lake Tutu: This classic is timeless, with the perfect blend of softness and structured beauty, so beautiful! The Swan Lake tutu of the 50’s used very few layers and emphasized a more dramatic shape than earlier styles. It truly embraced the essence of the white swan and, by the 50’s, it became the ultimate symbol of beauty in ballet. It was the ideal shape and construction for Odette's gentle movements and dramatic arabesques and port de bras!
The Ballerina’s Dream: Oh this is pure elegance! The Ballet Romantic skirt of this era was known for its airy feel, very much an essence of dream-like beauty, perfect for a ballet. We can't leave out the Giselle ballet in which the use of soft tulle to create delicate forms was vital for the story - all those flitting steps that show such grace. It's still quite common today for tutus to use a large volume of soft tulle, giving it this elegant fluidity. You can still see many tutus in modern ballet today following this formula and look absolutely stunning on stage!
(Insert picture of Emma wearing the Ballet Romantic skirt with the text description beneath it.)
Here's how to get that 1954 Tutu Look:
A Tutu that Dreams in Pink: What can I say darlings, I’ve always been drawn to pink, and this 50’s look was really all about soft tones, so pink tutus have a place here! Pick one of the ballerina-approved skirts and embrace that light, pastel pink hue.
Graceful Silhouette: For the perfect 50’s vibe, try a waistline a little lower, that highlights your natural curve with a belt, adding a touch of polish to a classic silhouette. Think about the vintage ballerina, a little demure and refined with her ballerina bun and classic dance footwear.
Twirl Time!: You know I'm a firm believer that a tutu just can’t exist without twirling. So gather those beautiful layers around you, and with each swirl, feel like a ballerina dancing through a fairytale, just like the grace of those ballerinas from the past!
Make a statement: It is time to show off those fabulous shoes and dance like nobody's watching. Imagine the classic pointy shoe in velvet and satin with a subtle touch of embellishment for that ballerina charm - this tutu-loving blogger approves!
Don’t forget to check out the www.pink-tutu.com website for this week’s special offers on pink tutus, plus tutorials on creating your own, so get twirling, ladies!
Love you loads and loads and can't wait to meet up next week with more #TutuTuesday ballet adventures.
Emma x
