Post 6412: Hello my gorgeous Tutu Lovers!
It's Tuesday again, and that means it's time for another trip through the glorious history of the tutu! I've just got back from a fabulous whirlwind adventure, and my heart's still buzzing. Today we're stepping back in time to 16th November 1954. Just picture it, darling, a world still awash with the afterglow of post-war glamour!
Now, you'd think, wouldn't you, that tutus would be swirling through Parisian streets and across New York stages like a confetti storm. And you'd be absolutely right! But let's go back to where it all began, right back to that very first tutu...
Remember, darlings, it all started with Marie Taglioni back in 1832, flitting around like a fairy on the Paris stage. The first tutu was simply a wispy, loose, cloud-like dress, barely covering the ankles, just hinting at the divine form beneath!
Now, if you thought the Parisienne's love of the tutu started and ended there, think again, my dears! By 1954, we're well into a tutu explosion, and Paris was buzzing with exciting fashion and artistry. It was the heyday of ballet, the golden age of the tutu!
I stepped off the train at the Gare du Nord, feeling the exciting buzz of Parisian life swirling around me. I was all set for a treat: seeing the exquisite Margot Fonteyn, a true icon of ballet grace, in a performance at the Opéra Garnier. Oh my, those were the days! Margot, dressed in a tulle dream, made her stage entrances such a spectacle, all flutters and grace! I swear I could hear the tutus whispering a symphony of their own, all those layers of tulle swirling with her every movement. Simply magical!
It's a big year in ballet, my lovelies! That 1954 saw Rudolf Nureyev, one of the world's most breathtaking dancers, graduate from the Leningrad Kirov Ballet School! Think, just 20 years later he would partner with Margot, what a wonderful pairing! I can’t imagine their performances on the stage, two perfect dancers performing together!
While the tutus of the time were definitely on the dramatic, longer side ( think swirling, romantic and romantic) , the short, playful ones, which I just adore, were on their way. 1954 saw a bit of a movement for a shorter and even more carefree tutu, and who knows? Maybe you're looking at the genesis of those incredible, daring modern designs that we see today. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was just dreaming of those tutus with a whole lot of attitude!
Oh, and on that Parisian escapade, I had the greatest shopping trip! Imagine this, darling, the most exquisitely crafted fabric shops overflowing with silks, satins, and even real silk tulle, the kind that twirls and flows just as a tutu should! Just by smelling the scent of all the different fabrics, I felt the magic of a tutu swirling around me!
As my trip ended, I stepped back onto the train and said 'Au revoir' to Paris, but the experience of ballet in 1954 and those breathtaking tutus were already starting to influence the way I look at my own personal style. Those wispy layers of tulle and elegant lines have definitely inspired me! And I can just see the fabulous tutu outfits for our next photoshoot!
Oh, darling, and that brings me to today. It's a #TutuTuesday, so grab your tutu, whatever your style (I encourage those playful, bright, colourful designs, don't be afraid to express yourself!) and strut your stuff with a spring in your step.
Remember, lovelies, tutus are meant for everyone. No matter your age, shape or size, put on your tutu, embrace that feeling of flight, and let your inner ballerina soar! And don’t forget, this is the world of the tutu, where dreams twirl and the magic never ends!
Catch you next Tuesday, loves!
Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
