#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1955-02-01

Hello my darling darlings!

It's me, Emma, your favourite pink tutu-clad time travelling ballerina, back with another fabulous installment of #TutuTuesday! Today, we're taking a little trip back in time to February 1st, 1955, a date that holds a rather special place in the history of dance.

Now, you might be thinking "Emma, why are we visiting the past? We have so many fabulous modern tutus to fawn over!" Well, my loves, understanding where we came from helps us appreciate where we are going. And 1955, my dears, was a pivotal year for the tutu.

Let's hop on the Orient Express – pink carriages, of course – and journey back to the Parisian opera house.

The year is 1955, and the stage is set for a grand, glorious performance of “La Fille Mal Gardée” – "The Unruly Daughter" – a ballet about a country girl who chooses love over a rich, but dull, suitor. The star of the show is Margot Fonteyn, a ballet icon, and she is dancing in a stunning tutu designed by Christian Dior, a legendary fashion designer.

The tutu itself was a vision in pale pink, a colour favoured by the legendary designer himself. Now, we know that pink isn't just for princesses, it’s for the strong and fearless ballerinas too, and Fonteyn’s powerful performance showcased the tutu’s ability to blend elegance with dynamic movement.

This wasn’t just any old tutu, oh no! Dior's design for the performance was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. It had tiers and tiers of soft, floating tulle that almost seemed to defy gravity. I’m practically swooning just imagining it. He also had the revolutionary idea of incorporating flowers directly into the design – can you imagine, darling, flowers blooming on a tutu? It's utterly exquisite!

*Dior’s tutu in “La Fille Mal Gardée” sparked a trend across the ballet world. *The once practical tutu – often stiff and designed to hold its shape during fast turns and leaps – started becoming an expressive piece of clothing.

We are talking about an explosion of colours, textures, and shapes, and most importantly – a movement towards lighter, more flowing fabrics. I can still see the vision of tulle flowing across the stage, making the ballerinas seem as ethereal as angels!

Think of all the gorgeous tutu variations inspired by this one! We owe a lot to Fonteyn and Dior – they really opened a whole new world for tutus!

Now, for some juicy details that we, the fashionable ballet devotees, must be privy to!

Back in 1955, the tutus worn on stage weren’t your run-of-the-mill, ready-to-wear fashion. They were painstakingly handmade by skilled craftspeople who used fine materials like silk, gauze, and velvet. The layers and layers of tulle took hours to sew together – just imagine, dear readers, all that hand work!

It takes dedication to make a beautiful ballet tutu. In that dedication is an artistry all its own!

Here’s a fun fact for you, darling:

In 1955, ballerinas wouldn’t dream of leaving the theatre without wearing their prettiest dancing shoes.

Think sparkly slippers, little bows and the finest of fabrics to complete a look that screamed “ballet star.” Now, this isn’t to say that the “ballet fashion” didn’t get a little ridiculous sometimes, dear readers. In those days, a fashion magazine would always be delighted by the addition of a “ballerina’s look” and even the ladies at home would try to create their own looks with bows, gloves, and plenty of pearls. This style was an absolute frenzy, even down to the streets, darling. We all have a ballerina inside us and a love for the glamour!

This year – the year we travelled to today – 1955, was a real golden era for fashion, don’t you think? So, take a little trip down memory lane, pull out your old picture books and maybe you can even unearth some forgotten treasures. The pastel colours, soft fabrics and flowing styles are so lovely.

In 1955, it was about romance and a touch of classic beauty. We owe this look a huge thanks to Dior’s creative vision for the show in “La Fille Mal Gardée”.

*It's the perfect inspiration for your own #TutuTuesday outfit, wouldn't you say? *

I am just dying to visit this year again in search of a new pink, sparkly tulle masterpiece, but for now, I will let you all go on and wear pink and tulle and dance your way into the rest of this fabulous week!

And remember, darlings, the love of tutus, ballet, and a little sparkle is a constant, no matter what the year or century!

Now, please, share your favourite tutu stories, fashion tips and images with me – I always love seeing your unique take on these little fashion masterpieces! Let's spread the love for tutus across the globe, my sweet loves!

Until next #TutuTuesday, darling darlings, stay glamorous and let the tutu be with you!

Love always,

Emma x