Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, back for another #TutuTuesday delve into the history of the ballet tutu!
Oh, it’s been such a glorious week. Imagine my joy at discovering that this Tuesday, the 28th of June, 1955, marks the day Swan Lake was performed at The Royal Opera House! Honestly, it just doesn’t get much more divine than that! I whisked myself right over there, my fluffy pink tutu shimmering under the London sunshine, feeling every bit the princess at the ballet!
The Swan Lake I witnessed had the glorious Moira Shearer in the starring role, a ballerina I find truly inspiring. Such a talent, and those moves, those effortless grace and power… divine! I spent the entire performance absolutely enthralled. Of course, the choreography is a dream, and the story… well, let’s just say it never fails to make me weep with the tragic love of the swans and Prince Siegfried! It’s an eternal love story that keeps tugging at my heart strings!
But, you know me, I’m always drawn back to the costumes. After all, what is a ballet without its tutus? In 1955, Swan Lake still showcased the romantic tutus of the earlier century. Now, you see, I adore this style, it's so elegant! But it was a touch more revealing than today's, as tutus at this time often came to a point, not that this worried any of the beautiful ballerinas who wore them, because, oh darling, they all looked positively radiant in their sheer white tulle and satin. Truly stunning.
Now, on a purely fashion note… it's 1955 and oh, what an incredible era this was for clothes! It feels like a wonderful, vibrant blend of wartime chic and what was to come: the daring style of the 60s. Everything is so sophisticated, but still fun and feminine. This week I'm all about nipped-waisted dresses, full skirts, bold prints, and statement hats! All the colours of the rainbow are swirling into fabulous frocks. It really is quite amazing to see.
You know, if you find yourself in the London of 1955, you absolutely must pop into Harrods. I simply cannot resist a trip! There are such wonderful vintage pieces on sale… imagine my joy! And it’s an absolute must to visit Fortnum & Mason – tea and delicious cakes make this era quite simply the most decadent in fashion history!
But back to tutus, darlings, it’s #TutuTuesday, after all! Today, I want to take you back to the beginning, to when these fluffy marvels really started to come into their own. Did you know, darling, that even though tutus existed way back in the 18th century, they started appearing more regularly in ballets at the beginning of the 19th century! In 1832, La Sylphide, a ballet that still captures hearts today, became famous for the new lightweight costumes that were featured. The dancers seemed to float rather than walk, a true symbol of ethereal lightness, and a ballet that captured the essence of romanticism.
Now, just imagine, darling, having your own ballerina shop in a 19th-century Paris! Honestly, my heart is filled with fluttering excitement just at the thought. That would be the ultimate in style, don’t you agree?
The world of fashion in 1832 would be such a wondrous, charming adventure! Everything seems so whimsical! Oh, the delightful ribbons, delicate lace and shimmering silks - how delightful it must have been to select a frock for a visit to the Opera House. Or a delightful morning at the Parisian ballet school! Those days were truly golden and elegant.
And yet, there was still a sense of rebellion, a call for a different look, a style that was exciting and daring! You see, darling, as with fashion in general, ballet tutus too, went through periods of changing styles.
The Romantic Tutu, as it was called, evolved, becoming more daring as the 19th century moved into its latter half. It would be hard to imagine Giselle today without its delicate, Romantic tutu, but you can just see how this revolutionary look might have scandalised folk back in its time, being less demure and a whole lot more daring, daring to be less restricted and showing more of the dancer’s legs than the earlier Romantic era would have considered.
As I write this, I’m already daydreaming about my next trip into the past, possibly around the time Giselle made its debut! What an iconic, breathtaking piece that is… it is one of the great, romantic, timeless, ballets… and a big reason why it’s been so wonderfully successful through all the centuries is its ability to be retold again and again with the latest choreography and costumes… which gives tutus their enduring position as the must-have piece for every ballerina!
For now, though, let’s continue our time-travelling tutu history, for we must move on to the 20th century, my dearest readers! But we will do that in another blog post, darling, perhaps one where we meet a fabulous designer like Christian Dior, the darling of the 1950s fashion world. His ideas are so incredibly inspiring, a must-read for any tutu-loving ballerina like me, I do think!
Until next week darlings,
Stay stylish, stay radiant, and of course…
Always wear a tutu!
TutuTuesday #ballet #balletlover #fashionhistory #timetravel #pinktutu #ballettutu #ballerina #1955 #SwanLake #MoiraShearer #theballetlife #dressfortheoccasion #RoyalOperaHouse #Parisianfashion #RomanticTutu #GiselleThis blog is sponsored by my favourite online shopping platform: www.pinktutu.com, where I find my fabulous tutu creations and keep on trend, always in fashion. Be sure to check it out! And, I’m looking forward to your stories too! Let me know in the comments below about your experiences with #TutuTuesday and why you love your favourite pink tutu, or tell me all about your favorite ballet performance or any historical ballet facts you’ve come across. We love to hear from our followers!
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