Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your time-traveling tutu enthusiast, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday! Today we’re whisking ourselves back to the 12th of July, 1955, a gloriously glamorous time where the ballet world was embracing a new wave of femininity and movement: the Romantic Tutu!
Oh, this particular day was just a delight. Picture this, sunshine streaming through the windows of the grand Palais Garnier in Paris, the smell of freshly-pressed silk and leather swirling around me as I took my place amongst the bustling audience, ready to witness the magic of a ballet performance. This time, we’re stepping back in time to witness the birth of the "Romantic Tutu". The era of the classical tutu, with its rigid layers, was slowly being eclipsed by a more fluid, flowing style.
Today’s show featured none other than the legendary ballerinas of the time, the absolute queens of dance! I saw a performance that was nothing short of breathtaking – the lightness and grace of the Romantic tutu, how it moved with the dancers' every step and pirouette. You could truly feel the power and emotion they conveyed through each elegant gesture.
Now, if we rewind just a little, back to the 19th century, the tutus we saw were the stuff of fairytales, weren't they? The dramatic volume and layers with their hard-edged, bell-shaped form... oh so beautiful! Imagine a delicate princess, trapped in a storybook world - that's how it felt! And let’s not forget those daring designs that brought about a feeling of romanticism and a touch of rebellion. You’ve got to admire those dancers who brought it to life, taking a leap for the sake of art!
Now, jump ahead to our time traveller date – July 12th, 1955 – and we see the introduction of this softer, more expressive form of the tutu. It still carries a bit of that ethereal fairytale magic, but this time, there’s a touch of the contemporary about it. The Romantics just loved to express themselves freely!
And, the thing is, these romantic tutus made it so easy for the ballerinas to show off their skill, all the wonderful moves and expressive elements they’d developed over time. A delightful ballet dress, that is! We could see how much more flexibility they had, moving with such grace and delicacy, swirling like leaves caught in the breeze.
I just love to see the ballerinas gliding across the stage, feeling those layers brush their ankles as they stretch their limbs and capture a mood with just a tilt of the head. Such skill and expression in a mere few seconds! And just think, all thanks to this revolutionary new garment!
The designers back then weren’t afraid to embrace the revolutionary, the way we do today, and experimented with softer, sheer fabrics – you just can't beat a lovely light tulle – oh, my, it’s heavenly! They embraced more intricate embellishments, delicate embroideries that looked like whispered dreams of flowers and stars.
And darling, those colours! The softest pastel pinks and blues – my absolute favourite – those muted lilacs and lavender hues… pure fairytale stuff! They created a sense of dreaminess and lightness that captivated the entire audience! They weren't afraid to let the dancer shine! It was a total fusion of style, comfort, and grace.
This transformation in design coincided perfectly with the shift in choreographic styles. It made the ballets look absolutely sensational, like magical dreams unfolding before your very eyes. I often feel a pang of nostalgia for the old times, like these moments, watching a breathtaking performance on this very special July 12th, 1955. The emotions swirling around the performance felt raw, honest and just stunningly moving. The artistry of that time really is a source of inspiration for today's dance world.
Just picture it, darlings, my time machine lands me right outside the opera house in Paris – such elegant, chic Parisian ladies I do see everywhere! There I was, swirling around in my own personal pink dream - a delicate tulle creation of soft blush, sprinkled with tiny sparkles - the perfect look for taking in the wonders of ballet. And while I adore that classic Paris elegance, this particular Parisian vibe of the 50’s has a timeless air. A touch of magic in the Parisian twilight, that’s for sure! It reminds me so much of the fashion of that time - it’s so feminine, it's so pretty and so glamorous! I can almost hear the jazz piano and imagine myself twirling with the dancers in a delightful cafe in Montmartre. Ah, what a wonderful world of fashion and dreams!
The ballet performances I witness have always inspired my fashion, my style, my absolute obsession with everything about the ballet. The costumes are so beautiful, and seeing the history unfold in the evolution of the tutus is just fascinating, And if I can inspire you, too, that would be even more magical! My vision for #PinkTutu? Everyone rocking their own little piece of pink ballet bliss!
I encourage you, darlings, to embrace that ballet-inspired grace in your everyday style, whether you're shopping for your dream tutu or simply adding a touch of that exquisite ballet beauty to your look. And of course, I have to highlight our absolute favourite thing: PINK! Why, the pink colour of a perfect summer rose is perfect for a ballerina.
To think, all these glorious fashion and ballet creations came into existence through a touch of imagination and a bold sense of adventure. Like the grand, passionate Romantics of the era who set the stage for the elegance we see today! This is what makes ballet so fascinating and enchanting. So next time you find yourself twirling in your tutu, darling, remember that this delicate masterpiece carries the history of countless ballerinas and fashion visionaries. And remember, every twirl is a moment to embrace beauty and grace.
And just think, you could wear one of these Romantic tutus right now, wouldn't that be fabulous? I hope that after reading about all these lovely historical tutus and watching beautiful shows, you’re feeling inspired and excited.
As always, be sure to share your thoughts on this #TutuTuesday journey in the comments below! Tell me, what's your favourite historical era of tutus? And what ballet dress do you just adore?
See you next #TutuTuesday! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com , where we’re exploring all things ballet!
Emma x
