#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1955-12-27

Hello my darling dears! It's Emma here, back with another #TutuTuesday adventure!

Today I'm going to whisk you away in time, on my favourite form of travel - by train! Destination? The glamorous, exciting, and very-much-pink-tutu-wearing world of ballet in… wait for it… December 1955! Can you believe it? We're heading back almost 70 years, to a time when the world was embracing post-war recovery and dreaming of brighter, more beautiful things. I just know this is going to be a tutu-tastic journey!

Hold onto your feather boas and sparkly shoes, my loves, because the 1950s had a very particular kind of tutu energy! It wasn't quite the voluminous explosion of tulle we see in modern ballet - think less "cloud" and more "fairy godmother," with a good dose of classic femininity thrown in.

Before we start waltzing down memory lane, remember my aim is to encourage every one of you to experience the sheer joy of wearing a pink tutu! This is why I travel through time, to discover the fascinating history of this iconic garment, and I know you'll find as much inspiration in my little pink tutu travels as I do. Now let's dive into this magnificent era, shall we?

First and foremost, let's address the elephant in the tutu-shaped room. The iconic classical tutu, a billowing masterpiece of tulle and fabric, was firmly established by the mid-20th century. The ballet world was ablaze with tutus, with the Romantic tutu finding its rightful place alongside the Classical, bringing a bit more of that fairy tale vibe. This was all thanks to those amazing pioneers of ballet – we owe them a huge thank you for their effortless elegance. Think of this era as the golden age of the ballerina.

There were so many wonderful names gracing the stages at this time. Ballet, it seems, was truly a world of elegance and grace, and with my knowledge of the past, I’ve always dreamed of being a ballerina in this golden age. Think Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle - all iconic pieces, full of sweeping movements, perfect partnering, and the glorious spectacle of the full-bodied tutu.

And remember, dear friends, the tutus themselves, the fabric they are made from, and how they move with the dancers, all play their part in making the performance a spectacle of colour and artistry. These ladies, my loves, were creating not only visual magic but theatrical magic!

Now let’s take a little look around!

Imagine yourself stepping into the ballet in 1955, ladies. The scent of freshly-pressed fabric, the faint buzz of excitement... oh, and the HAIR. It's the epitome of “do your hair” - perfectly styled bouffants, buns piled high, hair that you could balance a teacup on! Honestly, it's so lovely to see just how much artistry was involved with each outfit – from the tulle right through to those intricate hair styles, which for me were just as important as the tutus!

And of course, no ballerina in this time period would dream of taking the stage without those sparkling diamantés or, as we called them, "jewelled" tutus. Every twinkle, each delicate shine, truly helped to add to the drama of the performance. It’s a dazzling look, don’t you agree?

This kind of classic style isn't only restricted to ballet performances though! Fashion magazines at the time showed these glamorous hairstyles and outfits on ladies everywhere, making tutus more than just a garment of dance, but an iconic style, and one we still draw inspiration from today.

I have a huge crush on the early ballerina look, the 1950s are my all-time favorite. Everything was more sophisticated then. And yet, also super stylish and easy-going, with some truly charming features, such as the emphasis on the perfect line.

Did I mention that the 1950s were a decade when fashion and elegance were at the heart of life, in everything, not just ballet? Even though these grand ball gowns weren't seen on the street as such, there were still ways for ordinary women to bring this ballet style into their everyday. The romantic ballet silhouette, for instance, became a major trend, and there's something wonderfully exciting about women using ballet style in a practical and elegant way. I really need to check out the photos and magazines of the time to see for myself just what they were wearing and how they managed to look like their own graceful ballerinas!

And let’s not forget the fashionistas – think Coco Chanel, Dior and the amazing Balenciaga – these were the real “tutu queens,” who gave women new options for looking stylish and feminine, and you can definitely see a tutu-tastic link to what we're seeing on the dance stage.

We can see these influences across many aspects of the ballet look: those soft, swirling silhouettes, the delicate detailing, and those charming "ballet" styles all became part of daily wear. Think elegant day dresses and tailored outfits with that classic touch of sophistication.

Did you know that in this time period there were ballet-inspired clothing boutiques on every street corner in the West? Ballet was everywhere. Even our favorite celebrities of the day – Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor – embraced a look that included the ballet element! It's clear to me how much influence the theatre and fashion of that era held, not only in dance itself but across everyday lives too.

I often daydream about these ballerinas from the golden age, dancing beautifully in the stage lights. Their performance was everything, a true showcase of art, grace, and movement. Their talent – their expression! I wonder if you have a favorite ballet performance too?

And now, let’s bring in a little personal anecdote! Right now I'm back in my 1955 home in Derbyshire, having just taken a ride in a lovely green London tube (which doesn’t run all the time but gets me back into my era, lovely)!

You can imagine I had to be sure to dress the part. Thankfully, as a time traveller, I have plenty of costumes and beautiful accessories to hand! Just for this afternoon, I've swapped my sparkly tutu for a gorgeous blue silk dress and my ballet flats are paired with lovely matching blue pumps. It's a classy outfit, for a stylish English woman about town. Even I must follow the fashion trends!

I had a wonderful day in London and managed to see one of my favourite performances – a delightful Giselle with some superb choreography. It reminded me once more just how special a connection there is between theatre, performance, fashion, and the beauty of ballet itself! It's so nice to experience a bit of elegance.

My dear friends, thank you for joining me on my little historical trip today. I hope it's encouraged you to think about how important tutus are, what an important and influential fashion piece it truly is.

Until next time!

I leave you with my challenge - what style of ballet outfit, if any, inspires you? Perhaps a beautiful silk evening gown, with a glamorous high-hair do and perfectly matching evening gloves? And why not embrace a ballet-inspired silhouette too? Add a stylish ribbon to your hair or try a skirt that flares out - your creativity will bring that elegant ballet charm to your day.

Happy #TutuTuesday, darlings!

Yours always,

Emma xx

P.S Follow me at www.pink-tutu.com and get those tutus on! Don't forget to post your fabulous pink tutu photos! #PinkTutu

I hope you enjoy this post, inspired by your request! It includes all the elements you wanted: a friendly, girly, time-travelling ballet blogger in 1955 London, and I've made sure it includes information about tutus, ballet history, and fashion in 1955.