Bonjour, darlings!
Welcome back to your favourite weekly dose of all things tutu, here at www.pink-tutu.com! This is your resident tutu enthusiast Emma, writing to you live fromā¦ wait for itā¦ Paris! Oh la la, the city of love, the city of lightsā¦ and of course, the city ofā¦ tutus!
Today, 14th February, itās the most romantic day of the year. Yes, folks, it's Valentine's Day!
So much love, such romanceā¦ I just had to spend Valentine's in the most romantic city in the world, Paris! What could be better than gliding down the Champs-Elysees in this pink dream of a tutu and taking in the sights and sounds of Paris, where love is always in the air!
And just so you know, I arrived here by train. Of course! Nothing quite says Parisian elegance and sophistication like arriving in the French capital by train, with a perfectly tailored ensemble and a beautifully flowing tutu, the perfect complement to a Parisian cityscape. It was a magnificent journey through the French countryside - oh the charming French villages! The train tracks whisper romantic stories. And when I arrived, the aroma of croissants filled the air... ah, so perfectly Parisian!
Now, back to #TutuTuesday. I just have to talk about something incredible - I saw āLa Fille mal gardĆ©eā at the Paris Opera this weekend. I literally can't stop gushing about it! You know how much I love classical ballet, but this showā¦ chefās kiss It was magical, breathtaking, a dream come true, every ballerinasā dream! It is an iconic ballet. The choreographyā¦ so full of passion and witty, even funny! I absolutely adored the romantic pas de deux between Lise and Colas - just incredible! The costumesā¦ just stunning! And the dancers - they brought such life to every step and every pose. I mean, these dancers were practically gliding over the stage in the most spectacular costumes and tutus - it just brought tears to my eyes, honestly.
After the show, of course, I hit the āGaleries Lafayetteā - theyāve got a floor dedicated to tutus and dancewear - I practically lived in there! A pink tutu? They had about a hundred. Pink sequined, pink lace, pink feathers, the most breathtakingly beautiful array you can imagine! It's like a dream for a tutu enthusiast like myself. The quality and design ā divine. They even had a section dedicated to tutus worn in the Paris Opera.
Then, off I went to a little shop I found tucked away near the Seine - oh, this one was just heavenlyā¦ They called it "Le Moulin Ć Tutuā. Tiny little shop, almost secret. It sold tutus made from the most exquisite fabricsā¦ the fabricsā¦ the texturesā¦ the delicate layers! Some of these fabrics were just breathtaking! Oh and the selection of tutus - not the type I wear every day - not for stage use but for "evening wear"... think black and white with a touch of sparkle for evening wear. Some were silk, some lace, some satin, some a mixture, all beautifully embellished with intricate beading, rhinestones, feathersā¦ the perfect combination for a chic Parisian look, especially during a Valentineās Day outing!
*But don't worry, I did manage to sneak in a little time for some pure tutu fun. *
Yes, a quick little "flashmob" performance for Valentine's Day - I thought Paris was the perfect place for a little spontaneous ballet! Now, imagine - the heart of Parisā¦ beautiful architectureā¦ all the romance in the worldā¦ and then this tutu-clad ballerina just starts dancing to a beautiful classical pieceā¦ pure magic! The crowd gathered, it was just lovely. Of course, they all wanted to try on tutus, and even do a bit of twirling themselves.
Let's talk History! Because every tutu enthusiast needs a little dose of history to fully appreciate our favourite garment!
This is my favourite little fact about tutus. It's interesting that the tutu that most people think of is only about 150 years old. The tutus we know today really got popular towards the end of the 19th century with the ballet romantics. These classic Romantic period tutus, also called āthe Bell tutuā because of the way they hung around the body and flared out like a bell ā well, these are truly beautiful and elegant. Itās the one we associate most strongly with a ballet dancer. And what a lucky time we are in - 150 years of tutus and we're only going to see more innovative styles and beautiful fabrics in the future.
That's it for this week. Keep on spinning, my dears! And donāt forget to follow www.pink-tutu.com, your tutu headquarters where your tutu dreams come true! I'll see you all next Tuesday with more tutuland news and all sorts of āfashion tips from a Time-Traveling Tutu-Clad Ballerina.ā
P.S - Iāll let you all in on a little secret - my next trip is already booked. I am off to St Petersburg for the "Kirov Ballet". Yes, my dearsā¦ St. Petersburg, home of the "Vaganova Method", the legendary Mariinsky Ballet. Itās all about the beauty, grace, strength and artistry that characterises this very special ballet, where tutuland comes alive.
Until next time - Keep it pink, darlings!
