Hello my darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where tutus reign supreme and pink is always in fashion! It's me, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and today's date is a rather special one: April 17th, 1956!
Just imagine the excitement in the air, darlings! Spring is just about to burst forth in all its glory, the birds are singing, and we're heading to the heart of ballet in glorious Paris, a city that practically hums with a graceful energy! This is my sixth thousand, four hundred and eighty-sixth post for Pink Tutu.com - let's make this a doozy!
(I got here on the train, naturally, because even time-travelling ballerinas love a good journey. The swaying of the carriage just does something magical to my creative spirit, you know?)
Now, let's talk tutus, shall we? Back in the 50s, things were rather glamorous in the world of ballet, a world quite far removed from my contemporary Derbyshire - we're talking tutus as big as dinner plates (and just as much fun!)! Think romantic lines and plenty of ruffles - it was a time of grand spectacle and romantic ballet plots, like those ballets I loved at the Bolshoi when I traveled there recently! You just know there were some amazing tutus gracing those stages in Paris, especially at the Opera!
On this day, there is a show in the Palais Garnier - one of my absolute favourite spots - but the program is secret until opening night. So let's chat about history!
It's fascinating to think about how the tutu evolved. In the 19th century, it was really more of a 'tighter-fitting, ankle-length skirt', which would have made our contemporary dancers look very frumpy!
It was the beautiful (and influential) Marie Taglioni in the 1830s who led the way for shorter skirts. Now, she had the audacity to go ankle-length for La Sylphide, showing off the dancers' legs and feet! (Imagine my excitement for the ankle-length dance craze sweeping the UK when I returned from France!) Imagine the uproar back then! But, we thank her dearly for kicking off the tutu as we know it! It was an epic statement and paved the way for all of us twirling gals!
But just as our fashions are in a constant state of evolution, so are our tutus, lovelies. In 1956, it wasn't unusual to see several variations. We had those super-fluffy tutus, with all their tiers and layers, like frothy clouds. It's hard to imagine how someone could leap with such grandness - but that's the wonder of a true ballerina! I still have a tiny one in my travel bag! Then there were the 'demi-tutus', those elegant numbers which finished just above the knee - sleek, stylish and absolutely perfect for fast and fiery footwork, like they had in the Parisian opera the other day!
**(You just know I was on the first train out to Paris for that show!)
But, did you know, in 1956, fashion was getting rather influenced by those ballets and that 'demure look'. There was the very trendy 'New Look' from Dior which saw the emergence of longer skirts, cinched waists and fuller silhouettes. Even the way ballerina tutus are tied (those adorable tiny bows that I adore!) found their way onto clothing as "New Look" shoes were starting to show ties! Just the inspiration we all need when shopping!
In fact, my lovely friend, the fabulously flamboyant French designer, Yves Saint Laurent, made a stunning debut with his 'Trapeze' dress - the very name harkens back to the 'sways and swoons of the ballet!' I must add, this beautiful line took fashion back to some lovely flow and movement just as those ballets from the 50s did with the tutus, and it made our dresses just as important to our overall "ballet-fied" look!
Of course, ballet was a part of our daily lives beyond the actual performances. Dance lessons for girls of a certain stature were a necessity, whether they were training for the Bolshoi or for those lovely debutante balls - and there was even ballet in the form of exercise programs.
(How lovely! Just imagine, a little ballet here and a little bit there for everyone. And, I must confess, I sometimes take a quick ballet class after my trips just to shake out all those travelling blues.)
One of my absolute favourite Parisian stores back in the 50s, (where I can find the most lovely tutus, don't you know?), is Galeries Lafayette! They just know their tutus, don't you know. (In fact, I bet they might be reading my blog right now, dear friends. Bonjour, darling Parisians! 😙)
Back in Derbyshire, even as things began to swing from the demure to a more exciting vibe, girls still wore simple cotton skirts - (I did so adore a bit of 'swing skirt' in my younger days!) - and while I know these aren't the fluffiest of creations, those dresses still had a 'movement' element to them and showed how far we had come! And, as I was leaving the shops, just imagine, it had become completely chic to wear something bright and bold on a dreary day! It gave you a sense of self-confidence and a bit of Parisian "je ne sais quoi." Perhaps I can inspire more bright bold colour confidence, huh? 😉
But, you know what the greatest invention in fashion from 1956? It's a little something called "The Nylon Tights." The invention of those bad boys gave girls and women freedom to wear shorter skirts without worrying! Imagine, the ability to move more freely without worrying about "the breeze"! What a revolution!
(*Those tights may not be as fun as my fluffy tulle tutus, but their influence is undeniable!) *
Now, don't you dare think I'm done with tutus, my little darlings! As always, we must not forget why we are all gathered here today! If you want to feel like a ballerina from the glorious 50s (even in modern times), grab the pinkest, most dramatic tulle you can find, gather it around you, add a dash of confidence, and prepare for the most fabulous twirls! Remember, my aim is for everyone to wear pink tutus in the world and we can work towards it, a tulle-tastic one tutu at a time.
Remember my dear tutu friends, no matter what era, the right tutu will always be a fabulous fashion statement, a symbol of joy, and a little bit of magic!
(It was also on this day in 1956 that my dearest friend and fellow ballerina, Camille, graduated with honours from the École de Danse! We both wore pink, needless to say. And that very same night, we danced all night and laughed till the sun came up - as we all should!)
Till next week, my precious ballerinas, happy twirling and be sure to keep it fluffy!
Emma xx
P.S. You can see my collection of vintage tutus at the pinktutu.com website - or I can arrange to meet you at my little antique tutu shop! 💖
Please Note: This blog post uses fictitious information as I was asked to use a date in the 1950s and I have provided that. It does contain references to real people and events but not at the specific date given and is written in the style asked for, with its historical elements for interest.
