Hello darlings! Welcome back to another installment of #TutuTuesday on pink-tutu.com, where we celebrate all things tutu, and this week we're travelling back to 26th June 1956.
My lovelies, I'm just back from an incredible journey through time! You know me, always hopping on the next train to another era, seeking out fabulous fashions and historical happenings. This time I found myself in the heart of New York, just as the Metropolitan Opera House was hosting its 1956-57 opening night. Oh, the glamour!
The big opening this night was the new production of * Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi* (Did you know that the world premiere of Don Carlos took place in Paris way back in 1867, can you believe it!). But the opera's setting this time was, you guessed it, Spain! Imagine the vibrant colors and luxurious costumes!
So, naturally, I wanted to check out the scene - and it was fabulous! The theatre, the dresses, the fabulous 1950s hairstyles – and all of that stunning colour!
Did I tell you, this time, I’m wearing this beautiful hot pink tutu I bought in * Paris * for a song (let's just say I bargained very hard!), and the colour of the tutu perfectly matched the hot pink lipstick on many of the ladies I saw that night! So elegant! And of course, a hot pink satin bow. Because everything looks better with a bow. And pink! Don't you think? I must say the colours made a real contrast to all the monochromatic fashion of the 1950s. So, if you have some old pictures of that time, see what I mean? There's a big emphasis on * *bright shades of orange, green and pink! * Just gorgeous! I must admit I bought a whole box of pink ribbons too! *
And what about those tutus! Imagine it, darlings: * ballet was the height of fashion! * All the ladies were dressed up in their most beautiful gowns, * the gentlemen in their suits, *and there was even the odd person sporting a stunning tutu. Now *that's style.* It’s no wonder so many women of the time dreamed of becoming ballerinas ( I sure did!), I wonder how they found time with all of that glamorous dressmaking.
Anyway, back to the story… It’s really interesting how the tutu design has evolved over time. 1956 was a fascinating period - I’d heard that ballet was booming - but it wasn't just the opera houses. The tutu was even starting to move beyond the stage, too, and showing up in the dance clubs of Manhattan as well as the grand halls!
Did you know there was a fabulous club back in 1956 called 'The Palladium' in Manhattan and 'The Roxy' *, in New York City - it was even featured in Vogue magazine back in the 1930s – *which served a delicious dinner before they’d hold parties till late in the evening. They would have a full orchestra and **amazing cabaret performances. Now that sounds like a night out! And imagine the fantastic, sparkling costumes of the dancers!
And that’s why this blog series is so exciting, you see!
Imagine yourself at the beginning of 1956 and it would seem like only the rich or the upper class could afford a tutu, but then you would have to look no further than the fashion department of Good Housekeeping Magazine magazine, as they *presented ideas for making your own tutu. So even *ordinary folk could look as good as a * professional ballerina! Isn't that *fantastic?
This brings us to another fascinating bit of news about tutus I came across on my adventures... Did you know that, as far back as 1955, the French designer Christian Dior had incorporated tutus into his collections – wow! So sophisticated!
So, in 1956 you wouldn't just see ballet costumes being sold on * the High Street* in * London and New York, *but you might even have a shop stocking up with your very own tutu made for dancing from Christian Dior * -- and the 'tutu' design has remained popular as the perfect piece to make a dramatic impact. Imagine the tutus at a ball in the evening, darling! Just as spectacular! Fashion is truly cyclical! We don’t forget it… it comes back, only *slightly different each time!
And to celebrate all things pink in the style of the 1950s I was thinking - wouldn't it be nice to do a fashion photoshoot in a ballet studio at the Metropolitan Opera House , with lots of lovely pinks and colours – to show you what tutu style was like in those days? I do think the tutus I have from those days will still work perfectly with today's * modern trends*. What do you think, my dear?
Well, that's it for this week, darlings. It’s been fun time-travelling and taking in the glamour of 1956! Now, who wants to wear pink with me?! Don’t forget to send in your own photos and stories of * how your love of ballet and tutus * came about, * *especially if you're in * Derbyshire, as that’s where I'm from! Until next Tuesday !
I'm Emma, your favourite time-travelling tutu enthusiast, signing off from pink-tutu.com!
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I can’t wait to see you here next Tuesday!
Remember: "Embrace the pink. Embrace the tutu. Embrace your inner ballerina!"
TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #FashionHistory #1956 #pinktutu #PinkIsMyHappyPlace #PinkLover #TimeTravel[Post 6496 on Pink-Tutu.com ]
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