#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1957-05-07

Greetings, darling readers, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where all things pink and twirly are celebrated! Today is Tutu Tuesday, and we’re journeying back to a glorious moment in time: May 7th, 1957. Hold on to your hats, ladies, because we're about to take a trip through time to discover a pivotal point in tutu history.

As a fellow Derbyshire lass, I've always had a deep love for the grace and elegance of ballet. And it’s been through my tutu-clad time travels that I’ve realised that, oh my, tutus weren’t always as ubiquitous as they are today!

1957 is an exciting time to be observing tutu fashion, my dears! You see, the ballerina’s journey hasn't always been paved with fluffy tutus and glittery pointe shoes. In fact, if you rewind the clock back just a century, a ballerina's attire was more akin to a billowing Grecian gown than the streamlined tutu we adore.

Imagine a young ballerina, perhaps from the esteemed Royal Ballet in London, gliding across the stage in a loose and flowing, knee-length tunic – a far cry from the streamlined perfection of the tutu! But oh, how things changed! It was around the turn of the 20th century that a truly groundbreaking ballet sensation hit the stage. The arrival of the Russian Ballet (oh, what a marvel!), brought with it an unparalleled level of grace, precision, and, you guessed it, a groundbreaking shortened tutu!

This radical change in the costume was a true revelation. Gone were the heavy and billowing fabrics; instead, delicate layers of tulle (the very word ‘tulle’ evokes such images of swirling fabric, doesn't it?) became the order of the day, allowing for a fluidity of movement unlike anything ever seen before!

Now, this being 1957, the tutu was a real statement piece. It wasn’t just about function; it was about making a grand entrance. Ballerinas, like shimmering stars in the celestial sphere of the stage, gracefully turned and twirled, their tulle-covered limbs seemingly defying gravity itself. It was, simply put, a sight to behold!

This period, ladies, saw a real focus on classical ballet. This meant tutus had to be elegant, refined, and utterly stunning! From the dreamy ballet tutus of the Bolshoi Theatre, with their meticulous pleats and delicate frills, to the timeless elegance of the Royal Ballet’s tutus, each twirl was a ballet masterpiece in its own right.

Of course, a girl’s gotta talk fashion, don’t you think? This era brought with it the first whispers of “fashion tutus”, which was a delightful evolution in the world of tutus. While the stage was, and still is, the ultimate platform for tutus, these new tutus were creeping into the wider world!

Now, let’s talk trends - in 1957, fashion was all about bold colors. This means, of course, boldly vibrant pink tutus! Think rich magenta hues with accents of emerald green or royal blue, the perfect complement to a sparkling silver pointe shoe! We’re talking glamorous.

But it wasn’t just all about the stage, darling! Imagine stepping out in a gorgeous pink tutu with a billowing white blouse (think a classic Bardot-inspired silhouette), and your chicest kitten heels. Oh, and you simply can't forget your signature beret! (So very 1950s). We're talking Parisian elegance meets feminine grace. Simply delightful.

It’s worth noting that while 1957 marked a pivotal point in tutu history, it was still largely confined to the ballet world. Imagine my astonishment, darling, as I took a recent trip to 1960 and saw, “oh, my goodness!”, how quickly things were changing! In those years, fashion began embracing the tutu’s whimsical appeal with the debut of the first “fashion tutu”! A major moment in time for any lover of tutus!

But we’ll save that delightful detail for a later blog post. For today, my loves, remember: the history of the tutu is a fascinating journey through time, where tradition meets innovation, and elegance never goes out of style. And what better way to celebrate it than with a fabulous pink tutu?

Oh, before I go, I mustn’t forget! Remember the date we’re exploring today? May 7th, 1957, well, darling, you might be surprised to learn that it was a Wednesday this year! Now, I wonder, was there a special ballet show somewhere in the world on that Wednesday? Maybe a little bird can whisper in my ear? Do let me know, in the comments below!

Until next Tuesday,

Keep twirling, darling,

Emma.