Hello my darling darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu-enthusiast, and it's Tuesday, which means it's time to travel through time for another #TutuTuesday!
Today, I'm setting my time machine for July 8th, 1958. We're off to… drum roll… New York City! The heart of ballet in America and, honestly, where tutus truly shine!
This week, I'm particularly excited about this journey, because the tutu world is about to experience something quite special. You see, 1958 was a year that saw a groundbreaking new ballet company grace the stage. It was, of course, the New York City Ballet, founded by George Balanchine, the "father of American ballet," and Lincoln Kirstein. They came with a mission to bring modern ballet to a wider audience, and oh darling, let me tell you, their costumes, oh the tutus!
Imagine a time where tulle wasn't just flowing, billowing clouds of femininity, but it became a language, a way of expression, and a chance for even more artistry! This new company used tutus as an integral part of the narrative, incorporating new lengths and textures, and it totally changed the landscape of ballet. You could just feel the energy buzzing through the audience!
But don't get me wrong, tutus were already rocking it before this date. Imagine if you could travel back to July 1958 New York and hop into the world of the* Metropolitan Opera* where ballerinas are spinning around on the stage. Can you imagine all the shimmering silk and graceful tulle, twirling around beneath the golden chandelier, sparkling under the soft theatre lights? I know. It's just breathtaking, right?
The New York City Ballet actually took inspiration from some iconic ballerinas, too! I'm talking about the legends of ballet like Margot Fonteyn and Alicia Markova. I mean, even then, the way they floated around the stage in their tutus was utterly enchanting! It makes me want to leap across the world, don my most voluminous pink tutu and twirl right alongside them.
Speaking of tutus, what do we have for our Tutu Tuesday inspiration? Oh my darling, a pink dream! This particular Tuesday I'm going to embrace a gorgeous powder pink tutu made of net tulle. This is so important for giving it that magical volume and movement we all adore! Think billowing ruffles, creating layers and layers of beauty as it catches the light. The ultimate ballerina fairytale, wouldn't you say?
And of course, darling, no Tutu Tuesday would be complete without the most charming accessories! On my visit, I'm taking along my delicate pink ribbon hairband with a delicate silver bow. The pastel pink gloves to accentuate my arms and make them look super elegant and my white pointe shoes...they're an absolute must, just like any good ballerina! And since the day was still gloriously sunny, let's complete this look with pastel pink satin sun glasses. What do you think, my darling? Perfect summer style, eh?
And now, I know you're all eager to hear what else I got up to on my trip to 1958, aren't you? After the ballet performance, we strolled down the streets of New York and checked out the amazing fashion in the department stores. Honestly, the clothing and shoes, the whole aesthetic, the fashion was just pure heaven! It was an explosion of colour and femininity. I can just picture all the iconic images of the time in my head: the stylish shoppers browsing for chic dresses and fabulous hats!
As we all know, 1958 was the dawn of an exciting new decade! It’s when women's fashion began to evolve. Think Christian Dior, think full skirts, and gowns that felt like a ballet in motion – I think of Grace Kelly, such elegant and stunning fashion! Everything felt so… magical and vibrant. I even snagged a few lovely items myself! I spotted the most perfect pastel pink silk blouse for my collection, it was such a lovely colour, you know, reminiscent of those delicate spring blossoms, oh and I also bought a beautiful navy blue tulle dress to wear with my pink ballerina pumps… Oh and speaking of pumps, it just had to happen - I came back with the most gorgeous pale pink ballerina shoes, so lovely, I just couldn’t leave without them. Oh darling, they fit my tutu so perfectly! They really did have the best shopping in those days, don't you think?
And, oh, darling, did I tell you about my train journey to New York? There's something truly special about travelling by train in the 50s! It felt like you were travelling in a glamorous novel, darling! We stopped for tea and delicious scones, oh it was utterly divine. The carriage was filled with the scent of warm cakes, the windows gave glimpses of passing countryside and all I could think was " I could happily travel by train all day". Honestly, that’s another level of romantic travel, right? *Don’t you just want to hop on board? *
So, that’s it for our #TutuTuesday, darlings! As you can see, history is filled with gorgeous tutus, and there are so many beautiful moments to discover in the past! Make sure you keep those pink tutus twirling, my darlings. Until next week, remember: a pink tutu can bring the world a little bit of magic.
Remember, check out all our past posts at www.pink-tutu.com
*What was your favorite memory from the 1950s? Tell me in the comments! *
*And, darling, let's keep this pink tutu dream alive. Don't forget, this post is number 6602. We've already had 6601 other fantastic journeys together, can you believe it?! Join me on next Tuesday for another fantastic trip! Until then, stay fabulous! *
*Hugs and kisses! *
Emma xoxo
P.S Keep a lookout for new blog posts, darling! This is just one of my new time travel journeys in my quest for pink tutus and glamorous ballet adventures, so many more adventures are coming your way! Oh and be sure to watch out for all the pink themed surprises coming your way too… you won't want to miss those.
