Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-clad ballerina, Emma, here! And guess what? Today's #TutuTuesday is taking us on a grand journey to a delightful 1958. Grab your favourite cuppa, darling, and get ready to twirl!
Iāve just stepped off the Orient Express, and let me tell you, even the journey was a pure ballet! You know how much I adore travelling by train - the romance of a clattering, steamy carriage with views of fields rushing by, each one a canvas painted by a passing cloud... utterly divine!
I've found myself right here in Paris, the heart of fashion, romance, and yes, ballet! Today's date, 5th August 1958, is a momentous one: the beginning of a new era for ballet! There's a fabulous exhibition happening in the Louvre - āLe Monde de la Danseā, itās called - showcasing some stunning designs of famous Parisian tutu makers. Oh, and rumour has it, the iconic Christian Dior is designing costumes for a big new ballet at the OpĆ©ra Garnier! Fancy!
But before we get lost in Parisian splendour, let's travel back in time a bit, darling. Let's chat about the glorious history of the tutu - after all, every Tuesday deserves a good old-fashioned Tutu Talk!
It all began so beautifully, back in the 1800s. Remember that time, darling, when dancers would swirl around in all those long skirts? The glorious layers, all cascading down and down... Well, a brilliant little chap named Marie Taglioni decided, "Nah! We need something lighter, more elegant for the dancers' beautiful movement!ā And just like that, the first short skirt, the first tutu as we know it, became a stage sensation! It was called the tutu Ć la Taglioni, and oh, what a revolution it was!
We had the Romantic tutu, where those beautiful tiers of fabric flow out like clouds. Remember the classic images of dancers flitting through forests like ethereal nymphs? Well, that was thanks to the romantic tutu. Think of all the dreamy ballerinas floating on clouds in that period. Now, wouldnāt you adore twirling in a Romantic tutu on the stage, darling? It just embodies pure grace.
Then came the Classical tutu, or as we call it now, the pagne, with its tight, smooth layers and that classic short silhouette. That's the tutu I see all the time in ballet classes and performances - it allows those grand movements to shine, allowing each pliƩ, arabesque, and fouettƩ to be a little bit more exquisite!
And what a transformation itās been since! Think of all the changes! The fabric choices ā we have so many more lovely, silky fabrics to choose from, darling. And donāt even get me started on the stunning range of colours! The vibrant reds, the bright blues, the sunshine yellows, and of course, darling, the endless shades of pinkā¦ it's a kaleidoscope of pure delight!
As I write this blog post, my gaze is drifting towards the beautifully designed, multi-layered tutu that I'm wearing for tonightās ballet. A stunning shade of lavender - almost a blush pink, really - itās soft, itās ethereal, and I feel like a ballerina straight out of a fairytale! It matches my lavender tea dress with the frilled, flouncy sleevesā¦ I have a weakness for that sort of whimsical elegance. After all, darling, who wouldnāt want to wear a tutu every day of the week, donāt you agree?
And speaking of London, it's where I first discovered ballet, darling! Remember when we went to The Royal Opera House, with my Mum and Dad? We even saw The Nutcracker. Do you recall, darling? I nearly swooned when I saw Clara's beautiful red tutu! My dream, you see, was to dance in a tutu one dayā¦ and it came true. Oh, darling, donāt you ever stop chasing your dreams, just like I didnāt.
Even though my pink-clad dancing life took me to other places ā Derbyshire, darling, is a fantastic place to dance, by the way! ā it was that first magical journey to London that opened up my world. The costumes, the lighting, the stage, the orchestraā¦ oh, everything felt like magic! A magic I haven't forgotten a moment since!
I have my ticket for tonight's performance at the Palais Garnier, and my pink ballet bag is all ready to go! And what am I looking forward to, you ask, darling? Oh, everything, of course! Thereās that romantic French romance, the whimsical choreography, the graceful steps. I canāt wait! But most importantly, Iām looking forward to the dancersā beautiful, colourful tutus, and that captivating story theyāll weave with their movements, all told with elegant leaps, turns, and all those magnificent movements of ballet that make my heart sing. I can already imagine the shimmering light catching those gorgeous layers as the dancers twirl and soar... oh, I just canāt wait! I have to admit, Iām starting to get excited. Darling, itās hard not to feel giddy about it all!
Before I rush out the door for this beautiful, magical night at the ballet, let's indulge in a spot of online shopping! After all, I've just stumbled upon some gorgeous, vintage-inspired tutus online... pink, naturally. You wouldn't want to miss these divine tutus, darling! You've gotta check them out ā perfect for that dreamy Parisian feeling! Link in bio, darling!
This 5th August has reminded me why I love tutus so much. Their history is rich, full of movement and change, much like our world! Oh, the glorious days, darling! What do you think, dear readers? What is your favourite tutu design? What makes the tutu such a timeless fashion piece? And most importantly, what is your favourite pink shade, darling?
Write to me, lovelies, I'd love to know.
Until next Tuesday, darling! And rememberā¦ wear pink, always wear pink!
Love,
Emma xx
