Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu!
This week, we're hopping on a time-traveling train and setting our sights on September 23rd, 1958. Remember my favourite time travelling mode? It's just too much fun to miss out on a fabulous train journey, don't you think?
But before we delve into this time-warp, let me tell you how I've been keeping myself busy these last few weeks! My recent trip to see the Royal Ballet was divine - oh, those graceful leaps, those exquisite costumes... I could watch them forever! I managed to snag myself a gorgeous new pink satin ballet flat and a few pieces of fabulous costume jewellery at the Theatre Royal's fancy dress shop. They were just perfect for my new ballet street outfit, and I almost took a detour to buy a new tutu! I may have gotten a bit carried away... hehe
So, back to our trip through time! We're venturing into a world where the 1950s' full skirts are all the rage! I'm quite partial to a full skirt myself - very romantic, wouldn't you say? But the 1950s' tutu, oh, it's simply stunning. Think fluffy tulle, perfectly sculpted layers, and a delicate sense of grace and elegance. You can almost picture it - all that beautiful billowing as the ballerina spins and leaps across the stage!
You might think, “Oh Emma, this time travel business – where's the tutu?”
Well, my dear, the tutu's not exactly at the front and centre of things this week... but let's rewind!
Back in 1958, the tutu was in a stage of change! Ballet wasn't quite the high fashion affair that it is today - at least, not in *every style of dance!* You know those graceful ballet flats with ribbons and that pretty point? They were just starting to emerge and gain popularity. Prior to that, pointe shoes were far more, shall we say, 'practical.' Less about beauty and more about technical ability.
The tutus themselves were a tad...well, less refined. Instead of all those whimsical layers, dancers relied on shorter, simpler versions made from layered cotton or silk gauze, and it wasn’t just about performance! These tutus played a huge role in making dancing visually compelling! You can see how ballet started getting so darn dramatic and exciting - they had to use every inch of a dancer's movement to capture your eye! Talk about a true ballerina’s power move!
This period in ballet was quite exciting for tutu evolution. It's fascinating to see how they changed over the decades – the more fluffy layers of classical tutus we see in the ballet world today are still a relatively new trend!
Anyway, don't think the lack of frothy tulle is all gloomy news! Back in 1958, they had some real gem productions! Think of ballet dancers moving across the stage in these lovely lighter tutus, graceful in every movement. Their fluidity of form is just as visually exciting to us now as it would have been then.
And as for fashion?
Oh, the 1950s! The 'New Look' was in full bloom. The designers – and I'm talking about Christian Dior here - were obsessed with defining the waist. They believed curves were beautiful and created cinched waistlines, nipped-in bodices and gorgeous skirts. Talk about flattering! It was all about showcasing feminine grace – and in some ways, that’s the same for ballerinas and our tutu's too!
Of course, being the fashionable gal I am, I’ve already been trawling through online archives of the era for outfit inspiration - those classic Peter Pan collars, a-line skirts, pencil dresses...oh, the fashion choices just ooze vintage elegance! They may be simple, but they have such character. Don't get me wrong – I'll always have a passion for fluffy tulle, but it's refreshing to see a more understated elegance too!
This week on Pink Tutu is all about appreciating those tiny but crucial fashion evolution steps. *Think of it like learning ballet - every little step, every little change adds to the bigger picture, the final movement. *The 'New Look', the more sculpted and practical tutu, it all led to today's fantastic tutu evolution!
I hope you're feeling all inspired, my lovely fashion friends! Don't forget to check out the #TutuTuesday hashtag and share your 1950s outfit pics with me on @PinkTutu on Insta!
And let me know if there’s any ballet history era you'd like me to explore - your time travelling suggestions are always welcomed!
See you next Tuesday for another Tutu-filled time-travelling adventure!
Emma xoxo
