#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1959-03-31

Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu aficionado, and it’s another glorious #TutuTuesday! Today we’re hopping on the time machine, with our trusty tutus trailing behind us, for a journey back to 31st March 1959!

Now, you may be thinking, “1959? Isn’t that a little too vintage, even for a tutu enthusiast?” Well, my lovelies, hold on to your bonnets! The fashion world, even the ballet world, was a whirl of excitement in 1959!

Imagine this: a world just starting to embrace the "New Look" of Christian Dior, full skirts, and a new emphasis on femininity. Can you picture a tutu as anything other than fluffy perfection in such a glamorous time?

For those who missed it (don’t worry, dear reader, I always rewind the clocks to give you the full experience), 31st March 1959 was a particularly significant day in the annals of Ballet history. It was the date that marked the first performance of the now iconic The Sleeping Beauty, performed by the Royal Ballet, in the glorious setting of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

This, darling, is where the story gets juicy!

You see, in 1959, the world was in awe of the Royal Ballet. The stars of the era, dancers like Margot Fonteyn, were veritable legends! They weren’t just beautiful dancers – their movements were precise and filled with so much passion. The way they moved on the stage… you could just feel it!

For a ballet-mad soul like myself, stepping into that Covent Garden theatre in 1959 would be pure magic! Can you imagine watching these ballet goddesses flitting about in their glorious tutus? Every movement a piece of art, each twirl, every pirouette - pure delight. Imagine the rustling tulle and the dazzling costumes. I practically feel the joy!

What’s more, 1959 was a turning point in fashion. Just picture it, beautiful ladies in sleek, slim-fitting dresses topped with an elegant, ladylike “New Look” coat and matching hat… Now imagine they’re wearing pink tutus, floating down the street, not in the ballet, but in daily life! Isn’t that something to dream about?

And the thing about those early tutus, darlings, is that they weren’t simply stiff, pointed pieces of tulle. The designs were actually much more daring than you might think! Imagine a pink tutu with layers and layers of tulle – but with a little bit of a different colour on each layer. Just like you might have seen in one of those glorious ballets by the Ballet Russe or the Ballets de Paris! Think a blush pink in the middle, layered with a cherry pink and a fiery scarlet towards the bottom… absolutely divine!

I even saw pictures of tutus that were designed in an avant-garde way. Think flowing, longer tutus, made of layers of sheer tulle and silk, which were sometimes finished with a shimmering sparkle. Talk about dramatic! It was an era that combined delicate femininity with a touch of rebellious glamour.

Oh, the thrill! Even though 1959 was a little before my time, my pink tutu and I had the most wonderful time hopping through those magical portals and visiting the ballet that made history that evening. Imagine it, watching the elegant dancers swirling through the air, each movement a symphony of joyful movement.

It was a day full of magic, glamour, and the enduring beauty of the tutu. So, as we embark on another week, let’s remember the brilliance of 1959, and remember to keep that twirling, graceful spirit of the ballerina alive! Now, go and be beautiful and let’s spread the pink tutu magic all across the world, one tutued day at a time!

Until next Tuesday, my lovely tutu fans!

Yours truly,

Emma (P.S. Remember, don’t forget to visit our wonderful new #TutuTuesday store where you can buy your very own vintage pink tutus! What are you waiting for? Let’s get dancing! www.pink-tutu.com )