Hello lovelies! It's your favourite pink-tutu-wearing, time-travelling blogger, Emma, back again for another #TutuTuesday. Buckle up, because today's journey takes us all the way back to 19th December 1961!
Oh my, imagine: a world without iPhones, Netflix, and even colour TV! Honestly, it sounds terrifying! But one thing that remained fabulous in the 1960s was the tutu. It's almost hard to imagine how glamorous tutus looked against the black and white television screens of the era. I mean, just picture a perfectly sculpted, tulle masterpiece fluttering across the screen! Heavenly!
My darling Derbyshire home was actually a bit behind the times even then - a few years ago my grandma swore she'd seen an old cinema show about ballet in London that still featured "talking pictures"! Can you believe it? A picture that talks?! That's all kinds of magic!
Anyway, I've been taking a whirl through London, enjoying the bright lights, bustling streets and stunning architecture. I even bumped into a darling fellow from Paris who swears he's spotted me performing on the ballet stage a couple of times - I'm convinced it's just the power of the pink tutu working its magic! He claims Londoners aren't as into tutus as those flamboyant Parisian folks!
1961 and the Dance World:
This December saw the London ballet world buzzing! Covent Garden was in full swing with its captivating programme, and, in the spirit of the season, I was lucky enough to see The Nutcracker. Now, you might be thinking: Emma, darling, we all know about The Nutcracker, what's so special? Well, this performance, darling, this one truly captivated.
From the glistening snow scene with snowflakes whirling on stage to the magical battle between the mice and toy soldiers - I swear I could almost feel the sugar plum fairy whispering secrets in my ear. The dancers truly brought those fairy tale characters to life with grace, passion, and - quelle surprise! - absolutely magnificent tutus!
It's hard to deny the influence that ballet is having on everyday fashion. Just this morning, I spotted a delightful young lady on the Underground wearing a perfectly tailored skirt - with a touch of tulle around the hem. Oui, madame, you're so very chic! That is exactly how to make even the simplest garment scream elegance!
Tutu Shopping in 1961!
Let's face it, my darlings, finding the right tutu is a very important task. Sadly, back then, I haven't found a store quite like our lovely www.pink-tutu.com, but I did venture into one particularly grand department store where the sheer volume of fabrics was mind-blowing! Imagine mountains of chiffon, layers upon layers of tulle, all just waiting to be transformed into the most gorgeous, most divine tutus. Oh, the dreams I had in that shop!
Just imagine: the most heavenly fabrics imaginable, ribbons of every colour and every hue!
I bet you're wondering: What kind of tutu does Emma wear to blend in?. I won't let on, my lovelies, but it's perfectly elegant with a touch of whimsical sparkle - a pink delight of course!
Let's chat about ballet history...
Speaking of 1961, it's almost hard to believe that just a few decades before, the ballet world was completely different! Did you know that tutus, as we know them, were only just gaining popularity around the end of the 19th century? Before that, ballerinas danced in a loose, flowing gown with a tiny skirt and ribbons and bows adorning their tiny waists. I'd love to see one of those costumes in a museum! Imagine trying to do a grand jeté in those voluminous, heavy fabrics!
But those pioneers in the early 1900s bravely embraced the "new" shorter tutu and revolutionised the way we see ballet. In fact, some dancers even embraced tutus in everyday life, claiming they made even the most mundane tasks look fabulous. Oh darling, don't even get me started on those charming stories from those wonderful vintage magazines, how ballet truly became fashionable during the early 20th century - absolutely breathtaking!
Remember your pink tutus:
Now, darlings, no matter what decade you're in, it's important to keep your spirit bright, to have fun, and most importantly, embrace your inner ballerina! The power of the tutu isn't just about its twirl factor; it's about embracing grace, beauty, and the sheer joy of movement. It's a reminder to always wear your heart on your sleeve (or in your tutu!), and be bold and be beautiful, even when the world is filled with a black and white television screen!
Don't forget to stop by www.pink-tutu.com and leave a comment on my blog with your favourite tutu memory or what you love about ballet. Don't forget to keep that tutu twirling, darlings!
And remember, there's always room for a little sparkle in everyone's life - so embrace your inner ballerina and Wear Your Pink Tutu with Pride!
See you all next week!
Yours always in twirling bliss, Emma
P.S. For those of you who are curious: today, December 19th, 1961, was a particularly exciting day for music fans. The new release of "Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys went straight to the top of the charts! The vibrant 1960s music is so much fun - a perfect soundtrack for my little adventures!
