Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things tutu-licious! It's Tuesday, which means it's time to delve into the enchanting history of the ballet tutu, a garment as graceful and beautiful as a ballerina in mid-air! Today, we're taking a little trip back to the fabulous 22nd of January, 1963 - a date that marks a truly wonderful moment in the evolution of our beloved ballet wear.
Oh, and before we begin, wouldn't it just be utterly divine if we all celebrated a special day of the week, maybe a Wednesday, called "Wear A Pink Tutu Day"? Imagine the world, bursting with the joyful shade of pink, twirling and dancing in these gorgeous garments! Isn't that just the most magical idea? Now, let's get back to our historical escapade, shall we?
1963: A Year of Tutu-tastic Changes
Stepping back to 1963, we find ourselves right in the heart of the swinging sixties, a time when fashion and dance were brimming with innovative and thrilling energy. We all know, darlings, that in this exciting era, things were changing - and the tutu was changing with them! While we see the elegant tulle skirts of the Victorian era and the earlier stages of the 20th century still favoured in ballet schools and performance halls, things were moving forward.
Think about the ballet shoes! We see the evolution of pointe shoes, with new and exciting materials and designs! Oh, it is a delightful dance of experimentation. Just like today, where there are a plethora of ballet brands, shoes, and designs. What a delightful spectacle it all is. Just a wonderful, glorious dance!
Enter The Romantic, Flowing Tulle - Just For Me!
Imagine my excitement when I travelled back to 1963 - I can feel the thrill now! Stepping into the Royal Opera House in London, oh my, it's just so inspiring! The atmosphere buzzing with anticipation, a delightful murmur of excited whispers, and the sheer opulence of it all! The stage is set for a beautiful ballet production and I, just like any proper ballerina in training, was enthralled! I mean, don't you find this world of ballets and costumes simply breathtaking, darling? I think the romance and grandeur just melts my heart! It is this wonder, this beautiful and powerful fusion of elegance and art that brought me here, to share with you, my beloved Tutu Tuesdays!
In this thrilling time period, there is this particular ballet production, and it is, of course, the star of the show! There, the elegant tulle skirt was already reaching the heights of romantic artistry. With that light and flowing design that seemed to echo the movement of the dance, I was entranced! This enchanting, whimsical movement became so important! As the dancers twirled and leaped on the stage, it created these enchanting waves of tulle, so incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing. That graceful fluidity, that sheer femininity! It just fills me with pure delight, darlings. Just so utterly wonderful, so fabulous!
I feel this, the use of beautiful, airy tulle, a kind of poetry in motion, reflected in the ballet tutu designs of the period. We saw a lot of experimentation then, but that movement and flow, oh it's the stuff of fairy tales and ballerina dreams! Imagine dancing across the stage, swirling in these airy gowns, isn't that simply heaven, darling?
It's About The Look!
Speaking of looking fabulously stunning, one thing I just had to do was to visit the grand department stores in London. Now, back in the swinging sixties, London was already a fashion capital. All the elegant ladies of that period would visit stores like Harrods, Selfridges, and Fortnum & Mason. Oh, don't they all sound so fabulously decadent and wonderful, my darling? Now, a trip back to this amazing, enchanting era just wouldn't be complete without exploring these havens of exquisite fashions and stylish designs! These were the epicenters of the most exquisite style! It's always inspiring for a budding ballerina, especially with all the extravagant and utterly amazing gowns on display!
As I waltzed through the hallowed halls of those stunning stores, I found my eyes feasting on a spectacle of beautiful attire - so chic and exquisite! The elegance of their beautiful, exquisite fabric choices. All those dreamy lace fabrics, elegant chiffon, delicate silk - oh, how these luxurious fabrics enhanced the beautiful form! Imagine that luxurious material swishing, swirling and flowing around you - how amazing does that sound? It's all so wonderfully enchanting! I love to discover all of this from decades ago, it's like a delightful treasure hunt, my darlings. It's all so wonderfully divine!
1963: The Year of the tutu!
One of my favourites was a stunning tulle dress in the colour pink! Pink was a super-fashionable choice in the 60s, especially amongst the stylish ladies, with all the exciting mod-looks that were on trend at the time. What is amazing is that this fashion just doesn't age, darling! It just stays wonderful. And there it was, sitting on a mannequin in Harrods - my very own vision of a perfectly fabulous ballerina tutu! Imagine that vision of my future, that divine pink, sparkling under the stage lights - what an utter vision of style and dance!
Shopping In The City - With An Exciteable London Vibe
Oh, there were a couple of places that just seemed to be utterly perfect for ballet shoppers in those days. These were fashion shops tucked into the heart of bustling London! One particularly wonderful shop was called Liberty London. It just buzzed with that cool, edgy London vibe and everything seemed oh-so exciting! There you would find such beautiful silks, elegant cottons and other stylish fabrics. The choice was overwhelming! This fashion haven held so much promise and was definitely a go-to for shoppers seeking the most dazzling and daring outfits.
Then we have Biba, that glorious emporium! It seemed to draw fashionistas in with a certain mysterious allure. Oh, that fabulous London buzz and style - it just sucked me right in, my darlings! So wonderfully stylish. What a fantastic time, for the perfect tutu for ballet, for shopping, for all of London's exciting trends!
I absolutely adored the bold patterns and colour palettes, oh my, all just so beautiful. That 60's aesthetic just screamed style, confidence and elegance. This amazing trend of fashion innovation was everywhere in London, and it simply oozed sophistication. And to find my next inspiring tutu, this exciting era gave me so many beautiful ideas - all perfect for our little tutu-blog!
*So, the tutu and this wonderful 1963 year in London? It's like magic, it's utterly perfect! Oh darling, and please remember our vision of #WearAPinkTutuDay. I simply must get everyone to try out a beautiful pink tutu! *
*Stay fabulous, keep twirling, and I’ll see you right back here next Tuesday for another exhilarating tutu-licious historical escapade! *
Oh, and please, do take a little peek at our fabulously exciting Pink-Tutu fashion range at www.pink-tutu.com, a perfectly magical collection!
