Hiya, my fellow tutu lovers! Emma here, back from another whirlwind adventure through the ages, and oh boy, do I have a story for you! This week, we're taking a trip to the year 1963, and boy, oh boy, are we stepping onto some pretty exciting ground for tutu history!
Picture this: the Beatles are rocking the charts, women are getting behind the wheel and breaking down barriers, and a new kind of "chic" is hitting the streets! 1963 is a year bursting with change, and fashion is right at the centre of it all!
So, let's talk tutus! 1963 is an interesting year in the world of tutus, my darlings. It's still very much the realm of the ballerina, but a small shift is happening. You see, there's this fabulous fashion trend taking the world by storm called the mini skirt. Oh, the scandal! This is the moment, my lovelies, where we begin to see a change in how the world views the tutu - as a piece that is not exclusively for the dance stage!
Let's rewind a little, shall we? 1963 sees us right in the middle of the French New Wave era, which was about breaking the rules of art and film and challenging the status quo. That free spirit is trickling into fashion too! Designers like Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Mary Quant are pioneering these revolutionary new shapes, taking fashion and tutus on a daring new journey.
While tutus are still firmly in the theatre, you can also see them cropping up in fashion spreads and editorials! There's even talk of some daring women incorporating bits of the tutu style into their everyday wear! Think flowing fabrics, delicate tiers, and a playful, whimsical touch – a far cry from the restrictive silhouettes of decades past!
Imagine, a mini skirt paired with a fluffy tutu... pure chic! Talk about embracing your inner ballerina, right? It's an intriguing mix, a merging of ballet’s elegance with this new free-spirited approach to style. The 1960s are all about finding your individual expression, and a tutu is the perfect tool for injecting that flair!
Now, back to our travels! I decided to catch a show at the Royal Opera House in London – they’re showing a delightful rendition of Swan Lake, you know, the iconic piece where Odette turns into a swan and wears a stunning, classic white tutu. The auditorium is buzzing with excitement! Everyone from debutantes to socialites to mothers with their little daughters, all decked out in their finest, are here to soak up the magic of the performance.
It was magical! The dancing, the costumes, the whole atmosphere… it transported me to another world! The way the ballerinas move in those breathtaking tutus, it's like watching graceful butterflies floating through the air! As always, I’m just itching to try out those moves myself!
I hopped on a train after the show and found myself in the heart of Paris, soaking up the artistic spirit. You can see a real sense of fashion blossoming here. From elegant street style to the amazing creations displayed in shop windows, Parisian style is something else, and it’s absolutely bursting with chic and charm!
To celebrate our trip down memory lane, I bought a beautiful, new pink tutu in a Parisian boutique, of course! A fluffy, tulle masterpiece with delicate ruffles and delicate stitching. Can’t wait to twirl around in it myself, though perhaps not quite as gracefully as the ballerinas I’ve just seen. 😉
Remember, my darlings, 1963 is a turning point for the tutu – a time when the line between dance and fashion starts to blur! We’re entering a new age where anything goes, and expressing yourself is more important than ever!
So go on, put on a tutu and let your imagination run wild! Dance through the world with confidence, grace, and a touch of pink… It's all about the magic!
See you next Tuesday, for another delightful journey into the history of the tutu!
Until then, twirl happily!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
(P.S. Don't forget to share your tutu photos on social media with the hashtag #TutuTuesday! 💖)
