Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! Today, we're whisking you back to a gloriously glamorous time - September 15th, 1964 - a day dripping with dance and dreams. As you all know, #TutuTuesday is my favourite day of the week! Today I get to take you on a thrilling journey through history, where we’ll explore the delightful world of tutus!
I’m always blown away by how quickly fashion can change. Last week, I was frolicking with the flappers in the roaring 20s, and this week, I'm waltzing my way through the vibrant 60s!
But first, let's delve into this week’s theme - September 15th, 1964, and what's happening in the tutu world.
From Derbyshire, to the big wide world…on a train.
As a Derbyshire girl at heart, I often take the train for my travel. I find trains absolutely divine! The rhythmic clickety-clack as you glide through the countryside is truly magical. It always makes me feel like I’m a part of a captivating ballet sequence. So, imagine my delight at finding a rather peculiar item in the ‘lost and found’ of my train journey last week: a delicate, powder blue silk tutu, looking absolutely out of place, nestled amongst crumpled newspapers and a half-eaten apple! Oh, it sparked a vision - what tale would this tutu have to tell? How could I find its owner, maybe some ballerina with the most wonderful backstory?! Perhaps it had travelled to the greatest ballet schools in the world?! Oh, what a mystery. My dear reader, if you have lost a powder blue silk tutu last week, please reach out!
Ballet World - Back to 1964:
Back in September of 1964, ballet was booming! We had some wonderful things going on, a whirlwind of performances and grand premieres across the world. Just this month, I've seen a magnificent rendition of Swan Lake in New York and La Sylphide at the Royal Opera House in London. Honestly, I felt a twirl in my soul just watching them, with those fabulous, graceful movements and their shimmering, glittering tutus, simply perfect!
Let's talk fashion!
The fashion scene back in 1964 was buzzing. The ‘mini-skirt’ was sweeping the nation, alongside those super stylish A-line dresses. And what did they do for their footwear? Oh my! They paired those wonderful silhouettes with fabulous little ankle boots and even a dash of Mary Jane! But did you know, the ballerina look was still absolutely huge?
Tutus: Then and Now!
My heart simply flutters when I think about the way tutus evolved. Think of the grand ballerinas from the past! From the simple but elegant creations of the early Romantic era to the fuller, layered tutus of the 19th century. Just seeing those gorgeous pictures with all the ruffles and the sheer delight in their smiles, makes me so happy. The tulle fabric was such an innovative thing back then and became so iconic and fashionable for tutus - it still is!
You see, my darling reader, those tutus are a window into the past. They can tell a story - they tell us a little bit about the time period, and they help us see how our fashion world is influenced and evolves.
Where To See It All
In 1964, if you wanted a dose of fabulousness, you simply couldn't miss London’s Royal Ballet! The home of the nation’s dancing greats - a magical place to experience true dance brilliance. Or, just for a magical evening, consider going to a ballet street performance! Just picture that - imagine seeing these stunning ballet routines played out against the backdrop of London’s bustling streets. It's an absolute treat! Oh, it reminds me of the grand dance scenes I have seen during my time travels… oh, so very glamorous.
And for my London readers, there's a treasure trove of vintage stores hidden within London’s hidden streets, like those shops in Soho. Just like a beautiful ballerina, these stores contain so much hidden glamour! There's no better way to step into history than to hunt for those hidden gems in these little hidden boutiques. You might be surprised to find a beautiful vintage tutu or even a tiny pair of shoes waiting for you! Just the way those vintage ballerina’s did.
*How do I fund this trip to the past? *
My little pink tutu isn’t just about looking fabulous - it's also my passport to a whole world of magical stories, hidden gems and incredible dancers. Every trip, I get my tutus and sequins shimmering in the lights! My trips to the past are funded by my passion - ballet performance!
I'm a ballerina and performer through and through! I love sharing the joy of dance, and I am fortunate to travel to the world’s best ballet houses, from Vienna to New York! This time I'm off to the Royal Ballet in Covent Garden! To those wonderful costumes! To the beautiful stages! And to all that amazing inspiration.
And as you know my loves, we can be fabulous and beautiful in any century, so get yourself a fabulous new pink tutu today and share those memories on social media with #pinktutu!
That’s all from me today, but I’m leaving you with a challenge! What do you think I might be discovering next week? It's all for next Tuesday's #TutuTuesday!
I hope to see you next week!
P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what your favourite style of ballet tutu is! Until next time, I'm off to find that powder blue tutu on the train! I just hope it's not waiting for me at the Royal Ballet!!
