#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1964-12-22

Hello, darling dears! Emma here, your very own Pink Tutu-wearing Time Traveller, back with another fabulously fabulous #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History post!

This week, we’re stepping back in time to 1964, a year positively brimming with fabulous fashion and breathtaking ballet. Oh, and Christmas is just around the corner! Can you believe it’s only a few days until we can all don our most splendid festive attire, twirl beneath the tree and enjoy some mince pies? sighs contentedly

So grab your favourite tipple, your knitting needles (if you’re anything like me, you're always knitting a little something pink!), and let's have a delightful trip down memory lane!

1964 was a year filled with groundbreaking dance and incredible fashion. Just imagine – The Beatles had just released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" – it was everywhere, and Twiggy had just become the it-girl for the 'Swinging Sixties', showing the world that skinny was in. Talk about chic!

The year also saw the London Palladium playing host to a "Ballet Gala" - how exciting is that?! And I bet they looked absolutely splendid in their sparkly tutus! We must hope for a similar gala this year. The Palladium is certainly an incredible setting for a ballet performance! I adore those red velvet seats, and the gilded ceilings. Ooh, the gilded ceilings... the perfect inspiration for a new pink tutu, I think. Maybe with some tiny diamanté accents?

Oh, and what would a trip through the past be without a glimpse into the world of fashion? Think of this year as the year of "the shift" (think long, loose, colourful dresses, simply fabulous for twirling in), bold prints, and the rise of the mini skirt - just what the doctor ordered for a dashing and twirly lady, darling.

The world was changing, becoming faster and more colourful, and oh, the dance was keeping pace with those changes - even if the pace of change wasn’t always graceful. You might want to look back to our #TutuTuesday post about the Ballet Russes, where we explore how ballet shifted from its more formal roots to a dance with passion, innovation and lots and lots of sparkly costumes, which really are the star of any ballet performance.

I think of 1964 as the year that the world decided to twirl into the future with a smile and a sense of pure joy – and how much more magical is a ballet that is all about finding joy and grace in every movement, whether in a Swan Lake performance or simply stepping out your front door into a sunny day?

1964 was a big year for fashion and oh, how those designers had an eye for style, the dears! It's a year I find inspiring, the way people went out of their way to dress well, and especially to wear pink. Now, I don't mean all pink – a touch of pink always brings any look to life, no matter what. And remember the point of a tutu is that it’s all about being a star.

So let's channel our inner 1964 stylish ballerina! This year, it’s all about fun, whimsical details and adding pops of pink to anything you wear. Why, I love a little pop of pink! It's so lively. A pink scarf, a pink bag, or pink lipstick… even a little pink nail polish goes a long way! Now wouldn't you look simply sensational on your next train journey to London? Or at the next gala you go to? dreamy sigh

And now, let's get back to what matters most - the ballet and the tutus. They say fashion comes back around in cycles. What I love about tutus is they are such a timeless statement, never truly going out of style, but always reinventing themselves for each new era. Even today we see a whole new wave of the tutu returning, darling, so that's definitely fashion in my eyes. It's not like we ever actually stopped wearing tutus. The tutus have only gained more and more respect! And let's not forget how popular they are in film and television – it makes my tutu-wearing heart so very happy!

I hope that reading this post and remembering this glamorous moment in time has inspired you to put on a fabulously sparkly outfit and have fun. I adore travelling back to these beautiful, glamorous eras! What fun we have when we dance through history, whether that’s in London in 1964, in Paris in 1864 or New York in 2023, there's something about the elegance of the tutu that resonates throughout time.

Don't forget to leave a comment about your favourite vintage fashion or your favourite tutu moments in the comments below! And keep on twirling, you dazzling dears!

I look forward to seeing you back here next Tuesday for another fantastically fab Tutu Tuesday.

Until then, twirl on! 💖💖💖 Emma