Oh, darling tutus, how I do adore you! My darlings, it's #TutuTuesday and time to dive into the delightful world of tutu history! This week we're going back in time to the 27th July, 1965 - a year when everything felt impossibly stylish! Today, we’ll be flitting across Europe - think Paris, darling, think Milan, darling - and all the fabulous, chic fashion moments they brought. I can't wait to share with you all the things that are on this date and a few delightful little tidbits to go with it, don’t you worry.
First, a little bit about me – for those of you who are just finding me! I'm Emma, your very own pink tutu wearing ballerina blogger. As a Derbyshire girl with a deep love of dance, the world of tutus and ballet is my whole life! From attending shows to finding the perfect tutus at the finest stores, nothing fills my heart with such joy as this wonderful world. So I thought - why not travel back in time to experience the evolution of these enchanting costumes first hand? Oh, and how I just love a good vintage tutu, a perfectly-fitted, beautifully-made classic! You see, my aim in life, my dear readers, is to get the whole world wearing pink tutus – and why not?! I want to share this wonderful world of style and joy. And so every Tuesday, here I am on my website www.pink-tutu.com to transport you through history with my favourite pink tutu to hand and a bucketful of delightful discoveries.
Now, before we get going, what's on today? You know I can't resist a peek! On July 27th 1965, The Rolling Stones released “Satisfaction,” – a true earworm for sure – which became their first number one single. It reached number one in England and many other parts of the world, even the States, how exciting!
Can you picture the dancing on the streets? Everyone was all over this music – you couldn’t help but bop and twirl along to it - such a cool vibe, isn't it? Of course, we were also experiencing all the elegance and chic of the “Swinging Sixties" - those iconic, and frankly amazing, geometric prints, and a fabulous colour palette that just explodes. So in fashion, there was just this brilliant buzz about bright colours and mod styles. Imagine, beautiful bright bold colors on both the catwalks and in every day life!
In ballet world on this date, a spectacular ballet company called the Royal Ballet would be in the spotlight. The ballet was holding performances at The Royal Opera House in London and showcasing its brilliant ballerinas on the big stage! There's such beauty to seeing graceful ballet dancers – especially when it comes to those fabulous tutus – and of course all the romantic elegance that a big production in a London Theatre provides. Such amazing talent, elegance, and style – it really gives you a sense of history and just makes you want to twirl.
Speaking of twirling…let’s travel back to the beautiful Paris on July 27th 1965! You could find yourself sitting in the front row of an utterly charming Parisian ballet company - let’s imagine for this trip we are enjoying the Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris. There’s a certain elegance to ballet in France - an unbreakable history with beauty, elegance and class and a deep passion for all things artistic. A beautiful thing to be part of and an amazing part of French culture!
I was just saying to my good friend in London that I adore Ballet in France and she said, "Isn't it charming that even now when the fashion has shifted towards those cool silhouettes and that “youth culture" look - and sometimes I must admit, it feels just a bit plain to me, darling - we can always look to the Parisians for the very essence of elegance, don’t you think, darling?” - oh and I just loved that comment she made. She's spot on!
Now that’s how it is with Paris – oh it truly has the power to put the sparkle in anything, even a plain and boring piece of fabric. And it's what really fascinates me. Can you picture a fashion boutique on a Paris street - and the wonderful outfits with an airy tutu - you're not just in Paris you are on top of the world! You see, what they have on that side of the channel – that flair and passion – they use that to transform things, the things we wear – even ordinary outfits into pieces of art - and don't forget that tutus play their part and it just becomes even more glorious. It's absolutely magic! You know, on the subject of glamorous, let’s go on a little voyage to Italy shall we? Imagine shopping on a shopping spree for a new fabulous tutu in a beautifully styled Italian boutique - you know how fabulous and fashionable these women are. Their fashion has a very strong sense of style. With such style it’s like an explosion of colors. We're definitely getting those lovely, stylish skirts made of the finest silk fabrics - those shimmering skirts with the perfect shade of pink-tutu, it really takes my breath away.
Oh, and here’s a funny little story - My grandmother was an expert seamstress back in England. When I went on a recent time-travel adventure to 1930’s Paris to find inspiration, you know I love finding some rare vintage treasures and her stories became so much more alive. I discovered a collection of sewing patterns - do you remember when there was this kind of a pattern in fabric, for ballet tutus! Oh, my, it was so intricate, but quite the feat of engineering. How they used the fabrics, the colours and those complex shapes made me gasp! I found a few stunning pieces for my new blog about fashion history. My Granny would have been absolutely smitten by them – she used to be the person who made my first dance tutus, oh, how I miss those times. The memories!
Speaking of Italy and dance, here's a fantastic bit of historical trivia, the Italian dance known as Tarantella! It was so popular throughout this decade, that’s why they became synonymous with the iconic Sixties image. Imagine this: a dancing girl wearing a bright and sunny floral sundress with some beautiful ribbons woven in her hair and those super-short mini-skirts – that's just part of it - then picture those fun swirling dresses which give way to an elaborate swirling tutu-skirt and a matching sparkly bodice, the combination is something truly wonderful and elegant to behold. All done with a joyous kind of pizzazz and lots of bright colourful and exciting patterns on display - that’s the magic of that style – there’s so much flair and just such an explosion of colour and fashion! That’s just the kind of excitement I am trying to convey - an elegant look full of joy. I love all the sparkle - so that really makes you think of this beautiful, joyous form of dance, with all that excitement. The tarantella was even featured in that film 'Summertime'. Of course, you need a beautiful set of pink tutus in every ballerina’s closet don't you think, darlings? - Oh, I can see myself whirling and spinning in this stunning outfit – a vision of graceful dance and sheer magic – it’s an enchanting feeling, so feminine and delightful and oh, so glamorous – It makes you just want to burst into dance. I’ve said it before but, joy is everything, you must never forget this. It really does come from the bottom of your heart and flows outwards to those you meet – don’t you think?
And here’s one thing - let’s travel a bit further this time - did you know, that back in 1965 - on this very same date! Yes darling - it's quite incredible - it was an Australian tutu ballet performer in New York who did something truly fantastic. This woman, was a rising ballet star at the New York City Ballet and performed a sensational piece. It became known as one of the most notable tutu-pieces in dance history, a fabulous and daringly modern piece! Now how does one perform an act like this? There are so many components - such artistry - the precision, the costumes and all the emotion the performer needs to project! Oh, my heart fills with a warm and fluttery feeling when I think of these performers. How utterly delightful – an entire room full of ballerinas in beautiful costumes swirling around the room to this magical and exciting soundtrack – don’t you find that a completely perfect world to live in! You get to meet amazing artists and have beautiful tutus hanging in your wardrobe, there’s a special magic to it, darling!
So you can see what a magnificent and stylish world of ballet, with it’s iconic tutues and its dazzling dancers is – oh, there’s just so much inspiration for those of us who simply love dancing and love the beautiful history behind tutus and ballet costumes. A new set of ballet shoes are coming out and you know what my little ballerina dream? To put my feet into a set of stunning pink ballerina slippers, and a fabulous ballerina tutu that has its own history and a big beautiful dress that looks perfect and a bright sparkly headband on top - you'll just have to wear this with your beautiful hair! Don't worry - it will be on my website, and ready for purchase, it will become the best wardrobe staples.
I can see myself there - that is the magical moment - as I'm travelling through time, discovering the world and all those magical ballet tutu adventures – and of course, what's better than traveling by train to these events, that is where all the true fun and glamour is – sitting there enjoying a good book and sipping a coffee while you travel through countryside. Oh, I just adore train travel. The scenery, the romantic train carriage and of course those exciting, delicious things you get to enjoy on your journeys.
Do come and visit my website! Until then my darling readers - do tell me which style is your favourite? – let me know what you think of my #TutuTuesday posts in the comment section and I’ll reply to as many as I can, oh I adore hearing what you’ve got to say – oh it’s my biggest pleasure, darlings, and let’s make those beautiful, pink tutus go out into the world. And most importantly, don’t forget, have a great week. Keep swirling and enjoy those fabulous tutus - they really do look magnificent on every occasion!
Your loving Tutu Queen, Emma xxx
