Hello darlings! Emma here, back from a whirl through time and straight back into my favourite pink tutu! It's #TutuTuesday again, and we're twirling back to 1967 - what a year!
This week's history jaunt has taken me to Paris (ooh la la!). Can you imagine the vibrant colours and energy, the streets bustling with artists and musicians? And I got to catch the opening night of a ballet performance at the Palais Garnier – just divine!
Talking of ballet, it's time for our #TutuTuesday journey back in time! This week we're looking at how those beautiful, billowing tutus have changed – and how they continue to evolve today!
A Little History, Darlings...
The story of the tutu is, well, rather grand! It starts right back in the Romantic Era – that’s 19th century for those playing at home! The tutus of this period, my dears, were long, flowing, and billowy, like whispers of silk. Imagine layers and layers of tulle cascading down like a fairy dream! That iconic silhouette you see in Giselle or Swan Lake is pure Romantic! Think swans – graceful, elegant, ethereal – that’s the tutus of this period!
Now, flash forward a little to the early 20th century – we're in the Belle Époque, a time for dramatic change! The Russian Ballet came along and BANG! The tutu takes a spin, going shorter, more fitted, with a pointed focus on movement and athleticism. Can you just imagine all those intricate turns, all that breathtaking leaping, all that amazing precision?! It's a real sight to behold. And for those of us who love tutus, the design was revolutionized, with emphasis on light and flowing layers – it became even more perfect for that graceful ballet choreography.
And what about the colors? The early tutus tended towards whites and pastels - light and delicate like a butterfly's wings, don't you think? And the romantic, whimsical silhouettes perfectly evoked the beauty and mystery of ballet!
But oh darling, there’s more! We can't talk tutus without mentioning Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes. * These innovative dancers were, well, absolutely groundbreaking in terms of colour and movement, and that, naturally, spilled over into the tutus too! Think dramatic red, emerald green, *bold gold - the colours that made ballet history! This era wasn't all about classic whites and pastels – this was a period for striking design. And even though it was almost a hundred years ago, it still inspires the designers and choreographers of today.
Fast forward to the 1950s - * a time of *fabulous fashion changes – and yes, ballet wasn’t immune to those big shifts! While classic ballet tutus retained their elegant shape, designers began to play around with more creative elements - think swirling patterns, playful colours - you could even find some incredible geometric patterns in the tutus, **and what could be more stylish?!
Now, *back to 1967 – *a magical time for fashion in general. We're seeing more modern materials, more colour - everything in the fashion world feels youthful, exciting and oh-so-fashionable!
It was a time for innovation, so I wouldn't be surprised to see ballet tutus incorporating exciting new shapes and fabrics in their design too! After all, tutus, are an extension of fashion, and I can see this decade incorporating that fashion vibe into their costumes. The tutu of the sixties was all about modern dance styles and, of course, those vibrant colours and those exciting textures and shapes. It’s what makes ballet fun.
Now for some fun facts, dear readers! This date in history, June 6th, 1967 was not just another Tuesday in the annals of history, * it’s *extra special - a day filled with *beauty, style, and inspiration for tutus. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the Bolshoi Ballet had a production of Swan Lake – so dramatic! It would’ve been all *grace, all elegance, and probably a gorgeous selection of tutus, don’t you think? * Swan Lake’s tutus are particularly enchanting! *
Now let me whispered * tell you... * this week's time travelling adventure had so much to see! *London, Vienna, Berlin * I got to visit all my favourite ballet locations. But, my journey wouldn’t have been nearly as exciting without a good bit of shopping along the way. There was such a variety of stunning clothing boutiques in the most fabulous locations! The shop windows just burst with colourful designs. They are absolutely breathtaking. The clothes - so stylish! * and the dresses- *magnificent!
And of course, I had to pop into a shop for more tutus – you never can have enough, you know! There's simply nothing more divine, darling, than a brand-new, pink tutu! And it’s so feminine, sparkly and perfect for twirling.
Oh, and I nearly forgot! My journey took me by train! I am absolutely in love with train travel. There's just something so romantic about settling back, watching the countryside whizz by and *feeling that magical sense of anticipation as you travel to a new adventure. *
*That’s all from me, darlings! *
Remember to catch me every Tuesday at www.pink-tutu.com for #TutuTuesday! I hope you’ve loved our journey back in time! Don’t forget – wear pink, twirl freely and enjoy every moment, my loves! 💖🩰
