#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1969-04-15

Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, back for another #TutuTuesday and a journey back through time! Today we're heading back to 15th April 1969, a glorious day for fashion, and, of course, tutus! I do love a bit of historical ballet, don't you?

Remember last week we were all about the tutus of the Victorian era? Well, buckle up, darlings, because today we’re moving into the Swinging Sixties – a decade of colour, change, and, you guessed it, a whole new attitude to the tutu!

Now, I might be wearing a perfectly pink tutu, and my time travelling definitely helps with the research, but even for someone like me, travelling back to the 60s was a little bit mind-blowing! You can always tell a true fashionista - even in the past! - by the shoes. Think of all those colourful patent platforms and those pointed go-go boots – totally fabulous! You can definitely tell those women weren’t afraid of a little fashion experiment. And what’s the perfect accompaniment to all those fun, daring outfits? Why, a gorgeous ballet tutu, of course!

I think the 60s was when the tutu really started to break free! Suddenly, we weren't just seeing the traditional romantic ballerina tutus with their layers and layers of tulle, though those were definitely still making a grand appearance on the stage. Instead, there were daring new looks popping up everywhere! The designers were pushing the boundaries!

They were using different colours, bold geometric shapes, and even introducing more movement in the tulle itself! Think asymmetrical tutus, feathered tutus – the possibilities seemed endless.

Now, this might be just my personal observation, but I have a theory. Perhaps the energy of the time, all that “flower power” and "peace and love", had an influence on what we were seeing on stage. We saw it in the fashion with mini-skirts, flares, and bell-bottoms. We definitely saw it on the ballet stage, too!

Now, a bit more about the actual 15th April, 1969, and where our amazing ballerinas might have been.

Firstly, you just know that it’s an excellent day for catching a ballet performance, and I did! I popped into the Royal Opera House in London. The iconic "Swan Lake" was on stage. You know me, I love me a little swan princess!

I could just picture the swans all in those beautiful traditional white tutus – just gorgeous! But let's face it, London was buzzing with fashion back then. I’d say it was the best day for window-shopping. Just think of all those beautiful silk and satin tutus tucked away behind glass in Harrods!

I was, of course, looking for vintage ballet inspired outfits for my upcoming shows. (My latest performances at the Derbyshire Gala have gone down a storm! People absolutely love a little bit of history, don’t you just love a nod to a past era?)

Oh, and by the way, did you know that the first production of "Swan Lake" was in 1877? That's over 90 years ago! Imagine how many people have seen that production! And now the "Swan Lake" tutus have gone down in history, becoming so iconic! You really can't beat those classical lines and shapes. It just looks so effortlessly beautiful.

But then again, how can I resist the daring creativity of the new "Swan Lake" production, “ Swan Lake by The London Ballet, " a whole different perspective! Imagine if it was me in my pink tutu. Can you imagine the stage lights hitting the tulle and the pink! Absolutely sensational!

Well, there we go another week of history, I'm off to put the kettle on, grab a lovely cup of tea, and start putting together another blog post! I can't wait to tell you all about my latest fashion finds! Don't forget, ladies, if you are ever in London make sure you go see the ballet!

See you next Tuesday lovelies!

[Insert photo of a pink tutu!]