Hello lovelies! It’s Emma here, your #TutuTuesday time traveller and, of course, tutu enthusiast extraordinaire! I hope you’re all twirling into Tuesday in style!
Today, I’m going to whisk us all back in time, to a fabulous summer in 1969, where the world was all about bold fashion statements and dancing to the beat of a new generation. The air buzzed with excitement as music soared from every radio and the scent of summer flowers filled the air. This was a year that redefined dance, fashion, and everything in between. And yes, darling, the tutus were more dazzling than ever.
Now, I don't want to be the one to break it to you, but on the 17th of June, 1969, nothing particularly spectacular was happening in the world of ballet, sigh. I'm talking about world premieres, extraordinary costumes, ballets that took everyone's breath away - none of that was happening this Tuesday.
But, fear not! A ballet-themed party just wasn’t about tutus then. A fantastic opportunity to sport a magnificent pink and tulle number might have come up that evening, at a swanky cabaret. You might have spotted a glamorous cabaret performer gliding onto the stage with a twirl, and in doing so she was quite possibly wearing an exquisite tulle tutu of the day, and oh, the possibilities were endless! It's a shame we've got this gap in the ballet-tutu history timeline. We do have, of course, loads of examples of lovely dance dresses, even with tulle for evening wear of course, it was the height of fashion back in 1969 and people really went to town. And who knows? Perhaps this date inspired some budding ballerina to start training for a dazzling future.
Just imagine those big city lights and the feeling of magic swirling around you, as a big band plays jazz that'll have you humming all day long. I imagine all the glitz and the glamour that we love so much today would be present in spades back then! It wouldn't be a Tuesday evening to forget.
In Derbyshire, meanwhile, a bit further from the exciting buzz of city life, we would've been busy with our own little rituals. Think picnics in the fields with the scent of wildflowers, dancing at the village fete, perhaps a school concert in preparation for the summer holidays. I'm sure it wasn't an un-girly event, maybe someone at the school concert was sporting a fabulous twirling dress - we know they made fabulous fabrics for garments back then!
Just to get our sartorial thoughts swirling, it's important to understand how exciting fashion was in the late '60s. It wasn’t all about floor length dresses, either. The ‘mod’ style was all about crisp cuts and colours – geometric prints, vibrant shades like tangerine and emerald green, and lots and lots of contrasting shades. But we knew, darling, that pink was and will forever be, the ultimate girly colour! A fabulous pink twirl-tutu, could have been a delightful statement - a true ‘pink tutu pop’ that wouldn't be easily forgotten.
Anyway, as you can imagine, I am always dreaming up ways to travel to even more amazing places and see how those dazzling tutus were designed, or maybe try to make one myself, because as you all know, darling, the fun’s just getting started! I can't wait to keep on researching and share more of these hidden ballet-tutu gems with you. It’s not all about ballet, it's about embracing the passion, the excitement, the sheer beauty of those tutus! So keep an eye out for my next #TutuTuesday post – and of course, keep those pink tutus spinning!
Until then, lovelies! Happy twirling!
#TutuTuesday LinksWant to find out more about 1969's fab fashion? Check out these resources:
- https://www.thevintagenews.com/2020/10/23/fashion-of-the-1960s/
Love shopping for a fabulous outfit? Have a browse of some beautiful pink twirl dresses – they'll certainly make you twirl in delight!:
- https://www.shopsstyle.com/products/1828697/pink-tulle-skirt
Follow me on instagram for more tutu twirling, travel adventures, and fashion finds!
I’m off to my next amazing ballet adventure!
Until next week, stay fashionable darling!
Lots of love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
