Hello, lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things sparkly and twirly! It's Emma here, and today on our #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History adventure, we're stepping back in time to November 18th, 1969, and wow, what a time it was to be alive!
Let's set the scene…
Picture London. A city buzzing with life, energy, and change. It's just after 11 am, the air is crisp, and the streets are bustling with people dashing to their offices or getting their morning coffee fix. But it's also a time of real creative spirit, and the artistic world is ablaze!
I mean, the whole vibe? It’s what dreams are made of, my darlings! Imagine – Mick Jagger and his Rolling Stones mates are rocking the charts with ‘Honky Tonk Women’, and fashion is a whole explosion of colour. And where was I? Why, hopping onto the Victoria Line for a trip down to the Royal Opera House! Can you imagine? A swishy, twirly, sparkly tutu on the Underground – pure glamour, my lovelies!
The Ballet: A Symphony of Stories and Movement
Of course, on November 18th, 1969, ballet was booming! I managed to snag myself a ticket for the Royal Ballet performance that evening – it was ‘Giselle’, a timeless ballet full of drama and emotion, with such stunningly talented dancers. The whole audience was enraptured, it was a pure sensory feast of light and music. The energy and skill that those ballerinas and ballerinos brought to the stage was simply incredible!
But, this is all about the tutu! You see, 1969 is a very significant year when we talk about tutu history!
Remember the fabulous Margot Fonteyn? Well, she just debuted her swan tutu in a revival of Swan Lake – what a moment! I've seen the photos! Pure perfection. It was a completely new style of tutu, a fluffy cloud of white that created the perfect contrast with her sleek black swan dress, all soft and flowing like a delicate snowflake. Talk about striking! It truly revolutionized ballet tutus – I'd call it ‘the era of the puffy tutu’!
And let's not forget the other wonderful ‘giselle’ ballet costumes with the soft and flowing tulle, and delicate little ruffles on the bodice – absolutely stunning. That night, the Royal Opera House shimmered with a symphony of pink, white and silver tulle. The air itself was filled with an echo of the delicate swish of the skirts and the vibrant colours - the ultimate symbol of ballet’s romantic and lyrical elegance!
The Fashion Scene
Of course, my dear tutu-loving friends, we mustn’t forget that back in 1969, fashion was truly an explosion of vibrant hues and daring styles. The mini-skirt had conquered the world, Mary Quant's designs were selling like hotcakes and even those with slightly less fashionable mums were sporting hot pants! Imagine, the power of the miniskirt, the liberation - oh, the excitement!
But I'm a ballerina at heart, and my eye, it always lands on the tutus in the fashion world. Remember the fashion shows in London? Oh darling! So much colour and joy, and they weren’t shy about using tulle! A plethora of fashion houses, even beyond the realm of couture, incorporated that romantic, flowy element of tulle. It was on evening gowns, on cocktail dresses – it even graced wedding gowns, giving those brides a very ballerina feeling as they walked down the aisle!
And let's talk colour! A bright pink and orange patterned mini-dress with a layer of tulle - how dreamy! But my absolute favourite - the sheer fabric panels layered over a dress, just the tiniest bit like a ballerina’s skirt. I tell you, it was simply fabulous, a gorgeous statement, making a huge fashion statement all its own!
My Pink Tutu Adventures
I’m here, sitting in my flat in Derbyshire. The warmth of a cosy afternoon light falls on my latest creation - a deliciously soft, almost cloud-like pink tutu, designed by me! This one, though, is for my next performance, a charity show for the Derbyshire Youth Ballet on December 5th. The dancers love a flash of pink and my little gift is sure to get the audience ooh-ing and ah-ing! It's such an exciting project, you see! We are using the most wonderful pastel tutus, and my favourite shade of pink for the girls' final pose - a touch of drama, a touch of whimsy - pure magic!
This is what drives me to do what I do - to see those sparkling eyes, those tiny hearts filled with such pure joy at the chance to wear a tutu - whether on stage or in the street it’s such a pure form of joyful expression.
You can see how important 1969 was, and how the influence of this era still echoes through our ballet and fashion worlds today. This is where my pink tutu travels come in. To witness firsthand these important cultural moments, learn from history and share that passion with you. So let’s dance into the future together, shall we? It’s time to spread the love and inspire a world full of pink tutus!
Until next week, keep it twirly, lovelies!
#TutuTuesday #PinkTutu #BalletHistory #1969 #BalletFashion #PinkLove #TheFutureIsPink
Emma
This post can be found on: www.pink-tutu.com Post No. 7195
Remember, dearest readers, it’s all about the joy of a good tutu! If you love pink, if you love ballet, if you love the thrill of a new creation - join me on my next #TutuTuesday adventure!
