#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1970-03-03

Helloooo my lovelies! Welcome back to another exciting week on Pink-Tutu.com, your go-to place for all things sparkly and twirly! Today, we’re whisking back in time, just a tad – just enough to be in 1970, to delve into the fabulous world of the ballet tutu, darlings!

This is post number 7210, if you’re keeping track – you’ve come so far with me!

This time I’m off to Paris, the city that makes every woman feel like a princess, especially me in my very pink tutu! And why Paris you ask? Well, the answer’s simple – it’s just so, so glamorous. My darling friend Sylvie says you can’t do ballet history without visiting the home of the ballet, itself!

Anyway, this week’s #TutuTuesday is all about tutus and a really big change that took place in the world of ballet back on March 3rd, 1970, right here in Paris. Can you believe I've managed to find a pink train to travel in time? So dreamy!

And while we’re in Paris, darlings, you just have to pop into L’Opéra National de Paris, to take a peek at some beautiful tutus. Trust me, you will be completely awestruck. Just look at that detail!

1970, darling, was all about “the new.” Remember those groovy, shapely fashions of the day? Think flared jeans and halter tops! (Did you know you can still find amazing vintage finds at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, those huge flea markets here? You must go! It's just a quick hop on the Métro, easy peasy!).

But what was happening in ballet, at this exact moment? This, my lovelies, is where things get interesting. Because ballet, oh it can be such a traditional art form, and the tutu, it was a mainstay. It was almost unheard of to even question the tutu! Can you imagine?!

Then, as a blast from the future, comes this absolute genius, Rudolf Nureyev. Can we just applaud? (Did I tell you he totally makes me blush? Just a tiny little bit though! ;) )

This wonderful man had been giving his audience a good stare (if you get my drift! 😉) by performing in these super-short, little tutu things. But he’s actually brave enough to do the unheard of! On this very day, March 3rd, 1970 the heavens opened and, *Rudolf performed in this new, experimental, tutu-like costume!

But hold on a sec! Here’s the catch! It was, wait for it, not a tutu. Oh no, darling. It was something else completely, which even I have to admit was a total * revelation!

It was called, hold your breaths, a “leotard”. That’s right, no poofy tulle or layers of netting! Now, in 1970, it was unheard of for someone like Rudolf, a major ballet star, to dare perform in something like this, with such limited, minimal decoration. It had just never been done! It was practically revolutionary! Don’t you think?

But it was not just the lack of “tulle”, (remember tulle, darlings? That's the magical fabric we love! It's what a ballet tutu is *made from), but also *the way the *leotard looked* that sent everyone wild. This little leotard, oh, it just made the stage sparkle, like a diamond under the lights! You know it was pure genius!

But here is the big twist! This leotard didn't replace the ballet tutu completely! No, not at all!

Think of it this way, *tutus were like a pair of fabulous ballet pumps, so timeless, and always perfect, whilst leotards became our favourite boots, those fabulous statement pieces we *add to our wardrobes for some *extra edge.

So on this special #TutuTuesday, lets celebrate both: the traditional* tutu, and that wonderful *revolutionary **leotard!

Hold onto your hats, darlings, because it's time to chat about the history of our beloved tutu, but in a nutshell, and in Emma style, if you please!

Our gorgeous ballet tutus actually had their start, way, way back in the 1800s. But even back then, the fashionista in me was saying ”I just need more pink!” It's almost a bit sad to see that the “tutu”, wasn't, originally, the pink puffy wonder we know and love.

It started out in this rather “classic” (read boring!) white colour! And let's face it, who wants boring in a tutu? (Ugh! I do *not,* darlings. That’s for sure!.)

Even worse, they didn't have the super puffiness that I think of when I imagine a tutu! And in my mind there just has to be layers upon layers of super fluffy tulle!* You know the kind of tulle you just have to cuddle up to on a cold evening!

Thankfully, as time rolled by, the white, rather “plain”, tutu of the 1800s, (which really wasn't a tutu, more a “little ballet skirt”, honestly. ) went on to be redesigned, more than once.

Don't you just *love a good makeover? * I know I do!* I mean, the original tutu, it was actually a little too practical for a little something like ballet! They did it, not for dancing you see darling. Oh no! But rather to be a nice undergarment (what a downer! yawn ), and this, just makes the real tutu story even more amazing, right?!

I mean, how many times have we had a brilliant fashion transformation in history, darlings? From dresses* that started as *men’s clothes (who even remembers *that!? ), to jeans, which became our everyday essentials. (Those were called “denim pants”, seriously. Don't you just love a good fashion word change?!)

Thankfully, by the end of the 19th century, these *little "skirts”, * well they started getting a whole lot more fun, darlings! Isn't that *the truth?

Now, they’ve got this great big layered puffiness which we just adore, so you know, by this time, the original undergarment (the thing they used it for first) has become, almost, completely forgotten. And then there was another amazing transformation... *it started to become *fashionable !* How incredible!

Suddenly everyone loved to have tutu-style pieces! Think a bit like the tutus those lovely ballet stars wear. I mean, those outfits, they just have this amazing style. Who doesn’t want a little *bit of a ballerina in their life?

The 1940s, darling, saw the world falling in love with the romantic tulle look, and everyone was just “oohing” and “ahhing” about the tutu. It became a serious fashion statement, appearing in the magazines and making its way into those chic designer stores I adore. What can we say? The tutu was becoming seriously cool!* And *of course, it made me very happy. It was a happy time for all of us tutu fans!

You know, “classic” never gets old, darling! So, just because you wear something fashionable, or something like a tutu that started in *some other time, it doesn't mean it's a *fashion fail. Nope!

In fact, when we rock our tutus, (the more pink, the better, naturally) it is like a super fun *celebration of amazing design.

Don’t you think so too? What's more gorgeous than seeing one of those amazing ballerinas glide across the stage, with *a tutu that just *flies in every direction! And, who can forget *“the” ballet story! How can you *fail to feel completely romantic? It’s impossible, my lovelies, I *think.

And it’s just the same when we wear tutus! We are making* those ballet dancers proud! And, well *it’s our duty to do that, don’t you think? (A job I am totally ready for!) So, go for it! * Put *on that amazing tutu today, and *show the world how much you love ballet! (Please don’t forget the pink darlings.) 😉

Until next week, when I’m ready for more fabulous tutu fun on Pink-Tutu.com, **Happy Twirling! Lots of love, Emma x

You can join in on the #TutuTuesday fun every Tuesday, and post a picture of yourself rocking your own fab tutu. Tag @Pink_Tutu, I will definitely take a look at every one and, I might even share the best tutu-looks on Pink-Tutu.com (Of course, the pinker the tutu the more chances of being featured. 😉)