Hey lovely dancers, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday here on www.pink-tutu.com! It's Emma here, your resident time-travelling tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on a journey through the fascinating world of ballet tutus. This week, we're twirling back to August 10th, 1971 - a date that saw a truly spectacular event!
Itās a sweltering summerās day in Derbyshire - my lovely home county! Before hopping aboard the magical train for my time travelling adventures, I popped in for a cup of tea and a scone at the lovely old tea rooms at Bakewell. Theyāre serving Bakewell Tarts - such a Derbyshire delicacy - with a good strong cup of builders tea. The smell of tea and scones fills the air - and they're simply heavenly.
Todayās #TutuTuesday takes us to Paris, France, which is the capital of dance and where tutus reign supreme. And for good reason, Franceās grand history in ballet has brought to us the iconic tutu that all aspiring ballerinas like me aspire to one day wear. But even back then, the world was already captivated by the glamour and beauty of these fluffy garments. And Iām already making a note to grab some pink floral lace when I go shopping on the Rue Saint-HonorĆ© - it's the best place for fabric. They say Paris is for lovers and for fashion - and I have to agree!
Imagine this. Youāre entering a glittering Paris theatre, the lights dim, a hushed stillness falls over the audience, the first notes of the famous swan theme from āSwan Lakeā begin to rise, and you see the Paris Opera Ballet dancers gliding onto the stage. These beauties are clad in shimmering tutus that are making me want to jump into the time machine and dance on that stage with them!
The Changing Face of the Tutu
1971 is an interesting time in tutu history. Think billowing white skirts. Big and fluffy, like meringue. The classic tutu. You may have even seen this one at your local ballet class if they do traditional ballet classes.
This year is significant because the romantic tutu, or "classical tutu", was still in its prime!
That was all before 1959, when the revolutionary ājupe Ć godetsā arrived ā thatās French for ātutu with godetsā and it has the iconic frilly layers of a tiered skirt we love. And my, oh my, what a beauty!
What does the romantic tutu make me think of?
Well, it evokes a world of whimsical innocence and grace. The beautiful, sweeping silhouettes have so much flowing, fluttering fabric that I dream of twirling around and getting carried away in a sea of fabric. A pink one, of course. But don't think for a second that this period was devoid of evolution, darling!
Just a couple of years before our time travel trip - 1969 - was the first ballet with an innovative approach - a move away from the āromantic tutuā!
Think modern dancers, free movements. And no need for stiff, full skirted tutus here! Itās a new world in the dance world. There are tutus to reflect modern dancersā fluid moves. In some cases, some designers decided not to wear any tutu at all! Imagine a tutu with only the lightest layers, made of simple, soft fabric, it would barely register, letting the body take centre stage.
A Pink Tutu's Journey Through History: More Than Just A Skirt
Every dancer knows, a good tutu has so much more than meets the eye. And a pink one is, well, simply heavenly! And to be able to see their development - a kind of historical time machine - through ballet shows is an amazing adventure.
I know what youāre thinking - āPink?! You donāt even get to wear pink in most ballet performances!ā I know - you may need a time machine of your own! But I see it as a journey into a timeless fashion era!
Todayās classic tutus are based on the classic romantics from way back in the 1800s. So, even though we might see modern interpretations and designs, the classic design, the full skirt - it's a story about femininity. About romance. About dreams, about escaping into the fantasy world of dance. It's the same beauty, the same enchantment, only updated for modern audiences.
My mission?
To take these designs and transform them into everyday attire. That means the pink tutu has the power to create that romantic mood and enchantment any day of the week. And thatās what Iām going to do with this amazing little bit of information I just discovered - a bit of tutu history. Thatās why, I will be launching the most amazing, gorgeous new collection of everyday tutus at Pink-tutu.com very soon, all inspired by history!
Letās see how I can bring this fashion of dreams and fantasy into every part of our life! That's a great inspiration for any outfit! We can see all kinds of tutu variations for every occasion - think everything from picnics in the park to a romantic stroll.
Tutu Fashion Inspiration From a Time Travelling Ballerina
This little time traveller can help you step back in time through fashion. The romantic tutus of 1971 are giving me some very lovely inspirations:
Whimsical Fabrics:Think silky satin, tulle with ruffles. This makes the tutu float beautifully and adds a dreamlike vibe to any outfit! A soft and billowing skirt in soft pink is an outfit dream for summer evenings.
Classic Ballerina Hairstyle: Itās never going out of style. I have been a big fan of soft balayage. A hairstyle like this instantly makes any ensemble more sophisticated, elegant, and it complements my favourite colour - pink!
Pink is the Perfect Shade for Any Occasion: We're making a statement here, lovelies! Pink doesn't mean a dress. We can add the beautiful detail of pink lace on tops, jackets or trousers. The best colour for any outfit!
- Pink ribbons to tie in my hair? Of course. Think pink with lace detailing for that added touch of tutu magic. The whole outfit is the best example of the āRomantic tutuā fashion from 1971!
Itās Not All Just Ballet and Romanceā¦
It's been a journey of great discovery this #TutuTuesday and we are going to be digging out lots of interesting and glamorous facts from fashion history each week. So be sure to keep visiting and come back for more next Tuesday. And donāt forget the link to pink-tutu.com where youāll find a lot of pink tutu history on my blog! There's so much inspiration here for fashion lovers and tutu lovers around the world. We may be a bit obsessed. And maybe we all need a touch of the magic that comes from these designs in our life, in pink, of course!
Stay tuned! This is your weekly tutu blog, a fun world where ballet and fashion intertwine! Happy dancing! šš©°
