Hey lovely lot, and welcome to #TutuTuesday! It's Emma here, your time-travelling, tutu-wearing, pink-loving guide to the glorious history of the ballet tutu!
As always, I’m buzzing with excitement for today’s journey back in time! This week, we're twirling through the year 1972, specifically, the 4th of January, just as the new year's sparkle is fading and the world is getting back to its normal rhythm. (Which, honestly, still involved plenty of sequins and glitter back in the 70s! Think platform shoes and disco balls!)
But first, I must admit, my journey today involved a particularly bumpy train ride. Turns out time travel isn’t as glam as the old steam locomotives in movies make it out to be. Thankfully, I managed to sneak a peek at the beautiful, sprawling landscapes of Derbyshire while I was getting flung around. I guess it's no wonder I'm so attached to the railways! They remind me of journeys and exploration, and what better adventure is there than uncovering the secrets of ballet history?
This week, I'm heading to a spot brimming with tutu magic! Paris, France, the home of ballet history. Can you believe there are centuries worth of tutus tucked away in the city of lights? Now that's a treasure I wouldn't mind uncovering!
1972 – The Year of the "Je ne sais quoi"!1972 was a fabulous year for ballet. We were just beginning to see the evolution of contemporary ballet - movements getting more fluid and expressive, with leaps becoming bigger and more dramatic. It was a heady time! Just imagine, watching Margot Fonteyn or Rudolf Nureyev captivating audiences with their unparalleled skill, a symphony of grace and power. Now, that’s a tutu-licious spectacle!
To understand this era’s fascination with ballet, you have to grasp the atmosphere of the 70s. Think about the bold patterns, daring shapes, and the vibrant hues that took the fashion world by storm! Everything felt bold, flamboyant, and unapologetically beautiful.
Of course, fashion, in all its glorious forms, played a huge part in ballet design! Remember the romantic "soft" tulle skirts with long, floating layers - you know, the ones we dream of twirling in? They were just coming into fashion then! And don't forget those striking knee-high boots, they made their debut in this very decade, and they're still as glamorous today as they were back then.
And if we’re talking 70s ballet fashion, we can’t forget about the color! Rich hues like burgundy, jade green, and vibrant teal - they all found a place on stage, adding extra flair to the costumes. Remember, you can never have too much color! It was almost like a ballet show on its own, only without the dancing!
Speaking of color, let’s take a moment to admire pink, my beloved pink! The color of love, the color of beauty, and most importantly, the color of my dreamiest tutus! I must admit, back in the 1970s, it wasn’t the leading color for tutus, but we'll get to that! It was the age of bold and contrasting colours. Think reds, blacks, blues... but that's just what makes pink even more fabulous, right?
Speaking of pink, remember to hop over to the pink-tutu.com shop on Saturday for the latest collection of my limited-edition, hand-stitched, pink tutus! You can never have too many pink tutus in your life! I've got styles for everyone - for the ballerina in all of us, for those who love a vintage feel, or for the bold souls who want a contemporary, dazzling look! Don't miss out, the sale lasts just until the weekend! 💖💖💖
My 70s Ballet Fashion Wishlist!If I could grab a few items from the 70s for my ballet wardrobe, you bet I'd be filling my shopping basket with…
- A dramatic, flowing "soft" tulle tutu. I mean, the more layers, the better! We can never have too much tulle, especially when it comes to tutus!
- A statement pair of those fabulously iconic platform shoes. A bit chunky but still feminine, a touch of seventies flair and a whole lot of glamour.
- A striking black velvet leotard. It's a timeless piece, and nothing pairs with pink quite like black! Perfect for adding a touch of contrast to my ensemble.
- A beaded, colourful shrug to wear over my leotard, or perhaps even a brightly-colored, flowing chiffon scarf for that ethereal vibe. The 70s weren't afraid of bold statement pieces, so let’s embrace the daring design!
But what would the 1970s be without the perfect finishing touches? I’m dreaming of adding these to my collection:
- A bold pair of crystal earrings that'll dance as I move across the stage.
- A fabulous hat - think a cloche, perhaps, adorned with feathers or flowers to complete the look. It wouldn’t be a ballet costume without a bit of flair!
Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine (a good kind, of course!), and makes me even more excited to step back in time.
1972: A Glimpse into the Future of Ballet!You might think it's impossible to guess the future from the past, but I wouldn’t be your friendly neighbourhood #TutuTuesday time-travelling ballerina if I didn’t try!
As I delve deeper into 1972, I see exciting trends developing. The move towards more expressive choreography, with greater emphasis on athleticism and fluidity, was taking centre stage!
In this era, some legendary ballet figures made their grand entrance on stage - Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev were shaking things up! We were starting to see a bold new age of ballet, more diverse, more experimental, more theatrical. And those tutus, they were right there alongside the artists, taking us on this journey!
But, and it’s a big but, there’s still a lot of room for improvement, even in those glorious 70s. Even then, I realised there was a missing element in the ballet world - PINK. The vibrant, feminine, gorgeous shade of pink. How can such an elegant and dazzling colour not be central to the ballet stage?
Maybe that’s my mission as a time-travelling ballerina - to sprinkle my magic pink dust all over the world and show everyone that a splash of pink can turn any tutu into an exquisite work of art.
Who knows what this journey has in store, but I'll be sure to keep you updated on all my discoveries here every Tuesday! I can’t wait to show you the evolution of ballet, and just how a little pink can make the whole world dance!
See you next #TutuTuesday! 💖✨
