Hiya darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-clad time traveller, ready to whisk you away on a whirlwind tour of tutu history!
This week we're taking a little trip back in time to 6th June, 1972. Now, 1972 was a grand year for tutus, wasn't it? It was the year that The Royal Ballet unveiled a new production of Swan Lake, starring the divine Margot Fonteyn, and the dazzling choreography of Frederick Ashton really brought those tutus to life. You just have to see it if you get the chance! It's like watching graceful swans floating on the water – so beautifully elegant!
I'm wearing a little something pink and fluffy myself for today's blog post, which seems to be the only logical way to write about tutu history, don't you think? The pink is just a little touch of something sweet – perfect for the classic ballerina look, but also surprisingly easy to match with a good pair of comfy trainers, just for popping down to the shops after ballet class, you see!
Speaking of ballet class, it's totally trending this year – everyone's hopping onto the barre for some grace and poise, it seems. And let me tell you, you're never too old to learn, no matter if you've dreamed of swirling about on stage all your life or you've just realised that tutus are the perfect outfit to shop in. I even got my Gran to start a gentle class. Now she does actual graceful swan arm moves, she really does, bless her! Don't worry, she's wearing exactly what I recommending – comfortable, yet very chic for her afternoon at the village hall!
Back to 1972… Imagine, folks, a world without Pinterest and the wonders of online shopping! That's the world that our lovely dancers had to make do with then, but thankfully, tutus were still in full bloom. It was an exciting time for tutus, as more and more designers were introducing bold new shapes, with amazing layers of tulle and fabulous fabrics.
The most iconic moment of 1972? Definitely the stunning costume design for The Sleeping Beauty! It was the dreamy, shimmering creation by the visionary designer Cecil Beaton. Imagine a dream come to life! This magnificent costume was like a kaleidoscope of sparkling colours and textures, and just made for dreamy, floating tutu performances.
Let's talk fabrics! 1972 saw the emergence of exciting, innovative fabrics in ballet, like Lycra! Imagine this beautiful stretch material! You just can't have ballet without it! It gave the dancers so much flexibility to swirl and jump and just be their absolutely most glamorous selves.
In this exciting time, tutus were getting more daring and glamorous – with new ideas being incorporated all the time. And honestly, how can you even imagine an outfit being as fun and exciting as a tutu?
For me, the magic of ballet comes alive when a ballerina twirls and takes flight in a glorious tutu, whether it’s the traditional style, a sleek and streamlined modern version, or a playful, colorful twist.
As I often say, every Tuesday is a good time to wear a tutu! Just look in the mirror – if you're even thinking about popping on your pink tutu, that means it's time to go ahead and wear it with absolute confidence!
I'll see you all next Tuesday for more #TutuTuesday adventures! Do pop over to www.pink-tutu.com to check out my favourite tutu outfits and latest trends - I’m sure I can find just the right one for you too!
Lots of love,
Emma x
(P.S. If you see me whizzing around your city on a vintage steam train in my pink tutu, be sure to wave and shout hello – especially if you’ve got some juicy tutu gossip to share!)
