Hello, my fellow tutu-lovers! Itâs your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, back with another trip down memory lane, and oh boy, is this weekâs adventure going to be a glamorous one! Today, we're travelling back to 1974, specifically 10th September, to uncover a glorious slice of tutu history!
Before we step into the time machine (which, by the way, is painted a gorgeous ballet slipper pink!), letâs talk tutus! You all know I'm obsessed with these frilly masterpieces, right? But imagine if you were a ballerina in the 1970s. They'd be in their prime. Tutues were HUGE. Literally. They were layered, billowing, and practically reaching the heavens, all made with fabulous swathes of tulle, adding a whole new meaning to âdancing on air.â Think of those classic Hollywood ballets, with the grand ladies floating like graceful swans. Oh, how I adore them! They bring out the little girl inside me. And thatâs why, today, I want to share the story of tutus as they were on this very date: 10th September, 1974!
Picture this: itâs September 10th, 1974. A cool autumn breeze rustles through the leaves in the quaint village where I find myself, somewhere in England, perhaps somewhere in the Cotswolds? I mean, it could have been Derbyshire, could be anywhere! A bustling little town. Itâs a sunny morning and people are in a rush - shops are opening, people are on their way to work, some heading for the market for some delicious fresh bread, oh I do love my fresh bread, a lovely treat to have on a morning! The town is bustling with life. There is a small, but very sweet, bookshop, with its shelves full of enticing stories just waiting to be read, and, as always, it is a bit tempting, the need to sit down with a cup of coffee and lose myself in a great book! Just opposite the bookshop, an enticing scent draws me, like the sound of a sweet song. It's the local bakery! And the baker's assistant, the kind with a gentle soul and a loving nature, who's working away making the best bread this side of Derbyshire! Oh the delights and delicious temptations that come along the way!
This particular Wednesday is extra special. Tonight, the Royal Ballet will be performing "Swan Lake" at the magnificent Royal Opera House in London, and for my fellow tutu-obsessed friends, thatâs a very special thing! It's like, one of the big, fat events that makes the news. You know how a new film is released and everyone goes mad? Well, for us ballet fanatics, the Royal Ballet's âSwan Lakeâ is that big, exciting, must-see event. This particular performance would have featured ballerinas like Merle Park and Nadia Nerina, absolute queens of the ballet stage, wearing the most gloriously designed tutus of the era. Can you picture them gracefully floating across the stage in those fluffy tutus, looking as magnificent as swans in their own element? They looked every bit the part. Oh the magic that took place that night, I bet! Just picture all those shimmering tutus performing on stage! What a sight that would have been!
Now, I know youâre wondering whatâs going on at my end, because I don't just like looking at tutus, I like making them! So, I'm going to whip up a tiny version of a 70s-style tutu right here. I've got some lovely white tulle, just like they would have used in 1974! Itâs soft and silky and looks absolutely dreamy when I pick up my pair of sewing scissors. Yes! My special tutu for this blog is a delicate, but quite voluminous design, just for my blog - so romantic! Just to match my outfit and mood, naturally!
Speaking of outfit, Iâm going for the full, fabulous 1970s look! I've got a gorgeous pink tunic, complete with a ruffled neckline - perfect for twirling - some flared, wide-leg trousers, and, of course, a stunning pink scarf that will set off my dazzling, sparkly pink ballet shoes. These are all in honour of this iconic era and the beautiful outfits I have seen from photographs of the fashion of the 70s! And no matter where you're travelling in this fantastic journey of time travel, make sure you keep in style, thatâs the key to good time traveling!
Now back to our "Swan Lake" dancers! They would be rehearsing right now, swirling and pirouetting in their dreamy tulle creations. I bet you there's so much fun going on, maybe even a little bit of gossip too, and a laugh in the dressing rooms between shows! This time period - I just love it! The fashion was wild! And in the ballet world, those glamorous tutus really made everything seem more exciting.
Letâs be honest, though. This isnât just about the clothes, though! Ballet is a world of passion, artistry and dreams. A world where graceful movements can make you forget all the troubles in the world! Itâs a chance to just escape and fly! It's also a world where a tutu isnât just a piece of fabric, itâs a magical portal that allows us to explore every bit of imagination! You only have to look at those dreamy 70s ballets to understand that.
Anyway, itâs almost lunchtime, I think. And speaking of lunch, have you got your tutu picnic basket ready? This Tuesdayâs "Tutu Tuesday" picnic is extra special, a bit more fancy than normal! I have some fresh-baked bread, a little bit of honey, a very juicy apple, a delicate green apple, and maybe, if I feel extra-indulgent, a yummy, juicy and plump blackberry! Because it's "Tutu Tuesday", of course, the special touch will be a pink, sparkly ribbon on top! Everything tastes even nicer with pink sparkly ribbon, I think! Don't forget to take a cute picnic rug, pink is a perfect choice! You can even use a ballet slipper pink fabric - it's all about that Tutu Tuesday magic!
Now that you know what it was like in 1974 and how everyone was absolutely obsessed with the ballet, Iâve got a challenge for you: 1) Put on your favourite tutu, 2) Take a pic of yourself wearing it 3) Post it with the hashtag #TutuTuesday!
I really want to see your photos! I just love sharing with everyone. Iâm not talking about ballet tutus! Theyâre beautiful but they are just for ballet. I mean pink tutu dress-ups. It can be any style! I want you all to join me and wear a tutu to work or even the supermarket for your lunch break. It's time we brought those twirling tutus out of the ballet studio and made it a everyday thing! Whoâs in?! I know it sounds crazy, but itâs all part of that magic we get from ballet, a feeling of joy, a sprinkle of fun, and lots and lots of pinkness. I think a world filled with pink tutus is just what we need!
And that's all for this week! Be sure to follow my pink-tutu journey on www.pink-tutu.com, because I am going on another time travelling trip next week! I promise there will be a pink tutu adventure, and more fashion inspiration. Who knows where my time travelling tutu shoes will take me next?! Happy dancing!
P.S. If you're ever in Derbyshire, don't forget to check out my favourite little tea room with its lovely lavender cakes and amazing china cups. You can tell they make the tea to be extra hot, and as for the cream, there's more than you can possibly need! I could live there! And my favourite bit, is they have a selection of lovely pink china teacups that match my Tutu Tuesday outfits.
