Hey, lovelies! 💖 It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here, back with another whirl through ballet history! Today, we're twirling back to the 17th of September, 1974 - a date that holds a special place in the tutu timeline.
It was a Tuesday, naturally, because my #TutuTuesday blog wouldn't be complete without a little midweek magic!
After my grand time in the dazzling 1960s with Baryshnikov, I was aching for more excitement, so I zipped ahead on my time-traveling train (let's just say the East Coast Mainline has seen some truly wild carriages).
This time, I found myself right in the heart of London. London, that is, where fashion and theatre intertwine in a breathtaking symphony! I knew the theatre district would be the perfect place to get a pulse on all the dance trends.
My day started with a lovely breakfast in the Notting Hill, and let me tell you, even in 1974, there was a whole lot of pink going on - the Notting Hill Carnival was in full swing. Pink flamingo feathers! Pink polka dots! Pink hair! Pink EVERYTHING!
I practically screamed in delight. (There’s something about all that vibrancy that makes even me feel wild with fashion envy. Oh, I could have written the most fantastic post just on Notting Hill Carnival and tutus! Alas, it must wait!) I’m planning a separate blog post to share some tutu fashion and ideas for an outrageous festival! You'll never guess what it's like dancing in a tutu in a carnival crowd... trust me! 💖
But alas, I was determined to track down some amazing 1974 tutu fashions, so I had to tear myself away. Thankfully, it was just a short tube ride into London’s West End, the land of dancing shoes!
Now, back in the 1970s, tutus weren't as flamboyant and expressive as they are now. There was this whole "long, elegant line" going on, but don't get me wrong, it was beautiful in its own way. Think, romantic classical ballet, with a dash of ethereal softness. Think soft romantic pinks! Think...Margot Fonteyn! 🩰
I popped into the Royal Opera House. The foyer buzzed with a vibrant energy, I swear I heard the click of heeled shoes from my younger years, so you know this place is overflowing with fabulousness.
There I found myself surrounded by elegantly dressed patrons. (Even back then, these folk just know how to make a statement!) Imagine elegant women in stunning gowns and perfectly-tied cravats! It's as if every night in the Royal Opera House was the grand finale of the prom season, if the prom had a fantastic orchestra playing and beautiful ballets dancing on stage. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation for the evening performance.
I slipped into the gorgeous, lavish theatre (it’s so big and ornate! So full of amazing gilded swirls that they nearly touch the ceiling!), feeling the hush of pre-performance excitement fill the air. I had to check the playbills - who could it be?
On the 17th of September, 1974, it was “Swan Lake". My heart did a little flip! The iconic ballet of romance and sorrow - could anything be more elegant and expressive? The iconic swan tutu... Oh my... so, of course I just HAD to take a sneak peek at the rehearsals - there was something calling me to the stage! 🦢 (The dancers always have such fun. We can make it up as we go!)
Speaking of which, that famous tutu with its dramatic white wings that all ballerinas adore, is the classic tutus that every ballet lover knows. It really sets the scene. The swan is just iconic and always captures my imagination! There's such a haunting elegance about this particular piece... The delicate lace detailing - breathtaking! You just know that every movement, every gesture, every twist of a feather in the tulle speaks of so much: love, loss, transformation… the ballet just flows from you!
Of course, I simply had to find myself the most amazing pink tulle to compliment this, just in case I got invited onto the stage (it has been known to happen)! This 1974 ballet was already a huge trend - just what I needed. Imagine this, delicate white layers of tulle... but I’ll need to find just the right pink silk satin to really make it sing!
Let me tell you, London is one amazing tutu hub! The shops here were crammed with fabric in every colour imaginable, even those wonderful feather boas - there were even the ones with pink feather trims. It was as if every single store had taken part in the pink and feather theme, but just for the sake of elegant fashion... just enough to compliment tutu, but not overwhelming! And the ladies in the shops loved me because, well, who doesn't love a ballet fanatic, especially if she's shopping in a vintage tulle outfit that she insists on describing as "the original ballet tutu" - no, I haven’t made this up yet, I just have such fun finding the best colours for my outfits! I’m a natural fashionista!
Anyway, there's more on that coming soon... there's nothing quite like a vintage store in the heart of the theatre district. Especially when a little vintage pink feather boa was just what was needed for this Tutu-sday outfit. It makes any trip to the ballet all the more delightful.
Well, I must be going... The ballet season has started, so I'm going to have to leave you on that note! My journey back home on the time-traveling train will be an adventure, too - that train, really... it's more fun than I can tell you.
Until next Tuesday, remember, darling! You can dance like nobody's watching when you're wearing a tutu...and everyone’s eyes will be on you! Keep your eyes peeled, stay bright and stay glamorous... See you on #TutuTuesday!
XOXO Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
Please leave your comments below about how to get more people dancing in tutus and if you had a pink feather boa for the occasion, you would wear it at the Royal Opera House in London for "Swan Lake", you would! 🩰💖
*P.S. Stay tuned for next Tuesday! * I have a little "surprise" for all of you that just HAS to have a pink feather boa and my original tutus in it… pinky swear! 🤫
#tutuTuesday #balletHistory #vintageTutu #fashion #London #SwanLake
