Hello, darlings!
Welcome back to another dazzling edition of #TutuTuesday! It's your favourite tutu-clad time-traveller, Emma, here, ready to take you on a delightful trip down memory lane. This week, we're going all the way back to the year 1975, a truly fantastic decade for fashion and dance!
And don't forget, dear readers, this is blog post number 7502 - can you believe we've already shared so many fabulous facts about the history of the tutu? I wouldn't be here without you lovely lot! So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Before we travel through time, I have to show off my outfit today. It's a custom-made pink tulle number, of course. Fluffy, with delicate, sparkly embroidery. I simply adore how it twirls when I'm practicing my pirouettes! 😍
Now, picture this: the 7th of October, 1975. It's a crisp autumn day, and I'm sitting in my favourite corner of the London Underground, watching the world whizz by. (Trains are such a romantic way to travel, wouldn't you say?) My destination is a must-see performance at the Royal Opera House, because everyone knows London is the heart of the ballet world, even back then!
The ballet on this particular evening was "Giselle", and just the thought of it makes my heart flutter. The choreography is absolutely breathtaking, with the story being utterly romantic and heart-wrenching. I know I'll be reaching for my handkerchief by the end of it, because the last time I saw it, I just couldn't help myself!
Oh, I also must tell you, darlings, that London is a glorious place for tutu shopping. Just imagine yourself, strutting down Regent Street, window shopping for a gorgeous new tutu for your own upcoming performance. If I hadn't been rushing to the Royal Opera House, I definitely would have popped into my favourite shop, "Liberty". They have the most delightful fabrics and stunning selection of tutus that even I can't resist. I would've also stopped by Harrods. If I'm feeling extravagant, I buy myself a little something from there! 💖
Anyway, let's return to 1975. My trusty, little pink, diamanté-encrusted notebook is filled with fun tidbits about the ballet world from this time. Do you want to know the latest ballet fashions in 1975?
First and foremost, my darling, the most important trend? Pink, pink, pink!
There's nothing I adore more than a bright, beautiful, dazzling shade of pink! Oh, it just sets the heart a flutter, and when you are in the stage light, there's simply no other color that gives the same level of impact! I will be getting my very own collection of vintage pink tutus made! Oh, wouldn't that be fabulous, you bet!
What else? The choker necklace was a definite must-have. A velvet, sparkly number was sure to give any costume the perfect bit of elegance. Speaking of which, panniers were making a grand return too. Oh, do I ever miss the gorgeous billowing shapes they gave to ballerina costumes! It's truly elegant to dance with such lovely and delicate volume!
I imagine many of you will have seen footage from The Nutcracker, and let me tell you, a good pointe shoe with a lovely satin bow goes with absolutely everything! They still are!
Also, you know that the whole "dancing en pointe" idea just fascinates me? How do those dancers make it look so effortless? They just glided and spun with a sense of perfect, balletic grace! Now, in 1975, this is when pointe shoes were starting to evolve, getting all those fancy innovations like "the shank", making it more possible for dancers to reach such breathtaking heights! They even invented a revolutionary shoe called the "Demi Pointe". Isn't it fantastic, what we are able to accomplish with fashion and dancewear today! I've been dying to time travel to the future to see how they are doing things!
So, did you know this, dear readers? 1975 was actually the 50th anniversary of the iconic Royal Ballet. You just cannot imagine the amount of excitement in the air! So much for the London ballet scene to be proud of, too!
Oh, I have so much to tell you about all of the legendary ballet performances from the 70s. And believe me, there were plenty of fabulous ballets, so let me introduce you to some of them. I even made a little checklist of ballets from 1975 - this year's must-sees!
The Ultimate 1975 Ballet ChecklistGiselle: If you are feeling romantic and longing for a story filled with beauty, you need to see this one, darling!
The Nutcracker: Ah, a beautiful festive ballet, full of whimsical magic, you absolutely must see the Royal Ballet's iconic interpretation! The ballet's opening night at the Royal Opera House took place back in the early December, too. If only we could see what it's like with a 1975 London Christmas vibe!. Oh, don't forget those pretty costumes!
Coppelia: An exciting piece of story ballet, with a charming score, about a lifelike doll and a handsome toymaker - don't be fooled, you'll be left with goosebumps.
Swan Lake: A masterpiece, I assure you, and full of magical choreography, with, oh, the most wonderful music by Tchaikovsky. Who could resist watching that famous White Swan pas de deux - it's absolute magic. And the drama! Oh, the drama of this ballet is unmatched!
Sleeping Beauty: Do I ever need to explain why every ballerina wishes they were Aurora? All the costumes! All the magic! Ah, this is a true celebration of the classic storybook ballet.
You are simply not a ballet fan until you've seen this bunch of spectacular ballets at least once.
Okay, my lovely readers, it's time for me to be whisked away to another date, and I do hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the magical ballet history of 1975! I hope this has inspired you to visit a museum or research ballet history online. Remember, even history is packed with sparkle!
Don't forget to check back next week for another amazing #TutuTuesday blog post. And remember: you can join me in wearing your very own pink tutu anywhere! 💖🩰💖
*Until next Tuesday! * 💖✨💖