Hello, darling tutus! It’s your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, here, bringing you another dose of #TutuTuesday history straight from the fabulous, flamboyant, and oh-so-stylish 1970s! This week, my trusty time machine (that magically appears whenever I twirl in my tutu on a Tuesday) whisked me away to…wait for it… November 16th, 1976!
Can you imagine? The disco era! The days of bell bottoms and platform shoes! And tutus? Oh, darling, tutus were EVERYTHING. It was a magical time for our beloved fluffy skirts!
Let's hop aboard my time-traveling tutu train and journey through the ballet history of 1976…
A Symphony of Twirls at the Royal Opera House
Upon arrival in 1976, I couldn't resist popping over to Covent Garden in London – a place as iconic as a triple pirouette! I found myself absolutely spellbound at the Royal Opera House, where the ballet world was in a whirl (quite literally)! They were in the middle of a season showcasing the enchanting works of Frederick Ashton, one of the most important choreographers of the 20th century. His "La Fille Mal Gardée" – with its mischievous charm and gorgeous costumes – had audiences enthralled, as did "Ondine," a tale of a beautiful water nymph and a handsome young knight. It was quite the treat to watch the dancers twirl around the stage in their exquisite tutus – a breathtaking ballet spectacle that made my heart skip a beat!
Shopping Spree in London!
Now, every ballerina knows that a day out in London isn’t complete without a trip to Liberty’s – the crème de la crème of vintage and exquisite fabrics! This department store in the heart of London has been a haven for designers and fashion enthusiasts for years. It was practically brimming with fabrics perfect for tutus – silken silks, delicate chiffons, and even some fabulously flamboyant velvets! It made me long for my own personal costume workshop, but unfortunately, even my magic tutu can’t whip up an outfit out of thin air – for that, you need a proper tailor, darling!
Street Fashion and The Tutu Takeover
Back in the 1970s, London wasn’t just a bastion of high-fashion but a buzzing melting pot of street-style – a haven for the truly adventurous dresser. You can imagine my joy at finding a blossoming scene of "ballet chic," with women adapting tutu silhouettes into their daily wear! Now, I must admit, some of them were a tad… questionable. A lot of feather boas and platform shoes going on. I prefer to call myself chic, darling! I, however, took inspiration from this wild creativity and experimented with adding colourful silk sashes to my everyday look! You see, even the most classical of us can get a little experimental.
The Dance Craze:
One of the most defining cultural events in 1976? The emergence of disco. It wasn’t all sparkly trousers and disco balls. There were fantastic ballets influenced by this infectious, fun rhythm! The Royal Ballet was even featuring pieces choreographed by dancers like Kenneth MacMillan, a master of bold choreography, drawing from these bold, energetic influences – an exciting and dynamic addition to the traditional ballet repertoire!
A Tutu to Go Everywhere
Imagine, my dearest tutus, how fantastic a world we live in. You can find a beautiful tutu everywhere you go. A modern classic to be worn all day long, if you so choose, or a special occasion ballerina princess dress for special moments. Today’s dancers can go from a ballet class straight to a fancy ball or maybe a cocktail party and still feel fabulous and fabulous in their tutus, while not even taking them off! We love that, darlings.
Emma's Pink Tutu of the Week:
Well, of course I took the opportunity to flaunt a tutu in my 1976 time travels. My latest pink tutu acquisition for the trip: a glorious creation made from a pale, shimmering silk, with layers of soft tulle floating around me like a summer cloud. Its gentle blush tone and soft femininity paired perfectly with my sparkly platform sandals (essential, darling!). I even adorned it with a silver beaded belt to match the disco spirit of the era, which is a new style and one of my best finds! The key is not only to look great, but to feel great, right? So this was one I truly loved twirling in – an absolute symphony of graceful moves and fabulous fabric!
So there you have it! A little glimpse of tutus in the 1970s! Do remember to let me know about your tutu adventures this week. Don’t forget to follow me on all your social platforms. Share your lovely pictures and stories using the #pink-tutu and #TutuTuesday hashtags!
Now, darlings, let’s keep twirling – until next week!
**All my love,
Emma**
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Just a heads up, I'm dreaming of making a #pinktutu vintage 1970's collection available to all of you lovely pink tutu fashionistas out there, very soon. It'll be available on my website. Don't miss out.
