Hello my lovely tutudlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-loving time traveller and self-proclaimed ambassador of all things twirly! This week, we're going on a delightful journey to the grand year of 1977, for a little #TutuTuesday fun!
Oh darling, it's SO exciting to be here! This year was simply buzzing with theatrical delights and fashion forward thinking! There's so much going on and the tutu has found a whole new life! So climb aboard the Tutu Express (did I mention it's pink? Naturally!), buckle your straps, and prepare to have your tulle senses tickled! We're going back to 1977!
(Now you can imagine a little chime bell sound effect as I'm travelling in time with a cute pink bell.)
The tutu in 1977 is in an incredibly creative space. Think elegant and playful. Designers are creating these gorgeous romantic pieces that mix flowing chiffon and satin, and even taking inspiration from the natural world for their design. It's such a joyous period in tutu history! My absolute favourite trends are those tutus with little frills on them, giving them such a wonderful playful feel.
Just a few days ago, I had the uttermost pleasure of seeing Margot Fonteyn in Swan Lake. It was absolutely divine! The music, the story, and the dancers! I could have watched that elegant white tutu sweep across the stage for hours. And speaking of elegant – a beautiful new production of The Nutcracker just premiered last week! It features some gorgeous new designs with sparkling colours. Just stunning! These types of shows are a real highlight for me, because they showcase such exceptional artistry. I am really, truly in love with the tutu's incredible evolution here!
And now for the biggest reason we are here! It’s May 31st 1977 and… it’s my birthday!! 🥳🥳🥳. How lucky are we to be in a time period with such fabulous fashion and to be celebrating a big birthday?
Just a little fun fact – there was an absolutely amazing exhibit in New York city of the legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova's costume collection. It had exquisite examples of tulle tutus! It was such a fantastic show of dance and design. It’s an absolute must for any ballet fan! This vintage fashion really inspired me – I even bought a little pair of vintage pink ballet shoes to celebrate. Aren’t they delightful?! They’re so soft, with a touch of faded pink – and I paired them with a beautiful tutu that I found in a shop in Covent Garden.
What else is there to do here in the fashion world? Let’s see … Oh, the fashion industry is positively abuzz with all these chic and innovative designs. And if you're a little adventurous – why not take inspiration from some of these styles.
A wonderful designer, Betsey Johnson has a beautiful shop in SoHo which has some adorable vintage designs for me to enjoy! Oh, and her pink satin ballet shoes with the little gold ribbons? Heavenly!
A Little Time Travel Tip: I highly recommend a trip to see Hair, a play that I saw in a small theatre district. It has these gorgeous outfits and amazing costumes! And a little insider tip: keep your eyes peeled for a brand new fashion magazine called “Pink.” It features a whole section dedicated to fashion and dance - the perfect place to discover all things twirly!
Now, this wouldn’t be #TutuTuesday without a little bit of my own wardrobe wisdom! This week’s fashion mantra: Don’t forget the pink – it’s the key to any fabulous look!
To summarise! Here are some top trends in tutus of 1977 :
- Romantic tutus! They use flowy materials such as chiffon, satin and tulle and are all so lovely.
- Small frills! So much cuteness and they give that twirling feeling, a wonderful nod to that graceful, flowing design.
- Colour: Look for pretty pastel hues. If pink’s not your thing – but how can it not be? - there is lots of green, blue and yellow too!
- Vintage! Keep an eye out for the vintage look - you can discover so many unique designs from the past that can be a real treat for the eyes!
And that, my sweet tutu-loving readers, is all the tulle time we have for today. I hope this little whirl through time has given you a tutu good dose of inspiration! Don’t forget – always embrace the tutu, embrace the pink and let's make this week an utterly magical one!
Until next Tuesday! Keep twirling!
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
