Hello, darling tutu enthusiasts! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad blogger, Emma, here, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday – a whirlwind journey through the fascinating history of the ballet tutu! Buckle up, darlings, we're about to time travel!
This week we're taking a little trip back to a gloriously glamorous era - 1977! It’s all sequins and sparkle, darling, with the coolest outfits! It's been quite a while since I travelled back to this particular time, but honestly, who doesn’t love the fashion scene of the seventies? I'm back on a magical time-hopping mission, fuelled by the sheer joy of discovering amazing ballet stories. As always, my pink tutu, my constant companion, makes me feel fabulous.
I took the train from my darling Derbyshire home right to New York City this time, and you simply wouldn't believe the incredible energy of this bustling city!
What was going on with ballet at this point in time, you ask? Well, darlings, I can only describe it as an explosion of pure beauty! The biggest dance event this week has to be "Giselle" by the American Ballet Theatre! The ballet stars, like the fabulous Gelsey Kirkland, who just absolutely swooned in her ethereal costumes, truly gave everyone a beautiful show. Gelsey had already been on stage by 1977 in a long series of stunning productions including "Swan Lake" - but she has such a dramatic and powerful style in "Giselle," and of course, everyone fell in love with her!
"Giselle" is truly a ballet that needs to be seen at least once in a lifetime. Even the most non-tutu enthusiast would love its romantic story and incredible dance sequences. But remember, darlings, when you watch a ballet like "Giselle" always look for the costume details, they truly make a piece magical! Gelsey is a dancing queen in her white tutu for the Act I scenes, then in Act II her incredible peasant style tutu is all the rage! There is something utterly entrancing about her movements in the peasant skirt – it’s almost as if it has a life of its own!
And talking of the dance, this performance really brings back that era – it has the pure elegance that was all the rage, even in fashion. This is when we really saw long dresses in ballet, it was about being free-flowing and giving those wonderful dramatic, ethereal movements, but at the same time being stylish, and that’s definitely the feel of the time.
While New York City's buzzing ballet scene was incredible, my heart really belongs to London! And let me tell you, 1977 is all about London! In this time, we really see London’s vibrant and dynamic creative scene booming. You couldn’t help but fall in love with its cultural magic - think London’s Royal Ballet! I spent hours mesmerized by the performances.
Back in London, and yes, of course, I got my Tutu fix in this glorious era. A particular star shone in this year at the London’s Royal Ballet: the wonderful Margot Fonteyn. My Tutu crush is serious!
Honestly, darlings, even at 55, Margot’s performances still stunned and captivated everyone!
If we think about tutus at this time, it’s fascinating that ballet’s traditions are not the only element in play! There’s also an undeniable sense of creativity from dancers themselves, from fashion houses like the magnificent Yves Saint Laurent – the ultimate fashion icon.
Now, of course, darlings, nothing can replace the beauty of a classical ballet tutu but there’s a reason why tutus have remained popular, it’s a form of fashion! It has always been fashionably on trend in fashion throughout history, which I think is truly incredible. It’s even now - 40 years later - considered incredibly on-trend!
There's something captivating about that ethereal dance element – which I will of course write about on this blog! And it’s a testament to a simple idea: a circular shape for fashion – that it just never gets old! There's so much elegance in that silhouette and so much you can do with it. For example, darling, imagine how elegant "Giselle" in the ballet and an exquisite Yves Saint Laurent design would be together! It would be magnificent.
Anyway, darlings, the weekend will have to be over at this point, though I will stay on and enjoy the rest of my time in the magnificent and trendy New York city for the weekend, maybe even squeeze in a bit of ballet, but this weekend, you can try on a white or peasant style tutu like Gelsey, Margot, and of course, me! But I have to rush, darling. Remember: Keep it chic, keep it fabulous! And don't forget your Tutu!
Emma
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