Greetings from Paris, my darlings! The City of Lights has been absolutely sparkling, and so have the tutu's, of course! It's your favourite Tutu-tastic Tuesday, and this week I'm taking us back to the fabulous year of 1978, and believe me, this was a year for some seriously dramatic tutus!
The air was buzzing with the sound of tutus swishing and a delicious sense of fashion everywhere I looked. Now, I love a bit of classic pink, but in 1978, the colours were just popping. Think bold, bright hues - ruby red, electric blue, emerald green. It was all about making a statement with those tutus!
Now, let's jump back in time a bit, shall we? It's the 3rd of January 1978 and as you know, every 3rd January, Paris hosts the grandest "Ball des Debutantes". Imagine! The glitz and glamour of the Parisian elite! This year, the star of the show was a young ballerina called Marie-Claire. Now, she wasn't your typical delicate ballerina; she was strong, powerful, and full of a charisma that would leave even the most stoic Frenchman speechless.
As the waltz began, Marie-Claire danced gracefully, her ruby red tutu shimmering under the sparkling chandeliers. This, my friends, was the perfect demonstration of how tutus are an elegant piece of attire but also represent fierce individuality - even if it meant rocking a colour as dramatic as red! That evening, every conversation around Parisian cafes and salons centered on the beauty of her fiery red tutu! You see, back in 1978, people were still surprised to see dancers embracing strong colors in their tutus, a far cry from the delicate shades of the early 20th century.
I absolutely adore that this trend is slowly being adopted by today’s designers. The days of the "boring" ballet tutu are long gone, darling! Today's ballet dancers are demanding tutus with statement colors and incredible fabric design, and let’s be honest, that’s how it should be. Who doesn't love drama?
Of course, no Tutu-tastic Tuesday is complete without a bit of shopping! The iconic Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris was my go-to for all things glamorous. They had the most incredible range of fabrics and patterns! Oh, the dreamy silks! The stunning sequins! It was practically a tutu enthusiast’s paradise! And I might have gotten a few special, unique designs just to add to my Pink Tutu Boutique, which is growing exponentially thanks to you guys and the gorgeous vintage items I find.
The best part about shopping in the Parisian fashion scene was that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was so friendly and encouraging. Whether I was shopping for some stunning silk or browsing through the vintage tutus, every single shopkeeper was a joy to talk to, offering style tips and always excited about the tutu craze! There’s nothing quite like Parisian style!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I've got a big day ahead! A friend told me the Palais Garnier Opera House is hosting a *fantastic, experimental performance of Giselle. * Giselle? It's classic and lovely, of course! But the idea of experiencing an experimental interpretation in the most glamorous opera house in the world? I'm not going to miss it for the world!
Oh, and don't forget to check out Pink Tutu's Boutique later this week - I’m introducing a new range of limited edition tutus! There are even a few red tutus that pay homage to Marie-Claire and that fabulous red tutu she wore!
I’ll be back next Tuesday with more Tutu Tales! Until then, wear your tutus with pride, darling!
*Lots of love and twirls, *
Emma 💖🩰
*P.S. Be sure to join me at www.pink-tutu.com to chat about tutus! We have a lively community of tutu lovers - and maybe, just maybe, we’ll convince everyone in the world to wear a pink tutu one day! *
#TutuTuesday #BalletTutuHistory #Paris #1978 #PinkTutu #DanceFashion #VintageStyle
