Hey there, lovelies! It’s Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time traveller and balletomane extraordinaire, and welcome to another TutuTuesday! I’m back with the latest instalment of our #TutuTuesday balletic journey through the ages - and oh my goodness, have I got a treat for you this week!
Today we're going all the way back to 1978, a year bursting with fashion inspiration and, dare I say it, even a bit of tutus-piration!
So, picture this: the air is electric with the buzz of New York City. The sun's rays are glinting off the shimmering glass and chrome skyscrapers - that’s a truly wonderful thing to see! The scent of hot dogs and fresh pastries wafts through the streets - so much tastier than the processed ‘food’ we’re used to in the future, but I’ll leave the gastronomical ramblings for another post.
What's happening today, you ask?
September 12th 1978 was a Tuesday, much like this one, and a real whirlwind of activity! I took the train up to Manhattan from Derbyshire to catch a ballet performance - an absolutely glorious extravaganza by the New York City Ballet - yes! New York has always had a penchant for dance, and the fashion that accompanied it has truly been iconic, and I'm here to show you how the 1970s embraced this!
You've probably seen photos from this era - long, flowing skirts, dramatic hair, and an attitude that oozed glamour and confidence. And where did this style flourish? Well, you can bet your last tutus it did so in the world of ballet, darling!
And you can believe me, they had so much style here - that's a whole separate blog post - but back to 1978. Let's dive a bit deeper!
For ballet aficionados (ahem, that's us!), 1978 was a big year. I've got this magazine clipping I bought in a secondhand bookshop earlier - Vogue, no less - where this brilliant young American dancer named Baryshnikov was being heralded as the latest star. Now I don’t want to say he was quite as exciting as the dancers in our era – (ahem - me included – ahem) – but back then it was the real deal.
But enough about that Baryshnikov, it's not like we're still seeing him dance, is it! He wasn’t really the only star - because what's a ballet performance without the amazing costumes? It was almost as important as seeing him do his amazing dancing. It was truly a sight for sore eyes. The sheer artistry and craftmanship were unparalleled - with an elegance and drama that made my heart sing. That’s my kind of style.
I actually snuck backstage to take a peak (I'm a professional!) and oh my goodness, they even used real silk! Now, don’t get me wrong, I adore a polyester tutu – that’s where my fabulous vintage collections come from, right?! But there’s something absolutely magnificent about real silk and lace, isn't there? It just makes you feel a bit extra special, it's truly luxurious.
Now I was really thrilled, and got to talk with one of the seamstresses (although I'm not allowed to divulge any actual secrets!) It’s fascinating to know that even with all the fabulous fashion they had then – from the huge wide collars to the amazing boho outfits, it was all about craftsmanship, which meant lots of patience. She showed me her beautiful sewing patterns, with long and lovely layers of hand-stitched tulle, each one layered so beautifully to create those breathtaking, swirly tutus - you really get a sense of why they called them Romantic ballets back then.
As for me, I was completely transported back to 1978, my tutu swirling around me as I stood there admiring their magnificent creations. I just love the sense of romanticism that came with fashion back then, the kind of dress that says “look at me! I’m beautiful, and I know it.” - Oh, how I loved it! I definitely snagged some vintage goodies to bring back with me, naturally! (It's part of my job as a time-traveling fashion expert, you see).
But the 1970s wasn’t just about ballet. Think Studio 54, disco, flares! It was a time for boldness, for expressing yourself, and being daring, a period of immense freedom and creativity - and this extended to clothing too! The tutu was, perhaps, a smaller part of this. Although those tutus that appeared on fashion runways (especially for designers like Givenchy or Chanel!) helped define this era. Think bold colours and even brighter patterns! It was, I reckon, quite the party in the streets too – much more so than when I arrived, that’s for sure!
I actually got the chance to witness some of this by popping along to an afternoon of shopping on Fifth Avenue – they do love to go shopping in New York. My goodness, the clothes I saw there, well let me tell you they had a real “take a chance and be a little daring, just like we’ve never seen before” type vibe. There was something so rebellious in all the outfits - but with so much grace! That really is what I look for in style - feminine and fabulous.
I’ll never be able to explain why or how those designers managed to pull it off – but this period is what inspired my vintage collection at home in the future! And the people dressed well too – they really got it!
This whole period felt almost magical. And I feel like that is what it really boils down to, being in New York back in the 70s was all about feeling like you could do anything, anything could happen.
We don't really get that in my era anymore - everything is so... pre-planned. I’ve not quite worked out how they had that energy back then! Maybe it’s just me - we’ll talk about that next week!
And with a few more treats for you I've got a brand new dress (bought in the 1978 shop that sells all the incredible pink pieces, as you'll know!), ready to be modelled by my friend Chloe on Wednesday! Chloe's the one I usually feature in all my blogs and who knows, I might even try out a bit of disco dancing, even if it's just with a brush. And if we have time I'll make you a really gorgeous DIY tutu – I know you love that.
Remember, my dearest loves, this is your little space where you can celebrate your passion for ballet and indulge your fashion cravings! We love to get your opinions in the comments and please let me know what you want to see! I do have quite a few stories from the past (I mean, we're talking decades! But there are quite a few I can’t really talk about!), I might share a little next time.
Till next week, and Happy Dancing, my loves!
Emma
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