#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1980-04-01

Hello my darling tutu lovers! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina blogger, and it's time for another #TutuTuesday! Buckle up, because we're whisking ourselves back to the glamorous world of ballet in the year 1980, and this time, it's all about the tutus, my loves!

Today, I'm taking you on a special adventure – not just to a performance, but a historical one! It's always such a delight to travel back in time to witness the tutus and the amazing dancers who have graced the stage. Today's date is extra special because, oh my goodness, can you believe it? The world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet is currently performing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York!

To celebrate this incredible moment in time, I thought it would be fabulous to dive into a bit of tutu history – you know, all those fascinating details that make these delightful little pieces of dancewear truly spectacular!

(Fun fact: You wouldn't catch me dead in a standard tutu. As any true tutu aficionado knows, pink is the only true shade of perfection! So let's journey back to the glorious age of pink tulle – the ultimate tutu heaven.)

Now, as any fashion-forward ballerina knows, the tutu didn't just pop out of thin air. It was a gradual evolution, just like all the most amazing things in the world!

If we go back to the 18th century, tutus weren't even tutus yet! It was a whole different story. Imagine, imagine dancers dressed in full-length dresses with lots of heavy layers, hiding their beautiful legs! The horror!

But change was on the horizon. It wasn't until the early 19th century that the idea of a shorter skirt began to take shape. Remember Marie Taglioni, a truly incredible ballerina known for her amazing leaps and light, airy movements? She made a big impact on ballet by being the first dancer to wear a super-short skirt that revealed her legs. What a revelation! I bet she inspired many other dancers to wear a short skirt or two – especially if it was pink! 😉

And that’s when we really start to see the tutu evolve! By the 1840s, tutus started looking more like what we know today.

(Just imagine those lovely layers of tulle dancing with every pirouette and grand jeté. A true dream come true! And it gets even better when they’re all in a beautiful shade of pink!)

So, with tutus taking the spotlight, it was time for the dance world to get creative. They were experimenting with all sorts of materials and designs, finding new ways to showcase those beautiful dancing legs. And trust me, we've got some exciting examples, darling!

(Just wait until I tell you about the tutus in the late 19th century. Absolutely stunning! Let's be real – the Victorians knew how to rock a tutu.)

And let's not forget those incredible fabric innovations. Can you imagine the impact of synthetic materials? Suddenly, dancers had the freedom to create the most elaborate designs and experiment with colours. You could say that was the era that truly sparked the explosion of tutu creations we love today!

(If we're talking fabrics and colors, pink always tops my list. Especially when we’re talking about 19th century tutus! And speaking of pink… let me tell you, I saw a dress at the most lovely vintage store in Paris last week… a beautiful dusty rose pink with tulle overlayers, perfect for a dance party… But more on that in another post!)

Alright, darling, hold on to your tulle as we take a whirl through tutu history – each decade a shining star!

The Roaring Twenties: Now, this decade was a wild time for ballet and all things fabulous. Tutus embraced a new, more relaxed style with longer layers of tulle, and sometimes, they were even trimmed with delicate beads and sequins. Think Charleston dance and roaring twenties fun with a splash of elegance!

(Of course, nothing says "flapper" like a shimmering pink tutu! And just imagine: the way the lights bounce off those sparkling sequins. So divine. Don't you just love the way our tutu looks, ladies? The way it whispers secrets to the audience – stories of artistry and movement?)

The 1930s: Well, my darling, with all that war happening in Europe, it's no surprise the tutu world needed a little dose of joy. We start seeing more flowy tutus with an emphasis on elegance and grace. Imagine light and airy designs that twirled and swirled with a romantic feel!

(It wouldn't be right to leave out some blush pink tutus for this elegant era. Oh, and how fabulous was the dance film “Dancing Lady” released in 1933? It has Joan Crawford in the most stunning tutu in that movie! It truly took the dance world by storm!)

The 1940s: Okay, so there were some interesting looks happening with the tutus, darling. I'm talking about more fitted styles and lots of layering. It’s still that fabulous ballet look with an extra bit of glamour! I don’t mind admitting I have a whole vintage section dedicated to this era in my wardrobe – complete with matching hats, gloves, and my very special pearl necklaces!

(Think pale pink with beautiful embroidered detail, a delicate shade that reflects the feminine energy and strength of the women of that era – they truly knew how to work a tutu! I would have loved to take some dance lessons in this period! But what is my tutu history if I don't tell you about one of the most iconic moments? Do you know about the gorgeous "Cinderella” ballet movie released in 1948, so many beautiful costumes, a little something to suit every style!)

The 1950s: Think back to those beautiful designs by the legendary Christian Dior – all those glamorous skirts, the feminine flair, and, of course, the perfect blend of elegance and whimsy! That is exactly how the tutu world rolled, darling! More romantic styles with lots of flowing tulle, intricate designs – almost like a fairy tale, it's so dreamy.

(Imagine the ultimate fairy godmother look, a breathtaking pale pink tulle tutu, cascading over delicate floral detailing… Perfection. It is also so inspiring to see a ballet production from this era! In fact, “Sleeping Beauty” had it’s premiere in this decade – don’t miss this one! )

The Swinging Sixties: Okay, buckle up, my darling, we're diving into the 1960s – where the tutu world really came to life! All those bold colors and patterns! Think funky stripes and fun geometric designs! They really were trying everything! You know I’m obsessed with any colour that's bolder and more vibrant, but if you ask me, it just screams creativity and it truly fits the time!

*(That's where a hot pink tutu shines, of course! So glamorous, don’t you think? Especially when those ballerinas are performing something really contemporary. Speaking of… It was *totally inspired by Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev dancing “Giselle” in the 60s! Just one of many legendary dances you can’t miss in that time. And I am off to find another stunning hot pink tutu – gotta catch that London to New York flight tomorrow.)

And we're not even finished! The 1970s – this time, a simpler approach! Think longer layers of tulle that flow gracefully around the dancer’s feet and beautiful silhouettes that embrace natural movement.

*(And *oh darling just imagine those incredible ballet dancers wearing pink tutus! The dance world is thriving. So let's bring back the classic tutu, let’s keep this beauty going for another century… perhaps even millennia? After all, how could anyone say no to a pink tutu?)

Let me tell you, I’m currently working on getting some of my most loved pink tutus from this era. My newest tutu obsession: The 1940s era ballerina tutus. It’s a true dream come true! The blush pink tulle that creates such elegance and, of course, the delicate flowers sprinkled throughout the design, Oh, I'm simply in love! Just imagine me on stage, twirling under the spotlight – it would be pure magic!

As always, my love for pink tutus just grows every day! You could say I’m pretty obsessed. After all, tutues are all about beauty, grace, and movement – the perfect embodiment of a timeless ballet classic.

But enough about my love for the tutu world… I need to get back to organizing my ballet studio. I have a lesson to prepare and, of course, a new tutu design I'm working on.

This post is the 7736th one on my Ballet Tutu History blog and if you haven't joined our community on www.pink-tutu.com, then you're missing out on all the latest tutu-tastic news! Follow me on all my social media channels to see where my travels and tutu adventures take me next!

See you next #TutuTuesday, darling!