Hello, my lovely pink-tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your resident Tutu Historian and Queen of all Things Pink! Today, for #TutuTuesday, we're taking a little time travel trip right back to July 8th, 1980, a fabulous day in tutu history, if I may say so myself! 😉
I travelled back on a rather charming steam train (always the best way to travel, you know, so much more glamorous!) from my favourite little town in Derbyshire. Imagine my delight, I managed to squeeze in a little stop at a wonderful vintage shop in Birmingham where I found the most magnificent pink and black floral-print silk dress. I just knew I had to take it with me to 1980 to get some fab retro-style pictures!
Tutu Talk - 1980Now, let's dive back into 1980! As I twirled onto the bustling streets of... (choose a city or town famous for its ballet and/or fashion scene in 1980 - e.g. New York, Paris, London). The first thing I noticed, of course, were the tutus! You see, dear readers, tutus have always been incredibly stylish and they were quite the fashion statement back then too.
Remember the glorious days of '80s fashion with those big, puffy shoulders and that oh-so-80s colour, neon pink?! Now, the tutus of the day were often a bit less voluminous. Think delicate, romantic, flowing tulle. We still saw the classical ballet tutu designs, like the romantic tutus, or the classic "powa" tutus, and even some very pretty tutu-style dance wear with a little more "give" for those stunning pirouettes!
Of course, they wouldn't be tutus without some glorious embellishments. A touch of sequins or sparkly glitter, some pretty feathers, perhaps a dainty ribbon, a beautiful jeweled embellishment? You can bet these ballerinas, just like we do today, loved to take their tutus and create a dazzling statement on stage!
But it wasn't just about the ballet world! I also noticed many young women sporting tutu-inspired outfits as everyday wear! They're definitely channeling the romance and joy of ballet into their everyday style! So, it seems my mission to get everyone wearing pink tutus was well underway even back then! Just goes to show that tutu-love is eternal, isn't it? 💕
From Ballet Stage to the Big Screen!1980, my dears, was an absolute golden year for the art of ballet! Did you know that one of my very favorite films was released this year, the charming The Turning Point! Such incredible ballet and some simply gorgeous costume design - a real treat for any tutu-lover!
There were also a wealth of fantastic productions all over the world, with prima ballerinas and their fantastic tutu designs gracing the stages of some of the most famous ballet companies like the Bolshoi, the Royal Ballet, and of course, the wonderful Paris Opera Ballet! I'd be lying if I said I didn't use my time travel skills to hop back and see a few of those incredible performances. Talk about pure tutu magic!✨
But the thing I loved the most about 1980? You know those super fun street performances, all the fun, fabulous theatre, and musical productions you find on almost every corner? These were packed with fabulous dancers sporting all sorts of interesting variations of the tutu! Even though these performances were all a little more avant-garde and, well, less classical ballet, those beautiful flowing tutus were always such a key part of the look!
Speaking of theatrical productions, it was during a trip to a charming theatre that I found the perfect outfit for my blog post - the floral-print silk dress. Paired with my trusty, go-to pink tulle tutu, and a tiny crown of pink and black roses, I felt just as lovely and stylish as a ballerina in 1980!
Time to Dress up and twirl!1980 truly was a great year for dance. Remember, ballet is for everyone. Let's spread the joy of tutu love wherever we go! If you're looking for ways to get that 1980s style and feel, take inspiration from this era, have fun with embellishments, and let your inner ballerina shine. Don't be afraid to experiment and to have fun with it! Let me know about your favorite tutu-style look in the comments below.
Well, my lovely readers, it's time to hop back to my own era (2023 is just the best! And the tutus... Oh, my, they are truly dazzling). See you next week, and don't forget to check back in for more #TutuTuesday adventures on pink-tutu.com. Happy twirling!
Love, Emma x
