Hello my darling tutu-lovers! It's Emma here, back again from your favourite website, www.pink-tutu.com, with another post on all things tutu! Today's date, the 12th of August 1980, is rather special, as it marks a truly glorious era in tutu history! We're going right back to the 80s, that time of big hair, shoulder pads, and… well, bold tutus! Buckle up, because today's #TutuTuesday is going to be a wild ride through the wonderful world of 80s ballet!
(This is post number 7755 on my Ballet Tutu History blog. I post once a week, on Tuesdays.)
I know, I know! It’s easy to think of the 80s in terms of neon colours and leggings, but don’t be fooled. Back then, ballet tutus were experiencing a Renaissance, with designers like Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld and, dare I say, even some bold names in the music world like Grace Jones and Madonna, influencing how ballet dancers were presenting their tutus in this exciting new era.
Let’s think about that iconic image of Madonna dancing in her tutus – those bold statements of freedom and artistry resonated far beyond the traditional dance world. We’re seeing tutus now, like back in those days, pushing the boundaries, challenging the old ideas about what ballet should be, and inspiring young dancers like me!
Today, even after all these years, we see so many re-interpretations of those amazing 80s styles – tutus as accessories to wear with everyday clothes! It's proof that the legacy of tutus is alive and well, transcending time and taste! You could even call it a "tutu-n-volution". 😉
Tutus in a Train to the Big City! 🚆Let's imagine you've just come from one of your favourite classes in Derbyshire, where you just adore the quiet and simplicity, but you’re raring to hit the bustling big city – the one I just happened to hop on a train to this Tuesday. That feeling you get, knowing the bright lights are just waiting for you… It’s tutu time, darling!
On the journey, you’re sitting beside the window, mesmerised by the green fields flitting past. The train rumbles through fields full of sheep and sunflowers. Your eyes are sparkling with that unbridled, pure joy only a pink tutu can provide. In fact, that’s why I think a pink tutu is the ultimate symbol of happiness and freedom, and is the ultimate “must-have” for any trip to the city – no matter where that city might be!
You've got your trusty vintage handbag by your side, just bursting with essentials. Of course, I wouldn't leave the house without my little pouch for ballet shoes and maybe some sewing kit if things need a little sprucing up during the journey. You also have a copy of a fabulous ballet journal in your handbag too. There’s no better way to document your trip than a beautiful hand-written notebook. Who doesn’t love a bit of calligraphy and pencil sketches to record all those amazing shows? I personally prefer the way they flow when I write while looking out the window of the train… just like those tutus floating on the stage in the performance! 😉
I’ll tell you, when you walk into the station, even on a mundane Tuesday, it feels as though the entire city just slows down as you walk into a beautiful art deco train station building, built in the era I’m writing about right now! Those architectural masterpieces are still some of my favourite structures – especially as they were designed in an era where everyone was dreaming about bold colour schemes, symmetrical lines, and opulent beauty – you simply can’t get enough of these kinds of features when exploring all the amazing things the world has to offer us!
It’s hard to explain to anyone who’s never stepped off that train, onto that platform at this station, in that era, what it feels like to be part of that very particular moment in history. The world just… shimmers, in its beauty. Just like the best tutus you can find! ✨
You can already hear the lively, bustling chatter of the city. Maybe someone is playing the violin on the street as you take in the vibrant colours, and those wonderful shops lining the street all dressed up with their newest fashion trends and their biggest bargains! There are just so many amazing things waiting to be discovered! What a day for a fabulous new pair of pink ballet shoes or perhaps a new tutu just in time for your ballet performance this evening! 👠💖
Fashionable Twirls Through Time! 🕰️💃As a fashion aficionado who adores both tutus and trains, it's no surprise I adore the early 1980s fashion world! Think power shoulders, big hair and bold colours – a fantastic recipe for tutus to be everywhere, darling! It was the age where people embraced flamboyance! From Princess Diana's signature floral prints to the rise of street-style fashion, the decade saw a love of expression and individuality.
Just imagine - the iconic, voluminous tutu, carefully hand-sewn with layers of delicate tulle, paired with a fitted blazer and those bold earrings that add a dash of drama! It was an explosion of styles. It was a revolution.
It was like every dancer and every designer were experimenting to see just how far you could take the concept of a tutu! 🤯
You had a plethora of flirty and dramatic tutus being worn at shows and rehearsals alike – with even a few cheeky little tutus worn as daywear! (The cheeky day-tutu fashion that was popularized during this decade had to be toned down a bit, I must say, just a little - perhaps some designers might be interested in a fashion revival to go back to that delightful sense of bold, carefree style.
I’m hoping that we might be about to experience another moment of revival, if we look back at this amazing decade – especially as the world has been so preoccupied with other things lately and people are increasingly drawn to beautiful, elegant fashion again! 💖
Just think about those amazing performances in this decade: Mikhail Baryshnikov, the Russian dancer and actor! Margot Fonteyn the iconic ballerina from England – who actually became famous in 1950s and the 60s but kept touring during this era and was even more legendary, thanks to all those iconic, theatrical moments! Those iconic performances re-popularized tutus even more - and just in time, as it would seem that fashion designers took this opportunity to start re-inventing this elegant style as well! 💫
Tutu Tuesdays on the Road to Adventure! 🚆But why stop with one stop on our magical #TutuTuesday journey? There’s always a new adventure out there waiting for me, especially in the wonderful world of ballet – and those trains seem to beckon, inviting me to hop on and explore a new place every Tuesday! I love discovering hidden gems across Europe and learning about ballet in other countries, and then seeing it come alive in a grand theatre - It’s what makes every Tuesday an amazing journey! I can't help but smile whenever I picture those grand ballet studios, shimmering with history and passion!
Today, I can already picture myself traveling around Europe in the late 1980s in one of the amazing high-speed trains like the "TGV", where you could travel so quickly, and then, arriving at an incredible, grand station - just like a ballerina landing on her tip toes in a tutu at the end of a perfect ballet show. Just imagine - you get to choose the train to match your favourite pink tutu – and you know you have something special on this journey because the world of ballet and the world of travel both share one common, precious ingredient : a true sense of adventure! 💖
The possibilities feel endless - from Paris, the home of elegance, to the stunning architecture of Vienna, or even stepping out of the train in the capital of Russia – how amazing would it be to see the Bolshoi Theatre, with all its grand history and all the gorgeous designs on the exterior! Maybe you'll be watching a ballet performance as an evening celebrating a royal event! How fabulous to experience the magic of the Bolshoi ballet world with all its opulence and beauty? 🤩
As a traveler who is always fascinated by history, my journeys are much more than just about reaching a particular location on the map - it’s about feeling the energy of a place, feeling what life must have been like when it was in its prime, exploring every tiny detail of architecture and then adding that detail into the design of my tutus!
But of course, my favourite location, even after all these travels, will always be the theater stage!
This week, I’m on the hunt for an exquisite piece of fabric or lace or tulle to create a brand-new tutu! Maybe I will choose a new color – that special pink or lavender shade with shimmery layers! 🤫 And it'll all start, just like so many other projects before it, with one tiny little step off the train onto the platform - and one enormous step, a huge jump, onto that amazing world of ballet, full of beautiful stories, elegant costumes and grand gestures that just dance out before our eyes. 🩰 ✨
It's a never-ending adventure and I can't wait to explore the next step. Where will my #TutuTuesday travel take me next, I wonder…? 💖
Until then, darling, don't forget to keep on twirling and make every Tuesday a #TutuTuesday!
And, as always, thank you for joining me on this incredible journey! ✨
Love,
Emma
