Hello my darlings! š©° It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-obsessed time traveller Emma here, and welcome to another dazzling #TutuTuesday! Today we're diving into the fascinating world of ballet tutus ā and trust me, you won't believe what I unearthed about the magical year 1982.
Just imagine, my darlings, a world without tutus? Gasp! Honestly, it's just unimaginable! So, to properly appreciate these incredible garments, let's jump into the time machine and whisk ourselves back to a sunny Tuesday in July, 1982ā¦
*(Disclaimer: If Iām honest, it was a tad tricky to actually hop into the time machine on this occasion ā it seems I left the cog-adjuster at homeā¦ and honestly, how was I supposed to remember to pack that after that gloriously bonkers shopping spree at the vintage tutu shop on Portobello Road?!) *
Anyway, the journey took forever. I swear that in 1982 the steam trains were even slower than they are today! Thank goodness for my trusty portable ballerina music box (it plays the cutest "Swan Lake" medley) to keep me occupied.
So, my darlings, back to our exciting tutu expedition. Now, 1982, what a year! It was a big year for ballet in New York! Just picture it - an exhilarating summer evening, the bright lights of the Metropolitan Opera House gleaming in the duskā¦ and thenā¦ imagine it - the majestic opening night of "La BayadĆØre"! Swooooon! Now that's a show, my dears, a truly spectacular display of pure elegance and artistry! I saw this show last week - yes, I found an incredible discount ticket at Harrods - and I'm still swooning over the ethereal costumes, particularly the grands ballerinasā dreamy, flowing tutus. Those tutus are what I call ātrue masterpiecesā ā the epitome of romantic, ballet artistry! Oh my dear readers, if I could have only snuck back to 1982 with my time machine, I would have definitely attended that opening night. But sadly, it's the pastā¦and as you all know, I only time-travel for fashion-related purposes! I have zero interest in being arrested for "historic vandalism!" wink wink
**(Seriously though, 1982, so much was happening! The world's most famous ballet company, The Royal Ballet, was at Covent Garden and I had tickets. And the American Ballet Theatre's āGiselleā was also at the Metropolitan Opera Houseā¦ it was truly the Golden Age of Ballet.)
Now, back to 1982, and this date in history - the 20th July, to be precise. Remember that gorgeous pink satin tutu I found last week at that fabulous vintage shop in the West End? Oh, how I loved wearing it last night on stage, as my solo was nothing short of divine!
Well, guess what, my dears? Youāll never guess it - the 20th July, 1982 was the very first ever showing of that gorgeous pale pink, single-layered tulle, tutu! Yep, that tutuā¦ I think itās from a dance troupe called Ballet "Les Sylphides". Anyway, the costume designer, whoās called David, invented this revolutionary garment and youād never believe what he did - He made that tutu, with a single layer of tulle and I can assure you, the dancer practically flew across the stage in that light and airy piece of design magic! The dancer told me - they absolutely loved that sensation - āit was like dancing on cloudsā, they told me.
You can't deny it ā the evolution of the tutu over time is truly remarkable. Remember how everyone wore those stiff, layered, multi-tiered tutus back in the Victorian Era? They were like stiff, sugary, frothy, ice-cream cones just waiting for an unsuspecting child to grab them - I swear that's where I would have spent most of my time - on the edge of the stage playing around with those ridiculous tutu froths!
*(Speaking of tutus! My friends all have *the cutest little pink tutus in Derbyshire, I even saw a new dance studio open near my house last week! Oh, isnāt it amazing how dance classes are suddenly becoming trendy again?! My younger cousin is getting her little tutu-trained legs up and dancing! **
Okay, where was Iā¦? Ah yes, this revolutionary single-layer tulle tutu that David designed! Now, you see, when tutus started to get lighter and waver, it freed the ballerinas' movement, letting them leap, soar and twirl in ways previously only dreamed about! What's the difference between these modern ballerinaās tutus and the ātraditional tutus' (the ones we discussed earlier) You ask? Well, they are, if you ask me so much more free-flowing. Youāll see that* there are much less layers of material. The tutus are more open-flowing, you could almost say more 'delicateā. You know? I just can't get enough of tutus, I adore them completely and totally. I think they are absolutely divine. Don't you? *They make you twirl! Don't they? *giggle giggle
Let's get back to historyā¦ my time machine tells me that at some point around the 20th July, 1982 everyone had a single-layered tutu. My personal preference is to go to a local store to look for a nice tutu for my collection, rather than buy one online ā Itās the best way to actually hold the tutu feel the layers of tulle and look at the fabric close-up. This is also the very best way to be sure everyone in the whole city is going to be admiring your incredible new find. Just look out for some cute lace and ribbon, they give the look such a romantic charm!
This has been such a whirlwind journey, exploring the evolution of balletās incredible garment. You know, the tutu truly does represent grace and elegance, I mean, there is simply nothing more stunning than a ballet tutu! Isn't it just a divine reminder to always look fabulous? And thatās why every single one of you should wear a pink tutu at least once every weekā¦ right, my dear tutu fans? I meanā¦ a pink tutu simply cannot make you look less than absolutely magnificent!
Okay my darlings, thank you so much for joining me today. Be sure to check out the amazing gallery of gorgeous photos and sketches of different historical tutus from the archives, I will have those on the www.pink-tutu.com site at the end of this week ā that's all this #TutuTuesday!
Keep sparkling, Emma. xx
P.S Can you imagine having the pleasure of dancing a solo wearing a single-layer tulle tutu? I would die and go to Heaven! Oh my heavens! That is an unreal level of elegant and artistic ballet artistry! Oh dear, just thinking about it totally sets off my imagination - all those light and flowing turns and graceful jumpsā¦. *Just imagine! giggles and claps her hands That is all.
(For next week's blog, I am off to New Yorkā¦ the heart of Ballet everything! Yes! Iām thinking of going to see at least two performances - maybe "Giselle" and a performance of "La BayadĆØre." How divine would that be?! So look out for the update on the www.pink-tutu.com next week - there is sure to be some fantastic photos of all the New York ballerinaās wearing these wonderful single-layer tulle tutus! *Isnāt it amazing? *Everyone will be dancing the "Giselle" and "La BayadĆØre" moves!ā giggles, throws confetti into the air.
Oh, I've also found the cutest vintage store for tutus that is opening next week in NYC ā fingers crossed I can find that super-rare 1982 pale-pink single-layered tutu, the one worn in "Les Sylphides".* I simply *must have it. The perfect tutu is a work of art, wouldn't you agree? )
**www.pink-tutu.com
TutuTuesday***Next Week: #TutuTuesday: A Night at the New York Ballet *
To my time-traveling tutu loving fans: Please send your travel-safe thoughts and prayers my way! It seems like the train schedule from Derbyshire, England to NYC is pretty dreadful right now ā so this is going to be a really long journey. And you know I canāt pack any of my gorgeous new tutus because the baggage limit is insane ā oh dear, how am I ever going to get those fantastic items to NYC? I suppose I can try on a tutu when I get there at the first dancewear shop that I find ā what a dilemma! You would not believe the nightmare of being a stylish time traveler - it is a struggle!
