Welcome back, darling Tutu Tribe! It's Emma here, your resident Pink Tutu Pro, and this Tuesday I'm whisking us all back to 1983! I mean, how fantastic are time machines?! This week I'm going for the vintage vibe, so get those leg warmers out (because that's totally still a thing in 1983!) and let's dive into a decade of fabulous, frilly fashion!
(Now, before I forget, it's post number 7905 on my Pink Tutu History blog. Who knew I'd reach five figures so quickly?! It's amazing! Don't forget to bookmark www.pink-tutu.com – the ultimate source for all things tutu-licious!)
Tutus Take Centre Stage – 1983: The Era of Big Dreams and Even Bigger Tutus!1983 was an epic year for the ballet world, and believe me, the tutus were truly the stars of the show! Forget those skimpy, minimalist things you see nowadays. Think billowing clouds of tulle, layers upon layers of frills, and a whole lot of glorious pink! Imagine the spectacle, my dears, like a ballerina cloud dancing on air!
It was an era of bold colours and extravagant designs, and everyone was falling in love with the dramatic silhouettes. They were massive, those tutus, but I'm all for embracing the drama. You want your tutu to say "look at me!" I think a good tutu needs to be more than a few metres around. And that goes for the hairstyles too. Imagine, ladies, gigantic, perfectly teased hair piled high on top of your head. That was a thing back then. And they always paired a big bun with an even bigger tutu. And boy, did it make a statement!
Think about it! When the curtain goes up on a ballet, everyone’s eyes go straight to those glorious frills! Who could resist such a whirlwind of femininity? It was all about making an impression and celebrating the beauty of movement, even if the tutu did look like you’d walked out of a fluffy dream!
My Favourite Tutu Style: Backstage in '83This week I'm completely smitten with a particular 1983 style: The Romantic. Just picture it… a princess-style, voluminous skirt with a cascade of ruffles and bows galore. I'm thinking a pale peachy pink hue – it's a little softer than your usual shocking pink. Just a touch of whimsy for those sweet little ballerina toes. It’s not just about how much it flows. It's how it moves and twirls! Every movement is a mini performance with a Romantic tutu! I’m dreaming of twirling through the stage as a wisp of colour with a beautiful, gentle dance. Oh, the dreaminess of it all!
I can practically smell the freshly ironed tulle in my favourite 1983 Parisian studio, where everyone wore pink with matching pink hair bows! Can't you just see it?! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a bit of a tutu fanatic and I absolutely love all of the fabulous tutu trends. Every tutu deserves a standing ovation. Each has its own unique charm. But, just as our hairstyles change and so do fashion trends, so too do the silhouettes and textures of ballet tutus. It's amazing to see how tutus have transformed from their romantic roots to modern masterpieces. We've travelled from voluminous tulle, to streamlined shapes, with even some innovative fabrics that make your skin dance. But we’ll come back to that next Tuesday!
Speaking of innovation! This Tuesday, June 28th, 1983, the world got to witness another one. A small band from Liverpool made a pretty impressive splash at a concert hall called the Apollo in Manchester, England. The crowd went wild for these four fellas in jeans, leather jackets and a whole lot of raw energy, singing about working class lives and things like the Beatles, not really a surprise to the crowd. There were rumours, too, that there were more singers, songwriters and musicians back in Liverpool, too. You just know that the music scene in 1983 will just explode!
From London to New York and Back: A Tutu Time-Travelling Train JourneyThe best part of travelling in 1983 is how easy it is! I took the train. Well, I can’t quite remember if I time-travelled from Derbyshire on the train or went in a Tardis, (because time machines just look amazing with tutus), but I always travel by train as much as I can. I don’t get why it takes so long these days! In any case, 1983 is simply a lovely time for train journeys. And imagine, just being able to wander the country, shopping in all of the charming boutiques and watching spectacular shows from London to New York. I love exploring those little boutiques off the main streets in Notting Hill, those small independent shops tucked in hidden alleyways, always discovering little treasures that I just must have, darling!
My favourite London shops, just have to be the ones I spotted near the royal family’s theatre – Royal Opera House! Not to mention all the amazing theatres all across London – all covered in dazzling neon and vintage posters and, of course, full of pink tutus. *What a view! * And if I’m really lucky I'll have found a darling new shop for tutus on Oxford Street that wasn't there the week before. London really has everything.
Then I took a train up to Scotland and on to Edinburgh where I had a real treat – a ballet performance! A big deal indeed, but it was worth the train journey just to be surrounded by all the glitz and glam. All I’ll say is that I went from wow to wow to wow and now all I want is a pink, full-length tutu. My best new acquisition was from one of Edinburgh's oldest antique shops. I'd only just started a new collection – Vintage ballet shoes! A little bit of old magic. But, the shop assistant made it pretty clear that no one was to try them on – they’d only just discovered a box with the shoes in after years! And oh my – what treasures they were! It wasn’t just their history, but it was how well they were made, you can tell there was such care. My collection keeps growing, though, so I will need to buy a special vintage tutu to complete the set!
And I haven't even gotten to the theatre performances in New York, where all the amazing ballerinas in the world are. You should have seen me in Central Park! Just a little, quiet spot to people-watch. Who knows, one day you might spot me dancing among the flowers there! But you’d have to hurry, I love visiting all the different shops all over Manhattan to get my ballet fix. And just you wait for the street performances!
Tutu Tribe, It's Time to Go Pink!The whole world is my stage, darlings. And right now, I'm making a huge fuss about those fab, voluminous tutus in 1983. A new decade brings new trends and some fantastic styles are starting to pop up – 80s hair styles and some totally bold new styles. A couple of people have started to rock some pretty awesome new fashions that are, like, out there and exciting – we’re definitely in a brave, beautiful new world with style and tutu choices.
So, while the fashions of 1983 might be a bit out there for you modern darlings, it's always about the big impact! A bright pink, big-poofy, voluminous tutu will make you feel just as magical and carefree as these awesome dance performances from 1983. And don’t you worry – we’re just about to go on another exciting adventure. The pink tulle isn’t done flowing just yet. There’s a whole bunch more to see in 1983, I can tell you that!
Join me next week, my lovelies, for #TutuTuesday where we'll journey deeper into 1983 and see where those tutus took the world of fashion. Let's make 1983 great again, one tutu at a time!
Don’t forget to share your own tutu memories and let me know your favourite tutu era! Maybe you've got a classic ballerina style like my beloved Romantic or maybe you just love something bolder and newer? Don't be shy, my lovelies! I want to hear from you!
And, remember, every single one of you is gorgeous, brilliant, beautiful and fabulous! Wear your tutu proudly, darlings, and shine your brightest!
Lots of love, Emma xx
