Hello darlings, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday on Pink-Tutu.com! This week, we're hopping on the time train (and yes, it is definitely a steam engine with a massive pink bow on the front!) to take a twirl back to December 20th, 1983. Oh, the vintage glamour! The music! The fashion! We're going to be talking about tutu history, obviously, and you know how much I love that.
As you lovely lot know, my blog is all about spreading the pink tutu love and giving everyone a little bit of graceful inspiration. This week, I'm going to try and convince you to try a bit of 80s ballet fashion... you never know, you might just find your new favourite outfit. 💖
The Tutu of the 80s: A Sparkly, Ruffled DelightRight, so, 1983, think shoulder pads, big hair and – yes – leg warmers. You all know about leg warmers, don't you? That must-have fashion accessory of the time, worn over denim. My word, those 80s ladies had a look! Speaking of fashion, the 80s was an incredible time for tutus! Imagine billowing skirts with yards and yards of tulle, ruffled like clouds in the sky. Remember, the more volume, the more fabulous! This was a time for dramatic and romantic tutus that were simply stunning to behold on stage. Think a big, beautiful pink tutu that wouldn't look out of place in a royal ball, oh my.
The style was heavily influenced by the legendary dance choreographer, Rudolf Nureyev, with his ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty. Think of beautiful princess gowns crafted with incredible detail and crafted in lavish silks, taffetas, and satins. It was all about the classic ballet forms, which we know were popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries, but then with a new kind of 80s twist – and a lot more sparkle. This is when the tulle became thicker and stronger too, so these amazing tutus really held their own when spinning, leaping, and arabesque-ing across the stage!
But, even with those giant puffy tutus, the look was still light and airy.
What was the ballet scene like in 1983?The London Royal Ballet, known then as the Royal Ballet, were still showcasing those classic ballets that they're known for – Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty. There was a lot of tradition being kept, which you would imagine for something like ballet, which had become a classical dance by this time. And, I went to see The Nutcracker, as a present from my Nana. I absolutely adored it! Those Sugar Plum fairies with their beautiful tutus, my word! So glamorous. I remember wearing a sparkly, pink outfit - maybe that's why it's still my favourite colour!
Even then, the Royal Opera House, London was really buzzing – people would travel to see shows from around the globe, just as they do today. The opera is actually very popular in this time, with huge crowds and lots of people enjoying opera, including ballet. And of course, you know I love the opera house with all that history and that amazing architecture. That ceiling is just divine! You just get that special atmosphere when you walk into the building, like you’ve walked straight onto a fairytale stage.
So, you see, I wasn't wrong when I said it was an incredibly stylish time for ballet! It's almost as fabulous as our #TutuTuesday right here, right now, in 2023!
What else happened on this day?If I’m looking at my lovely, antique time machine dashboard - which, yes, has little sparkly pink hearts and tutus decorating it! – then we have a lot going on. The Londoners, back in 1983, are heading out to a show at the Royal Opera House, but on the same day, it was also International Day for Disabled Persons. I don't think they had #TutuTuesday back then either, sadly... perhaps they would have included ballet dancers on stage in wheelchairs! It was a different time, I think. The focus was perhaps more about tradition than change and equality back then.
Today, it’s a real privilege to see diversity and inclusion taking a leading role in ballet. It really feels like we're finally moving away from traditional views on the world. We're a lot more open, aren't we?
I do feel a tiny bit sad for 1983 Emma though, maybe we should pop over in our magical pink time train, take her to some cool dance classes and get her out of her pretty clothes and into a lovely sparkly pink tutu!
Right, this has been blog post #7930. Remember to keep on spreading the pink tutu love – don’t be afraid to make your own #TutuTuesday, even if it's not a Tuesday! Tag me on Insta (@EmmaPinkTutu) if you do! 🩰 💖
Oh, and I'm on the look out for that gorgeous pink tutu outfit from the 80s! I've seen it on Pinterest and oh my word, it's absolutely dreamy. We're making an order for it at the tutu factory next week – don’t worry, I will of course, be posting the pictures!
That’s all, darling readers. Stay graceful!
