Hello my lovelies, and welcome back to another exciting #TutuTuesday!
This week, I'm taking us on a trip back in time to the year 1985. We're heading for a delightful dose of nostalgia with an exploration of the tutus of this wonderfully vibrant decade.
Imagine the setting, darling! It’s June 11th, 1985. I've just hopped off the train (which, naturally, was the most stylishly appointed train you can imagine), having travelled from my little Derbyshire cottage to the bustling city where today’s magical event will unfold.
It’s going to be a whirlwind, this visit! First, let's talk fashion!
The Big, the Bold, the 80s!
Oh, how I love the 1980s for their glorious tutus! The decade was all about bold statements, bright colours, and absolutely, unequivocally, massive volume. Think big, pouffy, cloud-like tutus – the ones that could make a whole ballet company look like a group of adorable bouncing bunnies. I'm talking a mountain of tulle! And darling, that's just what I like.
This, my dearest readers, was the era of leg warmers, shoulder pads, and vibrant leotards that wouldn't be out of place in a disco. If we're being honest, tutus themselves took on a disco ball quality. They were adorned with every shimmery sequin, bead, and ribbon imaginable, often with colours so bright they almost glowed. This era brought us the iconic "over-the-top" style we adore today!
Think, my lovelies, think of a tutu so big, it could double as a bouncy castle. That's what we are going for here, my darlings, a serious pouf. If you have a friend with a knack for sewing or perhaps some of those fabulous big hoop skirts you find at the antique stores? Well, that, my friends, is how you get that 80s look!
A Trip to the Ballet
For the highlight of the day, darling, I have tickets to a magnificent performance. The Royal Ballet is putting on “La Sylphide” - what could be more glamorous?!
While this classic ballet was first performed in 1832, in 1985, we get to see it danced with a certain 80s je ne sais quoi! And oh darling, je ne sais quoi it has indeed.
For the "White Act," you could imagine how perfectly fluffy, perfectly white and perfectly 80s these tulle concoctions are going to be. I’m going to be imagining a super soft, cloud-like tulle. Think very high-fashion! My goodness, it must be the very ne plus ultra of tulle. Sigh I am getting giddy, simply giddy, about this trip to 1985!
But this isn’t just about the ballet. This trip is a little about my favorite thing – shopping! This 1985 is my happy place! In the heart of the city, darling, are just the most divine vintage shops bursting with clothes to inspire and empower us all to find our own inner diva. There are going to be some seriously stylish finds, just waiting to be discovered. I'll be hunting for everything from a sassy sequin top and matching leg warmers to a retro pink and fluffy feather boa to finish off my look, for a touch of 80s magnificence of my own, naturally.
The Dance Scene - It's Not Just on the Stage, Darling!
This decade brought a revolution in ballet! It wasn't just the big tutus or the fantastic costumes (although darling, that is definitely part of it!). This decade had a special magic that brought the joy and creativity of ballet out of the theatre and onto the streets, to new audiences, and that was oh-so-fabulous!
The Ballet "Street Dance" craze was really beginning to take hold! It is pure brilliance, my darling. This means a fabulous fusion of ballet movements, jazzy dance steps, and all the bold confidence and personality the 80s was known for! Ballet suddenly felt super approachable, totally fun, and available to anyone! It is the absolute essence of empowerment. You should definitely check it out on YouTube for some fabulous inspirations to find your inner- ballerina. That's the very spirit that drives the Tutu Tuesday website and why we love to share this with the world!
A Legacy of Lovely
The 1980s taught us that the most beautiful thing about tutus is not their length or their size. It’s their power to unleash the joy, beauty, and creativity within us all. I can see my 21st-century sisters still channeling this energy.
This #TutuTuesday, darling, we're going to have some fabulous time. As always, keep those pink tutus ready, and never hesitate to let your inner ballerina shine, no matter what the year or where you find yourself in time.
