Hello, darlings! Welcome back to another magical #TutuTuesday here at www.pink-tutu.com! It's me, Emma, your tutu-loving time-traveling ballerina, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be taking you on a journey back to the 15th of April, 1986. Buckle up your little tutu-clad booties, my dears, because we're in for a trip back in time, and as always, itâs time to chat all things tutu!
You might think all tutus are the same, but darling, oh darling, you would be so very wrong! The world of tutus is as varied as a bouquet of roses, each style, each shape, each colour, tells a different story. Today, I want to dive into the glorious past of tutus, taking a peek at what the world of ballet, and therefore tutus, was like in 1986, a year before I was even born! Itâs all rather fascinating, isnât it?
Just imagine a time where all the latest fashion wasnât just a click away. Where you couldnât instantly connect with friends all over the world. Where we were all much less connected and where your latest fashion inspiration was from the local shop or seeing something you loved at the theatre. It must have been such an exciting time.
Speaking of theatre, and where I usually make a decent sum by dazzling audiences with my skills on stage, today marks a particularly memorable performance in ballet history! Can you guess?
Thatâs right! The world was blessed with the premiere of âLa Bayadèreâ, the breathtaking production featuring the famous "Kingdom of the Shades" scene. And wouldn't you know it, a ballet as magical as âLa Bayadèreâ requires some absolutely stunning tutus! We're talking layers of tulle, delicate details, and enough beauty to make a queen swoon!
The best bit is the train of the "Kingdom of the Shades" ballerina's tutus is absolutely enormous, sweeping around them like a magical cloud! This is such a glorious and theatrical look, perfect for an audience to truly be wowed, and for ballerinas to make their mark on stage.
And it wasn't just âLa Bayadèreâ gracing the stages of the world that year, 1986 also brought us performances of ballet masterpieces like "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker". You see, in 1986 the tutu remained the central feature of a ballerina's outfit, giving a timeless beauty and grace that remains a cornerstone of classic ballet to this day!
Of course, while these are beautiful examples of classic ballet and tutu style, the fashion world of 1986 wasn't just stuck in one time period, oh no. This era saw new and bold tutus coming out for theatre performances and ballet schools alike! Designers were experimenting, taking inspiration from the street, from new fabrics and colours, making the tutu world so incredibly vibrant! Imagine - bold, patterned tutus made with stretchy nylon, and beautiful colours to make a ballet dancer stand out. Some were a bit adventurous with the look, I must say!
A little birdie told me, tutus were getting a lot more colourful then, too. Just think, instead of only focusing on pink (which is of course my absolute favourite) the 80's were embracing every shade imaginable, bringing us vibrant green tutus for dancers dancing with green spirits and red for the daring fire birds!
To make tutus even more exciting, imagine ruffles! Ruffles galore, not just a hint of frills, but lots of frills - tutus became a glorious celebration of femininity and dance. Even ballet skirts, which can also be considered cousins to tutus, were embraced by dancers in ballet studios across the land, providing dancers with more freedom to show off their artistry and moves, and I do love freedom!
Now, you might wonder why tutus have stayed a symbol of elegance and graceful movement for so long. Perhaps it's because of the way the fabric flows and dances along with the movements. And, darlings, tutus are a perfect symbol for the joyful nature of ballet itself, full of grace, beauty, and magic, they truly represent the magic of the theatre, the graceful movements, and the endless possibilities for movement and performance. Itâs simply a gorgeous and essential piece of every dancer's outfit!
Now, back to my adventures today! As always, I had to take a break from time-travelling and take myself on a quick trip by train (the perfect romantic journey, if you ask me) to my favorite city to indulge in the latest fashion: London! Of course, no trip to London is complete without a visit to Covent Garden to watch the dancers grace the stage with their dazzling tutus and I spent hours admiring their incredible skill and technique. Oh, and I'll be back soon with a dedicated blog post all about London and my favourite Covent Garden finds!
However, while the theatre offers magnificent costumes, some of the most fun and wonderful things to discover are in the fashion shops! London truly has so much to offer in terms of fabric and style!
Remember that bright red tutu we discussed earlier? Well, I might have bought myself one in an even brighter scarlet colour, complete with black mesh! It's an absolute stunner, darlings, and it fits perfectly for my performance in a "Carmen" inspired act Iâve been practicing in secret - weâll be talking all about it on the next Tutu Tuesday!
My London trip, however, wasnât just about clothes! You know me too well, dear reader, to not incorporate a visit to a traditional tearoom and I even managed to find an adorable pink and blue tutu on a little girl at the Royal Albert Hall during a symphony performance.
You see, darling, I believe the true joy of tutus comes from spreading this joy everywhere, and every colour you can find, for anyone who loves a touch of magic in their life! Whether it's a ballet dancer on a stage or a little girl wearing one to play with her friends, it always feels like we're sharing in something truly special.
As always, my dears, remember that true beauty and fashion are about sharing, exploring, and spreading that joy of fashion. Remember, you are all so wonderfully unique and inspiring in your own right. So grab your best pink tutu (or even better, wear pink from head to toe! Remember, more is always more!) and let your true colours shine! Until next time!
Emma x
