Hello my lovely Tutu Tribe! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-loving, time-travelling ballerina blogger, bringing you another fabulous #TutuTuesday. This week, we're taking a trip back to 1986, a year that, frankly, wasn't the most fashionable, but it still held a few sartorial gems! Think big hair, shoulder pads and... wait for it... LEGGINGS! Can you believe that in this decade, those snug trousers were the must-have item?
Anyway, we’re focusing on tutus, and it's no surprise to hear that the tutu was absolutely blooming everywhere back in 1986! Now, you wouldn’t see too many tutus at the pub or on a trip to the supermarket (unless they were worn by a ballet dancer, of course!) But what a treat it was for ballet-mad me! 1986 was a big year for ballet. We had Margot Fonteyn - a name to swoon over, dear readers - taking the stage alongside the brilliant Rudolf Nureyev at the Royal Opera House, all wrapped in exquisite tulle and chiffon. Talk about a pair to remember!
The ballet world was bursting with energy back then. In New York, we had the unstoppable Martha Graham, bringing the fire to contemporary dance and showing just how incredible dance could be outside of a classic tutu-clad performance. It was a real dance-explosion year! But as a classic girl myself, the tutus of this era have my heart fluttering like a prima ballerina on opening night. Imagine, ladies, shimmering pink tulle (a bit of a weakness for this blogger, I confess!), meticulously sewn layers of elegance, and of course, those tiny, twinkling, bejeweled details that give that extra something something. I couldn't get enough of the romantic, yet athletic, air of those grand, graceful, classic tutus. Just thinking about them sends shivers down my spine!
Now, I've had a little browse on my timeline, and this week in 1986, 5th August to be exact, had a few gems that any tutu lover could have savored! If I was there (oh, wouldn't it be delightful!), I'd have dashed over to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the ‘The World of Ballet’ exhibition. Just the title, dear friends, sets my pulse racing! They would have had fabulous, period costumes on display, and it would have been like stepping right into a time-warped ballet dream. Who needs a magic mirror when you have a museum like that?!
But just like any proper tutu aficionado, I can’t ignore the fashion! It seems there was a ballet-inspired vibe floating about London's fashion scene back then. Remember those frilly, fluffy skirts in pastel colours that were practically begging for a pair of leg warmers? A true vision! And those long, draped, silken tops were oh so elegant.
Speaking of elegant, a must-do in the capital in 1986 was a trip to the Saville Theatre! The theatre would have been playing host to 'An Evening with Rudolf Nureyev' – that would have been truly enchanting, even if I had to travel on the London Underground – quite the ballet dancer's dream. Imagine, seeing a legend, the brilliance of his grace, the magic in his movements. He must have been a captivating sight to behold!
This little journey through 1986 was just delightful. From those fluffy tutu-inspired skirts to the world's greatest ballet stars, there's something for every tutu-loving, pink-obsessed ballerina out there. Oh, and if you ever find yourself wondering what to wear for an evening at the ballet, you know the answer – a pink tutu of course! Until next week, ladies, keep your tutus twinkling!
Love, Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com
PS - As you know, my dear readers, this fabulous journey through time is made possible by my love of performing and that magical, graceful, ballet-filled world. I travel between centuries by earning my keep with my beloved ballet. A ballet performance in the modern era can provide a whole host of magical possibilities! This week, I'm off to see "Swan Lake" at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Now that is an absolute MUST-SEE, and of course, I’ll be dazzling in the finest tutu that Derbyshire has to offer! You're all welcome to join me, if you catch my drift. Let's embrace those ballerina dreams, shall we?!
PPS – If you fancy channeling a bit of that 1986 magic, let me know and we can start a 1986 fashion revival! Let's all dress up like we just stepped out of an "An Evening With Rudolf Nureyev" show! Fancy it?
