Hello my fellow Tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your Pink Tutu Queen, and I'm back with another #TutuTuesday journey through time!
This week we're taking a trip back to the glorious 1980s. The decade that gave us big hair, shoulder pads, and those neon colours. Now, we're not going to discuss those fashion faux pas just yet (let's be honest, sometimes they deserve another look!) - today we're here to celebrate the ballet tutu, its evolution, and how the 1980s left its mark.
So, imagine me, your humble time-travelling ballerina, hurtling through the air on a cloud of tulle (just kidding! I took the train - much more environmentally friendly and good for those fabulous 1980s pastel coloured platforms), arriving on 4th August 1987. A Friday. This means all my favourite things are happening:
- It's Ballet Week in Paris! Ooh la la! You know how much I adore the French - so much chic and a true appreciation for dance and style. Imagine - streets filled with ballet dancers, classes buzzing, tutus of every hue. Pure heaven!
- The Royal Opera House is premiering a new production of "La Bayadère". Imagine the glorious spectacle, the shimmering tutus of the temple dancers. Honestly, I need to find a time machine just to go see this production!
- And guess what? The Great British Bake Off starts today on Channel 4. Yes! The first series, in the prime of its bake-tastic era. You know I'll be catching it in my little time machine cinema, clutching a bag of pink iced biscuits, a proper pink tutu on, of course!
Now, let's get back to the tutu, darling! 1987 - the year when the ballet tutu, that iconic symbol of dance, really became a fashion statement. Just think of the tutu designs - huge tutus, big voluminous tutus! They had an absolutely breathtaking impact, demanding a second glance, a silent gasp of wonder!
There's a story here - a fascinating tale of the ballet world and the tutus themselves. It all began way back in the 18th Century, think Marie Antoinette all dressed in tulle (even back then they knew it was fabulous, just with a dash of "let them eat cake" attitude!)
But fast-forward to the 1980s - ballet tutus were already gaining momentum as fashion must-haves. Remember those incredible tutus from A Chorus Line and Fame – a glorious era of pink, tulle and a sense of empowerment. (Though, they often were rather scratchy tutus if we are being honest!)
Now, let me tell you a secret - fashion often mirrors dance. Just look at those incredible puffed up shoulder pads from the 1980s – those were the oversized tutus in miniature! Fashion designers were inspired by ballet's expressive shapes, and suddenly, *we wanted tutus - everywhere! We wanted that twirling feeling, that dance-ready lightness.
But, hold on a second! The tutus weren't just on the runways – the stars wore them too! Everyone was rocking tutus in a way that was just as big as those power-ballads belting out on the radio. Madonna, the Queen of Pop herself, embraced the tullitude, using it to make a statement – rebellious, confident and oh so stylish! Remember the tutu-inspired fashion that emerged in the late 80s, that playful layering of tulles and delicate chiffon? Ah, we were truly living in a tututopia. And even the Royal Ballet, with its incredible Dame Margot Fonteyn, used tutus as an instrument of expressive beauty.
That's what's so fantastic about the ballet tutu - it's so much more than just an outfit; it's a symbol of confidence, artistry, and beauty. In 1987, we really saw it embrace the freedom of self-expression, the joy of dancing and the power of looking incredible in a tulle dress. Honestly, we all need a little of that tullitude every now and then!
So, that's our #TutuTuesday for today - we journeyed back to the 1980s to uncover the evolution of this iconic garment. Remember, my dear readers, there is no rule that states we can't have our own tutu revolution, even in 2023!
So, head on over to my www.pink-tutu.com blog. And dare to rock a tutu - maybe not quite a Madonna-style rebellion (although if you are going for that vibe, feel free to rock on! ) – but a playful, joyous and confidently chic nod to the history of this magnificent garment! It's all about expressing ourselves, celebrating beauty and letting our inner ballerina shine through.
Until next week my friends, let's continue to twirl our way into history with our tutus!
Love,
Emma x
