Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com and to another fabulously fabulous #TutuTuesday. As you all know, it's the day where we delve into the wonderful, twirling world of the ballet tutu! This week we're going right back to the 80s, specifically the 19th of April, 1988. Let me tell you, this date holds a rather special place in the history of our beloved ballet tutu, and it's just the kind of adventure I can't wait to share with you all!
Oh, I can hear you whispering "1988, Emma?! That's ancient!" But just imagine for a second - before all the amazing innovations we have today, there was a whole different world out there, with fashion and ballet that felt just a tad more, well, retro, don't you think?
Anyway, my fabulous time-traveling self hopped on the fastest train to 1988 (first class, of course, because a lady never travels in economy!), landed right in the heart of New York City, and let me tell you, it was truly a blast! It felt like stepping onto a movie set - the energy, the atmosphere, just everything was so electrifying!
The date was special because, you guessed it, it was the day that Mikhail Baryshnikov premiered "The Nutcracker" at New York City Ballet in their new costume designs. Now, my darlings, can you believe this was the first time a production of "The Nutcracker" had ever been staged by New York City Ballet! I know, incredible! They've got their own Nutcracker tradition going strong now, which is absolutely delightful, but back then it was such an event!
Imagine stepping into that theater - all the excitement, the anticipation! There were tons of journalists buzzing about the new designs and people were so thrilled about the show's new costumes. Even now, everyone agrees they were groundbreaking. The designs featured a colour scheme I found especially beautiful: rich reds, sumptuous blacks, and dazzling whites that simply oozed that special "Nutcracker" magic. Oh, and how could I forget the tutus?!
The tutus were stunning! They were absolutely incredible - long, flowing layers that resembled cascading waterfalls. You've got to imagine the sheer volume and the drama! You just have to imagine yourself standing right there with everyone else, feeling the anticipation in the air. The atmosphere must have been simply electric!
After the show, it was time for a shopping spree of course! The 80s were all about big hair, neon colors, and bold accessories - talk about fun! I managed to get my hands on a fab pair of neon pink leggings, some equally fabulous neon pink hair clips, and of course, a couple of little gems for my tutu collection.
As the saying goes, “If it doesn’t involve pink tutus, I’m not interested!" Oh, and can I just say, that vintage "The Nutcracker" poster? Swoon! A true treasure! And now I have it tucked safely away in my "Vintage Ballet Posters" collection. Don't you just love the magic of a bit of nostalgia?
Now, for this week's little historical tidbit, here’s something rather fascinating! The ballet world was absolutely buzzing with "The Nutcracker" costumes. Every newspaper had articles, every magazine, it was everywhere! People just loved them and of course, every fashion-conscious lady and gentleman wanted a bit of that Nutcracker magic in their own lives! This made a major impact on tutus, making the iconic garment even more popular across the globe!
It seems "The Nutcracker" wasn't just a phenomenal show. It really helped launch tutus to the forefront of style! The dancers wearing those glorious costumes made such a statement that everyone, not just ballerinas, wanted to emulate them. Suddenly, tutus weren't just for the stage, they were for the street too!
Imagine walking down the street and seeing people wearing those long, romantic tutus as everyday outfits! It's like a vision of pure joy! I swear, if my travel time machine had a time dial I’d be zipping back in a flash, just to get a glimpse!
Now, back to this incredible 19th of April. What else happened? Well, while the New York City Ballet crew was rocking those magnificent tutus, over in Paris, Pierre Cardin, that famous fashion maestro, launched his new collection of clothing and yes, my darling fashionistas, the designs were absolutely packed with tutus!
Honestly, the world was simply besotted with tutus. I bet everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on them! Maybe, just maybe, they could have some of the magic of "The Nutcracker" on the stage in their everyday lives, you know? Now, wouldn't that be the ultimate fashion statement! And, can I just tell you - they did, my dears! They truly did!
But it wasn’t just about clothing! It seems like back in 1988, tutues were practically taking over everything, just as I dream about happening today! They were not only a part of ballet, but also appearing in art, design, and music.
Let's take art, for example. You had the amazing French artist Georges Seurat and his iconic painting, “La Parade". Now, Seurat loved using tutus as a source of inspiration, and his famous work showcased these gorgeous designs, full of bold colors and graceful lines. I bet those tutus danced right off the canvas and into people's imaginations, inspiring them to make their own creative masterpieces, don't you think?
Music was also abuzz with tutu vibes, specifically with the legendary Leonard Bernstein. That extraordinary musician composed "The Nutcracker" ballet, you see. His iconic piece was so inspiring for all kinds of art forms. Not only was it breathtaking in the theater, it also brought forth many artistic works from paintings, sculptures, you name it! And all thanks to the magical influence of the ballerina's tutu, wouldn't you agree?
However, 1988 wasn't all tutus! The year brought forth another special happening: the arrival of new innovations in the making of tutus! They were starting to use lighter materials that could make tutus that moved beautifully but without sacrificing that airy and feminine feel, that delicate and graceful elegance that we adore, of course. Oh, how exciting is that?!
All in all, it seems that 1988 was an extraordinary year for our beloved ballet tutus! These graceful garments were the hottest trends and they made quite an impact on art, fashion, and music. Even if I had no time machine, just from the sheer influence these amazing tutu trends have on us today, wouldn't you agree it was an epochal time! And I’m so happy we can relive it with these stories!
That's all for this #TutuTuesday! Do tell, my dears! Are you wearing a tutu this week? I would love to hear all about it! Share your favourite tutu photos or even your favourite ballet stories with me in the comments section below. We'd be delighted to see them. And if you love the colour pink as much as I do, be sure to check out our website - www.pink-tutu.com - for the latest in all things ballet and tutus, I have all the newest updates about all things fashion and dance, my lovely pink tutus are all waiting for you!
Until next time, my dears!
Always embrace your inner ballerina!Love, Emma
*P.S. If you love vintage tutus and dance, remember to check out my shop. It’s all pink, glittery and filled with gorgeousness! *
