Hello, darlings! It's your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, back with another blast from the past! Today's #TutuTuesday journey whisks us back to 18th October 1988, a day filled with fabulousness, as always!
For my fellow fashionistas who love the elegant swish of a tutu, let me tell you - tutus in 1988 were in their glory. They were a symbol of elegance, grace and artistry, a true testament to the beauty of ballet.
As you all know, the world of fashion is a constant whirl of new ideas and trends, and this certainly holds true for tutus. They have taken many forms through the centuries, from the earliest, slightly frumpy iterations, to the sophisticated styles that are seen today. So, what were ballet tutus like back in the 80s?
Remember, dear readers, tutus didn't appear on the scene fully formed, like a magical puff of pink tulle. They evolved alongside the history of ballet itself. There were no "pink" tutus, not really - you had white tutus and later some yellow and off-white and other muted shades. Imagine, dear readers! How exciting! Pink tutus weren't in the vogue just yet! So if I want to get around, I do my part by bringing a bit of my own personal style and colour. The more colour the better in my books! My motto? Pink It Up! I believe in wearing colour. The brighter the better!
Now, you might be wondering what made 18th October 1988 such a memorable day in the grand scheme of tutus. Let me fill you in. On this day, the American Ballet Theatre celebrated the grand opening of its very own performance space in New York City's glorious Metropolitan Opera House. Can you imagine the excitement, the glitz, the sheer joy? They have continued to captivate audiences ever since.
But back to those tutus! What were they like?
Well, 1988 was still firmly in the era of the traditional, classical tutus. Think airy, graceful skirts constructed from layers upon layers of tulle. They were a delight to watch as they flowed and fluttered around the dancers' movements.
On the 18th of October 1988, some of the world's most acclaimed ballerinas, graced the stage with their magnificent dance moves. Those tutus would have been swirling as they leapt and turned, bringing stories to life through their choreography.
For the grand occasion, I am certain that there would have been a special design with a special colour for the big opening night celebration. The designers took great care in making the tutus as they really wanted to showcase each dancer's grace. Those beautiful ballerina silhouettes dressed in all their glory.
Now, if you can imagine a place brimming with such grace, it’s easy to picture a world with everyone twirling in pink tutus. How fabulous would that be?! It's my personal ambition, my dearest readers. You could imagine all those pink tutus a whirl of beauty and colour on stage!
What's even better? The 80s brought with them a shift in tutu styles - we started to see more innovative and experimental designs. Gone were the days of purely classic, traditional tutus. Dancers began wearing different styles and designs for different ballet routines. This meant that every performance offered a visual spectacle to delight the eye. It meant so much more freedom in terms of expression for the dancers, which I find wonderfully inspiring.
And as a time-travelling, tutu-loving fan of fashion myself, I must admit, there's something very special about watching those beautiful dance moves in these incredible tutus.
This was certainly the case for the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov, whose career soared to new heights throughout the 1980s, his talent illuminated by his stunning tutus. A true testament to how a beautiful tutu could truly make a ballet shine!
However, we can't overlook the fashion influence of a dancer who inspired the entire dance world in 1988. The stunning, beautiful Misty Copeland who's impact on fashion has been felt to this day. Imagine a sea of pink tutus, my lovelies! Every time I go to a ballet show I think to myself that it's not long before those tutus all are bright and colourful. I just know it! The future looks rosy, doesn’t it?
But back to 18th October 1988. Can you imagine all the excitement and anticipation surrounding the grand opening night in New York? I would have been there on that day, dressed in my most exquisite pink tutu, of course! You know me! If I could, I'd travel around with a little suitcase full of pink tutus to gift every lovely woman. Let's face it, darling! Life in a pink tutu is much brighter! It's time to add more color and brightness to the world.
So, if you're looking for a way to embrace the beauty and grace of ballet, look no further than those beautiful tutu-clad dancers! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I'm off on my next adventure! I need to find out where my next big adventure lies in this amazing world of tutus. Maybe I will find myself a new design on this adventure! If you love tutus and ballet as much as I do, then make sure you visit the blog next Tuesday for #TutuTuesday! You can see all of my exciting fashion discoveries. Just visit www.pink-tutu.com and don’t forget to look me up!
Yours in tulle,
Emma xx
