Hey, tutu lovers! Welcome back to another sparkling edition of Pink-Tutu.com, where we delve into the glorious history of the tutu. Today we're hopping in our time machine, leaving our modern ballet flats at the station, and zipping back to 6th June 1989. Grab your fanciest pink tutu and let's get going!
It’s such a beautiful summer day in London – the kind of weather where everyone’s happy and there’s a light air of magic hanging around the cobblestone streets. This feels like the kind of day where you'd go for a stroll down Oxford Street in a fabulous new tutu from a gorgeous vintage shop and maybe, just maybe, you might bump into a real life prince. I just love the buzz and energy of London – so full of history and, even more importantly, full of people wearing tutus, which, for me, is the true sign of a successful city!
The Ballet Scene in 1989
Now, let's rewind a little to the thriving world of ballet in 1989. You’d see ballet shoes twinkling all over the world. Everyone's wearing these beautiful tutus and I’m positively besotted! I'm talking the traditional romantic tutus with the delicate layers, perfect for all those graceful turns and leaps. The Royal Ballet in Covent Garden is going strong – that gorgeous old theatre filled with the history of the dance! Everyone's talking about Rudolf Nureyev, this brilliant dancer with so much power and passion! Seeing him would have been a dream! Then, of course, there's the incomparable Margot Fonteyn! Seeing her dancing must have been such an inspirational experience for every aspiring ballerina. It must have been an absolute magical dream, gliding through the theatre, surrounded by this ethereal, delicate world of the tutu.
Oh, and the Royal Opera House! A real hub for tutus, with incredible, powerful and dramatic ballet performances like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. These fabulous classics remain in my heart as they truly captured the majesty and elegance of ballet, a true spectacle where the tutu played a central role in the stories being told. But that's not all – 1989 saw many ballet stars in their prime, creating their own unique styles and changing the world of the tutu forever! Can you imagine?!
I’m so happy that in 1989, tutus weren't confined to just the stage. People were wearing them out and about! That's a dream – imagine wearing your fabulous tutu while you're sipping your morning coffee at a cafe or enjoying afternoon tea with friends.
My Perfect Day Out in London
Imagine: it's a sunny day in London, and I'm so excited because I've booked a matinee performance of Giselle at the Royal Opera House! I’ve travelled up from Derbyshire by train. Now that's a truly chic way to arrive in the city. The train carriage was practically a fashion show with the fantastic tutu-wearers all around, creating an air of pure joy! And the journey wasn't just about the outfits. It was about the buzz of the excited chatter, the rhythmic click of the train tracks – pure ballet magic. It feels like all those travelling ballerinas from the Swan Lake story, en route to some extraordinary performance!
Reaching the city, I felt a rush of pure magic. Just looking at the beautiful, old Victorian facade of the Royal Opera House makes my heart race! All that beautiful old-world architecture and knowing how many tutu-wearing stars have graced that stage… What better way to complete the journey than by wearing my most flamboyant pink tutu with a sprinkle of glittering sequins for a truly dazzling London moment? Maybe I'll even be featured in an article on the fabulous Daily Telegraph – imagine, a front page dedicated to this gorgeous pink tutu and how I made my trip a TutuTuesday masterpiece.
I love spending time in the bustling atmosphere around Covent Garden before the show. This stunning area is like a fairytale scene. I could happily spend hours wandering between the flower market, browsing at quirky vintage shops for unique new tutus and sampling the delicious fresh treats offered by the vendors. You can tell, I'm absolutely giddy with excitement for the performance and all that’s waiting inside!
After the show, I'd walk back to my charming, vintage hotel on Hyde Park – so much of a Londoner, I'd probably make my way to Harrods too – maybe a quick stop at the beauty counter for a new shimmering lipstick or a sparkling nail polish in a stunning shade of pink. There’s always something new to discover. The city is a treasure trove of beauty!
Making Tutus Trend (Again)
The amazing thing about the history of the tutu is how its presence changed. In 1989, tutus were less about being hidden away in the studio. It was a real life statement. There were plenty of brilliant people who embraced tutus for what they represented: joy, creativity, confidence, and just plain fun! This trend inspired a wave of dance and drama classes popping up across the city, with even celebrities taking part. And you know me, a dance class is never complete without a gorgeous tutu.
Think about how powerful that was. Just seeing the tutu everywhere meant that people felt more comfortable expressing themselves. Imagine this feeling of freedom and empowerment spreading through London and beyond! What better way to inspire passion than with a tutu on. It’s a bold statement!
I think the tutus in 1989 had an extra layer of something… the magic that the late 20th century was filled with. Everyone's watching Madonna or going to see George Michael, with everyone in wonderful outfits, all the styles. You can almost feel this vibrancy in the tutu itself – so daring and creative.
A Future Brighter than a Pink Tutu
That's what this blog's about. That kind of magic, and reminding everyone just how magical a tutu can be! Maybe my blog will inspire a new wave of tutu wearing and that’s the power of the pink tutu. Don’t let the tutu stay on the stage – it's made for every adventure! I always tell everyone in Derbyshire that if we can bring a touch of ballet grace to our lovely county then that will change the world! Imagine a county where the children are running around with pink tutus, a dance studio on every corner, a vibrant theatre showing Giselle – a magical dream come true!
Next Tuesday we'll dive back into the amazing tutu timeline to 1989 – but maybe I'll pick a new shade of pink to wear, what do you think? Pink is the most powerful color in the universe, but all those variations – magenta, fuschia, bubblegum… there are so many options! Leave a comment with your favourite shades and tell me all about your perfect pink tutu.
See you next week!
Love,
Emma
P.S. You can check out my online shop, filled with all my favourite pink tutus - www.pinktutushop.com - let’s all keep spreading the joy!
P.P.S. I hope this time machine will get us to see Swan Lake – all that black tutus with those shimmering ballet shoes. How utterly magical that will be!
