Hey darlings! Emma here, back from another fabulous trip through time, this week all the way to the glamorous year of 1989! I'm absolutely buzzing after catching a show at the Royal Opera House - and my, how times have changed since I popped into 1989, darling! The energy, the excitement, it's simply exhilarating!
This week, our #TutuTuesday adventure takes us back to the heart of the tutu scene. It was November 21st, and oh my goodness, the theatre buzzed with excitement. We had just seen "The Nutcracker" at the Royal Opera House. Honestly, it was exquisite! Imagine - grand ballerinas gracefully dancing on the stage in costumes absolutely glittering with beautiful details. And, to my delight, it was a stunning display of various tutu styles - from the fluffy Romantic tutu, swirling like a whimsical dream, to the precise and powerful "Balanchine" tutu that demands the ultimate control. I even saw a delightful nod to the history of ballet with a more classically-inspired, and frankly rather splendid, romantic tutu.
Speaking of tutus, did you know that the word "tutu" wasn't used in France, the birthplace of ballet, until the late 1800s? Can you believe it? The word was used to describe an old, ragged garment – imagine, a tutu?! Imagine how disappointed Marie Taglioni, a celebrated ballerina who danced in "La Sylphide" wearing a billowing romantic tutu, would be! Thankfully, tutus eventually received their rightful, fashionable status, and today they are a symbol of elegance and graceful movement.
My trip wasn't just about ballet. Remember, darling, a girl can't just go to 1989 without exploring the latest fashion trends! London was bustling with vintage clothing shops that made my heart skip a beat! I even bought a beautiful turquoise sweater that I paired with my trusty pink tutu - a touch of nostalgia with a modern twist! It was a total steal, a real fashion bargain! But, of course, the ultimate souvenir is a story. And what a story I have to tell. I met an incredible fashion designer called Vivienne Westwood. She had her shop right near the Royal Opera House! We had a grand old chat about tutus - I love it when people appreciate the power of a tutu - and her fashion. Honestly, what a style icon, such flair! The shop's walls were full of clothes you could only dream of in Derbyshire. So stylish, so outrageous! Oh darling, imagine – she designed the most gorgeous punky clothing, making it so trendy.
You can bet I was out exploring the cobbled streets of Covent Garden - a ballet dancer can't resist a trip to a beautiful flower market, especially one overflowing with flowers that make for fabulous dance sets, can they? And just like every ballerina in London that week, I saw "The Nutcracker". It’s an incredible show, and, frankly, a must-see - that opening scene is breathtaking, darling, just imagine. The energy in the theatre - you can almost feel it buzzing. It’s electric. You feel every twirl, every arabesque - I mean, if you have the chance to experience that, it’s magic.
And just before leaving 1989, I grabbed a lovely steaming cup of Earl Grey in a vintage china cup and a couple of scones and sat right there on a bench near the Covent Garden, in full pink tutu, to people watch. You can bet there were plenty of wide eyes, surprised faces - that's just a small price to pay for the joy of spreading my love for the tutu! And trust me, darling, you never quite understand the impact a pink tutu has until you try it!
Remember to share your #TutuTuesday adventures with me, darling, I'm all ears for stories of tutus from the past! And remember to check out pink-tutu.com every Tuesday for a new adventure!
Much love, Emma xx
