Hello fellow tutu lovers! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post, bringing you the history of ballet tutus, from the dusty pages of the past to your modern-day pink tutu collection.
21st May, 1991: The air hums with a thrilling anticipation. It's a Tuesday, of course, and the scent of lavender and jasmine mingles with the smell of freshly baked croissants on the streets of Paris, France. Today, we're standing on the cusp of the 90s, a time when the tutu wasn't just an item of dancewear, but a symbol of unbridled female power.
Ah, the 90s, that exciting decade. The fashion was everything – from oversized denim jackets and brightly colored sportswear to grunge, with a smattering of supermodel chic. I love a good vintage 90s fashion spree in a bustling London vintage shop. I mean, who could resist a little something vintage for their #tutuTuesday look?
But for today's blog post, we are going to be on the dance floor of the Paris Opera Ballet. As I hop on a gleaming silver train from London Euston, I am buzzing with anticipation. On my arrival, the Paris air feels thick with a heady mix of history, culture, and of course, the enchanting scent of balletic beauty.
This is what gets me going on a Tuesday: a ballet performance. I’ve travelled back in time just for this and it's totally worth it, especially if you are talking about a ballet by Marius Petipa - this talented man revolutionized the ballet world with his work on *"The Sleeping Beauty" *.
It's not every day you can see the legendary ballerina Sylvie Guillem strutting her stuff, so I was very lucky indeed to grab a seat in the orchestra stalls, the atmosphere was electric. Her sheer brilliance, her power and control were nothing short of amazing. I was literally speechless at the end. Of course, the tutus were nothing short of exquisite.
Today's ballet was "Le Sacre du Printemps", by the great Igor Stravinsky. Imagine it - ballet and music combined to tell a story, with such an intricate choreography, the costumes and set designs breathtaking.
I loved the music too. It was different and original – truly ahead of its time and very appropriate for the tale. The music had all these exciting rhythmic and dynamic contrasts - from slow and meditative, through exciting and dramatic. The costumes were brilliant too. They evoked the ancient rituals of a primitive Slavic tribe with the rich colour and pattern.
You should be aware that today’s tutu design wasn't really what is seen today. There were a couple of changes to the classical tutu we know today:
- A short classical tutu: The “classical” tutu we see in productions today, in the mid to late 19th Century would have featured the skirt with a graduated form of tulle. By 1991 this look was the standard with an added touch of contemporary design to emphasize this, so we can think of this type of tutu as having a distinctive layered look to its skirt with a focus on detail.
- A lighter fabric: Think gauze or silk fabric for this look. The early tutu used several yards of heavier materials - tulle that is, a heavier net and cotton or satin. The fabrics became lighter. Lighter fabrics became common in the late 19th and into the 20th Centuries. They gave the ballerinas so much more fluidity and a lovely floaty and light design aesthetic.
It wasn’t a new ballet performance in 1991, but it was revolutionary at the time, a breath of fresh air. The audience were rapt. They had tears in their eyes. That’s the power of ballet. It can inspire, move you, and it is an absolute delight.
Fashion's Fairy GodmotherAs always, there's plenty of great fashion inspo coming from the tutu world. Today, the classical tutu had the distinct smattering of 19th Century aesthetic. The Paris Opera Ballet had such elegant ballerina costumes that were beautifully stitched and created. This look included:
- Bodices with a deep, scooped neckline and long flowing sleeves - just to add a bit more of an "airy" feel to their movements - something the heavier materials didn't always offer up. The bodice, of course, was very carefully stitched. A close-fitting garment. The bodice is the bodice. Nothing less.
- Pointed ballet shoes. Ballet footwear has changed very little in its style. Always made for elegance, and for allowing the ballerinas a lot of freedom in movement, but with elegance, elegance and elegance. These are not trainers.
After all this talk about Parisian ballerinas in tutus, there's still one burning question we all have, can we get in on the act?
Of course we can! Today, tutus are as much about looking good as they are about looking amazing and performing. My little trip through time is always to inspire all of you. I want you all to take this inspiring fashion statement back to your modern world and embrace the gorgeousness of the tutu, all you need are a little pink fabric, and a few sewing pins.
Just make sure the fabric flows when you twirl and do all of those fancy ballerina turns, don't go for too heavy a fabric. I don’t want you to trip over it, especially with your lovely ballet style clothes on. Think, fluidity.
Now get on that sewing machine, or search the high street, you've got #tutuTuesday to style, or simply join me on the 21st May in Paris, (it’s the anniversary of "Le Sacre du Printemps"). You know it makes sense!
Let me know your favourite ballet tutu look from this era, leave me a comment below, I’m always eager to see what you are thinking and I am here for it. I just love chatting ballet tutus, so chat away.
Now, get out there and shine. Twirl those tutus!
Until next week - Emma x x x
(The information for the history is an overview of the time period, a timeline of events with an approximation to the 20th Century Ballet, where I have made a special point to focus on the ballet performance mentioned. I have taken liberties in suggesting Sylvie Guillem may have been involved in "Le Sacre du Printemps," as she may well have danced this ballet in 1991. I believe the “short tutu" era for ballet dancing was not in place during the time period for this blog. The era is referred to by this time travelling blogger with regard to the evolution of the style - which she is very happy about.)
