Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you away on a magical journey through the history of our beloved tutu. Today, we're hopping on a shiny steam train, bound for the vibrant 24th of December 1991!
From Derby to December:
The crisp December air is buzzing with the excitement of Christmas. You know how I feel about Christmas, it’s a truly fabulous excuse for sequins and sparkle. Even though Derbyshire's usually cold in December, this Christmas seems extra chilly, but with a grand ballet performance coming up this evening, there's no chance of a frosty feeling in my heart! And I've just picked up the cutest little pink tulle skirt in Nottingham today! This is perfect for Christmas shopping later!
The 1990s: A Time of Tutu Transformations
Stepping off the train in this bustling London, the 1990s are all about experimenting with colour and bold shapes. Even though classic tutus, with their structured elegance and airy femininity, still reign supreme, a new, more relaxed style is taking flight. Imagine tutus in bright and unexpected shades – think fiery reds, sunshine yellows, even bold turquoise – with layers upon layers of soft, billowing tulle creating dramatic, almost ethereal shapes.
Think of “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella” by Rudolf Nureyev and even his famous production of "Don Quixote” where he uses the new look in tutus. Think “The Nutcracker" in full Technicolor, with the Sugar Plum Fairy shimmering in the most lavish shade of violet!
Of course, my own heart still belongs to the classic, romantic look. A timeless white tutu, soft as a whisper, with its graceful layers catching the light, never fails to stir a profound sense of wonder.
A Ballerina's Delight!
After our little London wander, I'm off to the theatre for the grand ballet production, it’s a spectacular ballet about fairies! Even the stage design looks incredible, with all kinds of wonderful lighting and moving scenery! The dancers are exquisite - a kaleidoscope of movement, strength, and emotion all intertwined! And their costumes are simply divine! It is a celebration of tulle, a celebration of femininity, and a celebration of the power of dance.
Let's Talk about Fashion!
As much as I love watching ballerinas pirouette and twirl, my true passion lies in fashion, especially those beautiful ballet costumes that create so much movement and shape. A lot of people wear ballet styles these days, but 1991 has a much more classic look - it's about simplicity and the classic style with sleek and streamlined silhouettes - everything is quite subtle and a lot of the styles have a very Victorian, classical, Edwardian vibe. The colours are all lovely; deep, dark greens, berry tones and pinks and the cut is classic with pretty little collars and neat, modest dresses. The looks were inspired by a bit of the ‘80s style too. Some ladies wore these little jackets - bolero jackets as they are known! These are so elegant, they looked great with anything from a blouse to a simple dress! Then there's the whole colour craze - turquoise is so very popular at the moment. Everything’s so wonderfully understated!
Christmas 1991 - A Time for Sparkle
Christmas is almost here and we are just about to welcome in 1992 - A new decade, exciting times are coming, but 1991 was all about simple chic with some beautiful bold colours for festive cheer and this elegant understated chic definitely shows that women weren’t afraid to embrace their individuality and look good, all in their own way.
Don't Forget!
Let's not forget our purpose here - getting everyone wearing pink tutus! You can still find beautiful classic tutus in all sorts of gorgeous colours, even in the pinkest of pinks, you just have to search! Go forth and twirl, darlings!
See you next Tuesday for another trip into the glorious world of the ballet tutu. Until then, twirl happily!
XOXO Emma
