#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1992-06-23

Welcome back to Pink Tutu, my darlings! This is Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, back for another #TutuTuesday, and oh, do I have a treat for you today! We're going back in time, just a little bit, to the glorious year of 1992. Picture it: bright colours, shoulder pads, and oh, those hair-raising power ballads.

It's a good day for a twirl, so strap on your dancing shoes and prepare to travel with me in a flash of tulle! Today's topic is something very special, something that's near and dear to my heart: the ballet tutu. It's time for a deep dive into the history of this glorious piece of stagewear, so grab your favourite cuppa, settle in, and let's have a right good chat about the iconic tutu, darling!

Tutus, oh, tutus! Where would the world of ballet be without them? Their swishy, graceful form is instantly recognizable and a symbol of grace and femininity. But how did they come to be? Let's go back in time, back to the dawn of tutus…

The humble beginnings: The history of tutus can be traced back to the Romantic era in ballet. Ballet dancers of this era wore voluminous, flowing skirts known as crinolines, designed to convey a feeling of ethereal beauty. This style had been influenced by the fashion of the time, especially in Parisian high society where lavish ball gowns were all the rage.

Now, those crinolines, they were bulky. Not terribly practical, and the ladies definitely struggled to twirl in them! Thankfully, ballet had an answer to the crinoline conundrum in the mid-19th century! In came the tutu, a much shorter skirt designed specifically for dancing. Think Cinderella before the magic wand and glass slipper, you know? Think tutus in all their fluffy glory!

But how did we get to these magnificent poufy creations? We owe much to the legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni. She was the epitome of a graceful and light ballerina and her dancing style emphasized this, you know, a light and breezy flutter, effortless. To further her ethereal style, she donned a short, stiff, and rather revolutionary tutu for her iconic role in La Sylphide, set in Scotland (quite the change from Parisian boudoirs, eh?). It revolutionized the world of dance and helped push forward the development of this iconic garment. Her innovative tutu, all short and airy, became an overnight success, a must-have for any respectable ballerina of the time!

Right, right, so from there we go to the tutu, the heart and soul of ballet. But where would we be without this glorious piece of clothing in all its wonderful forms?

So let's look at the history of the tutu! There are mainly two main types: the Romantic tutu and the Classical tutu, although there are others like the platform tutu or Demi-tutu, each having their own quirks, like that cheeky and wonderful skirt of ruffles that a ballerina like moi just adores!

The Romantic tutu: This is our light and airy friend, reminiscent of that delightful ethereal dance that set the world alight during the romantic era! These tutus are typically knee-length, made of multiple layers of delicate fabric and often trimmed with beautiful details.

The Classical tutu: Then we have the majestic Classical tutu! A magnificent piece of fashion and functionality! This beauty, so elegant and bold, is a favourite, particularly of mine! With it's signature, oh so intricate, multi-layered and wide layers of stiffened tulle. These bad boys sit on the hips and allow ballerinas, you know, real ballerinas, the professionals, to express a whole range of movement!

But that's not all! We also have the delightful Demi-tutu, often used for variations of contemporary choreography or classical works! Its beauty lies in it's shortness and more relaxed design, ideal for beautiful extensions! And don't forget those wonderful *Platform Tutus – like miniature cakes – so charmingly sweet, although less comfortable when they're not a part of a costume! They do however, allow for breathtakingly dramatic leaps! And as you can see, it is truly wonderful and charming! You don't even need to be a dancer to love them. Just imagine wearing one in public, darling! Just picture it, the look on peoples' faces, you wouldn't know how to react!*

The world of tutus is just so fascinating. From those historical garments, they have developed over time! The design of tutus have evolved to incorporate new styles and techniques! You know, like the tutus that are designed for modern contemporary dance. Imagine, my dears, tutus in the ballet street and ballet theatre performances that are all the rage these days. So very stylish and full of fun! A real explosion of the tutu world! It truly is amazing how these humble creations can move and change with the times and reflect the development of dance as well. The artistry involved is nothing short of dazzling.

Now, 23rd June 1992, where were you? What was happening then? I must tell you, I have a very clear memory of it. I was visiting the ballet shop in London and I found a beautiful new style of a Romantic Tutu! It was a pastel blue. Oh darling, I fell head over heels for that dreamy blue! You know the type, all swishy! I wore that creation with such pride. Just picturing that little ballet star in her little blue tututu twirling her heart out, you see? But what about you, darling? Do you remember anything about 23rd June 1992? Tell me, in the comments!

On that day in 1992, I have to confess, I loved browsing through those shelves, filled with those amazing, fluffy tutus! It was like a ballet dreamland, full of imagination, creativity and just enough twirls to last you a lifetime! The memories of those shops, that feeling of finding my new tutus and then spending hours in those glorious shops...oh my darling, a dancer's haven, full of tutus! You know it’s a good day when you go tututu shopping, right? And yes, *shopping in those times was so amazing! * That day I bought several new items in the glorious London ballet shop, enough for an outfit change, even at my then younger age. What more can a young ballerina need than a new Tutu, eh? And I wasn't just browsing tutus, I was looking at ballet shoes! Ballet slippers of course. Now, I like my shoes in black, for they give that extra bit of elegance and make a real statement.

But it’s not just tutus that define this historical day! Oh, the other fashion trends. Oh, 1992. A wonderfully eccentric time for fashion. It's what made this day memorable! Shoulder pads! Acid wash denim! Bright coloured and printed clothing. Now that's the style to admire, full of exuberance. Those glorious looks!

And the music? What a great time for dance! Michael Jackson's music had a great influence on ballet as well! Smooth Criminal, Thriller, Beat It! And so much more. All dance worthy classics.

I simply cannot wait to take a peek at my personal collection of my favourite memories, my ballet outfits of that year! It's going to be exciting to go back through my fashion treasures, to look at that gorgeous tutu and all the things I have bought in my glorious years! So exciting to revisit these stylish eras. It's good to take a moment and remember the glorious past, don't you agree? Let's all celebrate these iconic designs of 1992, darlings!

Of course, the 21st century has come a long way since the Romantic Era or 1992! There is a new appreciation for the design of the tutu, and so many new styles for the contemporary era. They now reflect all styles and dance trends from those street styles, ballet street trends, right down to our tutu's for a lovely tea party in our back garden.

However, as far as I'm concerned, one thing remains constant. There's no denying that, tutus are beautiful, feminine and exciting, no matter where or when! They are timeless in my humble opinion! The excitement in wearing a tutu, of all colors, doesn’t die, does it? You see the magic in tutus? They simply embody everything about this glorious art form. A delicate twirl in the right outfit can take you away. A timeless ballet tradition in which ballerinas like me are taking their place on this historical journey.

Don't forget, if you have memories, stories, even the stories from 1992, that you want to share, put them in the comments, below, darlings! I would love to read all about your Tutu tales. And be sure to follow my next Tutu Tuesday adventures, as we dance and twirl our way through fashion and history. Remember: It's always a great day to wear a tutu, my dears!

Much Love, Emma