Hello, my darling tutudresses! It's Tuesday again, which means it's time for another trip down #TutuTuesday memory lane. This week we're taking the train right back to 1992 – can you believe it’s been over thirty years already?! Time flies, and frankly, that's scary for someone like me who loves everything about fashion, especially anything remotely to do with ballet, like a truly iconic tutu.
Right, back to 1992. What was going on? What was new? And most importantly, what kind of fantastically frilly tutus were swirling about the stage?
Well, buckle up buttercup because it was a time of change, of amazing ballet productions, and you won't believe this, some truly eye-catching designs for the iconic, beloved tutu!
First up, we have to talk about Baryshnikov. This Russian legend, he's a bit of a star right now. He had a really incredible company called American Ballet Theatre (or ABT for short), and he was leading the charge when it came to dance styles. They were bringing a brand new vibrancy to ballet, mixing classical pieces with modern elements, like street dance and even tap, for a completely unique flavour! I simply adore their tutus – just beautiful.
Now, I must tell you a bit about The Royal Ballet, because they were killing it with their "Romeo and Juliet." It’s a true classic, but for this performance, they completely re-imagined the choreography and the costumes, giving everything a new, bolder edge. Oh, those black velvet tutus, with dramatic, flowing lines and incredible fabric work… simply beautiful. They're dramatic, they’re powerful, and frankly, they're some of the most striking tutus ever to grace the stage, even those of us obsessed with the fabulous frills and flounces can agree that the dark side is absolutely divine!
However, while everyone else was exploring those amazing black designs, one designer took a very different approach. You might recognize the name: Caroline Carlos – she was designing for The Paris Opera Ballet. Imagine it! It’s about a 1.5 hour train ride, from my little town of Derbyshire to London, then the whole journey to France for a fabulous night at the theatre. Oh! I must tell you about her creation, the "Cendrillon" tutu from The Nutcracker – she was taking everyone by storm! Think sparkling pink, pale peach, with feathers that go on forever, it’s absolutely gorgeous! It looked straight out of a fairy tale. It really pushed the boundaries, making everyone sit up and take notice, oh, this was not just another, just any tutu.
Now, I think we have a little room to sneak in another favourite of mine – let's travel over to America. This was an interesting time because American ballet was becoming much more independent and bold. The Joffrey Ballet, well, they were making waves with their version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. You see the Greek Goddess looks for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” were revolutionary, mixing those amazing tutus with flowing fabric – oh! you can't get more divine or stunning!
Back home in England, the ballet world is buzzing with all this excitement. And don't get me started on The Bolshoi. The Russian dancers were just magical on the London stage, so stylish! And let's not forget “Giselle” with those gorgeous romantic tutu looks. They were still creating absolutely breathtaking costumes. It's safe to say ballet wasn't a bit stagnant; the creativity was exploding across the world, it was quite a wild time!
I remember how much time I would spend at that magical place, Dancewear Central, the best shop in London! All those stunning tutus…I just couldn’t choose my favourite! It's a bit of a shop, and it's my kind of heaven…a tutu wonderland! I can’t go shopping too often when I’m so busy travelling through time to show you the best moments in tutu history but, I managed to find time for a shopping spree in the 1990s and you've no idea, those were the days. They were just beginning to carry these incredible ballet flats that matched the outfits! Now, those were the days. I mean, imagine a pink satin ballet flat to wear with a tutu… simply divine!
And don't think I've forgotten The English National Ballet. They had an amazing new production of "Cinderella", and they were the first company to experiment with “The Tutu dress.” Remember those, tutus as everyday wear. And I love the tutu dress! You know I do! It was the beginning of tutu style entering fashion… And of course, a truly brilliant combination of dance, glamour, and elegance in one outfit. And who says you can’t wear a tutu dress every day of the week, maybe to the park, to a dance, or even to a friend’s wedding?!
Right, ladies. We’ve gone all the way back to 1992. And don't forget to stop by pink-tutu.com, or check my profile, Pink Tutu Emma, on all your socials. If you're not already wearing a tutu, maybe now is the perfect time to pop on that fab pink number. Or whatever shade you love.
And remember to stay fashionable, stay sparkly and most importantly, stay positive. And don't forget: The most beautiful dance in the world starts with a PINK tutu.
Until next week, my tutudresses, always and forever in tutu!
Emma
