Hello my darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday! This week, we’re whisking ourselves back to 1992 – the year tutus really began to show their stripes, darling!
As usual, my little time machine chugged me right into the heart of London, a city that simply thrives on the joy of dance and spectacle. The air is crisp, a bit nippy, and I’m rocking my newest pink tulle creation – a symphony of frills and flounces! Oh, and did I mention it’s covered in sparkly sequined butterflies?
(Sidenote: my favourite new haunt for vintage tutu shopping is in the Covent Garden Market, near the theatre. It's a little treasure trove, tucked away down a back street.)
Today, I'm standing just outside the Royal Opera House. The cobblestones are bustling with people, theatregoers dressed in their finery, and it’s utterly thrilling! In just a few hours, they'll be inside, captivated by the grace of dancers clad in their beautiful, tutu-fied splendour. I can already feel the magical atmosphere buzzing around me.
Now, what makes November 17th, 1992, so special? Well, darling, it was the year that ballerinas began to embrace a little more colour and drama in their tutu repertoire! Forget the classic pale pinks and ivory, because now, bolder hues, exciting designs, and dramatic details are taking centre stage!
It's quite a revolutionary shift from the somewhat subdued, understated look of the 1980s. We're talking deep emerald green, royal blue, a magnificent sapphire – you name it, tutus are embracing it!
This new trend can be credited in part to the groundbreaking performance of the The Sleeping Beauty, featuring breathtaking designs and costumes. Imagine those vibrant reds, emeralds, and a magnificent gold for Princess Aurora's triumphant wedding day! Talk about breathtaking! It was revolutionary for the time and truly captured everyone’s imagination.
And speaking of beautiful tutus, just yesterday I was lucky enough to see the incredible Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House! The tutus? Pure magic! The graceful ballerinas twirling in their elegant white swan tutus and those incredible black tutus for the nefarious Odette? Exquisite! But, the thing that really impressed me was the choreography - it’s breathtaking!
The story behind Swan Lake, however, is somewhat bittersweet. It’s based on a true tale, my dear, a story of love, loss, and betrayal, set amidst a shimmering world of lakes and swans. Just seeing the costumes and the performance reminded me that even ballet is just another form of story-telling. It's about taking us on an adventure, letting us share in their emotions, leaving us with something to ponder.
As always, a beautiful dance performance, in the end, leaves me feeling a little more glamorous and absolutely determined to wear a tutu more often. Maybe we’ll all be seeing a lot of tutus as part of the daily fashion uniform - imagine it, darling! That’s my ultimate dream, isn’t it?
So there you have it, my dears! That’s #TutuTuesday, November 17th 1992, a day when the tutus went boldly beyond their comfort zones and embraced a splash of colour and dramatic flair.
As for me? I'm heading back to Derbyshire after this, and I can’t wait to explore the vintage tutu shops of Matlock Bath! Imagine a cute tutu shop, overflowing with swirling pink tulle, fluffy frills and satin ribbons, all nestled amongst the charm of an old English town. It’s practically a ballerina's paradise.
Don't forget, my lovely Tutu Tuesdays are a journey into ballet history! If you want to dive deeper into the history of ballet and its intricate evolution of costumes, then keep coming back!
Have a lovely, twirly week, and remember… always wear pink!
~ Emma
(www.pink-tutu.com)
