Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to my humble little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, where tutus are always in vogue! This is post number 8444, and I am, as always, absolutely thrilled to be back for another exciting journey through the fascinating world of the ballet tutu.
It's Tuesday, so you know what that means: it's time for #TutuTuesday!
I know, I know, I get it – the year is 1993. It’s an era of grunge, oversized denim jackets, and flannel shirts. It seems like the tutu has been relegated to the dusty confines of costume warehouses, but fear not, my darling twirling friends! I am here to tell you that even in the face of all these sartorial challenges, the tutu has held its own – and held it with grace and undeniable style, I might add!
I’m Emma, and I’m your friendly, ever-optimistic tutu ambassador from Derbyshire, England! And as always, it is my absolute passion to take you on these weekly voyages through the glorious history of the tutu!
*(And I must confess that it was, in fact, the sheer thrill of learning about the past that propelled me to become a bit of a time traveller myself. Just call me a tutu-wearing Dr. Who. Except, instead of the TARDIS, I use my dazzling ballet performances to pay for my tickets through time – talk about living the dream!) *
Today, our Time-Travelling Tutu Tour lands us squarely in the middle of October, 1993.
October 26th to be precise. Just a simple Tuesday, you might think – and in many ways, that’s entirely true! But history is brimming with tiny details that can paint an incredible portrait of a moment in time.
*Now, before we begin to unearth all the fabulous tutus from 1993-10-26, tell me what is on your minds, darlings?! *
Have any of you spotted a particularly charming tutu on a vintage shopping spree lately?
Do any of you lovely dancers remember those spectacular 90s tutu moments?
I just LOVE hearing about your tutu experiences, don't be shy! You can tweet, share, comment below and let’s fill this space with tulle and joy!
*But back to business – 1993. Where are we? *
As you may already know, the centre of the tutu-verse (at least during the 20th century) has always been firmly planted in Paris. This beautiful, iconic city has been a place of exquisite craftsmanship and captivating dance for centuries. And even though 1993 might be seen as a time where ballet was taking a slight dip in the public’s interest, fashion remained in absolute love with all things tulle and romanticism.
For one, this year is still very much part of the supermodel era, an era that oozed Parisian flair. A period that is known for sleek silhouettes, glamorous fabrics and absolutely no end of chic gowns – the tutu's most chic of all cousins!
Just imagine, it's Paris, 1993 - and you’re dashing from a fashion show to a glamorous café for a perfect macaron with an elegant gentleman (dressed to the nines, of course!).
Imagine yourself gliding down a Parisian street, perhaps wearing a splendid blush-pink tutu dress with a sleek black cardigan. That is, so 1993!
(And oh, wouldn't it be heavenly if you were stepping out of a dashing convertible, driven by an utterly charming man, wearing a black tailored suit? My dear reader, dreams are always this close to reality!)
Now, what about that ballet performance we mentioned? Well, in the realm of theatre and dance, October 26th 1993 is *an absolute stunner of a day! *
On this very date in New York City (another hotbed of dance, in its own way!), one of my absolute favourite ballet troupes, The New York City Ballet, is getting ready for *it’s annual fall season, * and in the grand ballet lineup? A legendary creation from George Balanchine! (Do you all have your ballerina hearts palpitating? Mine is definitely doing cartwheels! )
(Now I wouldn’t dream of being too precise about which Balanchine ballet is getting the limelight just yet – after all, it would spoil my special journey back in time. But think big tutus, flowing fabric, and graceful lines – and maybe some pretty amazing athleticism that we only dream of here in our time. Let’s not forget it’s the 90s! This is a world bursting with creativity.)
So we’ve touched upon Parisian fashion trends and the thrilling anticipation of a new ballet season in New York City! And while I simply can't talk too much about the performance I’ve witnessed, the fact is, I know you all want some more 1993 tutu news, don't you?! We all want those visual treasures to dream about – or perhaps to inspire us in our own tutus.
Well, it's hard to resist giving you a tiny sneak peek of something fantastic in terms of tutu news that surfaced this week!
It appears the designers in the heart of New York have completely embraced the tulle and ballet vibe – with amazing creativity!
Imagine, gowns and dresses with shimmering metallic layers, all reminiscent of the magnificent tutus of dance, yet so much softer and more flowing! All with that unmistakable air of the "ballerina look"!
Now that, my fellow tutu fans, is something quite wonderful. Imagine your 1993 tutu in this context. Isn't that an absolute dream?
But wait! This journey of the tutu doesn't stop in 1993 - and of course, it isn’t limited to ballet, *because it's our little secret that a ballerina can be found *everywhere! **
Perhaps your grandmother, aunt or even you are wearing an elegant vintage tull skirt or frock with an air of ballerina beauty. It's simply a case of looking around at what seems so simple and suddenly seeing it through the magic lens of a ballet tutu! That's my aim and mission to help all of us see tutus for what they really are - **pure elegance in every colour and size!
Just try to envision the scene. Perhaps this moment, with the scent of ripe apples and warm autumnal leaves all around us. Maybe it’s a chilly autumnal evening and you're enjoying the magic of a concert. Maybe it's the day you're trying on the perfect gown or dress and it just happens to be the prettiest tutu style you can imagine.
But you know what? You don’t need an elegant setting or event for tutu magic! *(As you will know, my dear tutu enthusiasts, my personal mantra is: *Every Day Is Tutu Day! * ) * Perhaps you are on your daily commute, taking a brisk autumn walk, getting a warm mug of tea in your favourite coffee shop, even shopping for your next batch of fabrics - you’ll discover tutus all around you if you look closely!
Because tutus are simply all around us. They’re everywhere. All we have to do is open our hearts and see them for what they truly are: beautiful, expressive and oh-so-chic! A beautiful, ethereal creation - a testament to graceful femininity. The ballet tutu is a tiny treasure box full of charm and dreams and memories of so much elegance!
*Just like your imagination, my friends, tutus will always have a beautiful, unexpected *story to tell us. Just keep those tutu eyes peeled, your ballerina hearts ready, and remember: it is your style and your dreams that make a tutu shine even brighter! **
And remember – every day can be a #TutuTuesday if you simply embrace your joyful sense of the whimsical and lovely. After all, that’s why I love what I do. That’s why I time-travel for these fascinating posts. I love sharing a bit of ballet and history and a touch of tulle magic with everyone! *And to me, there is simply nothing better! *
I'm eagerly awaiting your tutu moments - share them with me! And remember, the world needs more tutu lovers! Join us next Tuesday for more ballet history and fun!
Until next week!
*Your Tutu Time-Traveller, *
Emma
*www.pink-tutu.com *
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