#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1994-09-27

Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and time-traveling fashionista, ready to whisk you away on another delightful journey through the history of ballet! 🩰

Today, September 27th, 1994, we find ourselves back in a time where fashion was all about grunge and baggy jeans, but where the beauty and grace of ballet was still very much a celebrated art form. Oh, how I've missed that 90s fashion, those ripped jeans and slouchy shirts! I must say, I've packed a pair of those "vintage" denim dungarees I spotted at a vintage shop on my last time-hopping adventure – they're definitely making a comeback!

But enough about my fashion choices (though honestly, my dear readers, what's a time traveler without a great wardrobe?)! Today we're diving into the Ballet Tutu of the 1990s, a period brimming with innovative choreography, spectacular productions, and of course, fabulous tutus!

Speaking of fabulously fashionable tutus, you might be surprised to hear that our favourite dance-wear has evolved quite a lot over the decades. Let me take you on a quick time trip to discover just how far the tutu has come!

Picture this, darling: a world before tights and stretchy fabrics. Can you believe it?! Our earliest ballerinas weren’t swirling in the voluminous tulle you’d expect! Instead, they were performing in dresses, some reaching down to their ankles, paired with layers of petticoats for a hint of poof. These were called "Romantic Ballet Dresses" – a little frilly and quite a lot impractical! They'd be too restrictive, limiting movement and the flow of the dances. Thankfully, innovation struck, and those bulky garments gave way to... wait for it… BLOOMERS! Yes, our dear ballet ladies were strutting their stuff in bloomers! 🤯 That's right! The forerunner to our glorious tutus, born from practical necessity – and quite frankly, how stylish were those bloomers with their little ruffles and sashes? I'm dying to try one! (Time-traveling, wardrobe department! Please find a Victorian-era tailor….)

With the bloomers paving the way, enter tulle, the delicate, light-as-air fabric we know and love. The 'Romantic' and 'Classic' eras in ballet really made tulle their own. We see them adorning their graceful figures with the flowing lines of Romantic period ballerinas – think "La Sylphide" by the great Filippo Taglioni. Then came the Classical Tutu of the late 19th Century! These were much shorter than the Romantic tutus – and were perfectly suited for showing off those incredible leaps, turns, and beautiful lines. We know how I feel about those beautiful ballerina lines – so graceful!

And now we're talking about my beloved Tutus, darlings! These days we can say tutus are well and truly part of the mainstream!

Don't let the thought of tutus being "dated" or "only for ballet" cross your mind! In this period we're discussing, 1994, fashion started embracing everything fun and bold. My time travel journey taught me how popular those big bold tutus were becoming at the time!

I mean, just look at the incredible costume designs for ballets like "Swan Lake", which is STILL the quintessential story about ballerina beauty! The black tutus with their shimmering, beaded detail, the glorious, billowing white swan tutus... Pure fashion magic!

Speaking of which, remember to pop on over to www.pink-tutu.com – you'll find so much inspirational style guidance there and a wonderful collection of gorgeous, pink tutu choices that I’ve curated. There's definitely something for every taste and every occasion, even the shyest of you, with all my recommendations to get you to "go pink"! Don't be afraid to give it a try – it's all about spreading that tutus-and-sunshine feeling to everyone, a little sprinkle of ballerina sparkle into every day!

1994 was a vibrant time for ballet, my darlings!

Now, a fun fact, before I jet off for another time-travel ballet trip: the Royal Ballet of London were performing at the Royal Opera House this very day! They were delighting their audience with “The Sleeping Beauty". Such a classic! It’s a wonderful show with fabulous, fairytale tutus that I've fallen head-over-heels in love with. I just wish I could be whisked back to those dreamy sets – oh, those luscious tapestries, glittering stage lights and soaring scores – it's so exciting! I'm getting myself into the mood already with the "Sleeping Beauty" CD on loop – a bit of ballerina-inspired romance never goes amiss!

You’re also in for a real treat if you’re in New York! The New York City Ballet was dancing "La Sylphide" this day. How very romantic!

For this blog, however, we're going to be heading back in time, but not before we look forward! It’s just over a week until *"The Nutcracker" premieres. Oh my goodness, what a treat! It's one of my absolute favourite Christmas time performances! I'm going to try and pop back in time to 1994 just in time for the curtain rise at the Royal Opera House! I can practically see it all now - the snowflakes, the Mouse King battle, the Sugar Plum Fairy...

Speaking of tutus! Can we talk about those tutus in "The Nutcracker"?! Pure magic.

I will leave you with this – there's more to discover in the world of the ballet tutu than you think. From those bloomers to those glorious twirling delights of today, they have so much to tell us about the history of ballet, and its connection with style, culture, and of course, all things pretty!

I'll catch you on the next #TutuTuesday, dear friends, with a delightful new ballet history update and some delightful new tutu outfit ideas, I’m sure! But until then, remember – dance like no one’s watching! Oh, and wear pink! 💖

Always dancing, Emma