Hello lovelies! 🩰💕
It's Emma here, back with another blast from the past in #TutuTuesday!
This week we're venturing back to March the 5th, 1996! I'm in my usual pink tutu of course, a lovely fluffy creation I snagged in a little boutique in Paris on my last trip - all that fancy lace trim! You wouldn't believe how much fun I had on the train ride over, sipping champagne and admiring the scenery. Honestly, you can't beat the views from the carriages, and it gives me time to catch up on my ballet magazine reading, you know? 💖
Now, 1996. That's a fabulous era, my dears. Remember those iconic looks? Grunge was fading out and the Spice Girls were strutting their stuff, and, my oh my, what an exciting time for fashion! It's amazing to look back and see how styles change, don't you think?
But we're talking tutus, darling! So let's delve into what the ballet world was rocking back in '96.
It was a year of stellar ballet performances! Imagine a world without social media or instant reviews. People relied on word-of-mouth and those fantastic printed programmes you would find at the theatre. In London, the Royal Opera House was in full swing, and there was the legendary English National Ballet, a powerhouse of creativity in ballet. I saw Swan Lake, which, honestly, just leaves you breathless with its beauty and passion. Oh, the elegance!
I also took in a truly amazing The Nutcracker performance, in what a beautiful old theatre in Birmingham, my dear! It was one of those shows where every element - the costumes, the music, the choreography - just came together perfectly, and those sugar plum fairies, simply dreamy! 💕
But it wasn't just London and Birmingham, darling, that was buzzing with ballet. Around the world, new choreography was being created and old favourites were being reimagined. I even caught a stunning performance by San Francisco Ballet which made my trip over to California totally worthwhile.
But I need to rewind back a little, right?
March the 5th, 1996. We’re back to the world of ballet and fashion. What was happening? I’m always curious! Was anyone wearing my favorite shade of pink that day? Maybe there was a performance at the Bolshoi in Moscow? I do need to take a little time travel trip to find out. Oh, if only time travel wasn’t so expensive! Perhaps a tutu sale would help finance a future trip! Maybe we should ask if we can have some funds from The Bolshoi to buy more tutus? Or perhaps we can stage our own ballet in pink, featuring the gorgeous colour all over? Oh dear me, I have so many ideas! What are yours?
Anyway, as usual, this Tuesday I want to talk tutus - specifically what sort of tutu designs were favoured in the 1990s. And yes, tutus are still rocking this millennium! Don't get me wrong, tutus aren't just a vintage piece. They’re classic, timeless. They can be modern and chic as well, trust me!
Did you know? There was this brilliant tutu called the Romantic tutu that took over in the early 19th century! Gone were those days of just stiff, formal skirts and a more lightweight, airy design emerged - all the more better to dance in! You bet it did.
Think of ballerinas gracefully soaring across the stage in a delicate tutu. Their soft movements accentuated the flowing fabric, just captivating! Imagine those layers and the effortless swirl! Just lovely, don’t you think? And what's better, the design gave a lovely view of the dancers' legs, enhancing their every graceful movement.
But what’s even more thrilling about the Romantic tutu? They really embraced all things pink! Think shades of peach and soft coral, oh so feminine! In 1996, that romantic essence continued, though designers took the Romantic style in different, bold directions.
For example, remember that iconic, ultra-feminine tutu by Christian Lacroix? It’s the embodiment of all that romance we crave, don’t you think? Imagine the beautiful layered design - those tulle skirts were amazing, my dears. The tutu literally took center stage as it embraced a symphony of pink and lace and that divine ballerina on stage was practically floating with every move. Simply exquisite, wouldn't you say?
It wasn’t just the colour and design. 1996 marked a real revolution in fabrics used for tutus! Ballerinas wanted more fluidity, more movement, and, honestly, I think this is something that continues even today. These light and airy fabrics, they're absolutely vital. Just picture that perfect arabesque, how those layers swirl around her! Honestly, if it wasn’t for a bit of technological magic, and I mean those special fabric weaves, those amazing tutus just wouldn't be possible.
There’s no wonder ballerinas can perform such exquisite pirouettes! They need to glide gracefully. That's where tulle came into play. But we know those Romantic tutus and the early years of dance, that lightweight fabric simply wasn’t an option. Imagine! You have to wear what your grandmother wore to ballet? It just doesn’t sound quite so enjoyable does it? The world of ballet just couldn't exist without tulle, not as we know it! I couldn’t even begin to imagine what my daily dancing routine would be like without a fabulous, soft, comfortable tulle tutu!
But hold your horses! Even though we are celebrating the lightweight Romantic tutu - and darling, my entire wardrobe consists of lightweight pink ones - we need to also celebrate that timeless style of the Classical tutu, you know, that stiff design! I love a good Classical tutu! It is just so elegant!
You’ll recognise those famous tutus worn by dancers all over the world and especially in those dramatic Swan Lake scenes. You know the look: think a single layer of stiff fabric that helps create the illusion of incredible jumps. Imagine how amazing they look in action! There’s something almost sculptural about the Classical tutu! It adds so much grandeur to any ballet, darling. It just really draws the eye. And, if we're talking colours, we are going to talk the glorious shades of white! There's just nothing better than a tutu that stands out for all the right reasons!
Okay, time to indulge in a few personal musings... I can’t write about this era without reflecting on my very own adventures. This was the time I went to the National Gallery, and there I saw one of those paintings of ballerinas from a time before ballet even really began. So much history! And then, of course, the ballet, that's something that brings us all together - a shared experience that just gets my heart pumping!
You know what I think? All tutus - Romantic, Classical - have to be worn with joy and confidence. But remember to be respectful when going to the theatre. Just as it was back in 1996 and before then, ballerinas put their heart and souls into every performance and deserve your full attention, my dears!
As always, don't forget to let me know what you think of this week's post. Tell me which kind of tutu is your favourite - romantic or classical? Are you Team Romantic tutu or Team Classical tutu? Tell me about your tutu adventures in the comments below!
Happy Tuesday and stay beautiful!
💖Emma 💖
