Oh my darlings! It's Tutu Tuesday once again! Can you believe we're already in February? It feels like the New Year has only just begun, but honestly, that's how time seems to fly when you're travelling through it like a whirlwind! As always, I've packed my bags, my trusty pink tutu, and my biggest smile, to bring you the latest news from the wonderful world of dance and fashion. Today, my dears, we're taking a little trip back in time to February 11th 1997!
I love that time in history, you know, the nineties - so many exciting changes going on in the world! Fashion was wild, music was poptastic, and well, everyone loved a good dance. But for this Tutu Tuesday, let's focus on one very important thing: tutus! That's right, darling! We're talking all things Ballet Tutu history!
Imagine this, my lovely, fashionable readers. I've just hopped off a glamorous train - it's Paris, of course! I love nothing more than a good Parisian fashion adventure - it's simply heaven for all things lovely and glamorous! Now, it's February 11th 1997 and it's chilly outside. A perfect time for some hot chocolate and to talk about ballet history, don't you think? I'm sipping a mug of the most divine, frothy hot chocolate right now as I write. What's not to love?
Okay, so you're probably thinking - what's happening in Ballet history today, 11th February 1997? Well, the wonderful Royal Ballet in London is in rehearsal for "Giselle", the quintessential romantic ballet. Can you imagine all the graceful steps and twirls in preparation? They say practice makes perfect and let me tell you, when it comes to ballet that's so, so true!
Imagine, if you will, all the lovely tutus floating through the air, light as a feather, and oh, those beautiful pink tutus that Giselle wears - divine! Honestly, they are like a work of art. It's no surprise they are so admired. You know how I feel about pink, my lovely readers. You just can't have enough!.
But darling, I am also loving a little street-style ballet moment in New York. It's all about those amazing street dancers wearing those super chic, cool and casual ballet pieces in their dance routines - a bit more modern than your typical tutu, but with a certain je ne sais quoi. It really puts a fresh spin on those traditional ballet pieces! Don't forget the dance is everywhere - not just in the theatres. It's so inspiring!
Now, did you know, that this same day, February 11th 1997 the legendary American dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, the most fabulous of ballerinos, opened a new ballet company in New York? Oh my! This company was avant-garde - taking all those classic, beautiful ballets and injecting them with a dash of contemporary movement and tons of fashion flair.
I just love this, my darling fashion-loving ballerinas, when our world collides - ballet, history and fashion, together as one, like a stunning piece of art - breathtaking! It just does it for me. I've actually made myself a note, my dears, to get a pink pair of ballet shoes with some sparkle to go with my pink tutu to emulate this super trendy fashion statement - I mean, who wouldn't! Everyone looks fabulous in ballet shoes. Just the thing to really elevate your look - and perfect for a night at the ballet, or at least for those glamorous train journeys that my little fashion heart absolutely adores.
Now, my lovelies, let's just rewind back a little - shall we? Back to that lovely time - back in 1832 where, we've had that lovely romantic, dramatic Giselle, performed with those fabulously delicate tulle tutus. And we have this fab designer Charles Worth, the most amazing dressmaker in Paris. This lovely fellow was all about the dresses, the big bouffant skirts and all things beautiful. Well, I am always on the lookout for beautiful inspiration, darling - and it all begins with those big, beautiful, swirling skirts - think a ballerina doing a graceful fouette en tournant - those fab skirts and twirls - a dream in tulle! It's these fab sketches by the wonderful Charles Worth - with those big, wonderful, tulle and muslin skirts - the origins of the modern tutu. Isn't that a fab story for Tutu Tuesday? That is just so beautiful! I actually love how things are so connected - history, fashion and ballet - truly magnificent and inspiring, my dear readers!
Now, as Tutu Tuesday begins to come to an end, let's look at some of the key dates that make up the history of our amazing Ballet Tutu:
- 1832 The debut of Giselle, an instant ballot hit, which influenced costume design, in particular the appearance of the tutu, as seen today. Dreamy!
- 1851 - This is the year the gorgeous grand ballet* 'Paquita' was brought to the stage of the Paris Opera. You know how I love a good dress. Paris, darling, Paris is my heaven, my dears! They set a very important trend in Paris at that time, changing how ballet costumes looked and what fabrics were used. Think fabrics, layers of fabric, my darlings. I always look at what the leading fashionistas are doing in Paris! And it started there, those fab tutus.
- 1877 The year when Marius Petipa, that super ballet maestro, took over creative control in St Petersburg - a must see for those ballet fans out there! He brought to the world, a super-style that became an icon. And remember the ballet Don Quixote? The fab Spanish look? Absolutely in vogue - with layers of silk and satin, feathers and lace, you just know I adore the look! And guess what darling - they even featured the fab tutu in five layers of tulle and plenty of tulle for that extra-special 'wow' factor!
And those five layers of tulle are just beautiful for ballet. So easy and light to spin and twirl in. Now don't think we're just relying on Paris and St Petersburg, darling! Let's talk Moscow! A super fab location. It's 1917, the time for another great Ballet Costume designer Alexandra Benois! You can't love the colour pink as much as I do and not love her, She even has a fab rose colour* to her name - 'The Alexandra Pink'. The colour of my *pink tutu, darlings, the pink of my soul!. And I am pretty sure if I travel a little further back in time, I could *maybe even have a word with her! The pink tutu story never ends!. And all those fantastic layers of fabric. Imagine all those fabrics coming together. It makes me want to dance - I can see all those lovely dancers wearing the fab tutu, dancing the night away in my mind! Just fabulous. Timeless beauty.
I have to sign off, darlings. More tutu adventures to be had next Tuesday, my lovely readers! Don't forget to wear your pink tutu, and get out and dance, darlings! Don't just dance in the theatre, dance anywhere and everywhere! And in the words of my fashion icon, Coco Chanel "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous". Go forth and twirl! Until next time, darling, you're beautiful, you're fashionable, you're magnificent and wear pink. See you next week, my lovely readers!
Love and Tutus
Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
