Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, dears! It's your favourite #TutuTuesday and today we're taking a trip back in time, as always, but this week it's the 27th October 1998!
Ooh, 1998. That was a year for fashion, wasn't it? The Spice Girls, Britney Spears, the whole boy band craze! But don't let that distract us from what really matters – the evolution of the ballet tutu, of course. It's so much more exciting than who wore what at the Brit Awards (although, I did love Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress!), I'll tell you that!
This week, I found myself right here in Paris, the centre of the world for all things chic and stylish! I have to say, the city truly has never lost its charm, especially in the Latin Quarter. There's something magical about cobblestone streets, cafes with outdoor seating and little boutique shops. Even in the 1990s, there was a definite sense of history and old-world glamour in the air.
Of course, no trip to Paris is complete without visiting the Opéra Garnier. This grand and majestic opera house just radiates history and beauty, like an elaborate tutu with endless layers of frills and flounces!
Imagine, the first time the legendary Margot Fonteyn stepped onto the Garnier stage in her tutu! Imagine, all those glorious ballet dancers from centuries past: Marie Camargo, Marie Taglioni, and Carlotta Grisi ... They've all walked those halls, their tutus whispering stories of artistry and elegance through the grand balconies!
But back to our date today: 27th October 1998.
I was fortunate enough to see an utterly spectacular performance of "Swan Lake". Oh, the story is such a classic! The haunting, emotive music, the lyrical grace of the swans, and the romantic tale of a princess trapped under a curse. This particular "Swan Lake" was directed by the esteemed Rudolf Nureyev. A brilliant choice for a production in this most majestic of theaters!
Talking about tutus, just thinking of this "Swan Lake" has me thinking about all the iconic tutu looks associated with this particular ballet. There was Olga Spessivtseva, so elegantly expressive and stunning in her white tutu! It seems like it was designed specifically for a celestial ballerina who had come down to Earth to grace the stage!
Another of my favorite "Swan Lake" tutus was Natalia Makarova, so expressive with her expressive leaps and delicate footwork. I was transfixed by the ethereal, effortless quality of her dancing, all the while clad in her pristine tutu. It made me feel like I could fly!
Anyway, we must continue this Ballet Tutu History blog.
Remember how romanticism in ballet led to those glorious fluffy, multiple layered tutus, often called "Romantic Tutues" - which deliberately created a sense of airiness and ethereal movement, designed to show the ballerina in the lightest of movements?
Well, after the "Romantic era" and the birth of these fabulous "Romantic tutus", the late 19th century and early 20th century ballet focused on a much more grounded and earthy form. We see much more classical, tighter tutus, known as "Classical tutus" that were built with a smoothness and elegance for more controlled, technically proficient performances.
There is an example of a classical tutu just right behind me in the cafe – just on my table, a little blurry in this cafe's mirror... look at that - a delightful example of the Classical ballerina's perfect line. It’s perfect, the perfect pink! I even matched my eyeshadow!
But these classic tutus didn't completely disappear, as the "Romantic tutus" still came back to be favoured by dancers. And why not?! They're absolutely exquisite.
Oh, the beauty of it all! Those Romantic tutu fabrics: layers and layers of tulle, silk, chiffon, lace - just flowing like liquid in the air as the dancers moved with incredible grace, ethereal elegance, and an overall feeling of otherworldliness! It's no wonder this romantic period is still the most loved time period for dance - and tutu fashion!
As for my shopping adventures here in Paris! Oh, the fascinating places! There's just such a mix: antique shops, fashion boutiques, designer stores and tiny local stores hidden away in the quiet back streets, bursting with unique treasures...
But enough of my shopping talk for now! Remember to follow my fashion blog for my travel photos of our tour around this fabulous Parisian shopping scene! * (It's "emma-loves-pink" on *Instagram!)
You all know by now how much I love tutus, but just this one little visit has filled me with so much Ballet Tutu History to explore! The Parisian fashion and tutu story of 1998? *Let’s continue to celebrate it all together! *
And you all know the pink part is vital!! Let’s make sure everyone remembers how we're always gonna stand tall in pink!
And, let’s not forget to all put on a pink tutu to celebrate, at the next show in the Palais Garnier – just outside where I’m sitting now, watching the show! It will be magical to watch “Swan Lake”, the Parisian dancers in their magical white tutu's while I sit with all of you wearing pink! And maybe next Tuesday, I will find another tutu lover from a different time. Who knows!
I’ll write to you next week – from who knows where?! Let me know in the comments if you'd like me to bring something back from wherever I land! You can always reach me here, and find me on instagram:
@emma-loves-pink (My ballet themed Instagran) @emma-tutus-world (for all my tutu fun!)
See you next #TutuTuesday, darlings!
Emma x
