Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-wearing blogger, Emma, back again for another whirlwind trip through time, all in the name of the fabulous world of ballet tutus! Today, we're twirling our way back to October 12th, 1999 - what a year, what a day! The world was on the cusp of a new millennium, and ballet, as always, was embracing the change with graceful elegance.
Imagine, dear readers, bustling around London, popping in and out of chic boutiques, trying on the latest designs, and watching the iconic red double-decker buses rumble past, filled with commuters rushing about. Today is all about tutuland, darling! Just picture the crisp autumn air as I hop off a red London bus, my pink tutu billowing out like a dream.
Today, October 12th, 1999, saw a glorious performance of "Giselle" by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. It's just the kind of ballet that makes my heart soar, you know? The tragic love story, the romantic music, the ethereal costumes, the beautiful dance steps...pure perfection! And you can imagine, I had a front row seat to watch the delicate tutus swirling around, as delicate and beautiful as spun sugar!
And as always, the ballet is more than just dancing – it’s about the whole experience! From the glittering chandeliers above to the plush velvet seats, it's a magical world all its own, isn’t it? And the theatre itself? Well, just picture it – the opulence, the drama, the glamour! And I know you love it just as much as I do, darling! The best bit, however, is how the theatre, even in 1999, has this air about it. Imagine walking through the grand foyer and hearing the excited chatter of ballet fans, a blend of French and Italian voices, as they’re all making their way to see the same performance as I am!
A Tutu Tale for Today!
You know I adore a good history lesson. You can’t possibly have a ballet tutu history without talking about its origins! And darling, imagine - these magnificent tutus, we take them for granted today, but their story stretches back way before we even think. And wouldn't you know, in 1999, we were smack-dab in the midst of another evolution of tutu styles.
Let’s rewind to the 1800s. The tutus were all about practicality, like Marie Taglioni in "La Sylphide". Her revolutionary tutu – oh darling, the very first one – it was short! So much lighter than the big, stiff and uncomfortable gowns. So graceful, like a little whisper, she looked, as she danced the very first Romantic ballet! But these tutus, they were evolving, you know?
Then the Romantic period ushered in a new wave of fluffy skirts – think 'Giselle' and 'La Bayadère' - they really started pushing those Romantic ideals! And those were my kind of tutus! Long and flowing, light and ethereal, like delicate clouds floating around the stage! It was as if these little tutus were bursting with ethereal beauty, all airy, weightless grace!
But back to 1999! I had a tutu-mazing discovery that day, I did! Tucked away in a little bookshop close to the Royal Opera House, I discovered a first-edition copy of a 19th-century ballet treatise. It was a detailed description of a 'Ballet des Tutus', the first "modern tutu" show, from 1880.
Imagine! This beautiful and innovative performance featured all different types of tutus – long, short, white, pink, frilly, shimmering – you name it! You just have to know that this show sparked the rise of the modern tutu! It was the point where we began to see all those styles of tutus that we all adore today - those short tutu’s, the variations in colours - and these days, even variations on how those tutus are worn – we see tutus made to resemble pants now!
And this really is all about the tutu evolution - you can almost see the modern tutu unfolding right before you - from a simple, modest dancing dress into a true dance art form in its own right, and even becoming a trend for casual wear now, too!
You know how much I love my tutu wardrobe, darling. But today's time travel, and my tutu-rific historical discoveries remind me to be mindful about how it all began, because fashion isn’t all about the present – it’s about remembering those historical highlights that have brought us to this point in time.
But it isn't just about fashion, dear reader. It's about tradition. And ballet is such a traditional art form, which means tutus are a tradition! Every single day, as I stand there before the ballet barre at class, as I slip on that classic pink tutu (my favourite!) or any of my beautiful tutus, I realise how I’m part of something so rich and timeless – I feel connected to generations of ballerinas past and present.
That day, when I was time-travelling in London, 1999, it felt like this was just the beginning, like all that beauty we saw in 'Giselle' was only going to inspire the new millennium.
And look what's happened! Fashion has caught up with the elegance of the tutu and now, all across the globe, dancers, artists, celebrities – they're wearing tutus all the time, and I'm sure you see it in your everyday lives!
Just think, I even saw that the biggest trend in fashion back in 1999 was something we see on stages and ballet class every single day! It's amazing how even back then we could see those iconic looks on the runways, in magazines, even on street fashion! And I must say, that was just a glimpse of what was to come! Because fashion is ever-evolving, and the tutu's influence? Well, let's just say it's absolutely timeless, my darling.
It all feels like destiny. You could say that our love of the ballet tutu goes hand in hand with a love for beauty, for elegance, for grace, for magic...that’s why, for Tutu Tuesday this week, let's remember our connection with this tradition of style. That’s why you see me, in my beautiful, iconic pink tutu, dancing about town, dancing in time!
Until next Tuesday, stay beautiful, wear a pink tutu, and never forget that ballet and history will always be connected! Remember, our Tutu Tuesday adventures are about keeping this timeless piece of fashion alive and twirling into the future.
Much love,
Emma xx
