Bonjour, darling Tutu-lovers! Emma here, your resident Tutu enthusiast and fashionista extraordinaire, reporting live from the land of dreams (that’s Paris for all you uncultured swots!). Oh, how I adore the City of Lights! I've just witnessed a breathtaking performance of "Swan Lake" at the Palais Garnier and it was truly divine, I must say. That dreamy music, the captivating artistry, and the swans. Goodness, I can barely write because of all the emotions! But I digress!
You all know why we're here today: Tutu Tuesday! This week, I thought we'd journey into the history of our beloved tutus, diving into their fascinating journey from a practical dance garment to the epitome of elegance and grace!
I love researching. My flat is currently overflowing with old books on fashion history, costume design, and naturally, ballet! A bit of a clutter bunny, I admit, but I cannot resist picking up a dusty old book with beautiful illustrations! I’m on a quest, you see! A quest to bring all the tutus from the past into the present - and I'll have you know that my collection is already truly magnificent. I’m thinking it’s about time we launched a tutu museum! What do you think, my dears?
Today, we're embarking on our time-travelling exploration right from 24th April 2001! Hold onto your boas, darlings, we're about to be transported back in time.
From the Practical to the Powerful
Let's start with the humble beginnings of the tutu, which are far less glamorous than one might imagine. The early forms of the tutu, or what we might call its ancestor, weren’t quite the showstoppers they are today. Imagine a simple, modest skirt, practical for women who had to move and dance, worn by the ballerinas of the 17th and 18th centuries. These skirts were essentially frock coats worn back to front. This garment made sense when dancing, as they enabled women to have more mobility than the long, restrictive gowns of the era. And imagine those costumes in shades of deep browns, greens, and blues - oh, what a contrast to the shimmering tulle and soft pinks of the modern-day tutu!
Fast forward to the early 19th century, and we witness a groundbreaking development in ballet costume: the rise of the romantic tutu. In these early, romantic tutus, we started to see a longer, almost ethereal skirt that came down to just below the knee. These tutus became a powerful symbol of grace and ethereal beauty. Gone were the days of restricting skirts and costumes – ballerinas had a newfound sense of freedom and fluidity in their movements, with tutus being designed to swirl and flutter in the air. Oh, I could barely imagine a more magical moment!
This new era of ballet, a revolution of movement, music, and fashion, became deeply ingrained in the public's imagination, which then brought huge change to the silhouette and colours of the costumes. Now, lighter fabrics such as silk and lace started to dominate. The early Romantic period used an all-encompassing approach to beauty and fashion, including colour schemes for the costumes! I simply adore the romantic palette of pastels and light blues. What could be more ethereal?
The Tutu Enters the 20th Century: From Classical to Modern
With the arrival of the 20th century, ballet began to embrace modernity, and so too did the tutu. Gone was the elongated silhouette and flow of the Romantic period! Enter the Classical tutu, also known as the short or *tight tutu. Picture the short and fitted tutu that is used for performances like "Swan Lake" or "Sleeping Beauty". With the introduction of this shorter version, ballerinas started to express the power and athleticism of ballet with bold movements. Just picture the breathtaking artistry and intricate choreography! I'm certain, this period of ballet saw some of the most dynamic dancing ever to grace the stage, and oh darling, did it require a certain je ne sais quoi? Of course, we were back to lighter colours such as white, but with a bit more glitz, to draw the eye! Imagine glittering costumes on stage – now those are showstoppers.
It wouldn't be long until the Modern Tutu arrived, born of the experimentation and creativity of modern ballet. Now, darling, these were certainly bold tutus! The modern tutu was a masterpiece in how to express creative and exciting ideas on stage with an exploration of shapes, colours and materials. I must admit, I think we have to applaud the bold choices and creations that graced stages worldwide.
Now, remember I am your trusty time travelling tutu fashion expert. My aim in life is to bring you tutus, old and new! There's nothing I enjoy more than a well-cut and exquisitely-stitched tutu - and even a glimpse of the magnificent ballet tradition that we owe so much to. My blog wouldn't be complete without a nod to our history. And what would be better than some stunning and vintage, colourful, and absolutely exquisite tutus! A true treasure of elegance and grace - I'll show you mine if you show me yours!
I'm off to go find a piece of history to add to my ever-growing collection. My bags are packed and I'm already feeling the wind in my tulle as we continue this magnificent historical journey. Until next week, my lovelies, embrace your inner tutu goddess!
Bisous!
Emma xx
