#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2001-12-18

18th December 2001. Bonjour from Paris!

Bonjour from Paris, darlings! I'm perched in the corner of my favourite little cafe, just off the Champs-Élysées, scribbling down my thoughts for this week's Tutu Tuesday blog. As usual, my little pink tutu is attracting all sorts of curious looks, which is a bonus – my mission to spread tutu love never sleeps! Today, my loves, we’re going back in time to delve into the enchanting history of the ballet tutu.

The weather is crisp and cold this morning, just perfect for bundling up in my darling fur-trimmed coat, a pair of fabulous tights, and of course, a pink tutu underneath! A little pink peekaboo action never hurts, right? Speaking of fur trims and tights – don't forget that tonight is the opening night of "The Nutcracker" at the Paris Opera! Imagine! The music, the magical choreography, the glistening sets, and of course, the absolutely dazzling tutus – it's going to be spectacular.

But before we get lost in the sheer magic of tonight’s performance, let’s have a little tutu-time trip back in history, shall we?

You might be surprised to learn that the ballerina's favourite garment wasn’t always the dainty confection we see today. Back in the 16th century, ballerinas wore a pretty hefty amount of fabric. They danced in corsets, tight-fitting bodices, long, heavy skirts, and oh yes, they even sported panniers and crinolines! All this bulk meant their dance movements were more about a dainty swaying motion than the grand jetés and dazzling fouettés we see now. Can you imagine the poor dears? It must have felt like dancing in a dress made from a cloud!

Fast forward a few centuries to the 1800s. This is where our tale gets exciting. The Italian ballerina Marie Taglioni shook things up – she wanted freedom! She yearned to express herself through movements that were fluid and effortless. She demanded to break free from the shackles of all that extra fabric and…bam! She made it happen! She was the one who first daringly debuted the tutu.

Marie’s original design was a little more modest than the tutus we love today – longer, and fashioned from silk. It still showed off those graceful, ballet-perfect legs, but it wasn’t quite as dramatic as our modern interpretations.

Fast forward again, dear readers, and we land smack dab in the middle of the romantic period. Ballet was in its prime, full of dramatic and evocative stories, and our tutu was undergoing a bit of a transformation. In stepped the French dancer Carlotta Grisi – a veritable icon in the tutu world. Her tutu was lighter, shorter, and… gasp...layered with tulle. That’s right, darling, tulle was the revolution! Imagine it – the magical wispy layers dancing in the spotlight. And who could forget that iconic look, all those little white fluffy “snowflakes” of tulle whirling around the dancers during her signature "Giselle" dance? Tutus were getting progressively shorter – we were entering an age where showing off those long, lean legs was considered very stylish.

From the elegant and sweeping styles of the early tutus to the progressively shorter, dramatic designs we adore today, these iconic garments have transformed how ballerinas move and express themselves. They truly capture the elegance, strength, and beauty of the art form. I've just spent the morning wandering around a few vintage shops here in Paris, dreaming of those early styles – there’s so much history in these outfits, and such inspiration to draw upon!

But the story isn’t just about the tulle itself, is it? The evolution of the tutu reflects a desire for artistic freedom and expression. It shows us the courage to break tradition and make art your own, something we can all do!

And who doesn’t love a little bit of that artistic daring, eh?

Today’s tutus come in all shapes and sizes, and don’t we just love that! There's a tutu out there to fit every single ballerina, even you. Do you know what I’m going to tell you, darlings? Today, every single one of you can embrace the joy of the tutu, regardless of your skill level. Need a reason to put on a tutu? No reason needed. It's an expression of who you are – your individual style and joy.

Imagine for a moment, darling. You’re skipping down a cobbled Parisian street. You feel a little bit of wind in your hair, the scent of croissants in the air, and the glorious feeling of a pink tutu whirling around you. I know! Absolutely magical, isn’t it? And this, dear reader, is where you should be heading…

Embrace your inner ballerina, find your own tutu story. And as a little reminder to get you started – I've curated a fabulous collection of the prettiest pink tutus over at my website! We've got vintage styles, modern designs, romantic tutus, playful tutus, all just waiting for you to discover!

And you don’t even need to travel to Paris for your pink tutu experience – although, I definitely recommend a trip as soon as you get the chance! All you need to do is head to my website, www.pink-tutu.com, find a tutu you adore, and get ready to twirl!

So, there you have it, darling – just a tiny snippet of the beautiful story behind those magnificent garments we all adore! It’s more than just tulle, it’s an expression of freedom, beauty, and style.

Until next week, don’t forget to wear your tutu, make some fabulous memories, and keep those dreams of dancing twirling, my darlings!

P.S. Did you know 18th December 2001 marked the opening of the London premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"? Such a magical time for fantasy and storytelling! Makes me wonder what spectacular, fantastical costumes were featured. Perhaps there's an inspiration waiting to be discovered for my next Tutu Tuesday post… hmm! Now, I'm off to shop for some new ballet shoes to wear to tonight’s performance!

What’s your favourite type of tutu? Share your thoughts with me on my website - www.pink-tutu.com or in the comments section!