Hello dearies! It's Emma here, your resident Tutu-ist and historian extraordinaire, coming to you live fromā¦wait for itā¦drumroll pleaseā¦the grand old city of Paris! š©°āØ
Itās Tutu Tuesday, darlings, and what better way to celebrate than to take a trip back in time? Today we're whisking ourselves to 24th December 2002! Imagine, the festive spirit of Christmas Eve swirling around us, the air thick with anticipation for Santaās arrival, and oh my, have you seen the window displays? I spotted the most divine velvet dresses at Printemps ā my heart skipped a beat!
This week, weāre going on a historical escapade to explore the evolution of the magnificent tutu. Itās a fashion phenomenon, isnāt it? Every time I step into a tutu, I feel like Iām on stage, ready to pirouette and leap into a fairytale world. But did you know that the tutu wasnāt always this perfectly frothy, whimsical delight?
Back in the days of Marie Taglioni, who could have ever imagined the fabulous twirling machine we see today? Now, for a little blast from the past...
The tutu's long, stylish journey
It all began with the romantic ballerina, Marie Taglioni. Imagine, a vision of pure grace, light as a feather, in a long, billowing, white (gasp!) skirt! You wouldn't catch me dead in white, my dears! In the 1800s, the tutu wasnāt so ātutuā-ish at all! It was all about ethereal gowns, wispy layers, and just the hint of a silhouette, perfect for showcasing the elegance of the dancer.
Over time, the silhouette tightened up a bit, the layers were pruned back, and the tutu became shorter, revealing a tantalising glimpse of calf muscle (very elegant indeed!) This shorter form, also known as the Romantic tutu, continued to dominate ballet stages until the end of the 19th century. This is when the tutuās revolutionary journey truly took flight!
Enter the classic tutu
Oh darling, I simply adore the classic tutu! That glorious swirling, voluminous silhouette! Picture this: the famous āGiselleā - it's sheer magic! š©°āØ But the classic tutu's invention had some serious star power: Marie Petipa, a legendary choreographer, along with his collaborator, Marius Petipa, gave us the majestic tutu we all know and love! (Imagine if I was a ballerina then - my wardrobe would be so exquisite!)
These magnificent ballerinas of yore ā they understood the power of the tutu! They spun with a grace and panache, making it a staple on stages everywhere, a testament to artistic creativity.
And just think! All those designs, shapes, and fabrics, from layers of tulle to feathered headdressesā¦ they were all innovations!
This is how I love to wear a tutu. Short and flouncy for shopping expeditions, a delightful length to watch shows, and of course, long and ethereal when waltzing through my local theatre!
But there's so much more to the tutu's story than just length, colour, and fluff. Oh no, my dears, thereās also function! Thatās the secret to the tutu's staying power! This little masterpiece of fabric helps the dancer to move freely, execute leaps and twirls with stunning precision and grace ā the magic of theatre! It is truly a piece of artistic perfection.
A pink wonderland:
So, as you see, my love for the tutu is an artistic passion. I feel like a princess from a storybook, a graceful vision of ballet elegance, even if I can't execute a pirouette for toffee.
And speaking of fairytale, why is there no pink in all the traditional tutus? I must rectify this fashion oversight ā you canāt tell me a pink tutu wouldn't be utterly divine! Why stick to pale pastels and the dull grey of tradition?! Pink tutus? It's high time, darling! My next trip into the past might involve a stop at the Moulin Rouge and a serious sartorial makeover!
I bet my followers back in 2022 would agree - itās a fantastic look! I'm ready to break down these boundaries, you know! Pink, pink, everywhere!
Let's not forget Christmas Eve in 2002!
It's time to step back into my Tutu Time Machine and go home. Imagine, snow falling on Christmas Eve in England - my hometown of Derbyshire. Itās chilly out, but I'll be sipping hot chocolate by the fire with my family. Then Iāll grab my new pink tutu from my latest London shopping spree, a present from Santa Claus, and twirl like nobodyās watching!
And speaking of Christmas, what better way to end this weekās Tutu Tuesday than with a big olā pink Christmas wish ā may all your twirls be full of grace and joy, my darlings! Happy Holidays!
Till next Tuesday!
Love, Emma xx
