Hello my darling dears, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! It's me, Emma, your ever-so-slightly-obsessed-with-pink-tutus time-travelling ballerina blogger. Today, on this gloriously sunny Tuesday (oh, how I love those!), we're diving deep into the world of the Ballet Tutu.
But first, before we even begin to pirouette through history, I just have to tell you about my utterly fabulous day in 1920s Paris! The fashion! The food! I had the most exquisite macarons at Ladurée – pink, naturally. Oh, and did I tell you about my absolutely stunning new tulle skirt from Chanel? Such exquisite craftsmanship! I wore it to the Folies Bergère last night, where I saw a simply divine Josephine Baker in full shimmying glory. Truly the most magnificent evening!
Now, let's rewind to the beginning – The Very First Tutu, A Story in Four Acts:
Act I: The Renaissance
Let's go way back to 16th century Italy, where a most daring development occurred. The “Tuba,” a sort of a frock with a circular, billowing skirt made a splash, worn by dancers who were making quite a spectacle at lavish, lavish court parties. Picture: royal courts filled with dancing courtiers swirling about in those huge, billowing skirts, practically bursting with elegance and a dash of naughtiness. The tuba began a ballet trend that lasted for centuries! It was very impressive and quite the departure from those stiff, long-skirted gowns women wore everywhere else.
Act II: The Age of Elegance (17th – 18th centuries)
The next stage in our tutuing tale lands us in 17th century France. This period of ballet really pushed those billowing gowns ever further – think gigantic puffiness. We have to thank Mr. Louis XIV, (yes, the King Sun), for this magnificent advancement. Louis had an enormous influence on ballet. You might be familiar with him and his court's rather elegant penchant for panniers, the frames worn underneath gowns to make those lovely billowing skirts, they went extra-big in ballet. These dancers really embraced their skirt sizes, pushing the visual theatricality to new heights!
Act III: The Enlightenment
We’re onto the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a truly important time in ballet, dear readers. These were the beginning of those very famous tutu silhouettes we recognize today! The idea of using shorter skirts in dance began to be discussed – there was even some debate whether the dresses needed to be worn with panniers or not. But something revolutionary began to emerge: The skirts became lighter. It was the early Romantic Era of ballet, where lightness and ethereal beauty reigned. Dancers wanted greater movement – and skirts responded with more flexibility and freedom. This period also introduced *a certain famous pink tutu we all know: Maria Taglioni's ethereal "white tulle" tutu, worn for her iconic performance in La Sylphide in 1832! A beautiful moment in history, darling dears. Simply iconic.
Act IV: The Golden Age and Beyond (The Late 1800s - Today)
From the grand tutu worn for Giselle (which used even more fabric to create voluminous skirts that flowed in glorious sweeps) to the shorter tutu used in the Russian Ballet and then by the legendary Pavlova in her roles that redefined modern ballet. Oh, I must show you her tutus sometime, they're just…amazing! The designs of those famous ballerinas really did help shape ballet and tutus alike! We're talking shortened tutus with longer-layered fabrics, allowing for an unprecedented degree of flexibility and agility on stage. Those lovely layered ruffles just added a magical lightness that has charmed audiences for decades. They're quite truly breathtaking to behold.
So, we come to today: Tutulessness would be * unthinkable* now in ballet, just as a great pink polka dot would be utterly essential for any truly elegant event, wouldn't you agree?
Speaking of pink, and speaking of ballet, I simply have to tell you about the most gorgeous show I saw at the Royal Opera House yesterday. The sheer artistry, the precision of the movements, the dancers flying across the stage...Sigh, I love ballet. And I simply have to share a rather splendid fashion find from that delightful shop just down from the theater - a pink ballerina-print silk scarf with matching gloves, naturally.
I do have to dash now - there’s a tea party at my cousin's place in Nottingham tomorrow (of course, it will involve more pink!). But do take a whirl through our website for more *#TutuTuesday history, more posts on our favourite ballerina outfits and even some *tutu inspiration for your next grand occasion!**
Remember, dear dears: The tutu is the quintessential piece of dance attire, its design evolving over the years into the spectacular works of art we know and love today. And what more charming reminder than the beautiful pink tutu that speaks to every girl's inner ballerina. So why not embrace it? Put on your own pink tutu today and let the world see your inner ballerina! Have a wonderfully tutu-licious week, and see you next Tuesday!
Warmly,
Emma x
