Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and twirly! It's me, Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing ballerina blogger, back with another thrilling instalment of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History. Today, we're time travelling back to 2009, the year of #TutuTuesday post number 9238 â the very first blog post ever written by this fabulous little ballerina blogger!
I'm writing to you today from the bustling, dazzling city of New York. It's just after Christmas, the city still shimmery with decorations, the scent of roasted chestnuts clinging to the crisp winter air, and a wonderful buzz in the air. And itâs only right, as New York is simply bursting with creativity â a true hub for dance and fashion! Just imagine, Iâve seen tutus strutting down Broadway, adding a dash of pink to every shop window. You can imagine, I've had my little pink shoes quite literally on the go all week!
Itâs all so thrilling â watching the incredible, daring fashion designs, getting lost in the theatre, soaking up the buzz of the City. The energy is absolutely intoxicating! I could quite easily be persuaded to move here if I werenât so partial to a good Derbyshire pub!
But, for this #TutuTuesday, weâre taking a journey through the tutuâs rich history. We're diving into the past, exploring its origins and all the different stages of evolution. You'll be amazed at how far this iconic garment has come â and of course, how it continues to capture our hearts!
Tutus through the Ages - Where did this delightful piece of clothing come from?
It all started in 1832, in a lovely French ballet called La Sylphide. You might wonder what the ballet world would look like without tutus? Well, the tutus were invented specifically for the lovely Marie Taglioni! Can you imagine this stunning dancer without one? She truly started the tutu-mania that has continued for over two centuries!
You know whatâs fascinating? At the time, everyone wore layers of voluminous clothing and tight corsets. Marie, in the role of the beautiful Sylph, became the first woman to ever wear a super light, ethereal, fluffy skirt on stage. I don't know how, but Marie even managed to do impressive leaps and turns in those super full, beautiful skirts. Now, they really arenât designed for that kind of vigorous movement!
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Marie, the lovely original ballerina and muse of Charles Didelot, a true vision of a creative mind, and a genius when it comes to dance. They truly helped bring the tutu into being. Their creation became the iconic ballerina garment that we know and adore today.
As time went on, the romantic tutu â which, by the way, is just a bit of fabric gathered up and frilled with several layers - had its own delightful evolution. There are several lovely iterations of this style, some short, some longer, all depending on the character the ballerina is embodying. Can you believe? At one point, there was even a full-length tutu called the waisted tutu ! What a fascinating, and definitely super beautiful, concept!
Classical Ballerina tutus! A True Star
Now we are off to explore the beautiful classical tutu. It wasn't so far from the lovely romantic tutu. Remember the lovely âThe Nutcrackerâ ? It had many layers and tulle that stretched almost to the toes. Imagine the sheer loveliness! This ballet definitely introduced the iconic, beautiful silhouette to ballet dancers, and really shaped ballet dress for future dancers.
Did you know that the tutu is all about the shape? Theyâve become a true sign of classical ballet, the beautiful shape of their skirt, created by several layers and lots of beautiful fabric - tulle and satin are the usual fabric of choice - makes them incredibly lovely to watch, even with minimal embellishments.
More About These Wonderful Creations.
These tutus are so fun and intricate. When youâre standing at the theatre, just before the lights come up, and you glimpse those layers, all the tulle, satin, it just gets you excited!
It was around 1880 that these tutus became the dominant design â the classical tutu, as it came to be known - is one of the most stunning garments on this earth. In a word - majestic.
And thatâs just one type of classical tutu, the famous, layered style! Another one, my absolute favourite - well, my love for all types is equal - is called the petit tutu or demi-tutu, the tutu I have a rather strong likeness to myself - it is one of the most common styles seen in ballet and Iâve seen these amazing ones with their flowing, tiered skirt, making me giddy with delight.
The petit tutu has a lovely flowing tiered skirt thatâs fitted at the hip. The bodice, often with a fitted bodice that shows off the lovely shape of a dancerâs shoulders. If you see a classical tutu at the theatre and the dancers are jumping and twirling like tiny, light-as-air sprites, theyâre probably dancing in a petit tutu. You can see the delightful curves that the tiered skirt produces as the dancers make their stunning moves. It's such an absolute joy!
What's it Like Dancing in A Tutu?
I know you are asking yourselves - just what is it like dancing in a tutu, well it takes a lot of practice to dance with the grace and ease required. You have to move so naturally with each step, a constant awareness of how you move your body. It takes endless practice to really move in a tutu, to make those jumps, and turns look as seamless and light as the dancersâ own graceful movements! And thereâs no chance of wearing anything under it either! So the next time you see a beautiful dancer, know it has taken years to achieve their movements. And it does need a dancer to be light on their feet as they need to be so mindful about their delicate garments!
And, just a tip, while I have on many an occasion seen ballet dancers twirling gracefully in their romantic and classical tutus, and even though they do create stunning moves in those super large, airy pieces, the petit tutu, is far easier to perform in as it allows dancers to twirl and leap easily, just imagine what it is like.
And let's not forget the bodice of these elegant designs, often fitted with lace or some exquisite stitching. You wouldn't believe how much love is poured into a beautiful bodice that completes the look, and often is embellished with pretty, beautiful gemstones. I'm always on the look-out for a pretty ballerina bodice, in a light, airy pink that reflects my girly taste, if anyoneâs interested!
Time for a Tutu Shop!
While we are on the subject of tutus, I always find my feet headed towards the amazing shop in New York, on 57th Street and 7th Ave. A haven of fashion and elegance. Oh my, you should see this place - an abundance of colourful and luxurious dresses, lovely shoes and, to my great delight, a truly sensational selection of tutus for ballerinas! Youâre welcome to stop by.
The colours that make you swoon, such elegant designs for a classical, romantic, or petit tutu. I simply couldnât resist a light pink classical tutu, you can imagine! I just know I have to come back next week to explore the designs and colours that the wonderful staff can put together for the latest trends in the ballet world.
It's so interesting how tutus evolved over time to meet the needs of different ballerinas and their styles. The amazing things that come with this design of tutus in the modern world! Theyâve just about survived centuries of design innovation! I cannot get enough of tutus! I'd love to see them every day in all of my wardrobe. As my pink, fashion-forward heart would adore it, I think itâs my mission in life - getting every person to wear pink tutu, wouldnât that be amazing!
But for now, I'll leave you to admire this iconic piece of history. Until next week's #TutuTuesday, stay tuned! Letâs twirl through history with a pink tutu and never forget to live life in full. Happy twirling darlings!
