#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2009-06-09

Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tulle and twirls! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another #TutuTuesday blog post, and this week we're taking a trip back in time to explore the delightful history of our beloved tutu!

As you know, I, Emma, am absolutely obsessed with tutus. Pink tutus, red tutus, yellow tutus, I love them all! But where did this fabulous garment originate? Let's step back in our time machine, pack our pink ballet shoes, and find out!

We need to start with the glorious city of Paris, my dears! Imagine it: the year 1839. Ballet was en vogue. The renowned ballerina Marie Taglioni was captivating audiences with her delicate moves and her incredible lightness on the stage. It was revolutionary at the time, and Marie needed a costume that matched her elegant dance. She was known for being incredibly elegant. She would float on pointe shoes. Her pointe shoes! How incredible? The whole room would be mesmerised by the wonder of it all!

That's when the "tutu" was born - a name that probably makes every little girl's heart skip a beat, wouldn't you say? Marie wore a short skirt of tulle in her famous performance of "La Sylphide". Imagine a skirt that fluttered with every graceful movement! That, my darlings, was the beginning of a beautiful story, the story of the tutu.

From that moment onwards, the tutu blossomed, literally! From a simple little skirt to a dramatic symbol of beauty and elegance, its transformation was a joy to watch! Think of all the ballerinas who made this incredible garment a legend. The likes of Carlotta Grisi and Anna Pavlova! These extraordinary ladies, they embraced the tutu and they turned it into an art form. Imagine their performances on stages around the world, floating across the floor with the most delicate of movements, with their tutus billowing out around them, oh, what a sight to behold! We are truly lucky that this form of beauty continues to be an iconic symbol of classical ballet!

Now, we can't forget our dearest Tchaikovsky! Did you know that when his iconic Swan Lake premiered, the ballerinas wore the most beautiful tutus, made from layers upon layers of white tulle. It was simply breathtaking! Can you imagine yourself gliding across the stage, dressed as a swan? Magical! We simply can't go past these classic performances and forget the tutu!

You can find a tutu to match every personality! Want a delicate wispy romantic one or a grand and full layered ballerina tutu? The choice is yours! If I'm looking for a bit of inspiration for a show-stopping look, you know I'm going to take a stroll around a theatrical costume shop. The tutu remains the iconic garment in a ballet studio, but also as a key element in theatrical costume design, especially with performances in contemporary styles!

What’s more, darling, the tutu isn’t limited to ballerinas anymore! It has gone from being a staple for a ballet studio to being seen all around the world. There are tutu parties and celebrations for everything, and I absolutely adore them. We’re proud of the evolution of this glorious symbol of movement and grace!

So, today, I urge you, my lovelies, to embrace the power of a tutu! We're going to take this magnificent garment out of the studio and onto the streets, into everyday life!

It's June the 9th, 2009, today! It's a gloriously sunny day here in London. I’ve been soaking up the sunshine. I went to Covent Garden Market. Oh my! The smell of flowers in the air, it’s simply divine. So beautiful. I even spotted some flowers I hadn’t seen before! Can’t wait to pop down to the local florists later today! And then, it's off to the ballet this evening! I just adore it here in London. You’re always spoilt for choice when it comes to performances, darling. This evening I’m going to watch a spectacular performance by the Royal Ballet. And guess what! I’ll be wearing my beautiful pink tutu, of course!

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I'm going to Paris next week. Oh, how exciting! It's going to be full of gorgeous clothes shopping and seeing the ballet, of course. I’ve been saving up for ages for this, and I have this gorgeous lilac tutu in my eye. Imagine the slight lavender colour swirling with my long blond curls as I dance on a train! It will be divine. I'm even going to take my dear little grey rabbit, Fluffy, with me on this amazing journey! Can you believe it! Fluffy just loves it! Fluffy thinks a tutu is something special, too, she looks the part with her long fluffy tail bouncing behind her! And I’ll tell you all about the wonderful French fashions when I get back!

Oh my darlings, I simply can’t wait. Let's get ready to dance! Until next time, twirl on, and keep that positive energy flowing, because in this magical world, every single day is a day for wearing a tutu!

Love and tulle, Emma xx