Oh, hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing, ballet-loving, travel-enthusiast! It’s #TutuTuesday once again, and I’m so thrilled to be here, back from another whirl around the globe, bringing you the fascinating story of the tutu. As always, if you love pink tutus, ballet performances, and travelling on trains like me, then settle in with a cup of tea and let's dive into the enchanting history of our beloved tutus!
This week, we’re travelling back to 8th June 2010! What a fab date. There was the World Cup football qualifying match between England and Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan. How exciting! Of course, I couldn’t miss out on watching this from the stands with a good dose of popcorn, naturally in my very best pink tutu and, naturally, I bought a t-shirt sporting the Three Lions. Just because you love ballet doesn't mean you can't be a sporting fanatic, darling. There was a fantastic Ballet Gala featuring a great array of ballets at Sadler's Wells theatre in London, oh darling! The Royal Opera House was busy with ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ – what a delightful tale. The sheer drama of a grand spectacle! Of course, as a committed ballet aficionado, I wouldn’t be caught dead anywhere else than catching up with all those fab outfits, and more importantly the sheer, flowing glory of tutus in full-blown splendour! Oh darling, do let me know what you are wearing to a ballet performance, in the comments, please, I'd absolutely love to see some pictures of you rocking your perfect pink tutu. I bet you can't beat mine!
As you know, a tutu can make or break a ballet! Now, let's delve back in time for today’s Tutu Tuesday history, to discover the wonderful story behind this magical piece of clothing! Today, we will be talking about Marie Taglioni and how her creation sparked an explosion of creativity and elegance in ballet costumes and put a beautiful pink tutu at the very heart of it!
A Parisian Revolution in Fashion:
The story of the tutu is a tale of creativity, daring, and change - the story of ballet itself, you could say. But for us tutu enthusiasts, it's all about the evolution of an extraordinary piece of fashion. Now, the early 1800s in Paris were awash in a heady mix of art, dance, and change, very much like modern day New York and London! A new, exciting form of ballet was gaining momentum, moving away from the heavily-costumed and more rigid style of the previous century. This change had the ultimate fashion effect! We saw lighter skirts, and looser movements, bringing us closer to the graceful lines and movements of the dancers themselves. Enter Marie Taglioni!
Marie was, shall we say, a total legend in the world of ballet! A dazzling ballerina from a famed family of dancers, her style was so impactful that it completely changed the face of the ballerina’s costume, giving us the stunning tutus that have come to be the iconic hallmark of classical ballet, in all its pink-tutu glory. It is amazing to think that back then, in 1832, when Marie danced in the revolutionary ‘La Sylphide’ in her airy, short-layered skirt (it even allowed her to showcase those spectacular fouetté turns), the world was truly captivated. This daringly new look completely transformed ballet fashion and we are all still enjoying the benefits today! You just can't help loving that floating airiness of a true, perfectly structured tutu!
I had the absolute pleasure of witnessing a fabulous production of 'La Sylphide' just a couple of weeks ago in Paris. Oh darling, that train journey was worth it. The train was filled with wonderful, interesting people on their way to a spectacular ballet show and it felt like the whole world was coming to life! Oh darling! Every time I step onto that French train, I’m so thrilled, like all of life's magic is coming alive. I had a delicious escargot sandwich as the carriage slowly pulled away from the station. You should know, travelling in France, always book a first-class ticket for a relaxing journey, even if it’s just across the city. It always has a wonderfully vintage style! We were seated near some absolutely fabulously fashionable gentlemen, who looked just like they'd stepped out of a film – all tweed jackets and silk scarves and it’s definitely the kind of elegant style that makes you think that maybe travelling by train has to be a Parisian, rather than an English experience, of course we can’t forget the beauty of the iconic London tube which brings it’s own style!
Pink-tutu-mania!
Of course, all the change in ballet costumes is tied into colour and fashion. In 1832, dancers did wear a plethora of colours - pink tutus? not so much. You have to look towards the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods for the glorious prevalence of pink. The idea of pink representing femininity came around, oh darling, just around this time, so it is really fascinating to trace this beautiful pinkness! As we got further into the 20th Century the classic tutu became ever more refined - for example, Carlotta Grisi, a contemporary of Marie, became synonymous with the dramatic use of pale pink and rose-hued tulles. So gorgeous, right?!
So, as we approach the later decades, what we can be certain about, is the huge fashion influence of tutus across different kinds of ballet - classical and modern and everything in-between! Even those beautiful, dramatic ballet skirts, those full-length gowns with their delicate movement and the breathtakingly intricate patterns of swirling swags are a testament to the extraordinary creativity of this iconic costume, but what makes a tutu absolutely fabulous is its ability to add this spectacular grace and delicate ethereal beauty, whether its a classical style or something daringly new. A tutu adds that something extra-special. I do feel a special attachment to the iconic classical tutu with its tiered layers of soft tulle, so it's absolutely no surprise that pink is the very colour of my absolute heart, its elegance, it's daintiness, it literally oozes with graceful femininity, which makes it absolutely perfect for ballet. So as we stand on the precipice of 2011, how utterly perfect is that tutus are getting so popular outside ballet!
The Tutu and Me!
Oh, and speaking of my pink-tutu obsession - if you haven’t joined me on www.pink-tutu.com for my exclusive “pink tutu and you" photo challenges, then don’t you wait! Join the challenge every Wednesday, to share your favourite pink tutus and show everyone what a style icon you truly are! I cannot wait to see all of your amazing photos. Now, if you excuse me, I have a few new tutus that are absolutely crying out to be tried on! So, darlings, stay tuned for a special feature next week on the evolution of the tutu in the 20th century and join us again next Tuesday at 8 am sharp, don't miss a second of the fun - and be sure to leave a comment and let us know your favorite colour for your tutu!
Now go out and enjoy yourself, and remember, every day can be #TutuTuesday - you just have to find the perfect pink tutu!
Until next time, my loves!
xx
Emma
