Hello lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu-wearing time traveller. It’s a gorgeous day for a twirl, and a glorious #TutuTuesday to be reminiscing about our favourite dancewear - the glorious ballet tutu! I’ve hopped back in my time machine, fuelled by a sugar rush from a trip to Laduree (macarons, darlings!), to whisk you away to July 27th 2010.
Ooh, what’s on this day, you ask? It’s the day I first laid eyes on the glorious ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Bolshoi in Moscow - absolutely spectacular! We are, of course, in the beautiful, bustling centre of ballet - Russia. Did you know the first real tutus actually started appearing here back in the 1800s, replacing the restrictive panniers that were the rage just a century or two earlier? That was revolutionary, and not just in the world of ballet. Fashion in those days, my dears, was so very uncomfortable, it made even getting up to answer a knock at the door an ordeal! Thank goodness for Marie Taglioni!
A bit about her, as we all should know about our inspirational figures - Taglioni was a ballerina of immense talent who quite literally swept the world off its feet with her incredible skills. Her graceful style in 'La Sylphide' shocked and captivated everyone. It was the beginning of the ballet revolution. This was also a time when the stage was transforming, moving away from dimly lit rooms to expansive stages with amazing backdrops. Can you imagine, all that effort just to make a tutu look stunning? Now that’s commitment!
As with everything, our lovely ballet tutus have gone through a few changes since those pioneering days! The 'Romantic era', if you can believe it, saw a boom in delicate, soft-as-silk tulle. The look was all about long, floating lines, a complete contrast to the previous heavier garments. It gave ballerinas the freedom to move effortlessly across the stage, highlighting their every graceful gesture. And how amazing did those ballerinas look? Sighs wistfully.
Moving through time - fast forward - and those romantic looks became a bit more dramatic and more theatrical. You know the story: full tutus with all their fluffy splendour became the norm! Now, while the modern day ballerinas are amazing (no, really, truly incredible - have you seen the ones who can flip and jump off the walls?!), these full tutus became a bit less common as their grandeur felt somewhat at odds with contemporary choreography. And thank goodness, it's now common to see more streamlined silhouettes and new styles on the stage.
Oh, before we move on, you simply MUST try those adorable pink ballet tutus! Pink is a timeless colour, you know! But honestly, try out any colour; embrace your individuality, lovelies! There’s one for every taste, from whimsical white tutus with feathers to the more practical (but still lovely, trust me) everyday tutus that come in all colours and shades imaginable. It’s quite simply an explosive world out there, just waiting to be explored.
Speaking of explosions… the colour of tutus themselves have evolved drastically over the years, too! For example, pink tutus. That oh-so-girly, darling colour! Yes! Those glorious, pink beauties! In my mind, every girl needs one - at least! Remember the adorable ‘Swan Lake’ scene, where Odette swans around in that incredible soft-pink tulle? Heavenly! Swans around dramatically in my own pink tutu.
Of course, colours haven't stayed just at pink; every single shade under the rainbow is waiting to be adorned! It all goes back to those grand productions like the “Swan Lake” with those big, colourful tutus for Odile. We’re talking yellow, blue, red, green, oh, it’s a magnificent rainbow. And don’t even get me started on the patterns and sequins! You can have anything you desire: paisley, floral, even shimmering glitter! It’s a real art form, those stunning designs, don't you think?
It's truly delightful, don't you think, that the world of tutus embraces individuality and self-expression, from classical pointe shoes and pointe techniques to contemporary and expressive modern dance styles? It truly captures our ever-evolving society, just like fashion and trends! And, if you can't dance ballet, don't you worry - tutudom has something for everyone, for every single one! Yes, absolutely everyone!
If you need convincing, remember that amazing feeling you get when you see the grace and fluidity of dancers gliding on the stage, with those delightful tutus making their graceful movements all the more spectacular. A ballerina and her tutu is a magical and captivating duo, and their story keeps evolving! It’s so thrilling to watch and a pleasure to be part of this inspiring journey!
So let’s end this post with a heartfelt cheer for all those lovely tutus out there, past, present, and future, with their history full of colourful transformations. Twirls with joy
And don't forget to check out our new website - www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest in tutu fashion! Smugly taps screen to make a heart on a pink tutu picture.
Now go out there and twirl with joy! Remember: Pink is the colour of happiness! Whispers conspiratorially: If you have time to go shopping today, darling, remember my little boutique just off Tverskaya street! We have an amazing selection, especially in pink tutus! 😉 I'll be in the boutique most afternoons, too.
See you next week, darlings! 💖
Emma
(The author is writing for a fictional ballet fan blog. She has expressed her own personal opinion of this period and the styles during this period in history).
