Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite tutu-obsessed time traveller, ready to take you on a journey through the glorious history of ballet tutus! Today, as you all know, it's #TutuTuesday, and I’m whisking us back to the oh-so-chic 5th October, 2010. Oh, what a glorious year that was for tutus, especially in New York City! The very air crackled with anticipation as the Metropolitan Opera prepared for the opening night of "La Bohème", and the City Ballet season was just starting up too! Can you imagine? I felt positively faint from all the excitement.
So, before I share my adventures in this fascinating time, I'm taking a moment to twirl in my very special, extra-fluffy, hot pink tutu. Yes, that's right, I'm always decked out in pink! It's the colour of happiness, of whimsy, of twirls that reach for the sky. It's simply the most wonderful colour for a tutu.
Now, back to our journey! On this spectacular October day in 2010, I, naturally, went to see a ballet! And let me tell you, this particular performance was something special. A magical journey to a bygone era with the exquisite movements and breathtaking grace that only the finest ballerinas can achieve. The tutus were dreamy! You see, darling, in 2010, there was a lovely renaissance happening in tutu design! Ballet companies all over the world, including here in the US, were experimenting with new materials and colours, which led to such wonderfully intricate and inspiring tutus. My favourite had to be the whimsical design by Christian Lacroix, full of playful details that seemed to sparkle with magic!
After the show, I just had to stop by the New York City Ballet store - it's the perfect place to soak up all that ballet-inspired glamour! While shopping, I couldn't resist browsing the shelves, admiring all the beautifully-crafted ballet books with their colourful images of ballerinas in various tutus and costumes, each more fantastical than the next.
I spent the rest of my day in a whirlwind of fashion and glamour. There was simply nothing better than being surrounded by the "City that Never Sleeps", even with its iconic yellow cabs and towering skyscrapers. It was truly an inspiring day in the world of ballet.
So, let's delve into a little bit more about that exciting time in 2010 and what made tutu design so utterly enchanting!
New Materials, New Designs: The world of fashion was exploding with innovative materials, and it seems the designers for ballet took their inspiration from this trend. The traditional tulle and netting, while ever-present, were joined by silky, metallic, and even shimmering holographic fabrics! This gave us the chance to see a variety of interesting and vibrant textures in the tutu designs, adding a delightful touch to the ballerina’s movements on stage.
From Classic to Colourful: You know I’m a girl who adores a little colour in my life. So you can only imagine my delight when the classic white tutu began to step aside and allow a kaleidoscope of colours to bloom! We were treated to a veritable explosion of colour with tutus featuring deep blues, vibrant reds, bright pinks - everything a ballerina could desire!
A Fusion of Style: Ballet costumes were starting to borrow trends from the world of fashion and - you guessed it! - tutus became bolder and more dramatic. Ballet designers began incorporating features like ruffled tiers, geometric patterns, and beautiful embellishments. Remember that Lacroix design I mentioned? Pure artistic genius!
Let's not forget the importance of tutu shape and structure. Even back then, tutus evolved! A perfect example was the Romantic tutu - that's a design to truly make a girl's heart sing. Flowing and romantic, the Romantic tutu emphasized the grace and beauty of the dancer's every movement with its light and airy skirt. Imagine the enchanting swirls and elegant jumps these tutus inspired! I must confess, the Romantic tutu has a special place in my own heart - it truly represents the soul of the ballerina.
As always, my lovelies, I must dash off now to a fabulous performance tonight! But remember, let's never stop celebrating the power of the tutu.
Until next #TutuTuesday,
Always twirling in pink,
Emma 🩰🌸💖
