#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2013-06-18

Hello, my darling dears! It's Emma here, your resident tutu-obsessed time traveler, ready to whisk you off on another pink-hued journey through the fascinating history of ballet tutus!

Today, 18th June 2013, we're setting our sights on a vibrant, artistic, and most importantly, tutu-licious era! The sun is shining here in Paris, where I just happened to be attending a performance of Swan Lake (it was breathtaking, by the way, I must share a review soon!). This city, darling, has always been the heart of the ballet world, pulsating with the grace and energy of dancing bodies.

So, pull up a chaise lounge, grab your favourite pink cupcake, and let's take a little trip back in time, shall we?

Imagine, my loves, a time when ballerinas were expected to wear, gasp, long, heavy gowns. Think voluminous, floor-grazing fabrics – unthinkable in this day and age!

Then, a revolutionary came along – the genius, the maverick, the maestro of tutus – Marie Taglioni.

Now, this dancing goddess, all grace and elegance, decided, “You know what? This cumbersome fashion needs an upgrade!”. And what was her answer?

The * *tutu **, my dears, in all its billowing glory!

You see, before Taglioni’s game-changing innovation, ballerinas were confined to these heavy, restricting gowns, practically trapped beneath a pile of velvet and satin. Imagine trying to pirouette in such a monstrosity!

Taglioni wanted movement, fluidity, a glimpse of those lovely legs! So, she boldly dared to wear a short skirt – scandalous at the time, darling, scandalous – and look at what happened! A wave of change swept the ballet world! Ballerinas, like the graceful swans they portrayed, were now freed from those long gowns. They could finally dance.

Now, the tutu has gone through its own fashion evolution – a story worthy of a whole blog series!

From romanticism to classicism to neoclassical… the tutu’s evolved like a ballerina on pointe. We’ve had fluffy, billowing romantic tutus with tiers of tulle, swirling in delicate swirls and delicate artistry, to the leaner, tighter, classical tutu – think Giselle’s sleek lines – perfect for those effortless jetés.

And then came neoclassical tutus, blending both elements, like a graceful waltz across a moonlit landscape!

My favourite, of course, is the pink romantic tutu. Divine. They are just so elegant and enchanting, wouldn't you say?

But, oh! The thrill of a classical tutu! Those sharp lines and sleek silhouettes, with their subtle, whispery tulle. It's pure elegance!

And then, we can't forget about the * *petit * tutu! Such a beautiful, almost fairy-like tutu! It’s so cute! You know, if you *were ever going to convince me to ditch my beloved pink tutus, it would probably be for one of these adorable things!

Speaking of cute… how darling is that tutus come in a rainbow of colours? There’s black, white, a heavenly cerulean blue (absolutely perfect for Swan Lake!) The most exciting aspect of a tutu is that, even when they're seemingly similar, there's something completely individual about each tutu – like a snowflake! They're all gorgeous!

Now, speaking of gorgeous, Paris is heavenly for tutus. Let me tell you – my current spree in this magnificent city has resulted in some seriously fabulous discoveries! The boutiques here are overflowing with divine tutus. There are so many colours, shapes, styles!

Imagine, my dear readers!

Imagine gliding through the city's enchanting streets, a fluffy, pink, tulle dream, embracing a sense of pure femininity, and inspiring all those you meet to wear pink and embrace the magic of tutus.

We can talk about how to incorporate tutus into our everyday lives. This week, I’m adding a pastel pink tutu as a layer of charm under my evening dress for a dinner at an exquisite French bistro!

It is all about embracing femininity, joy, and expressing our love for this amazing world through dance!

We'll talk more about tutu fashion later, darling dears. We’ve a whole world of pink to discover!

Until next Tuesday, bisous and remember – it's always a good day to wear a pink tutu!