#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2013-10-01

Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and time-travelling fashionista, ready to take you on another fabulous journey through the history of ballet tutus. It's #TutuTuesday, so grab your fanciest pink teacup and let's get ready to twirl!

This week, my travels have landed me in the bustling heart of… drumroll… wait for it… New York City! The Big Apple, where the ballet scene is practically bursting with energy. Imagine my delight!

And what a beautiful day it is! Today is October 1st, 2013, and the autumn leaves are starting to show their fiery colours. Just a reminder that in this corner of the world, autumn is in the air – time to whip out the knee-high boots and sparkly cardigans!

Now, let’s get back to those fabulous tutus. You know I love them! I'm here today to uncover the stories of the ballet costumes that have captivated hearts and twirled across stages for centuries!

The humble tutu has a story as elegant and refined as the ballerina herself. In its earliest form, it was simply a practical garment, born out of necessity rather than fashion. Back in the Renaissance, ladies had to move around in their long, heavy gowns – you can imagine how difficult that must have been!

Then came the arrival of the graceful, flowing ballet. Naturally, these early ballerinas needed to be able to move freely, so they started shortening their skirts, eventually embracing a light and breezy design – the ancestor of the modern tutu.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the ballet tutu as we know it today began to take its distinctive shape. During the "Romantic" era of ballet, dancers like Marie Taglioni captivated audiences with their lightness and fluidity, a key ingredient being the introduction of the Romantic tutu – a very short, pouffed-up, ethereal design.

This era is just brimming with fascinating historical tales, so you’ve gotta check out those gorgeous early Romantic period pieces if you can! The ballerinas are absolutely stunning, the choreography exquisite, and those costumes? Pure magic!

This romantic tutu, also known as a “bell skirt tutu” wasn't all fluffy. It took different shapes over time, influenced by famous ballet works, such as “La Sylphide” in 1832. You see, ballet history and fashion go hand in hand, making every performance a sartorial spectacle.

Remember “Giselle”? You’ll notice in those productions how the tutu gradually lengthened into the graceful and airy “Giselle skirt”. Can you imagine? I’m not sure it’s been topped for romance!

The 20th century saw some radical changes in fashion and ballet alike! We have designers like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and the innovative Pierre Cardin – all of whom shook up the fashion world. It's no surprise that this impact also influenced the costumes in ballet.

For example, we see the advent of the shorter, more structured tutus, including those incredible ones used in the groundbreaking works of George Balanchine, like “Symphony in C”.

The tutus we see in today's ballets can be incredibly diverse. We have the full tutus with a variety of layers of tulle, but you can also see short tutus, innovative new styles made from stretchy materials, even nothing but tights and shoes. The contemporary era really is where freedom of expression takes centre stage – and of course, fabulous, dynamic tutus help us to reach new heights of imagination!

Speaking of contemporary dance… and freedom of expression…. Do you know my dream? I’ve decided to get everyone in the world to wear pink tutus! Don't get me wrong, every tutu is a marvel! But I’ve always thought pink was the perfect colour for a tutu. It's simply captivating and magical! You can practically feel the magic when you slip into a pink tutu. That’s my dream – I hope you'll join me in embracing the pink-tutu revolution!

So there you have it – the history of the tutu is truly captivating, a journey of elegant evolution.

This week, in my own magical fashion adventures in New York City, I caught a wonderful performance of Swan Lake at the New York City Ballet. Just divine!

Then, I did some fabulous shopping on Fifth Avenue for a few beautiful additions to my pink-tutu wardrobe, of course. And in the evenings, I strolled around Times Square – so glitzy, glamorous and vibrant!

Now I’m off to catch the last train to London before the clock strikes midnight. I can't wait to share more time-travel fashion stories with you next week. But remember: It’s not about the tutu – it’s about the feeling it inspires! Don't be shy – unleash your inner ballerina!

And be sure to visit our pink-tutu.com website. I’ve just launched my new blog series: “Pink Tutu Fashion Diary.” I’m sharing some of the exciting outfits I’ve collected throughout the ages, offering some great tips on dressing for the dance!

I'll see you next #TutuTuesday, darlings. Don't forget to grab a piece of the pink magic and wear your tutu with pride!

Love,

Emma

PS: You can read this week's #TutuTuesday at our website www.pink-tutu.com under Post No. 9484!