Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina blogger, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday, dedicated to the history of this magical garment! This week we're venturing back to a rather exciting time, the 15th April, 2014. Can you believe it's been almost a decade since that glorious year? It feels like yesterday I was pirouetting across the cobblestones of Paris, snapping photos for this very blog!
Now, back to 2014. A big day in the world of fashion? Yes, dear readers! The spring runways were overflowing with colours, textures, and, of course, plenty of tutus!
I always make it a point to blend my travels with my passion for the arts, especially ballet. It's my excuse to hop on a train (I'm quite fond of those, you know, like a swan on its graceful voyage across the track), wear a fabulous outfit (you bet it included a pink tutu, naturally!), and head straight to the heart of ballet performances. And oh, this particular Tuesday was a dream!
Let's get historical (with a pink bow, of course!), and take a peek at what the 15th April 2014 offered to the world of ballet tutus. First, let's address the elephant in the room - The Paris Opera Ballet. Ah, Paris! The city that oozes fashion and elegance, and the birthplace of so many enchanting ballets. On this day, the Paris Opera Ballet was gearing up for an incredibly exciting event - the première of "The Sleeping Beauty", an absolute classic, re-imagined for a modern audience! The production boasted stunning sets and costumes, with intricate designs for the iconic Sleeping Beauty’s tutu. It was quite the spectacle, darling, trust me! I was there, snapping photos with my new Polaroid, you can find them in my travel diary (along with a hundred pink-themed photos from my Paris trip, if I'm being honest)!
Across the pond, New York was buzzing with its own exciting performances! The New York City Ballet, famed for its athletic dancers and contemporary style, were presenting a captivating programme including "Swan Lake". The story of the betrayed swan is a timeless masterpiece, with beautiful tutu designs for both the noble Odette and the temptress Odile. Seeing these intricate costumes up close on the stage, oh my goodness, pure magic!
However, my #TutuTuesday blog wouldn't be complete without acknowledging the fabulous trend that was rocking the fashion world in 2014. You know what I'm talking about, my darlings: the balletcore trend! Think flowy fabrics, feminine silhouettes, ballet flats, and the quintessential tutu. Think pink, naturally. Think tutu! Designers, stylists, and fashionistas were falling head-over-heels for this graceful look. This trend, of course, sparked a delightful revival of the ballet tutu, both in fashion and pop culture. It was the ultimate fusion of grace and fashion, something my little pink heart approves of wholeheartedly.
Remember, darling, tutus are not just for ballet anymore! The power of fashion lies in its ability to be transformative. I'm all about embracing a touch of ballet magic in your daily life, even if that means wearing a playful pink tutu to your afternoon tea (yes, that has happened, with quite the impact, might I add!)
And now, for a special treat: As we delve into the enchanting world of tutus, I'm adding a new segment to my blog - Tutu Trivia! Prepare yourself for some fun facts about ballet history, costumes, and tutus.
This week's Tutu Trivia question is: Did you know the tutu as we know it today, was first designed by a famous ballet dancer?
Can you guess who it was? Drop your answers in the comments below and let's see who the #TutuTrivia Champion for this week is!
As always, keep spreading the love of pink tutus, my darlings! Until next Tuesday, remember: wear your heart on your tutu!
Yours in twirls,
Emma.
