#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2014-06-17

Hello my lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us on a thrilling trip through time, to discover the dazzling origins of our favourite twirling companions - tutus!

Buckle up your pointe shoes, grab your best pink ballet bag (it's a rule, people - pink!), and join me on the train. We're heading to Paris! (It's Tuesday - that's code for shopping, of course! 😉). Today's date is June 17th, 2014, and the Parisian air is buzzing with a magical mix of theatre, fashion and a whole lotta tulle!

This particular Tuesday marks the opening of "Giselle," the iconic ballet that swept audiences off their feet, (pun intended!) when it debuted in 1841! It’s the epitome of romance, drama, and captivating costumes, and trust me, the costumes have been captivating ever since.

*(My *Pink Tutu style tip of the day, darlings! I spotted this darling pastel-pink Giselle costume with some charming floral embroidery in a stunning Parisian boutique. Swoooooon!).

While you'd be hard pressed to find a tutu like those in Giselle in modern ballets today (think Swan Lake, darlings, or the gorgeous costumes for the Royal Ballet's Sleeping Beauty), this magical creation set the stage for the evolution of our tutu love affair. It sparked a revolution, ushering in a new era for ballet clothing.

See, the romantic tutu wasn’t actually born in Paris. It has roots in the theatre! Yes, darling! Those dazzling ladies we call ballerinas actually used to be disguised in their day-to-day clothes. The first dancers were known as "actresses," and they strutted their stuff in silk gowns, embroidered corseted jackets and a rather ridiculous abundance of fabric – Imagine swirling that on pointe! Talk about an uphill battle against gravity, and I do love gravity, but you wouldn't catch me in one of those!

As a Derbyshire girl myself, I can imagine how challenging those costumes would have been for a lady on a cobblestone path! Imagine, even as far back as the 16th Century, dancers would even hide ribbons on their ankles to accentuate their elegant moves. But there's a first time for everything, and this innovative "hidden-ankle-ribbon" method, (very Bridgerton, don't you think?), is believed to be one of the first, very early predecessors to the tutus we know and adore.

Fast forward a little bit, and, imagine my surprise: a few years before that dramatic Parisian debut of Giselle in 1841, a true dance visionary – Marie Taglioni, our fashion hero of the moment – rocked the world (or should we say the Parisian stage) with her beautiful, daring performance.

The moment, darlings, was revolutionary. You might say she gave the phrase “skirt-chasing” a whole new meaning – Marie practically created the modern tutu with a flowing, delicate design of diaphanous silk and, dare I say it… feathers!

Now, when you hear “Romantic,” my darling tutulovers, think airy, whimsical and effortless grace. (Can we get a " Tutu -la!" in the chat? Yes please, thank you! 💖 ). Marie swayed and pirouetted gracefully in her creation. It transformed her into a delicate flower being swept away on a gentle breeze – imagine my delight!

Think of her like our own It-girl of Ballet – Marie, Marie, Marie! * - everyone loved the new style. It embodied that dainty look of innocence that we adore, and this was precisely how it began to gain traction among ballet stars of the time, especially in Parisian ballets like *La Sylphide and, yes you guessed it! Giselle!

*( *Side Note: Can we be as stylish as Marie?! Let’s take it to the streets, darlings! This is Pink Tutu after all! Don’t be afraid to embrace your inner fashionista! Get those pink tutu accessories out – I’ve even seen some divine tutus and a few pairs of pink sparkly ballerina shoes! Now that's the look that we want!)

But here's the thing about fashion: the trends, like my favourite Ballet stories, evolve - much like Marie’s beautiful invention, the "Romantic Tutu." It became a springboard, a dance floor of creative ideas.

As we approach 1900, there was another game changer: A bold new look! Let me introduce the Pagan Tutu. Now we're moving beyond the light, ethereal, Romantic approach to embrace the sensual, almost wild (well, at least for that era!) ballet styles!

Imagine an amazing, dramatic contrast of colour – bright reds and yellows – alongside luxurious, extravagant layers. It was almost as if dancers could fly to a land where magic and beauty came to life. The ballet, Aurora’s Wedding, introduced these changes – the tutu now even contained elements that you see today! Think a skirt with a very full and more gathered or frilled form - perfect for Twirling with extra pizazz!

But, of course, nothing in life is easy – including changing fashion styles! The Pagan look introduced the first "Controversy” to ballet fashion. It was even seen as quite shocking, a rebellion against those soft Romantic designs of the past. Think of the tutus as rebels and the dance world as the world – we were starting to enter the modern age, darling, and sometimes, you just have to go for that extra dose of dramatic, punk flair!

I’ve got to talk to you about what happens next, darlings, but that's for a future #TutuTuesday – as always, my #TutuTuesday posts only feature the very best snippets from our incredible ballet and tutu world!

Right now, I am looking at some delightful dresses in Paris and oh my gosh, there are beautiful floral embroidery tutus available for a steal - the vintage fabrics look exquisite, with the best Parisian lace details. They’re so graceful and elegant; a ballet enthusiast would adore them! And if you happen to have any dance recitals in London in the future (that's my other love!), * Pink Tutu* would love to join you – after I stop by that boutique I've been telling you all about.

What's the point of all this? Simple: Tutulousness! We need to keep tutus on the move, making a statement – to me, it’s almost like an artistic, graceful call for a revoltution – in fashion! The more we get those tutu-inspired looks on our streets now, the better it gets, darlings, because let’s be real, tutus are not just about dance and ballet (though that is our niche). They have become something special – a way to celebrate our individuality, expression and style!
* #Tutufriday! #PinkTutu

That’s a wrap for this week’s Pink Tutu , darlings. Keep those shoes tapping, your dreams soaring high and of course, don’t forget your pink tutus! Remember to visit the *Pink Tutu online shop*

Ciao, for now! Emma