Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and it's #TutuTuesday!
Today, we're taking a trip back to October 21st, 2014 – just think, no one had even heard of that thing called the 'Twerking' dance yet! Well, it was called something else then...but you get my drift. Anyway, I was lucky enough to be twirling my way around Paris, that wonderful, wonderful city where fashion flows through the streets like a river of chiffon and every woman (and a good few men, I'm happy to say) is dressed to impress!
Of course, I was dressed in pink – what else?! – and twirling a delicate, multi-layered tulle creation that would make a ballerina weep with joy. You see, my lovely readers, tutus weren't always like the flamboyant beauties we know and love today.
In 2014, and let's face it, even today, the fashion scene often treated the tutu as an almost sacred garment - something for dancers, princesses and little girls only.
But let me tell you – the tutu is so much more than that!
It's a symbol of grace, beauty, and freedom! A little piece of magic that makes you feel like you can soar to the moon! We need to embrace the tutu in all its glory, from those delicate, cloud-like creations worn by ballerinas, to the fabulous tulle skirts we find in stores everywhere (a bit more about those in a bit, you'll have to wait! - teehee!)
Back in 2014, tutus were beginning to have a bit of a moment in the world of high fashion. It was all thanks to the legendary designer, Karl Lagerfeld, who designed a stunning haute couture collection for Chanel. We're talking about tutus in black and white, the colours of a timeless masterpiece.
That collection brought the tutu right back to the forefront of fashion. You could even say it caused a "tutu" revival – oh dear, that was dreadful, wasn't it?! giggles But it was brilliant – designers realised how exciting and bold they were! Think of Balmain's Jean-Paul Gaultier, who famously had supermodels sashay down the catwalk in tutus – well, let's be honest, those tutus could've housed a family of mice. You'll just have to imagine!
On this day in Paris in 2014...
Paris! The City of Lights! The aroma of buttery pastries in the air. Of course, a true "tutu enthusiast" such as myself, doesn't only go to the city of love for the beauty, she goes for the shows, and darling, it was absolutely spectacular! I saw the Paris Opera Ballet performing the masterpiece, Giselle – a story of a love lost and found in the heart of a moonlit forest. I simply cannot recommend it enough. Even the audience was a beautiful sight. All dressed in gorgeous gowns, they looked like they had walked straight out of a Jane Austen novel, with a touch of chic modern sophistication – those Parisians are quite incredible!
I even squeezed in a trip to the Palais Garnier, the home of the Opera Garnier. If you don't know it already, my darlings, this building was a masterpiece in its own right. You're walking around this gigantic, beautiful old theatre – where opera singers and dancers have graced the stage for generations – and I swear I even felt a little bit of their energy floating around!
In terms of ballet shopping, I couldn't resist adding another tutu to my already growing collection. (A girl's got to have options! I mean, what would you do if your tutu suddenly needed a wash? What would you do, wear nothing?!).
I was just absolutely delighted to find a charming little shop – tucked away on a side street near the Marais district. Now this wasn’t a fancy, posh boutique, but it was brimming with character and charm. The shopkeeper, a kindly woman who reminded me of my beloved nan, told me the shop was full of hand-made tutus – something quite rare now. She had the sweetest selection, in every colour imaginable – pink, blue, white, and even a stunning lavender. And did you know? The shop had a section specifically for tutu accessories - bows, ribbons, sequins - a haven for a girl like me.
It was an absolute wonderland!
It wouldn’t be a true #TutuTuesday blog without talking a bit about inspiration, now would it? In 2014, tutu inspiration was everywhere, darling! Take a look at the red carpets at award ceremonies – there were plenty of stylish women rocking elegant versions of tutus:
- Lily Collins – A vision in an ethereal white tutu dress. She looked like she’d walked straight off the stage!
- Cara Delevingne - Even that mischievous and quirky supermodel joined in the tutu craze! Her bold designs were bold, statement-making pieces.
My dearest readers, I implore you to do the same. Take that little pink tutu from the back of the cupboard and show it to the world! Let your light shine – wear a tutu!
And now, on a more practical note, let’s go back to our modern world, or rather my modern world. And yes, we do live in a tutu-obsessed world, but you do know I don’t wear a ballet tutu when I go shopping? Of course, it’s a little bit tricky. But there are some great alternatives, you know:
- Tulle skirts are still as popular as ever and you can get some incredible styles, like the stunning circular tutu skirt that swirls with every step you take. Oh, you have no idea how much fun it is to wear. I highly recommend you try one! You'll be so pleased you did.
- Layered tulle skirts add a gorgeous, fairytale-like dimension to any outfit. A big fluffy tutu for every day! Don't even get me started on how comfortable they are! It’s all the fluffiness without the fuss of having to do ballet on the train, which I do have to admit can be a tad bit challenging! I did actually wear a classic layered tulle skirt to an afternoon of tea and biscuits at The Dorchester Hotel! You could tell it had been carefully selected; I mean I would never be so bold as to wear it during the afternoon tea!
- We must mention those fabulous, frilly, little tutu-style skirts that even Beyonce and Rihanna have been rocking!
But the greatest tutu inspiration for me is to see the joy in the eyes of a young girl wearing a pink tutu. That look of pure delight is what keeps me going and pushes me to encourage more people to put on a tutu and dance their way into the world!
Do share with me what inspires you about tutus, dear readers, and keep your eyes peeled for more amazing tutu moments from my time travels next Tuesday!
Until then, twirl on, darlings! 💖
P.S. Don't forget to follow my latest tutu adventures at www.pink-tutu.com, my personal space dedicated to tutus. We'll even be creating our own fabulous, frilly tutu outfits with our 'Sew it like it's 1963!' series, starting very soon.
