Hiya darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite tutu-wearing time traveller, and it's another gloriously pink Tuesday! Grab a cuppa and settle in, because this week we're diving into the fabulous world of tutu history - get ready to twirl through time with me!
As you all know, my love for tutus knows no bounds, and I simply can't resist exploring their journey through history! This week, we're time-hopping to the 15th of November 2016 - the date this very blog post is appearing, as if by magic! Fancy a trip to London town? It's the heart of ballet in England, and there's no place better for seeing the most magnificent tutus!
But let's take a trip down memory lane first, and rewind back to 15th November 1956, a whole decade before I was born! Imagine, darling, what the world of fashion was like back then, when skirts were demure, and hems were modest. We were a few years off the big shift in fashion when Mary Quant put the world in a miniskirt - oh, how times have changed! And what were we ladies twirling around in?
Well, let me tell you, it was a bit of a different picture than today. Tutus weren't exactly the statement pieces they are now, and a simple, modest tulle skirt was what ballet dancers had to work with. Imagine that, girls! We're so lucky to have all these amazing options in all those colours and styles these days, with tutus as the ultimate symbol of ballet!
Fast forward to 1966 and things were really beginning to blossom! Fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent were incorporating tutu-like shapes into their designs, and suddenly tutus were popping up on catwalks and red carpets! Tutues weren't just for the ballet dancers anymore! It was quite a revolution. The "tutu look" - poised, sophisticated and graceful – was becoming a mainstream style trend for everyone! And this is where we get our love for the dramatic pouffy, full tutu - imagine, a ballet dancer taking a dramatic pose at the front of the stage, tutu flowing like clouds around them, that iconic shape, that beauty and artistry!
Now let's take a peek at that London ballet scene back in 2016!
I arrived in London with a heart full of hope, eager for a spectacular show, and ready to immerse myself in the city's fabulous ballet culture. It was a crisp autumn day - one of those days where London's charming cobbled streets glimmer with an ethereal beauty. My train ride through the rolling countryside was just delightful - watching the landscape turn into the buzzing city - absolutely love train travel. It always feels magical.
My heart leapt when I reached Covent Garden. The Royal Opera House was gleaming in the sunlight! The grand Victorian architecture and its breathtaking facade – what a true jewel of London! I took a moment to appreciate its majestic beauty before slipping inside and surrendering to the sheer grandeur. Oh, the air inside felt thick with anticipation! And the sound of violins from the pit orchestra, you just can’t get enough of it!
I'd snagged a prime seat right in the centre of the stalls! Perfect for soaking in every twirl and leap of the ballet performance! It was the exquisite Swan Lake. Oh, darling, that choreography! A classic, yet every detail - each gesture, every movement - such stunning poetry! The lead ballerina – I believe her name was Natalia Osipova, if my memory serves me right, a divine performer! Her swan transformation – magical! A masterpiece of expression. I truly felt for every nuance, every fear, and every moment of her love story. I found myself, a little bit, living through it with her. What incredible power a ballerina possesses to captivate her audience and bring a story to life!
But darling, it wasn't just the dance performance that got my heart a-flutter! Oh no! London in 2016 – it's a haven for ballet fans like myself! I had to explore! From the charming little boutiques lining Covent Garden to the world-famous Harrods, oh, I was simply in heaven! I'm always on the hunt for unique tutus! Just last week I found the most adorable little ballerina dress, a darling blush pink, just begging to be twirled! And let me tell you, this little beauty did not disappoint! Imagine a soft, flowing tulle skirt, a tiny bow that makes you feel so pretty! You could call it a 'tutu-fied' frock. And it's so delightful!
You might be thinking, what does pink have to do with tutus? Well, my dear, everything! This colour has captured the hearts of dancers and tutu enthusiasts all around the world! The symbolism of pink - a delicate flower that bloomed so exquisitely - well, this encapsulates everything that is fabulous about the ballet, wouldn't you say? It represents the sweetness and the strength of a ballerina, and, well, pink just goes hand-in-hand with elegance and grace.
Speaking of grace, let me tell you about another London treat I discovered - ballet street performances. Every other day there are dancers, both professional and amateur, showing off their moves in Trafalgar Square or Covent Garden - it's a real testament to the sheer love that Londoners have for the art form. I caught a beautiful performance of Swan Lake, all the dancers in their pink and white tutus - the quintessential colours of the swan, creating this glorious, visual ballet tapestry right there in the heart of London! A perfect ballet experience for everyone - absolutely wonderful! The beauty of London is it brings the ballet experience to the street, out in the open - I loved watching the ballet in a public setting like this, it's quite the modern take on this art form, darling.
Don’t forget that you can check out my latest posts on my Pink-Tutu website every Tuesday! It’s Tutu Tuesday so if you want to know all about the world of ballet and the best fashion trends for that ballerina-esque look - and how to always stay twirly – this is your site! And hey, if you are lucky enough to visit London one day, don’t miss out on ballet street. Oh, and make sure you pop into the Royal Opera House - you'll love the breathtaking performances and the grand atmosphere, and a ballerina needs to find the perfect tutu at Harrods – you know it’s true, my darling!
Until next time, stay twirly and happy!
Emma xx
