Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! Emma here, reporting live from…well, you know I can’t say! But trust me, this Tuesday’s historical tutu tour is a corker! I’ve just landed back from 19th century France – swoon – the birthplace of the tutu itself! And let me tell you, even time travel can’t rival the chic Parisian fashion sense. I think I’ve just become obsessed with a new style of ballet shoes - can’t wait to add them to my collection!
Now, as we know, #TutuTuesday is all about celebrating those fabulous fluffy masterpieces, and where better to start than where it all began? You wouldn't believe how much research I had to do to get this right - and trust me, as a tutu enthusiast, I’m quite the expert!
But before we go waltzing back in time, let's chat about today, shall we? It’s 22nd November 2016. Remember when the weather was starting to turn properly cold and it felt like Christmas was just around the corner? The days were short, the air was crisp, and the only thing I was worried about was whether my hot water bottle would be warm enough for bedtime! Ah, blissful days! I had tickets for The Nutcracker that night, so you can imagine I was bouncing with excitement! This is actually my favourite Christmas show! I’m just so drawn to the beautiful costumes and the fact that it's such a lovely tradition for everyone. It's all about magic, romance and twirling to my favourite music! What's not to love?
Speaking of twirling…back to the French! Did you know that tutus, in their early days, weren't all frilly fluff and pink tulle? Nope, they started out more like… wait for it … a sack!* Yes, you read that right! Imagine the pas de deux - it’d look more like a slow, lumbering dance, rather than a graceful balletic whirl! In the early 1800s, these tutus-sacs were pretty simple - just a soft skirt with a short fitted bodice that left little to the imagination. Imagine! How exciting is it to be a ballet dancer in the present day? 😉
The real game changer came with Marie Taglioni’s La Sylphide in 1832. Imagine: fluffy, white tulle that danced in the air - this was revolutionary! And it's been inspiring dancers ever since! Suddenly, tutus were no longer about hiding the dancer’s movements but about showing off the intricate steps. They literally became extensions of their movements! Talk about the perfect harmony of beauty and dance! It’s enough to make any tutu aficionado weep with joy, right? The world of dance, just like fashion, was evolving. We needed our ballerinas to move – not be trapped in an oversized bag! I wonder if anyone still uses the old ‘sack’ style tutus! I’d love to see a modern adaptation for a contemporary show. Now that would be interesting!
From the Victorian era onwards, tutus were just getting fancier, with more layers, more flounces and a much wider variety of colours. Ballet shows really did take flight as they became an essential part of entertainment. I just love that whole era with its beautiful grand opera houses and extravagant gowns. Now, don't get me wrong, a classic pink tutu will never go out of style, but that time period brought about some truly incredible styles. Oh, how I love history!
Imagine those majestic theatres filled with ooh-ing and ahh-ing as dancers flitted across the stage in their beautiful outfits. I often dream of being whisked back to that era in time, to watch one of these grand spectacles. Imagine yourself transported there in one of the plush train compartments, smelling the perfumed air and getting all dressed up for the big show - now that’s my idea of an ideal night! Oh, and don’t forget, the journey there is almost as good as the show itself! Just think - sipping on champagne and catching up with your fellow dance enthusiasts as you look out at the scenery rolling by... sigh, it really is the best way to travel!
I've already found my favourite places to go ballet hunting - the grand old theatres of New York, Vienna, Paris and Moscow - and the ones you see popping up all over the country - oh, so stylish! I can even find them here in my favourite city! But even with all these places to choose from, Paris still remains top of the list! I have this feeling that even though the style has evolved so much over time, this magical world of ballet always remains beautiful! Maybe this is just because it’s French, I don’t know - perhaps it’s the elegance or the grandeur that I find so utterly captivating! Maybe it’s the pink! Whatever it is, the tutu holds a special place in the heart of any ballerina and fashionista like me, regardless of whether we’re talking about the tutu-sac or the ultra-layered tutus we see on stage today!
I also want to talk about the way tutu’s change with every era! Every new dancer who comes on the scene pushes boundaries with the style and performance. It's truly inspiring. And while I love the classics, I think it’s really exciting to see what new styles will emerge - something bold and daring that pushes the tutu boundaries.
Anyway, I must get back to the time machine, it’s a busy week for me! Oh, by the way, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments about what you think of the tutus I’m rocking in today's photo - it’s a bit of a nod to that original tutu-sac with a modern twist, what do you think? What a beautiful combination, right?! I have to dash, I’ve got another date with the fashion world - and this time I’m headed for the 1920s - and yes, that’s exactly how it sounds! So, stay tuned for more fabulous tutu-filled history next week!
As always, thank you for reading! Remember to grab your favourite pink tutu and dance the day away! Until next time,
Love, Emma
xx
