Bonjour mes chéries!
It's me, Emma, your tutu-loving, travel-obsessed, pink-adoring blogger, back for another Tutu Tuesday. This week, we're taking a historical pirouette all the way back to the 19th century, where tutus weren't just pretty - they were revolutionary!
Now, let me tell you, my travels today were absolutely divine. I hopped on a carriage - just imagine, a horse-drawn carriage! - and travelled from my charming hotel in London, all the way to Paris, the crème de la crème of fashion, where I was lucky enough to see a truly magical ballet performance at the Paris Opera. Talk about feeling like royalty!
But first, tutus!
As I sipped on my morning café au lait in my stunning hotel, I took a moment to appreciate the tutu's transformation.
Picture this: before the 1800s, ballerinas weren't gliding across the stage in airy tulle - they were dressed in voluminous, cumbersome skirts, more suited to a waltzing ballroom than a dynamic performance. But then, oh my, in came Marie Taglioni, the ballerina extraordinaire who became synonymous with the tutu's evolution! She made history on August 12th 1832 with her iconic role in 'La Sylphide' - a true game changer.
Imagine the excitement! Here was a ballet about a sylph, an airy, mystical creature, and Marie's new 'tutu' perfectly reflected the character, freeing her movements and capturing the ethereal beauty of the character. Her tutu was made of layers of very fine muslin - a fabric that flowed with grace. It was a stunning visual spectacle, much like a feathered skirt and it revolutionised how dancers dressed. This new lightweight outfit was truly liberating for the female performers. Gone were the layers of silk and satin; the freedom of movement was what everyone wanted to see!
And here I am in the 19th century! Well, almost… it was a bit of a shock when I arrived and heard that women couldn’t even vote. I'm not saying a little tutu power is the answer - but there's certainly something magical about watching graceful ballerinas in their airy costumes.
Back to my Parisian soirée!
I settled into my box at the opera and was immediately swept away by the stunning performance of 'La Sylphide' - oh the drama! - and of course, the mesmerizing tutus. What a fantastic display of grace, fluidity, and utter elegance! And yes, I’m quite sure I saw a glimmer of pink peeking out from under those frothy layers – did anyone else? I wouldn’t be surprised! You know my passion for pink, my dears!
As the curtain fell, the whole audience erupted into applause - the very air in the theatre seemed to shimmer with excitement. You know what they say – fashion changes history.
Let's talk tutus!
Tutus were quite the talk of the town back in the 1800s, evolving from a soft, layered ensemble like Taglioni’s, to something much more rigid and romantic. Just look at the ‘Romantic tutu’, a masterpiece of layered tulle! Imagine an incredibly intricate structure, a graceful explosion of silk, creating a majestic spectacle of beauty. You wouldn't believe how the fashion designers would painstakingly stitch the individual layers. The detail was truly remarkable.
But here’s a bit of a spoiler alert – these stunning beauties weren’t all that comfortable. Imagine having to wear multiple layers of itchy, uncomfortable fabric, even without those pointe shoes, just to look dazzling! This definitely isn't a wardrobe I'd be comfortable with today!
Modern tutus?
Fast forward to the 21st century! Our tutus are still stunning – just look at the beautiful creations you find at every performance, and at every level of ballet training! You can even buy the dreamiest tutus for ballet class – just make sure they have some pink in them! It goes without saying, though, the comfort and functionality of tutus have changed. Designers have worked tirelessly to improve comfort and movement, ensuring the dancers feel as dazzling as they look.
This might sound silly to you, but today I’m even starting to see tutus emerge from the theatre and onto the streets. This fashion-forward era is embracing tutus and all their whimsy, and incorporating them into modern styles, even into streetwear.
I even saw a fabulous pink tutu outfit at the London fashion show in the '20s – just think of how fabulous this tutu will look in the 2000s! Maybe we’ll even be rocking tutus in 2000… I can already hear the ‘I love pink’ song playing in my head…
Let’s get your creative juices flowing, my lovelies!
If you have a #TutuTuesday memory or any tips for where to get the most adorable tutu - whether it's a vintage treasure or a contemporary beauty - let me know! Let’s get a tutu trend going!
Pink power is everything, don’t you think?
Your ballet-loving blogger,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
