Helloooo, darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu-licious! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us on a whirl through the wonderful world of ballet tutu history, but first, let's raise a glass of pink lemonade to our beloved August 8th! Why? Because today, 8th August 2017, my darlings, is National Sisters' Day! And who better to celebrate this lovely day with than our favourite sisters in dance - the beautiful, elegant ballet tutus. Now, without further ado, let's take a trip back in time and discover the captivating journey of this beloved costume!
(And for those of you who don't know, TutuTuesday, my darlings, is a weekly blog post all about the fascinating history of tutus! Every Tuesday, you'll join me on an enchanting journey through the evolution of this iconic dancewear, from the simple, early iterations to the voluminous, romantic masterpieces we adore today!)
So, grab a glass of lemonade, a plate of macarons (oh, they’re divine!) and join me on this utterly delightful adventure!
The Ballerina's First Steps: Early Tutues and Their Tales
Believe it or not, tutus didn't always grace the stage in the fluffy glory we see today! Back in the 18th century, ballet was a whole different ball game! It was all about the steps and grace, with the costume taking a backseat. Dancers, both male and female, performed in loose-fitting, elegant, knee-length gowns and leggings called "aubergines," with the aubergine style evolving from men’s tight trousers, or knickerbockers (remember the Victorian and Edwardian fashions with bloomers, leggings, and those long knickers?? - So fashionable!) You see, the women were still essentially dressed like ladies, which seemed proper back then.
(Just imagine: "No skirts? Oh dear, my reputation! That simply won't do.")
Enter Marie Taglioni in the 19th century - what a game changer! This absolute icon of the ballet world wore a stunning, ankle-length costume called a "tutu à la grecque," (which translates to Greek style tutu!) for her iconic performance in La Sylphide. It was made of light white muslin and featured an ethereal, almost cloud-like skirt, just like you see on ballerinas in some contemporary performances. Taglioni’s skirt helped make her leaps and movements so airy, which set a new standard for elegance. It became the template for a new, more romantic style of dance. (Can't we just bow down to this woman and give her the ultimate shout-out!) The “tutu à la grecque” and its evolving variations eventually took over and became the standard in ballet costumes.
But hold your tutus, darling, because we're just getting started.
The Romantic Era:
Remember when I talked about aubergines? As ballet was evolving in this period from about the late 1830s to around the 1860s (give or take a few years), the aubergine skirts became shorter, reaching mid-calf or even above the knee! They were adorned with elegant trimmings and layers of tulle and gauze - just like they are today. Think, Cinderella’s ball gown, just slightly less sparkly and more flowing - and think layers and layers of gauzy materials! These early tutus allowed for more intricate and expressive movement and choreography.
I love going back to museums and archives to look through all the paintings of this era, even the simple pencil sketches. Some are simply masterpieces! They always get me inspired!
(By the way, did I tell you my favourite museum? I love the V&A Museum! The Victoria and Albert Museum is packed with fascinating fashion - it is so chic! I do love the Met, but my London-born heart always leans towards the V&A).
This romantic period, oh, so fascinating!
The Ballet's Golden Era:
Moving onwards! This new era brought with it the tutu that we associate with classical ballet today. We're talking about the "tutu classique," or the "tutu pancake" which is what the ballet students call it.
It was the result of a creative, and bold, collaboration of two titans of the ballet world - the choreographer, Marius Petipa, and the ballet dancer, Carlotta Grisi, who, when they were together on the stage and later, were simply spectacular! They were two of the biggest stars on the world stage. (But darling, did you know, Grisi’s stage name was "Carlotta"! Can you imagine?! A ballet star with such a chic name?! So perfect. The aubergines became tighter, were made of more structured fabric - silk, sometimes even cotton- they were longer and, just to top it off, they got bouffanter (it means "to puff out") *puffing up the layers of fabric to the height of the dancers' knees.
( Now you can see how they earned the title of "tutu pancake." Imagine those delicate pancake-shaped forms that ballerinas like Grisi would create when she leaped or even stood with those long skirts flowing around her. Simply stunning!)
The "tutu pancake," which still graces the ballet stage, was all about emphasising the body's line and fluidity of movement. This beautiful, delicate, yet rigid silhouette was an innovative approach, which redefined how people thought about the art of dance. We also owe the "tutu classique" to another innovative and creative, and dare I say, *avant-garde figure: Mme. Rose Lacaurière - I love her story because she began her career as a ballerina, and bam later found herself at the helm of one of the grande ateliers for costumes in France. Her workshops, like those of many others around the same period of time were all about craftsmanship!
(For those of you who like me, are all about a touch of historical detail. Madame Lacaurière's innovative craftsmanship for her ballet workshops had been used by *Carlotta Grisi, Giselle, Maria Taglioni,, and many other ballerinas on stage, but her tutus, which, just like every stage production, were subject to the needs of choreography, the lighting, the stage, were very special and, when you look back at her creative ingenuity - well darling, it is still impressive today!) *
And did you know The Grande Atelier? The Atelier that *Mme. Lacaurière *worked in was on Rue de Richelieu in Paris, where they crafted, and created for decades (and still today!), costumes for some of the world's most prestigious ballet companies! *Paris! Oh Paris, you're just *sooo* magical and so charming! *
It’s all a beautiful ballet!
Twentieth Century & Beyond
Let's fast-forward to the 20th Century - time to dance it up! As ballet began experimenting with more modern styles of movement, bam so did the costume designers. Enter the short or long, tight, and beautiful, "tutu de mousseline"* or the "Romantic Tutu". This style featured a simple skirt made of sheer and layered mousseline (which is also the name for a soft kind of fabric.) - which, unlike those previous tutus, fell into more fluid lines as they swirled around the dancers' legs. They are so flattering, chic and really show off the legwork in "La Sylphide"! It really is, absolutely gorgeous. And you just know those skirts must feel fabulous on stage when they're swishing! (Let’s all imagine, darling, with the fabric just brushing against our legs!)
The modern, romantic "tutu de mousseline" was often paired with a bodice or a "leotard", gorgeous and divine, as it allowed ballerinas to have more movement, flow and ease, (don't you just love the way those dresses glide! And can you imagine what the dancers’ bodies would feel like, moving so gracefully! I feel the chills just thinking about it, it's just so beautiful).
Just like in the history of ballet, the styles that were developed in the late 1800s were later tweaked and changed to be more “suited to the performance”. In other words, they were all about performance, choreography, and, naturally, fashion and style!
As for me, you already know - pink, pink, pink, darling. My Pink-Tutu style? It's just so chic, darling! It really embodies what we all know: a tutu can be a fabulous, chic piece of everyday wear! So next time you need to add a bit of extra oomph, darling - you know, sparkle, a splash of extra special, *just add a tutu! You’ll just feel so good in it! I love that a tutu, that iconic part of dancewear has been a mainstay and a big part of my world.
Here’s how to #EmbraceYourInnerTutu:
As always, darling, don't be afraid to wear your tutu to the theatre. I dare you to step out and go big! If there is an event you're attending, and I don't know about you but I love seeing fashion in street fashion - why not consider it! What a unique look for that perfect occasion. It's just like the ones on stage - let it add a bit of chic, femininity, charm, and spunk - don’t you think? This Tutu Tuesday go big, wear it bold, wear a PINK Tutu.
So there you have it - A quick overview of tutu history, my darling! From the elegant beginnings to the vibrant styles we see today, there's no denying the enchanting journey this beloved ballet costume has taken. Remember - with a pink tutu, you’re a ballerina everywhere.
What do you think?
Stay tuned to Pink-Tutu.com, my darlings, as we continue our delightful exploration of ballet tutus!
*Happy Tutu Tuesday! *
*Always remember - life’s too short for a boring outfit! #EmbraceYourInnerTutu *
*Stay stylish, Stay Inspired! *
Lots of love, Emma
Pink-Tutu.com
