Hello my darling dears! It's Emma, your tutu-obsessed time traveller, back again with another whirl through the glorious history of ballet's most iconic garment: the tutu!
As always, we're meeting on a Tuesday, so that means we're celebrating all things tulle, twirls and tiaras! This week, we're hopping back in my trusty time machine to 2020, 7th April – just a little dip into the recent past, which still feels incredibly fresh!
Today was such a fabulous day for me! It was my friend Lily’s birthday and we celebrated by going to see a new ballet show that’s just opened – “Giselle”.
Ooh, and I got to wear my new blush pink tulle tutu! It's absolutely dreamy, with layers of shimmering pink that make me feel like a proper ballerina, and just imagine all the graceful pirouettes I've already executed in it!
But back to history. Remember those classic tutus we all think of with the Romantic ballet era – the puffy, billowing, 'Romantic tutu' – the ones that feel like fluffy clouds? Those were actually quite short-lived, appearing just before our beloved Victorian era, around the 1830s!
Imagine what those ladies thought: 'Finally, our skirts can be a little less restrictive and a little more flowy!' Well, let’s be honest, who wouldn't love to ditch a restrictive corset and waltz around in billows of tulle?!
Anyway, as we hopped through the 19th century, tutus continued to evolve, but the iconic Romantic Tutu kept hanging around. In the early 20th century, a new type of tutu, a little less ‘fluffy’ and with more of a focus on shape, appeared – this was the ‘Classical tutu’, and you’ll see it on dancers in all kinds of ballets! It’s what people typically imagine when they picture a tutu!
Speaking of that, I had the most delightful shopping trip last week. I just had to pick up the tiniest ‘Classical’ tutu – just for fun – perfect for adding a little extra flair to my everyday life! You know, to elevate my walks to the shops or maybe add a little something special for tea time!
It makes me want to travel back to the 1930s or 40s to watch one of the *legendary ballets being premiered! I’d absolutely adore to watch *Ballet Russes perform in one of their iconic shows. **It’s just so tempting! The idea of all the glitz and glam, all the dazzling costumes and that incredible atmosphere. I think my head would spin, both from all the excitement, and probably from the spins I'd be trying to learn from the dancers, too!
Oh! I just spotted another amazing ballet-inspired garment: the “Ballet Top”. So gorgeous – light, flowy and it has that beautiful, dancey silhouette. Maybe next time you’re shopping, keep an eye out for them – or for a tutu!
Now, back to 2020. I saw this most exciting show last night – a completely new contemporary ballet creation. And let me tell you – the choreographers are just throwing all those rules for tutus right out the window, letting the designers get creative, **creating stunning pieces – modern and unique! The designer in me is just ecstatic about the freedom! They were like clouds and rainbows! It just made me want to go back in time again – imagine showing a Victorian era ballet dancer those gorgeous creations!
Right! My darling tutu lovers, that's all for today's journey through time.
Before I say goodbye, let me leave you with a fun fact: Did you know the ‘Romantic tutu’ – you know, the big, fluffy ones – can take over 100 meters of tulle to create?
Who wouldn’t want to be adorned in that amount of beautiful tulle! But perhaps, like my tutu wardrobe, your everyday attire could also use a dash of sparkle and the undeniable power of pink. Remember, wearing a pink tutu is a beautiful reminder that you are strong, confident and unafraid to twirl to your own tune!
Let me know your tutu favourites! Share your stories, or just tell me what makes you want to put on your tutu.
As ever, remember to visit www.pink-tutu.com every week for another dazzling dose of Tutu History, and in the meantime, keep twirling, dear hearts!
TutuTuesday #BalletTutuHistory #PinkTutu #TimeTravellingTutuQueen #GirlyGirly