Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another whirlwind trip through the history of tutus! Today, December 22nd, 2020, finds me snuggled up in the heart of London, my tutu swishing as I enjoy a delicious cup of tea. Today is about the elegance, the beauty, and the power of tutus - a journey through time that I, of course, am thrilled to share with you.
Today, London feels alive with the buzz of the festive season! There's the delicious smell of roasting chestnuts in the air, twinkling fairy lights adorn every shop window, and the sounds of carol singers fill the streets. A festive air of joy fills the air. My favourite shop, "House of Pink" (no surprise there!), is draped in sparkling pink garlands and they are showcasing an adorable collection of limited-edition ballet-inspired Christmas decorations, which, of course, I snapped up for my own festive display!
But back to our tutus. Today, I want to travel back to the mid-1800s. Yes, my dears, even further than last week's Victorian adventure. Imagine: a time before ballet classes for all ages, before Instagram and the glorious #tutuTuesday hashtag (and, heaven forbid, no pink tutus!), and just before Marie Taglioni, the iconic "queen of ballet," stepped onto the stage.
This is when the very first prototype of the modern tutu was conceived, ladies and gents! A vision of change was emerging as women began challenging social conventions, even in the realm of fashion. Think, what if a woman was free to express her athleticism and grace, with garments not hindering her movements but enhancing them? This was the seed planted by the great dancers of the time, pushing for costumes that freed the body and, frankly, revolutionised the world of ballet!
What made the first tutu special? It was a simple, cotton, knee-length, single-layer skirt - far, far away from the multi-layered frills and fluffy delights that we know today! Imagine it - elegant, airy, and lightweight, and even practical in its design. It was a garment of evolution, a new way of thinking about fashion, embracing movement and pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable.
Of course, this humble cotton creation didn't exactly leap onto the stage as a triumphant 'here we are'! There were some hesitant steps, some bumps in the road. But as we all know, the power of change comes with passion, vision, and dedication, and as you may already know (if you’ve been following my adventures through time), our fabulous Marie Taglioni played a key role in changing the shape of ballet and pushing those boundaries. She had the courage to wear her version of the early tutu on stage, in her famous interpretation of La Sylphide. She embraced the new freedom and brought beauty and grace to the stage. A ballerina in a short, light, airy skirt? It was unheard of, my dears. Unheard of but so groundbreaking, you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre! This brave woman dared to be different, and oh my, how she redefined beauty and opened a world of possibilities for future generations.
Now, I could continue with our incredible historical journey right through the 20th century, where the tutu began to really find its legs, with the added volume and flounces of romantic ballet, the dazzling precision of classical tutu's, and, my favourite, the bold, daring, and eye-catching shapes of contemporary ballets! But for today, I wanted to focus on that revolutionary first step, the initial spark that lit the fire of change.
It's fascinating, isn’t it, how a seemingly simple change like a shorter, lighter skirt completely transformed not just the performance of ballet, but also its visual identity? It became an iconic symbol of freedom and artistic expression. Today, that spirit lives on in every ballerina who takes the stage and in every child who spins in their first tutu, dreaming of someday dancing like the stars.
But why limit the joy of the tutu to the ballet stage?
Just as my grandmother, Nana Emma (don’t worry, there are only a few hundred years separating us!), and generations before her have embraced this beautiful piece of fashion, today's fashion houses are adding the tutu's playful flair and elegant touch to their collections, showing it is as much about individual expression as about the stage. The tutu has a certain something, my dears - a playful femininity that simply cannot be contained by tradition. It begs for bold expression and daring interpretations, and thankfully, we're seeing more and more artists and fashionistas embrace this freedom.
For me, that’s exactly the spirit of my favourite pink tutu - a little bit of playful defiance against the ordinary, and a whole lot of joy! So why not embrace that joy? Put on your pink tutus, my dears, spin, twirl, and celebrate all that life has to offer - just as the trailblazing ballerinas of the past did, all those years ago!
And just because today is December 22nd, and we all love a little holiday cheer, I'll leave you with my latest favourite find! "Twirling on the Holiday Express," a ballet performance filled with magical holiday delights at The Royal Opera House, promises to be a delightful family experience with charming performances, dazzling tutus and a sprinkle of Christmas magic. Oh, how I simply cannot wait!
So, as I twirl off to join the festive crowd, let's remember to celebrate this wondrous garment that speaks volumes - a story of passion, creativity, and unwavering belief in expressing oneself with the same boldness as our ballet heroines. Until next #TutuTuesday, my darlings, twirl, laugh, and never forget that you are all beautiful and uniquely you, my dears!
Much love,
Emma x
