Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your pink-loving tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on a journey through the magical world of ballet history! As usual, it’s #TutuTuesday and I'm absolutely delighted to be sharing with you today’s blog, number 9916, on the magnificent evolution of the iconic ballet tutu. We’ll be time travelling again to take in a little history in the beautiful ballet world.
As ever, I'm rocking my favourite pink tutu, and let me tell you, it's giving off some serious fairytale vibes. I even wore it for a performance at the beautiful Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow last week, where I did a spectacular turn with some wonderful Russian dancers in a brand-new, absolutely stunning production of Sleeping Beauty. The crowd loved the pink, I knew they would. Pink just does it for me!
Today we are on January 11th, 2022, and wow! How incredible is that date? You know I love my historical tidbits! Did you know this date in 1920 was quite a landmark day for women. 22nd Amendment passed the US Congress which was all about equal voting rights. How brilliant! A huge milestone for women's rights - go us! I also remember seeing some stunning dance pieces celebrating that, a real artistic expression of a magnificent political step forward!
For this #TutuTuesday, let’s look at the Victorian era of fashion and ballet, shall we? As the saying goes, ‘fashion repeats itself!’
It’s all a little different than our bouffant tulle designs today!
The Victorian era in ballet history is a fascinating mix of romanticism and progress. Ballet at the time was a reflection of social change in so many ways.
I particularly adore the Romantic era’s soft, fluid, expressive and, dare I say it, romantic movement that is a little bit like myself (and my pink tutus, of course!). The tutu in those days were still very much evolving, taking their cues from fashionable Victorian women.
During this time, the Victorian ladies’ silhouette embraced wider skirts, and what does that say to you? A full-length ballerina skirt, and who knows where the tutu gets its influence!
Let’s travel back a bit further and explore our favourite ballet’s origins: It all began way back in the Renaissance period, where we had a ‘less is more’ attitude in terms of fashion and outfits.
They used a simple garment like a 'chemise à la française,' or a 'nightgown' and I think you will find, even today we still see some very romantic dancers looking beautiful in sheer skirts which create lovely flowing and fluid silhouettes!
And speaking of those Renaissance costumes and silhouettes… I found an adorable picture on my adventures the other day. Can you believe that as we’re celebrating these early times, it wasn't until the early 1800s when the skirt lengths went higher? Think of it, darling, high-waisted and with longer, billowing skirts and a more fitted bodice. Just imagine it all, those flowing, silk skirts dancing with abandon, just fabulous!
By the mid 1800s, as Victorian era progressed, there came that very important transition toward a ballet skirt with even shorter layers. Think more layers of fabric on top, adding structure and shaping to the design of the skirt.
So as I delve deeper, into this romantic time, let's imagine how those layers of fabric would move with the ballerina’s every grace. I always find those graceful lines from the period to be a constant source of inspiration.
I'm actually wearing a pink silk Victorian era tutu at a show next month. The production is a Victorian Belle ballet based on a new reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in a vintage country house with beautiful dancers in lovely soft colors! You will love it. And there's even going to be a bit of a twist: the dance troupe I'm a part of in Moscow has decided to dress the male ballet dancers in modern interpretations of Victorian clothes. The perfect blending of history, with that modern touch.
It's all about elegance, with that very distinct emphasis on movement, especially during those graceful piqué turns, darling. There's just something swoon worthy about a full, graceful spin that really just does it for me!
So what really is the origin story of this graceful, wonderful ballerina dress that so many adore? My friends, the history of the ballet tutu takes its shape in layers and the designs that truly encapsulate movement itself.
It’s all about how fashion history and innovation collide. It's just so fascinating! Think about how the way women dress in every generation influences so much of ballet’s fashion and artistry!
Did you know the modern tutu, in all its fluffy glory, can really be traced to the 1800s, that’s the Victorian period again! Just fabulous! I adore the era and everything about it.
A new vision for the ballet was taking form in this era. It is a time when women had some more control over their choices in life and this period brought with it such an era of beautiful design and elegance. Ballet took on a different meaning – dancers used their artform as a method of expressing selfhood!
These earlier ballerinas had incredible grace and a very clear awareness of beauty and elegance, not dissimilar to myself in this 21st century. These were the designs and artists who came up with the concept of layers for that all-important floating look for those beautiful, iconic ballerina skirts.
Think about it - these graceful forms have evolved into the stunning tulle we adore today, creating the quintessential ballerina look of the modern world, something that I think I almost invented - nearly!
You know I think I was born to wear these ballerina outfits.
And speaking of the beautiful Victorian period - tutut tutut! I have to confess I took a little break in my journey and had the best cuppa and crumpet with an antique dealer in a little antique shop I discovered, filled with beautifully embroidered fabrics and antique accessories that were truly beautiful, it made me thrilled to bits - delicious! And that lovely gentleman with a glorious moustache gave me such wonderful antique, silk scarves that would have made a marvelous ballerina dress.
Moving forward to the 20th Century, this amazing era saw new and inspiring innovation. I think the era just oozed modern designs that were simply magnificent! This century was all about sleek, streamline cuts that brought elegance to a completely new level. The designs began to take form to show off incredible strength, grace, and artistic performance from dancers - absolutely fab!*
I do love an exquisite ballet, but, let's be honest, a little vintage, retro and elegant charm never goes out of fashion!
It really does take so much creativity and a sense of the timeless in fashion to carry that style and elegance all those years forward to where we are today!
If you find you love history as much as I do, then this vintage design aesthetic in ballet really captures the soul of those very important steps for change for both men and women, especially for ballet. Just look back to the 1920s. They introduced the ‘naked’ tutu as a nod to that free spirit that was starting to grow within our wonderful culture. I adore it for that liberating expression of the ballet. It was simply daring! It highlighted the grace, beauty, and incredible skill of those dancers!
Then, we enter into a very important moment: the mid-century! An amazing era in which fashion and dancing started to reflect new global movements and influences - it changed the world of ballet and all aspects of our modern-day ballet wear! This meant there was a lot more movement in those silhouettes as artists and designers wanted to showcase strength and incredible artistry from our amazing ballerinas.
My time-traveling self simply loved the new silhouettes for their movement and the dramatic, swirling, elegance that reflected new expressions and forms.
All through these eras - and yes, from all those romantic and decadent centuries I've travelled to - it’s just beautiful to be a part of how the evolution of a tutu really reflects our own society!
How delightful are all these shapes? And, as I know, most people find tutus just adorable - and don't forget magical - it’s all about showing a story in its own lovely form through its artistic structure. I can see the graceful history of this style of fashion as much as I can see the story of its time and how our world evolves.
If there’s something that brings me a thrill to my dancing core and soul – It’s all about the journey, the history, and seeing the stories within fashion!
From this fab trip into the glorious world of fashion and dancing you can also understand why I absolutely love tutus. There are those elegant stories, romantic influences, and simply graceful designs!
My journey to make tutus for everyone will be ongoing until it’s truly a reality! Do check in next week!
As always, darlings, do take a trip to www.pink-tutu.com, my ballet tutu heaven, and do make sure to join my next time-traveling adventure!
Until then, be fabulous!
Love, Emma
