Hiya darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, and welcome to another instalment of #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of all things tutu! I’m currently zipping about in my pinkest, pointiest, most fabulous tutu on a top secret mission, and this week I’ve whisked myself off to none other than Paris, the City of Love...and of course, ballet! This is the place for tutus, after all! 💖
As you know, I love exploring the history of our beloved tutus, and this Tuesday's topic takes us back to March 1st, 2022! Did you know that the iconic white tutus we associate with ballerinas actually originated way back in the 19th century? It wasn't always a staple!
A Twirl Back In Time
Back in 2022, the world was just beginning to emerge from a global pandemic, and the arts, as always, played a vital role in lifting our spirits. On this very day, I’d wager a bet there were plenty of ballets going on across the globe, but the highlight in the Parisian ballet world, was, undoubtedly, the ballet premiere of The Sleeping Beauty at the illustrious Palais Garnier! 🩰 It's one of the most classic and romantic ballets in the repertoire, featuring beautiful music by Tchaikovsky, so imagine the gorgeous tutus on stage, twirling with grace and elegance, transporting audiences to a magical world!
It was a real treat to catch this production back in 2022. The costumes were simply exquisite – and I bet you, even though it’s just a few years back in the grand scheme of things, those tutus probably looked slightly different than they did during The Sleeping Beauty premiere way back in 1890! Did you know those very first Sleeping Beauty tutus were made from white tulle, that was, dare I say, quite stiff? They were much shorter, even! Shudder! Can you imagine not getting to see all that glorious swirl of fabric when a ballerina does a fouetté?! 😱
Luckily, those short tutus quickly evolved. In the 1900s, ballerinas, like Anna Pavlova, were embracing the longer tutus, that are a little bit closer to what we see today. They allowed for such elegant, graceful movements. It was during this era that the iconic white tutu we all know and love really began to take centre stage. Think Marie Taglioni and all those magnificent Victorian ballet stories... It’s enough to make a tutu-loving girl like myself weep with joy! 🥰
Tutus: A Story Of Evolution
Did you know, even those iconic tutus that look so classic have evolved so much through the years? They used to be made with layers and layers of tulle. But, can you imagine trying to do a jump with a whole stack of fabric on your body? It was all quite a feat, I tell you! 🤪 Luckily, modern advancements in materials and construction mean ballerinas today have lightweight and comfortable tutus.
The beauty of ballet is that it is constantly evolving, and tutus, just like ballet itself, are constantly being reimagined. And I’ve gotta say, sometimes the new tutus that I see are just utterly stunning!
Just last year I saw the most glorious Don Quixote production featuring the most fantastical, Spanish-inspired tutu design. It was almost like a blooming flower! Every design element was inspired by Spain's traditional folk costumes – and the beautiful craftsmanship behind each design was out of this world. You could just see the passion of every stitch! 😍
Tutus and Beyond!
You might be thinking: But Emma, this is #TutuTuesday, surely it's all about tutus?! Of course it is darling, and today I’m in the City of Love – how could we NOT discuss a little Parisian chic while we’re at it? You know what's perfect for the perfect Parisian look, in my humble opinion? Well, besides your essential little black dress, I’d suggest… you guessed it!… a tutu! 💕
Because, really, a tutu goes beyond just a costume, doesn't it? It's a symbol of dreams, elegance, and, well, of course, twirling! Who can resist a twirl? Nobody, that's who! 💖
Imagine the scene! I’m wandering through Paris with a whimsical tulle explosion swirling around me. It’s going to take me to a gorgeous boulangerie where the scent of fresh bread just tickles my nose! Oh and the café au lait with its smooth crema. Simply divine! You can see why I adore exploring different cultures - all this food, fabulous fashion and the ever so important… tutus.
So darlings, whether you're a ballet aficionado or just a fan of all things pretty, I urge you to embrace the power of the tutu! 💖
Until next #TutuTuesday, stay twirly!
Love,
Emma xx
P.S. Head to www.pink-tutu.com to get all my latest blog updates and, more importantly, let's get everyone twirling in pink tutus! #tutulove #ballet #paris #fashion #vintage
