Bonjour from Paris! š©°
It's a beautiful, bright spring morning here in the City of Lights, and you know what that means... it's #TutuTuesday, my darlings! This week, we're waltzing back through time to discover the delightful history of our beloved tutus, starting with a question that may surprise you:
Did you know the tutu didn't actually appear on stage until the early 19th century? That's right! Imagine, the incredible leaps and pirouettes of our favourite ballerinas were executed in floor-length gowns for centuries!
You see, tutus were a revolution, darling! They offered the graceful dancers freedom of movement and a chance to showcase those gorgeous legs, which were usually hidden away. Before tutus, it was the arms and neck that danced, but now, with the short tutu, a whole new world of movement became possible!
(If you can, picture my cute pink tutu sparkling under the Parisian sunshine.)
Anyway, back to our history lesson. So, how did the tutu actually come about? Well, in the early 1800s, fashion was all about long, romantic gowns - the bigger the skirt, the better! Think crinoline and layers of fabric.
Fast forward to the Romantic era of ballet: The famous French dancer Marie Taglioni, considered a legendary figure of early ballet history, had an important role in this history, and yes, sheās on our time-travel list to meet very soon! In 1832, for her famous role as the "sylph" in "La Sylphide," Marie ditched the full skirt and performed in a short, knee-length tutu - a revolutionary, and daring, choice that was hailed for its beauty and grace. It's said that she was inspired by the style of Greek goddess costumes! Fancy that!
The āTaglioniā tutu - or "Romantic tutu" as we now call it - was made from tulle or a similar net material and often came with multiple layers of ruffles and embroidery. It was lighter than anything worn on stage before and created a delicate and ethereal appearance. It still had the wide skirt, however, which emphasized that flowing, dramatic Romantic style that we adore!
This became a game-changer in the world of dance! Suddenly, the legs became an essential element in the performance, a focus on strength, elegance and agility. And guess what else? Those leaps and twirls could actually be seen now! Can you imagine dancing in that kind of bulky clothing before? It's almost impossible!
This invention wasnāt just about practical considerations - it changed how we view ballet entirely. It embraced femininity, fluidity and the delicate artistry of the dancers, emphasizing graceful lines and elegance. This led to the evolution of the "classic tutu" that we still see today.
This iconic tutu is shorter than the āTaglioni,ā with a much wider, flatter, fuller shape and is made up of several layers of tulle sewn onto a stiff framework (and yes, darling, that framework was just as stiff then as it is now).
The āclassicā tutu has two main variations: the āsingleā and the ādoubleā tutu. Single is the simpler version - a single layer of tulle - but the double gives you that full, rounded silhouette! It all depends on what look you want!
**(That lovely full double-tutu style is really coming into its own as a fashionable item this spring... I wonder if Iāll try it with a pink satin belt this week. I love to mix those styles in a good ballet-chic look, darling! You can find some incredible looks in the āTutu Inspirationā section of my blog... why not get creative and find your favourite this Tuesday! Do share it in the comments! )
As tutus were constantly being redesigned to better showcase movement, another notable style was the "fishtail" tutu, created for the role of Odette in Swan Lake! (If you havenāt seen that production, darlings, you MUST!)
The fishtail tutu gets its name from its elongated back, creating an alluring, almost fairytale-like look for that classic romantic ballerina who becomes a graceful swan!
From the classic "Taglioni," the "fishtail" to the classic ādoubleā - all those styles helped revolutionise ballet, paving the way for the amazing dancers of today.
The "Romanticā era might be long gone, but these iconic styles live on! Just like a real fashion classic - they get repurposed! These days we can even get our own little tutus to wear at the theatre or to our dance classes! I even find amazing examples of street style incorporating that tutu! And even when I'm travelling to a new city, darling, a good tutu always livens up my suitcase, ready to get me excited about some ballet fashion!
Speaking of travelling...
I'm spending my #TutuTuesday today in Paris. My current assignment is so exciting, as I am dancing tonight at the Palais Garnier ā I'll be doing my solo routine at the iconic Paris Opera House! The grand architecture of the Palais Garnier is something that everyone should experience in their lifetime - the atmosphere of a Parisian ballet house... is just magical!
( I was looking for some incredible pieces for my collection to go with the outfits for my routine. That shopping was absolutely bliss, Iāve definitely found myself a little bit of vintage chic on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-HonorĆ©.)
So, as we admire the tutus in our own lives and imagine the joy that dancers bring, I wish you a very #TutuTuesday! š©°
Oh, and if youāre interested, on May 10, 2022 (the date we've gone back to), The National Theatre Live was premiering a new film of "Hamlet" - something youāll have to see if you like some incredible theatre work! And this was before they had even added in the wonderful tutus and dancers... but I do love how the world of theatre has its own stage costumes, too!
Keep that twirling, keep that dreaming... and until next time, I'll be thinking about tutus in all those incredible colorsā¦ like a magnificent lavender-pink tutu for the Moulin Rouge?
*Emma. š *
www.pink-tutu.com
