Hello, lovelies! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and welcome back to another delightful #TutuTuesday! Today we’re taking a little trip back in time, as I often do, to explore the fabulous evolution of our beloved tutus! Buckle up, darling, because we’re about to embark on a sartorial adventure fit for a prima ballerina!
As you all know, a pink tutu is pretty much the ultimate statement piece, and I’m eternally grateful for their presence in my life. But did you know these iconic garments weren’t always the shimmering masterpieces we see on stage today? Oh no, my dears, they’ve had a long and fascinating history, starting way back when... well, you’ll just have to read on, won’t you?
*(I have to admit, time travel does have its perks! You'd be amazed how much money you can make performing the *Swan Lake pas de deux for some of the high rollers who hold historical soirees.) **
So, today's journey takes us to the year 1832, where I happened to find myself during a visit to the Paris Opera Ballet, one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world.
(As if you didn’t know, ballet has always been huge, darlings, and Paris is practically the ballet capital of the world!)
Now, picture this: the theatre is alive with excitement. We’re all ready to be transported to a world of magic and elegance. But wait! I catch a glimpse of the ballerinas, and they aren't wearing the tutus I'm used to!
(No, don’t worry, it’s not the ugly kind of “un-tutu”. But it’s not quite my pink paradise, either!)
Their outfits were, to put it mildly, rather… practical! They were sporting long, flowing skirts – think more Victorian ball gown than ballerina elegance. I'm talking lots of fabric and yards of petticoats – oh my! Not very practical for high kicks and pirouettes, I'm sure you'll agree!
(To be honest, I have to confess that some of the earlier costumes look almost like, dare I say, Victorian nightshirts!)
Well, imagine my surprise when I find out the creator of these rather bulky dresses was none other than the renowned French ballet dancer and choreographer, Marie Taglioni! Her costume for the ballet “La Sylphide”, in which she performed the iconic “Taglioni step” - a light and graceful move unlike anything audiences had seen before - revolutionised ballet costumes. Her inspiration? Apparently, she took cues from a traditional Scottish kilt. Now, this may sound a bit unexpected, darling, but it turns out, her creation was actually pretty darn impressive. The soft, billowy, knee-length white skirt (it actually had a pink sash, if you can believe it!), while maybe not as flamboyant as the tutu we know today, became the benchmark for ballerina fashion, paving the way for future costume evolutions.
*(What a fantastic fashion statement, especially in the 1830s! It goes to show you can inspire fashion from practically anywhere - just a wee bit of creativity! It wasn’t *all nightgowns and puffy skirts. It was a step forward for ballerina comfort!) **
Of course, things kept developing, and after several more decades, our much-loved tutu started to emerge! This is when I found myself whisked away to Vienna, the enchanting heart of classical music, in 1898. You simply must visit! It's the perfect place to sip champagne and enjoy a captivating ballet. (Remember, when I’m not galavanting across the time-space continuum, you can usually find me at a ballet in Vienna, or shopping at a charming little boutique – oh, Vienna is simply delightful.)
*(Anyway, about that tutu… ) *
As I took a seat at the exquisite Vienna State Opera House (did you know that the opera house in Vienna dates back to 1869!), my heart soared with anticipation.
*(Okay, you’ve all probably guessed this one, but in case you’ve got a time turner handy, it is the home to a beautiful Ballet.) *
When the dancers took the stage, what do I see, darling? A breathtakingly beautiful tutu, but this time, the skirt was much shorter! It was made with layers and layers of tulle and reached just above the knee. This elegant and airy garment became instantly popular. Imagine my excitement, I felt like I had entered a fairy tale, or maybe a dream in a vintage ballet magazine!
(There was this wonderful lightness to the dance that you wouldn't have seen before – almost like the ballerina was about to take flight!)
However, there's one crucial aspect of the tutu we’ve missed – and no, it’s not the colour. It’s something I call “the magic touch”. And here we jump forward, right here, in our very own time to, well, this Tuesday, in fact, to London, the capital of England. It is where I call home, and of course, my heart still races when the curtain opens to the Royal Ballet in Covent Garden. (Just like Vienna, they love their ballet in London! A great place to catch a performance and visit some truly stunning shops.)
*(That’s me, by the way. Oh, how I love a beautiful dress, but those exquisite ballet tutus are really the crown jewel. I think that they deserve a celebration. Let's give those magnificent, swirling, glamorous tutus all the love and attention they deserve.) *
Now, the tutu we know and adore – those breathtaking works of art on stage – wouldn’t be possible without the extraordinary skill and artistry of seamstresses and designers like Maria Taglioni, of course, but there’s more to it than that, lovelies! It's all thanks to the innovation of Monsieur Charles Worth, one of the first high fashion designers in the 19th century. And, oh darling, the story of his influence is quite the thing! (Of course, with any story involving haute couture, there’s a fair amount of drama and excitement – can you believe it?)
Monsieur Worth was famous for his opulent creations and his dedication to achieving perfect fit and lines. But you might be asking, “what’s the connection between Parisian fashion houses and my darling tutu, Emma?”. Here’s where Monsieur Worth comes in – in the 1850s and 60s, he created the “crinoline”, the ingenious, whalebone-structured garment that redefined fashion for women in the 19th century. Now, as with all things time travel, it is complicated and convoluted, as you can see in a ballet tutu's design! But what Monsieur Worth did with that elegant fashion piece was take the existing structure for the dress and translate the lines and movement onto a very simple costume – our very own tutu!
(But how does all of this translate to ballet, I hear you say?)
Monsieur Worth saw that his invention helped define the look and flow of his outfits for women - well, imagine his shock (and perhaps amazement) when he took his crinolines and redesigned them into what he called "tutus" – just a lighter weight, less cumbersome version for ballerinas. The shape was pretty similar, except now the ladies were not hampered by a plethora of layers of cloth and whalebone – they had graceful, free-flowing tutus and with a lot more freedom of movement! This also allowed for the rise of very interesting, bold fashion statement. The ballerina was finally in the limelight – it was quite the thing! **
*(If there’s one thing that has always made my heart beat faster than any other, darling, it’s the magic and creativity of couture - and these exquisite little tulle garments were a sign of the times.) *
Monsieur Worth made the “tutu”, a truly ingenious adaptation. Of course, this also made a ballet costume for dancing! If you look closely, you’ll notice this construction gives a dancer the possibility for stunning jumps and a beautiful and breathtaking movement, even to this day!
(A long story for such a simple piece, darling, and one I hope that you have enjoyed. The history of ballet has been filled with so much invention and artistry - there's something very elegant and exciting about the fact that it's a true evolution - there's never really an ending!)
You may be thinking, “What else can you possibly say about these wonderful and breathtaking tutus?!” Well, lovelies, it’s this! While some say that the tutu is “the dancer's best friend”, there’s an added little tidbit I’ve learnt on my time travels and which really made me think!
*(The thought of time travel gets to your head, darling. My favorite way to relax is by shopping - preferably on an impulse. I think most of my friends think I’m mad! But it all stems from that little spark in my brain! Let’s face it – a pink tutu just takes over your life – the pink and tulle has already taken over all the pink tutu lovers of this world. But it makes sense. It’s just fascinating. Now we’re into the really fascinating bit! *
Did you know that after centuries of being associated with a simple white cotton fabric, by the 1950s and 60s, it became more exciting? Tutus evolved with even more elaborate designs in a wide array of beautiful colors?
(I, for one, am eternally thankful, darlings!)
But let's look ahead! With the help of technology (like a super duper time turner) I have learnt to predict the evolution of ballet fashion.
*(One more stop on our trip – just a teensy little skip and jump to London - we're going to take a peak at today!) *
From the iconic styles that graced the stages of the Paris Opera Ballet to the dramatic flair of London’s Royal Ballet and everywhere else in between – we’re in a time where everything is more fabulous and extraordinary than ever. Today we're seeing not only classic romantic designs with a delicate, fluffy form – but we’re also seeing so many daring, vibrant new, exciting shapes – just look at the amazing modern tutus - and even tutus made for specific moves - I absolutely love it!
(Let’s not forget those ballet dancers! It is their style and passion that inspires me - I have seen some amazing tutus in the theater. One of the highlights of the last year had to be watching a beautiful tutu dance that was completely made with feather and satin, oh my, just simply heavenly!)
There you have it – a little bit of history from a time traveling tutu devotee, about a fashion staple as pretty and whimsical as the ballerina's steps!
(Of course, I also saw some fabulous fashion, and made a quick shopping stop. Nothing screams glamour and sparkle quite like some vintage tutus. You have to catch up on your pink tutu history by reading a book or visiting a museum or simply finding the time to watch an amazing ballet! - now that’s some quality time, I have to admit. What could be more fabulous than ballet and tutus? )
I’d love to hear about what you've enjoyed seeing recently - so please do come and share your thoughts with me on my blog or social media channels – I am a true fashion enthusiast and would love to chat with you, you can catch me on www.pink-tutu.com or my twitter feed. Now if you'll excuse me darlings, I have a date with some magnificent costumes!
Until next time, wear a tutu and enjoy the magic!
Emma
xx
