Hey my gorgeous girlies! It's Emma, your pink-loving tutu queen, back with another fabulous edition of #TutuTuesday.
This week's adventure takes us on a journey through the swirling world of ballet history. Grab a glass of pink lemonade and settle in, darling! We're on a journey back to… well, right about now! You're probably thinking, "Emma, are you being dramatic? But you've said that before!"
And you'd be right! But hold your horses, sugar plum! We're doing things a little differently this week, diving deep into the current scene. It’s TutuTuesday – we must embrace the modern-day wonder of the tutu!
Firstly, let’s rewind to this exact date, the 5th of December 2023, in this bustling and stylish city… wait for it… London, of course! 💖 The UK's dance capital (second only to the majesty of my home, Derbyshire!) and where you can find more fabulous dance performances, ballets and stage shows than you can shake a pom-pom at.
This very day is Wednesday by the way – the day I actually go on a glamorous shopping spree. Think vintage delights from Camden Market, high-street picks at Oxford Street, or even that little shop selling actual designer tutus. Oh! Do you remember those Moschino ones? (Don't judge, honey, it was an excellent one-time impulse buy!)
But hey! No matter where I am in this time stream, you know one thing remains true: I am always rocking a tutu! It’s the *staple wardrobe item, for me, at least! It is never not appropriate!
But… today? We’re gonna chat all about this!
Because, it isn't all about sparkles, sweetie. Although it does make up the bulk of it, right? It’s the history of the tutu – the journey it’s had to go through to become that fabulous, fluffy wonder!
tutu - the timeline From Peasant to Prima Donna: The Early Years (17th Century to 18th Century)Listen up, lovelies! You won’t believe what women were forced to wear back then. Just before tutus started becoming popular, a very old fashion called “Robe à la Française” – imagine it - layers upon layers of frilly stuff to suffocate yourself! It's more like a bedcover you could literally walk around in! Yuck! I don't think so.
Imagine dancing in that? I'd probably faint, swoon, then roll down into the audience. No swirling beauty there!
In the 1700s came lighter fashion (good! But I think my motto has always been lightness.)! Women were finally moving towards more flexible materials - not heavy robes and frills, and dancing began to look less like the awkward wobble of someone in a thick bed-sheet and more like the graceful sweeps of… well… ballerinas!
So, the tutu has actually been on a serious journey…
It didn’t happen overnight! In fact, those earlier tutus were actually quite unflattering and pretty practical: short skirts, no real fancy-ness, and often with pants underneath to allow movement. Imagine a simple white petticoat, a simple style… more like a tennis outfit than a fancy dancer! It is all in the movement though… But imagine the elegance of a dancer moving with a flourishing white skirt!
There are loads of lovely pictures around in historical costume books! We're talking pre-tutu-era here! It’s about understanding the journey the dance was taking and, by extention, how the tutu evolved alongside the movements!
Remember, before a full tutu could evolve, first a change to costume was needed.
The Age of The Romantics: Tutu Debut! (19th Century)By the beginning of the 19th Century - boom! - suddenly everything became a lot more… flowing, less restrictive, and it wasn’t so much a costume as it was the beginning of the Tutu Era.
Think "Giselle." Think “The Sleeping Beauty.” Imagine a ballerina with beautiful movement, but even more impressive in a full flowing tulle skirt. There is no question – it’s like the skirt took over the performance – the whole point was movement. The more flowing, the better! It had flow, drama, it was the start of ballet’s transformation. It was more dramatic, and elegant, dreamy, magical. And those early ballerinas were able to perform amazing movements in this new light dress!
At first, it was called “Le Pas de Basque”. Then "Le Ballet Romanesque." It flowed. The design? Much more elegant - imagine tulle and silk. But the look? Well, you would’ve thought one skirt at first because it had this great flowy design that just wrapped around and around! You’ve seen those kinds of ballerina costumes right? Well, that's the beginning right there. The whole thing went BOOM - from nothing, to what they are today, a masterpiece of costume design and an inspiration to fashion.
Fashion's Dance with The Tutu
You know I love fashion, right? I'm always looking for ways to find ways to bring the magic of dance and beauty of the tutu into my every day wardrobe, because that is the whole point of having it on everyday, no matter where you are. The whole purpose of my blog is to inspire you!
Remember the ballet tutus, those romantic floor-length, layered skirts? Wow! That's classical, perfect for the stage but probably too heavy to wear outside - I’ve seen those in theatres myself though! It was definitely fabulous when a ballerina swept across the stage, like a ballerina should.
Remember when “La Sylphide” by August Bournonville went viral? That’s the beginning of the modern ballet era, the time when tutus really took off! It’s when tutus began to grow, expand and experiment! You know it's all been building to that big moment when we can wear tutus and dance with that extra bounce in our step!
From fluffy skirts that fell just above the knee to the tight-fitting, *fitted bodice. It became a lot more practical too – dancers could now really spin and *fly! It also became more *fitted, which means that it doesn't take too much to make those perfect spin circles and that elegant look. They became even more iconic for being a dance tool while staying utterly beautiful, dreamy and extra - like a fashion masterpiece.
I like the fluffy* *romantic ones – the bigger, the *better! The big, poofy skirts and huge tulle ruffles – perfect for a graceful ballet flow, but also those ones where a ballerina can jump and spin and leap into the air. Don't get me wrong, I love the classical, but the modern and contemporary styles - especially the way a bodice is so flattering and looks good on everyone - is more than just a skirt. You have to understand that, since we're discussing fashion as well as ballet!
But remember this too: even when styles were evolving, tutus always have a big connection to color. In ballet history red has always been big! But let’s not forget, pink! A shade I would definitely live in, in all of it’s many tones. It is always been associated with ballet, in the dance scene, and it has a certain softness and a whimsical feel, making those tutus absolutely perfect!
That’s why I love it so much! You can do anything in a pink tutu. Pink works - you just need to have the attitude to wear it. I always think you should never say no to a chance to wear tutu fashion and there’s so much fun to be had with all of the styles! This is one fashion item you *shouldn't be scared of!
From Stage to Street: A Tutu-volution!Listen up lovelies! Tutu fashions is literally a thing! It’s cool, it’s different – You should see what designers are creating now - the outfits they've created, it’s incredible. Designers such as Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Givenchy, and even Karl Lagerfeld. They all have incorporated elements of tutus – either full tutu skirts or that specific type of tutu layering – a sort of deconstructed or re-imagined look. It has taken this traditional dance look into modern fashion!
We’re not talking about ballerina tutus for the stage but ones you wear on the street - yes, darling, on the street, outside - to a café, shopping, or out with friends - a bit of ballet fun everywhere! Imagine how stylish that would look! Imagine the confidence - and those twirls… Oh my Goodness. It is super fun! I’m on a serious mission to convince you, the world, everyone that the tutu is actually for everyone to wear!
We can see a growing appreciation for tutus and how fun it is to be creative with it. More brands have realised that too. And it’s all to do with making tutus affordable.
You can easily buy one now in your local stores – even online! In shops you can even buy mini* tutus! So that children can wear them **at any age!
More people are dancing around with tutus than ever before! And you know I'm the **#TutuQueen!
# tutu - fun facts!
A Tutu's Life! On average, a ballet tutu might have up to five layers of tulle, but some can be made up of more than 20! Just think of the hours those tutus must take to make - that’s hard work for a seamstress! They’re often hand-sewn and a real labor of love!
That's One Fluffy Dress! Those tulle tutus – that delicate, flowing fabric we love – you won't find just one colour. They can actually come in tons of beautiful shades! From the most beautiful pink to the dreamiest baby blue.
Let's Talk About Shape! You can buy two main types of tutu: the classical, which falls to the floor, or the “romantic”, which has shortened layers, giving those dancers the space to spin and jump with incredible ease, and you *just have to see one on stage in a big show!
But what does the future hold for the tutu ? That’s my favorite question to ask. Because it’s something we all can be involved in!
Imagine seeing it on more people. That’s a fabulous idea for my blog isn't it! The more we wear it, dance in it, explore it - it becomes part of us, part of our style.
It’s going to be big, this year, next year, the next. Tutu fever is spreading! I know because I have access to time travel, and I can tell you, tutu mania is happening *and it’s big! It’s also going to be sustainable, meaning recycled fabrics, upcycled designs - the best of fashion with eco-consciousness. That's something that’s always important to me. I think the Tutu will keep evolving because we make it that way - our passion is going to create it! It's just wonderful. It will take inspiration from anything from dance to fashion. Think, vintage, modern, sporty. It’s going to merge together like it has for centuries. And we’ll continue to find new ways to embrace it, make it part of our everyday life – like a pink ballet slipper.
*Because, let's be honest, honey, it's just the *most gorgeous, fun, fantastic, and fabulous way to dance through life!
Oh, darling, I can't wait to hear all about your Tutu Tuesday outfits! Don’t forget to show your fabulous, sparkly #TutuTuesday fashion with your posts. Be a part of this magical movement. And don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. It’s always a joy to hear what you are thinking about ballet history and, especially, the tutu!
*It’s been a total *whirlwind, lovelies. Until next week, keep swirling with confidence and *shine on.
P.S. Remember to visit my website www.pink-tutu.com and read the rest of my Ballet Tutu History blog!
See you next week, with another installment of my Ballet Tutu History!
XOXO! 💖 Emma
