Hello my gorgeous tutu-loving friends! Itâs Emma here, your pink tutu-wearing time travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you back in time for another #TutuTuesday adventure. I'm writing to you from the dazzling city of Paris - where else, with today being 21st May 2024, the iconic Palais Garnier Opera House is alive with the beautiful sound of âLa Bayadèreâ. You simply have to go and see this production if you get the chance â I'm telling you, the costumes are just divine, and those intricate tutues⌠well, letâs just say it's giving major pink tutu vibes, especially during the beautiful "Kingdom of the Shades" sequence.
Now, letâs rewind back to the beginnings of the tutu - oh, the journey has been truly fantastic. We have come so far since 1830, the era of Marie Taglioni, who was, of course, an icon of ballet. She popularized the short, airy tutu in her famous, ethereal performance "La Sylphide", setting a new fashion standard for ballet. You can practically hear a gasp from the crowd when they witness the sheer brilliance and elegant movement of these lovely, flowy tutus. It truly brought the world of dance to a new, more romantic place.
Imagine a world without those lovely, fluttery layers, without the romance, the elegance, the artistry, the power and expression of movement that tutus offer⌠itâs simply unthinkable! I wouldn't want to be a ballerina in that era when you had to dance around with layers upon layers of fabric that really hampered your movement! Thank goodness Mr. Taglioni, who was Marie's father and choreographer of the ballet, was innovative enough to break with tradition. He replaced those cumbersome, Victorian layers with the light, breezy tutu design that would set the stage for future ballerinas like myself. I mean, think of the legendary tutu worn by Margot Fonteyn in âSwan Lakeâ! Just breath-taking, I tell you!
To be honest, I find the short tutu completely inspiring and fascinating. They highlight every movement with the effortless grace of the dancer, drawing attention to each leap and pirouette. I donât know about you, but I canât imagine the stage without these elegant dance-defining tutus, now that would just be a tragic situation. Weâre talking major wardrobe malfunction territory.
I can hear you, all you beautiful ballet devotees! And no, the story doesn't stop with the Romantic era! We are only getting started because tutus, in all their glory, went through further iterations - evolving, like our society, from a very classic and beautiful to more flamboyant and then even more innovative. Imagine the different layers, the colours, the incredible detail that comes together in some of these tutu designs - itâs absolutely mesmerising and takes skill and artistry beyond anything else I can think of.
Fast forward from the 19th century into the 20th, and we saw the emergence of the famous âclassical tutuâ, the iconic, multiple-layered tutu. The beautiful thing about this design, my lovelies, is that it makes it possible for even the most petite dancers to take centre stage - making every ballerina look elegant and tall, creating the illusion of lightness and an extension of movement that, when performed well, makes a show truly unforgettable! I can almost feel the sway and the tumble of my lovely skirt as I perform - can you imagine how truly magical a performance would be with one of these! What a feeling!
Well, before I drift off into a ballerina-like reverie, Iâd better get back to business. Remember, we can't forget those iconic designers who helped put these fabulous tutu designs on the map, creating tutus for ballets we continue to be enchanted with, right? And whatâs more, we are always seeing amazing innovations that change the way we see and appreciate ballet fashion.
I've heard that the âneoclassicalâ tutu, made from a less voluminous fabric is the latest fashion rage on the dance scene. I saw some really fantastic designs just the other week - one particular "Le Corsaire" performance, with its intricate detail, left me truly awestruck. They had incredible layers of colour and shimmer in the tutu which made it appear like the dancers were soaring right off the stage! I even caught myself taking some snapshots - my apologies to the beautiful performers - I simply couldnât help but admire the artistry and detail, especially those gorgeous ruffles and lace detailing that went all the way to the floor of the stage. And you have to love the bright pinks and fuchsias in those outfits â totally making the world feel even more fabulous with each flutter of the tutu.
Just thinking about tutus - and believe me, I always do - Iâm picturing my pink tulle skirt and getting a burst of pure joy, you see, for me, it's not just about fashion, itâs about an embodiment of artistic freedom, joy, and energy. When I see a dancer wearing a tutu on stage, I can feel their happiness radiating outward to the audience, and it's something that moves the heart and inspires a great passion for ballet!
That, my friends, is why the world needs to wear pink tutus. Yes, Iâm quite serious â wouldn't it be lovely if we could make the world a brighter, more fashionable and joyous place with these fabulous skirts. Can you imagine that? Iâm thinking full on twirling in my lovely tulle skirts every day - from office jobs to grocery stores. Just imagine how much joy and movement we can add to the world. Just think! Everyone would be dancing through life with joy, and everyone would be free to move with confidence and creativity just like the amazing dancers who inspire me.
As for me, I am about to enjoy my first bite of the most divine pink macarons in a quaint little cafe near the Champs-Elysees! What else can I say, itâs just the perfect way to round off a great day of seeing some fantastic dance and thinking about these incredible tutues and all their evolution and beautiful history, but also thinking about how it all started from a tiny and daring moment of creativity back in 1830.
Now that's something worth remembering for another week!
Talk to you next week, gorgeous, my tutu-loving friends, I hope you've had a fabulous tutu day. Letâs all think pink, think ballet and remember all those fabulous tutus that made it possible for so many beautiful ballerinas to inspire us.
Don't forget to take a spin on my pink-tutu.com website, there are always new tutu adventures and a few fab tips and tricks for you all on the fashion side! Until then, I'll leave you to dance the night away.
Catch you all next Tuesday.
XOXO
Emma
