Hello lovelies! It’s your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, here, back with another delve into the fabulous history of the ballet tutu. This week, we’re whisking ourselves back to the 28th of May, 2024, a date I’m going to have a whale of a time with – spoiler alert: fancy dress is involved!
I landed in Paris, my darling, right by the Louvre, with the most magnificent view of the Seine! Imagine: a Parisian bistro, a warm breeze, a symphony of music playing nearby, and me in my cherry blossom pink tutu, twirling like a mad thing. Can’t beat it, eh? The only thing that could top this picture-perfect scene was the delightful aroma of fresh pastries wafting through the air, urging me towards the nearest boulangerie! Oh la la!
Anyway, back to business! May 28th, 2024 – what’s on our schedule for this dazzling day, you ask?
Well, it seems that a little birdy told me that today marks the day of a spectacular theatrical production in Paris. Yes, the Parisian audience is treated to an exquisite ballet, with those amazing tutus that you simply HAVE to see. If you haven’t already guessed, the production in question is… drumroll please… Swan Lake! And believe you me, the tutu on the lead Swan Queen is just **absolutely gorgeous, it’s all about delicate lace and fluffy white tulle, reminding you of the graceful swan herself.
Now, let’s hop on our time-travel train for a second and swoosh! back a bit to learn a bit about that classic ballerina tutu! It's all thanks to the legendary Marie Taglioni – that absolute icon of the ballet world. Imagine, 1832, La Sylphide, that tutu… it's a complete game-changer for ballet. She had a whole dress chopped off to make the "Romantic Tutu" - so exciting! You know, it’s incredible how just a garment could be the inspiration behind a whole movement.
However, while the fluffy, airy tutu that I saw today (2024, remember!) certainly was a marvel, the 19th-century tutu looked more like a frilly nightgown with tiers upon tiers of tulle.
Oh! Do you want to know a little fashion tip? Sssh… you can easily create this Romantic look with layers of white or pink tulle! Simply use a drawstring, ribbon, or a stretchy waistband, and poof! Romantic ballerina!
Ahem Sorry! Got a little carried away! Back to the ballet history! It was a massive step in terms of both comfort and mobility for the dancers of that time, because the earlier tutu styles – think, layers upon layers of fabric and hoop skirts! Ugh! So impractical! They'd get caught in the skirts, which just wasn’t going to do, darling! So the Romantic tutu became an instant favourite – even now you can’t really say "ballet" without picturing a graceful, wispy tutu like this! It became a must-have accessory, not just for dancers, but for everyone who craved that ethereal charm.
Speaking of accessories… let's move from Tutu Town to Accessories Avenue! I went vintage shopping this morning after a fabulous breakfast croissant. Just picture this: me, shopping for the perfect tutu to accessorize my outfit. The owner, darling, she knew everything there was to know about the history of ballet tutus. She even had one from the 1890s! That's right, lovelies – a relic from another era, made out of the most divine fabric. I think you might say it was practically vintage perfection. She wouldn't let me try it on sigh but she gave me all the inside scoop on how these little gems came to be. I even bought some antique ballet shoes, absolutely delightful! It was like a dream come true!
Okay, back to 2024 now! Fashion is cyclical! How ironic! I saw a lot of modern tutus around today. You see, some of today's designers use tutus to design these super chic outfits, and it's absolutely amazing!
What makes it even better is how they've mixed and matched classic styles and introduced modern touches, like layered tulle with sheer fabrics. It creates the most fascinating look. You'll find tutus now on the street – just take a stroll down Rue Saint-Honoré here in Paris.
Honestly, it’s like the ballet and fashion worlds are playing this intricate game of cross-pollination, darling! It's exciting, because it makes a statement - the tutu has officially gone mainstream! What does this mean for our ballet tutu history? Simple, we're entering a whole new epoch!
And while we're on the topic of ballet and its influence on fashion, there’s something so interesting about how we look to past traditions to create a new, fresh, contemporary perspective! I see the Parisian designers referencing this history – whether it's a homage to the romantic tutu of Marie Taglioni, or taking cues from the bold designs of later decades, it's so much fun to see it play out on the runways of the fashion world!
Of course, no Parisian day would be complete without indulging in the most fabulous desserts! So I'm now on my way to the most delicious pâtisserie on Boulevard Saint-Germain, where they serve this exquisite pink macaron with a dollop of whipped cream, a splash of strawberry purée, and delicate pieces of pistachio. It’s my kind of heaven, honestly, and it goes so well with my pink tutu! You can’t tell me pink isn’t the ultimate ballet colour!
To wrap things up, lovelies, I must tell you that I’ve absolutely fallen head over heels for this new Parisian tutu fashion trend. From the way they seamlessly merge fashion and dance, to how they're redefining the traditional tutu to fit the modern world, I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a new tutu renaissance. You know me - I'll be sure to bring you more Tutu Tuesday insights about this trend next week!
Until then, let’s make this Tutu Tuesday absolutely unforgettable! 💖
Yours truly,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
Follow me on Insta: @pinktutueveryday
Please note: The information provided in this blog post is intended for entertainment purposes and may not be entirely historically accurate.
