Hiya lovelies! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, back for another TutuTuesday.
Today, the date is 20th May 2025 and the sun is shining here in Paris - perfect weather for a Parisian stroll and a little ballet watching, wouldn't you say?
Speaking of Parisian strolls, can you believe it's the 500th anniversary of the Louvre Pyramid? Talk about a monumental moment! This glass and metal wonder was added to the iconic courtyard in 1989 to house modern art, and it's one of my favourite Paris landmarks. Honestly, it’s so fabulous it should have a pink tutu all its own! 😉 I imagine I might just make a few quick sketches for that later. I hear the Louvre is putting on some spectacular contemporary dance performances this year in the Pyramid as part of the celebrations. I think I just might pop in!
But first, let’s step back in time… because we’re going to do a little #TutuTuesday journey to explore the history of this amazing garment! Yes, I’m talking about the iconic garment we all know and love: the tutu!
From Romantic Roots to Revolutionary Ruffles:
Now, tutus as we know them, those bouncy, beautiful symbols of ballerina grace, weren't always so iconic. Their journey started with a whole lot of, well, puffing!
Imagine this: You're in Paris back in the early 1800s. Ballet is exploding with new ideas. They’re ditching the corsets and heavy, cumbersome costumes. It’s all about grace and beauty - the Romantic Ballet is sweeping the world!
One of the first women to change the ballet look was Marie Taglioni. This graceful lady ditched the old style and adopted lighter dresses with softer layers of fabric. A revolutionary look that had ballet audiences floored, or rather en pointe!
As the 19th century progressed, the ballet world was in a flurry of ruffles and frills! Ballerinas wore 'Romantic tutus', big and billowing affairs that looked like a cross between a frilly meringue and a Victorian hoop skirt. Imagine a fairytale princess… now add a touch of theatrical glamour. Think ‘Sleeping Beauty’ vibes - you get the picture! The idea was to make dancers appear airy, weightless… like they were floating on air, which makes a lot of sense given that the romantic ballet is all about ethereal lightness!
From Whimsical to Whizz-Bang:
Now we leap forward in time. The early 20th century arrived with the 'Ballet Russes', a troupe of Russian dancers led by the flamboyant Sergei Diaghilev. They blew the ballet world apart, introducing exotic costumes, sensational music, and new dance styles - just imagine swirling colours, a bit of sparkle and lots of incredible musical theatre, all combined with some stunning, dramatic ballet moves - this is the new era of ballet!
It's during this period that the tutu starts to transform. They move away from the huge billowing 'romantic’ tutus and start to look much closer to what we know today! That’s right, we're entering the age of the ‘tutu' as we recognise it now. Now that’s what I call ballet history that makes my toes tap!
But here’s the interesting twist – it's not always just one type of tutu! It depends on the style of dance and even the role the dancer plays!
We’ve got the 'Classical tutu', think the Sleeping Beauty tutus we’ve seen before - beautifully layered and long with that grand ballerina look! It's graceful, dramatic and makes the ballerina look so impossibly delicate. It’s a dancer's dream for sure.
And then there’s the 'Romantic Tutu’, the airy, billowing kind we talked about earlier that was all about a soft look. Think wispy chiffon, graceful tiers - this is all about fluidity and feminine beauty - a ballet icon!
Next, you have the 'Platform Tutu', popular in the early 20th century, they gave ballerinas that added boost with an inner, tiered structure made with a variety of fabrics.
And then we have the ‘Short Tutu’, designed by Marius Petipa for his choreography - that famous and stunning ‘La Bayadere’ ballet.
These were revolutionary changes in dancewear. Not just pretty, these designs were crafted to give dancers a lightness, freedom, and incredible style.
Pink Is My Favourite Colour – It's Tutu Fabulous!:
Of course, one colour has reigned supreme over the decades, adding a touch of feminine magic to any ballet outfit - you guessed it, it’s pink! 💕
The colour is synonymous with elegance, joy and happiness! When you see a pink tutu swirling across the stage, it's a true delight to the senses! Now, let's take a walk through the decades where pink really became iconic.
There are a handful of ballets, like Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and The Nutcracker, that have some stunningly memorable pink tutu costumes. And of course, many, many dancers wear a shade of pink as their signature colour. Think Maria Tallchief and Gelsey Kirkland, legendary dancers with those show-stopping pink tutu moments!
It’s no surprise that some iconic dance schools, like The Royal Ballet School, have adopted shades of pink, or even a shocking hot pink for their signature dance wear. Just gorgeous!
The Power of a Tutu – It’s More Than Just a Dance Costume!:
Here's what I find utterly fabulous about tutus – they’re more than just clothing. They're a symbol, an embodiment of ballet's artistry. That fluttering skirt - it's graceful movement captured in fabric, representing flight, expression and, of course, effortless grace! It's the heart and soul of ballet, brought to life!
In the dance world, the tutu is a symbol of passion and dreams. It speaks of artistry, creativity, and that dedication to the craft, all while inspiring future ballerinas and dancers of all styles. It's more than a garment. It's a celebration of artistic expression, of creativity, and a reminder that ballet is all about dreaming big! And it can make you look seriously glam!
Tutus have even stepped outside the ballet world to inspire and make fashion statements.
Did you know Christian Dior, one of my all-time favourite designers, loved ballet so much that he incorporated tutu elements into his Haute Couture designs! Think tulle, delicate tiers, and that fabulous feminine shape. This isn’t the only example of how the tutu has been borrowed by the fashion world, and you can find tutus inspiring countless looks in fashion photography, runway collections and beyond. So, if you love tutus, it’s definitely time to do a little shopping and take a look around for a tutu-inspired look - after all, anything can be fashion if you believe!
So, here I am today, surrounded by the energy of Parisian charm.
The city's architectural beauty and bustling life reminds me that ballet, like this fabulous city, has had a remarkable journey. The next time you see a tutu swirling gracefully across the stage, you'll be reminded of the fascinating history and powerful influence this beautiful piece of fabric has in the dance world! And just you wait, soon you’ll be seeing more pink tutus wherever you go - you just wait for it!
Till next week lovelies. Keep on dreaming!
Love,
Emma
PS: Don't forget to share your own tutu adventures and favourite ballet moments using #TutuTuesday and tag @pinktutu.com on all your social media posts. Let’s spread the pink tutu love!
