Welcome, darlings! It's #TutuTuesday and I'm so excited to be back with another trip through the history of our beloved tutu! I just know you love these posts, and it's been a whirlwind month! My last time travelling took me all the way to Japan for the incredible "Dancing Blossoms" ballet festival, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Where to begin? Today, darling friends, I'm waltzing back to the 19th century for a delightful chat about ballet's costume evolution! Oh, to have been a ballerina back then! Imagine, twirling in such beautifully crafted and delicate outfits!
Our lovely story begins around the 1830s with a change from the traditional, longer, and far less practical dance dresses of the earlier times. A woman named Marie Taglioni - and trust me, she was a legend, with such exquisite grace and elegance - took to the stage in a short, lacy, diaphanous garment that would forever change the shape of ballet's history. The world was mesmerized! This "new" tutu, as we would call it, gave dancers freedom and movement in ways never seen before. Can you imagine a ballerina dancing in those big, heavy ball gowns?
But did you know that "tutu" wasn't its original name? I found that rather intriguing! At the start, these early forms of ballet tutu were referred to as the "jupe-culotte" (pronounced "joop-koo-lot"). Imagine, darling, how long it must have taken them to utter those syllables! Much easier to say, and indeed wear, "tutu," don't you agree?
And oh, the colors of these early tutus! Oh, I just can't resist pink, but we had lovely pastel shades in shades of lemon yellow, rose pink, pale blue... and a delicate lilac I almost wish I could buy today! It would look exquisite paired with my most perfect, glittery shoes, of course.
Now, for a moment, let's move into the late 19th century and have a chat about a change we know as "the romantic era." You can almost feel the drama unfolding on stage when the tutus became much more full and voluminous, adding that delightful swirl and dramatic air we all love so much! Remember that gorgeous, delicate layering of lace and tulle? Oh, I do! But it wasn't all romantic ruffles and grace, darlings!
A lot of people mistakenly believe that a "tutu" has to be white. But in ballet's early days, this simply wasn't the case. These magical and beautiful creations, those "jupe-culottes," they came in a rainbow of colours. So many amazing outfits that made our ballet dancers shine on stage, just like a modern day rockstar! It was all about the spectacle and those dramatic outfits which gave us some amazing dancers with their individual stories.
Now, let's talk about the future! You might not believe this, but fashion and ballet have this beautiful symbiosis going on! You know those tutus we adore with the layered skirts, those romantic and dramatic styles? I have found they are now inspiring so many fabulous trends! From modern-day haute couture runways to high street boutiques, those pretty ballerina skirts have captured the hearts and minds of fashion houses everywhere. Just wait until you see what's happening in the autumn of 2031! There will be beautiful ballet-inspired fashion collections in every store and everyone will look simply darling. I'll tell you all about it in next week's post, darlings!
*Don't forget! * You can share your own favorite tutus by tagging #PinkTutuTuesday on social media and posting those adorable, glittery photos of yourselves on my blog. Do not be shy, darlings! I'd love to see those perfect tutus in action and share your style tips with the rest of my wonderful followers.
Finally, before I go, you know I can't finish a #TutuTuesday without a few of my own recommendations:
Today's Ballet recommendations:
If you find yourself in Paris: Head to the beautiful Palais Garnier for an enchanting evening of ballet. It's such a wonderful theater - like a palace in itself! It’s worth it to buy a souvenir programme so that you can remember the date and the show for years to come!
London: If you’re after a truly magical and unforgettable experience, don't miss out on the Royal Opera House. Those costumes are dazzling, the music is sublime. The ballet performances here really are quite incredible, just like everything about London itself.
Travel and shopping tip: The 2031 "Royal Ballerina" fashion exhibition at the National Gallery in London is one not to be missed, dear friends! Oh, the tutus they have there! The exhibition's full of such fantastic pieces from the ballet’s history, and I highly recommend that you pop along to take a look!
And before I sign off for this week, I am looking forward to meeting you in London! It’s so lovely when I get to have tea with one of my dearest ballet friends, the lovely Chloe, and talk all about new fashions. Of course, you know that means an afternoon tea date at The Savoy! Just think of all the new ballet ideas that will flow during the time I have to spend with her, in such a wonderful city, eating delicate cake with little pink hearts! I can already tell it's going to be simply darling!
I must go, darlings! Remember to stay stylish, and until next week!
Emma
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