Tutu Tuesday 10196

Tutu Tuesday in Pomona, California: #tututuesday Hey guys! So excited to be bringing you this week’s Tutu Tuesday blog post right from my hometown of Pomona, California. I mean, where else would you rather celebrate Tutu Tuesday than the place that brought you all things vintage, kitsch, and seriously awesome? Seriously though, my love for tutus really took off right here in Pomona – thanks to all the amazing vintage shops and flea markets. So today, I'm going to spill the tea (and I'm sure my mom’s going to be so happy about this because we've been wanting to go to this particular place since forever!) on the best vintage tutu spots in town. My Pomona Tutu Story 
Before we dive into all that, I'd be remiss if I didn't share a bit of my own Tutu Tuesday journey with you all. See, growing up, ballet in Pomona wasn’t always easy. Our city, well, it’s more about classic cars than classical ballet! But that never stopped my love for the art form. From a young age, I was always enamored with those ethereal tutus, with their romantic history and iconic image. So many of them seem to be part of a vintage era, making my love for them more about finding the oldest tutu, with all of its charm. So it’s no surprise that one of my favorite things to do on a Tuesday afternoon (or any afternoon for that matter) is to hit up Pomona's eclectic vintage shops and flea markets and see if I can find my next little gem of a tutu. There's something about rediscovering the past through these delicate tulle treasures – each one tells a story, and it's that feeling that just never gets old. Speaking of stories, you know I gotta start with the story behind the original Tutu. They came from a place I bet you didn't expect – it was actually a French laundress’s attempt at making her laundry cleaner – the “tulle” part comes from Tulle, France! Who knew, right? They were just loose-fitting pantaloons for women then and were so much more common for theatrical events at the time like Shakespeare plays instead of the ballets that you are familiar with! They are amazing. You'd be surprised at how different the evolution has been - those old-timey designs had to be seriously uncomfortable compared to today’s more modern designs that we see on the runway - though the runway hasn’t caught on yet, though you will sometimes find them in bridalwear or fashion magazines! So with that said, let's move onto some tutu talk! Here are my fave places to score an awesome Tutu: #tututuesday * **Vintage Bliss:** My absolute favorite spot. Let’s just say the whole store feels like you’re stepping back in time – and trust me, I’m not even exaggerating. They have tons of gorgeous old tutus, all different styles - romantic romantic, and some of those really, really old styles that are totally on-trend these days – the ballerina of tomorrow has gotta make their statement! The last time I went there, I found an incredibly beautiful blush pink tutu in silk (with tiny silk roses!) from the 1950s – the fabric just melts in your hands - and it just gave me total ballerina vibes. If I find that place first when I go shopping, that's it. I’m out! My wallet, too. * **The Flea Market Finds:** For real deal tutu bargains, nothing beats Pomona's famous flea markets. It’s just a matter of walking around, searching through the booths. Just keep your eye out – and remember that vintage and second-hand are way different – second-hand can have tutus that are only a couple of years old. For something more special that may not have made it into an antique store yet, get out your haggling skills and you may just find that little-known treasure from a bygone era - like a sparkly tutus from a disco era, think, Abba, or like maybe, like that awesome show on the HBO called the Flight Attendant (that’s what the series reminded me of, anyway). But I really recommend hitting them up – they have the most authentic vintage that’s in the state right now (Pomona is only 30 miles outside of LA so they come here from all over the West Coast!) . * **Costume Closet:** Remember those amazing dance parties we all loved in high school or at our community centers? The ones with everyone wearing those really fun outfits - the tutus from there usually come from these places, especially with ballet’s growing popularity across the USA. They’re perfect if you're going for a classic but totally modern and easy-to-wear look, even if you just need something to get you going during practice or to add a bit of extra *je ne sais quoi* to an ordinary outfit (if that makes sense!) - a tutu just adds some personality to your whole vibe, y'know what I mean? But don’t limit yourself to these shops. Check out online secondhand stores like The Real Real and Thred Up! You'll be amazed at what you'll find. **My Top Tutu Tips:** * **Vintage vibes:** Think delicate fabric, maybe even some embellishments that feel really vintage and look so beautiful on a modern silhouette (that could be like, your regular jeans or maybe a long flowing maxi skirt with some chunky jewelry!). * **Modern style:** Look for bold colors, modern fabrics, and fun, more trendy silhouettes, if you can. * **DIY diva:** If you can't find the perfect tutu, you can always get creative. My mom and I do it all the time together - it's a super fun day trip. We just pick up some yards of tulle and fabric and make a DIY-style, personalized tutu in your own style, at a price that’s amazing! Who says you can’t use your tutu with something new for every holiday – like a patriotic tutu for the fourth of July - you could go crazy with glitter - there are a million different colors and the possibilities are only limited to your creativity! Just trust me on that - just give it a go and #tututuesday But be aware, if you get serious about these, and we know you’re going to! That’s what’s so cool about Tut Tuesday! Make sure that you wash your tutus by hand to preserve those precious memories. When you hand-wash them, they last longer and hold their color better. Tutu Tuesday Inspiration:** 
 For some amazing #tututuesday ideas, just hit up my Instagram. If you can’t get enough of tutus and #tututuesday. Just pop on over to my page, my user is *yourhandle*. That’s the perfect place to find the newest finds from Pomona, CA - as well as from LA – and the LA dancers all think that Pomona is totally where it’s at now! They say it’s got an older soul, a very retro-chic feel and, I think that’s probably true! The best place in the USA, to get your vintage Tutu - let me know your thoughts if you find some killer looks - or just to see all those #tututuesday photos!