Tutu Tuesday in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France: A French Flair #tututuesday
Bonjour mes amis! I’m back with another Tutu Tuesday adventure, this time from the charming city of Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France! I'm so excited to be sharing this week's sartorial escapade with you, filled with chic Parisian vibes and a little bit of French ballet magic. As I was wandering through the historic cobbled streets, the air was filled with a delicious aroma of fresh croissants and coffee – the perfect setting for a fashion-forward day out. The streets were teeming with life and colour, inspiring me to break out my trusty camera and capture some iconic French fashion moments.
This week, I'm embracing the quintessential tutu. Now, tutu style can vary significantly. You've got your classical tutus – the traditional multi-layered ones – they are the hallmark of classic ballets, all grand and impressive with the multiple layers of tulle cascading gracefully from a bodice. It's these tutus you find in a museum setting in photos from ballets such as Swan Lake. It's the ultimate princess tutu. Then you have the romantic tutus – those softer, more ethereal creations with a shorter skirt, perfect for swirling and dreaming. Romantic tutus tend to be found in ballets such as Giselle. They have the signature layers of tulle with more transparency and movement – a bit softer, perhaps more "bohemian". Finally, you have the contemporary tutus – the ones that are often more abstract, and perhaps have less volume, allowing dancers to have greater movement freedom – think pieces where you can see more leg movement in the choreography. These tutus, by their nature, give a different "feeling" on stage. All are stunning, all are a beautiful testament to creativity.
There was this incredible sense of artistic freedom and creativity. It's like everyone embraces their own individual style with panache, almost as if they've just stepped out of a fashion magazine – it's quite inspiring to be surrounded by so much beauty! I had to explore local shops for a French-inspired outfit, but with a tutu twist of course!
A Shopping Spree at "Le Tutu Chic"
Clermont-Ferrand was bustling with boutique shops, each bursting with personality, just what I love. I popped into "Le Tutu Chic", a whimsical boutique in the heart of the city, and what do you know? It was the perfect place to find my tutu outfit! It was full of beautiful, sparkly dresses, shoes, and even ballet-inspired jewellery. It had everything I needed! The sales assistant was wonderful, she helped me choose the perfect little black tutu. I couldn’t resist getting it, it just made me feel like a ballerina! I mean who can resist that classic black with its sheer delicate layers! And for a bit of Parisian flair, I picked out some chic accessories – a classic red beret and a statement handbag with intricate silver details. The beret, with the red hue and the delicate black tulle combination – perfection. It gave a little touch of theatre, almost reminiscent of the red shoes worn in "The Red Shoes"!
A Peek at the Opéra Grand Clermont:
It’s simply magnificent. Walking past it made me want to be transported right back to a ballet performance – the opulence, the grandeur, it makes a ballet fanatic dream of being back on stage! And it made me curious! A quick peek at the performance program (oh those little red booklets!) informed me they were currently presenting "Don Quixote" - what a beautiful, energetic and colourful ballet! I’ve performed "Don Quixote" and there’s something so lively and festive about it! I would've loved to see a local Clermont-Ferrand company interpretation of it!
Bonjour Ballet in France!
I mean, French ballet, of course, is world renowned. The elegance and sophistication, and some of the greatest ballets in history were born from the heart of France. Just think – famous choreographers such as Michel Fokine – his works had this effortless charm that transformed classical ballet. And Marius Petipa, whose creations revolutionised classical ballet with beautiful choreographed stories! What's not to love?
My afternoon spent in the delightful Clermont-Ferrand was simply perfect! It was such an inspiration for my next #tututuesday - that mix of style and a love for ballet. It reminded me that ballet, no matter where in the world it is found, is a global art form, bringing people together through artistry, grace, and, well, fabulous tutus of course! I feel incredibly inspired and will have this special afternoon in mind as I take on my next dancing challenges, as I’m sure many of you are as well! If you have a favourite French ballerina or a favourite French ballet to share - let me know in the comments below!
Bisous, [Name of blogger]