Hello, darlings! Emma here, and oh my goodness, what a week I've had! It seems my trusty Meg, with her pink-hued shimmer and those glorious golden hooves, whisked me right back to the eighteen sixties, and my darlings, the fashion! It’s all about layers, drama, and swirling fabrics, perfect for the grandest of pirouettes.
December 12th, 1868. Can you imagine? A crisp, chilly day, the perfect day to be sipping a steaming cuppa, nestled by the fireplace, or maybe attending a beautiful ballet! And that's exactly where I found myself – right in the heart of Vienna!
The opera house, the Vienna State Opera, to be precise, was practically thriving with exciting performances! It was the year of the world premiere of "The Merry Wives of Windsor", a beautiful three-act opera composed by Otto Nicolai, with an intriguing ballet! You wouldn't believe it – a whole dance depicting the pranks pulled on poor Sir John Falstaff by his wife and the merry women!
But hold on, dear reader! I didn't only see this captivating show. I also met the most delightful gentleman! He was a young ballet dancer – not a danseur noble just yet, but full of ambition. We chatted, a delight of an hour I must say, about ballet’s history, his favourite steps, the latest dances he’d been perfecting in rehearsal. Such an eloquent man, this charming young dancer. He’d been performing "La Esmeralda" only weeks prior! You see, dear readers, "La Esmeralda", one of my absolute favourite ballets, was already being performed around the globe! You could have found it on Parisian stages, too. Can you imagine? Paris in the late 1860s – such glamour, and so very romantic!
And, talking of romantic – can you even begin to imagine the costumes? Such incredible artistry – layers of silk, ruffles, flounces – so utterly enchanting. In 1868, it wasn't all degas and tutus. Long skirts were still the it thing, but there were tutu-like undergarments, creating a delicate, airy feel beneath the layers.
Let me tell you, dear readers, my rucksack, ever-ready on my back, was positively brimming with inspiration. Gorgeous swatches of lace and satin, some tiny snippets of embroidered ballet shoes (I had to resist buying those, a little expensive in the 1860s), and my notebook was filled with the most fascinating details from the world of ballet in the past.
But oh, my dear readers, how I missed those delicate pastel-coloured tutus we all adore today. They were a bit wilder back then, with an abundance of black, brown, and shades of white – still beautifully layered, mind you, just with a slightly bolder design. They were certainly fitting for the drama and *excitement of ballet performances in 1868, that’s for sure!
My travels through time may be filled with exciting discoveries, but my true passion still lies with those ethereal tutus. I’m sure my dear Meg understands – we spend many a dreamy moment in her stable, surrounded by ribbons and sparkles, daydreaming of pastel clouds and elegant moves in the most perfect tutus.
Oh, and before I go! I’ve added a new #pinktutu page to my website. You won’t find many photos from 1868, but there are sketches and designs that I've sourced from a lovely, knowledgeable bookseller in Paris! It’s definitely worth a browse for anyone who loves fashion, or simply enjoys a trip into the fascinating world of historical dress.
Stay sparkling, darlings, and until next month, wear your pink tutus proudly, and never stop dreaming of grand stages, grand steps, and grand moments!
