Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, darling fashionistas! It's Emma here, your trusty pink-tutu-clad time traveller, and I'm positively bursting with excitement to share my latest adventure with you! As you know, every month, my trusty, shimmering, pink time-travelling leotard whisks me off to a new era to explore the fascinating history of ballet fashion. And this month, my darlings, we're waltzing back to the glorious, grand Victorian era - specifically, the 10th of October, 1884!
The Time-Travelling Tutu's Arrival in the Victorian Era
Stepping off the time-travelling vortex into the 19th century was quite the experience! Imagine: cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and ladies in stunning, voluminous gowns. Oh, the glamour! Now, you know I love a good leotard, and you can imagine how giddy I was to see the fashions of the Victorian era. The ladies wore corseted waists, voluminous skirts, and lovely lace trimmings. Such an explosion of fabric and detail! The fashion was absolutely breathtaking - the epitome of elegant sophistication!
A peek into Ballet Fashion 1884
However, dear readers, the fashion of ballet in 1884 was considerably less extravagant than the outfits I found on the street. At this point in time, ballerinas were largely hidden behind long, flowy, floor-length skirts - imagine the restrictions! This era saw a shift from the more practical and modest "demi-character" or āromanticaā styles that graced the stages in the previous years, towards a focus on the sheer femininity of the dancers, often clad in simple, fitted garments adorned with tulle and satin. This transition from short tutus to longer skirts was gradual and paved the way for the iconic ballet fashion of the next century.
Taking the Stage: My 1884 Ballet Extravaganza!
This time, my pink tutu had to take a back seat to a little bit of Victorian theatricality! Let's be honest, in 1884, wearing a bright pink, sequined tutu would be as much a scandal as a spectacular sight! But donāt worry - the true beauty of ballet is in its grace and skill! My "performance" took place on a beautiful stage - albeit slightly less opulent than modern-day theatres. Instead of my typical "pink tutu on point" style of ballet, I opted for a delightful and intricate waltz, performed in a beautifully crafted white costume. This, of course, allowed me to stay in the era's fashionable spirit without shocking my fellow Victorian audience too much. And I got a good number of shillings as a āstreet performerā! Think Iāve discovered a gap in the market. āStreet ballerinasā
Exploring the Shows of the 1884 Theatrical Scene!
Once the waltz was done, I spent the rest of my evening at one of the famous theatres in London! There were some delightful plays and operas - even a "Ballet Romantique," which featured long flowing dresses that certainly appealed to the ladies in the audience.
Oh! Speaking of plays, it is remarkable how theatre has changed. No longer the dramatic spectacles weāve come to love, in 1884, the most fashionable theatre involved a delightful, and slightly scandalous promenade. Imagine, being able to dress up in a stunning costume and be the star attraction of the evening as you stroll through a theatreās beautifully adorned corridors. But with that sort of social spectacle, who needs leotards anyway?
Back to the Present, my dears!
And with that, my 1884 trip comes to an end. It was fascinating to witness the evolution of fashion in this bygone era, a reminder that styles change and evolve with each generation! Though ballet's history may be paved with elegance and practicality, I'm confident that my mission to get the world wearing a pink tutu will not end until the very last soul is happily twirling.
Stay tuned for next month's exciting journey into ballet fashion! I'm always looking for new "pink tutu" adventures and I canāt wait to share them with you! Until next time, my lovely readers, stay fashionable and always keep a twirl in your step!
Now, darlings, if you've got a question, leave me a comment! And if you'd like to chat more about this or anything fashion related, hop over to www.pink-tutu.com for our dedicated ballet forum and share your thoughts and opinions! I am a ballerina who likes to be fashionable and be seen and I really look forward to hearing from you all.
Emma x
