Hello, darling tutu-lovers! Emma here, your resident time-travelling ballerina blogger, and oh, how I just love this life! It's the 8th of August, 1891, and guess where I've popped in for a peek? Yep, you guessed it â back in time, my dears!
It's a bit of a cliché, I know, to travel through time in a shimmering pink leotard. But I tell you, my magical time-travelling leotard is as much a part of me as my favourite pink tutu. And trust me, the outfits people were rocking back in the Victorian era? They'd be begging for a glimpse of this dazzling number!
Now, before we delve into the fashion scene of 1891, let's catch up with this month's blog! My dear Derbyshire, England, has been my constant source of inspiration, and you wouldn't believe the street performance I managed to pull off at the Derby Market! My routine included an acrobatic solo right on top of a fruit stall, finished with a grand finale of pirouettes as I delicately balanced on a pyramid of oranges. I canât deny, there were a few dropped oranges, but the audience was smitten! And speaking of smitten, how about this fabulous pink tutu I spotted at the antique market just last week? Itâs going to be a perfect addition to my growing collection â all pink, of course.
But back to our time travel! Imagine, 1891 â no glitzy tights, no comfy, stretch fabric, and certainly no bright colours! And leotards? Well, my darlings, the concept of a leotard in this era is virtually unknown. Youâd have seen ballerinas twirling in a full-length, multi-layered tulle skirt. This makes my job as a trendsetter even more challenging â but donât worry, Iâve already planned my fashion interventions!
You wouldn't believe what the stage costumes looked like here. You have your delicate corsets and puffed-sleeved blouses that look like they'd take weeks to lace. But whatâs missing, my dears, is that bold pop of pink, that sassy touch of leotard brilliance that only I can bring.
On the 8th of August, 1891, I visited the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. Imagine this â a grand, ornate theatre brimming with life! People in velvet and silk dresses, dapper gentlemen in their suits, and ladies with elaborate hats. Such elegance! This grand old dame was, youâll be delighted to hear, showcasing some impressive Victorian entertainment â a thrilling mixture of pantomimes, melodramas and comic opera! It was truly magical.
I, however, spent my time backstage â you know, spreading the pink leotard gospel, offering suggestions for brighter, more dynamic costumes.
The head seamstress looked at me as if I'd grown a second head! I explained that a little pop of colour would work wonders, a touch of pink would surely electrify the stage, and a dash of the leotardâs snug, athleticism would truly free the dancers.
âA skin-tight garment? My dear, itâs unmentionable! A mere thought of it makes my blood run cold.â
And, well, letâs just say, you canât blame the Victorian seamstress â thereâs nothing like a pink, body-hugging leotard to bring some sass to the theatre. I believe this is something theyâll soon come to realise, perhaps after they catch me in action!
However, the whole experience made me realise that 1891 was actually a fabulous era for beautiful costumes. While ballet dresses, especially, would have a distinct, full-skirt aesthetic (that can certainly be given a little of Emmaâs unique pink twist), they still employed luxurious materials like silk and velvet. That makes a change from some of the âinterestingâ designs that appeared throughout history. Remember those costumes with the elaborate head-dresses and feathery bits that were practically an accessory for the performer to fight their way through? You'll see the âless is moreâ philosophy had its influence even then.
Of course, in 1891, women in Britain were battling for voting rights, and while I understand the importance of social justice, a dash of pink isnât going to hurt anyone, is it? Especially with all the wonderful things I've found for sale!
While a visit to the theatre can be so inspirational, I had to spend some time scouring the shops and markets! Did you know that pink ribbons and pink silk were used a lot back then? Perhaps a touch of historical fact that inspires our time travellers of today? You never know, maybe itâs time we saw a bit more pink on the stage and the streets.
And letâs not forget about shopping â the shops, I tell you, are absolutely bursting with stunning pieces. Lace, frills, and beads, galore! Oh, and hats, darling, let's talk about hats! But you know what I noticed? They've been missing one key ingredient: the pink tutu!
Yes, the ladies back in 1891 seemed a bit shy about venturing out in tutus â maybe thatâs because they never met me! They still had so much to learn about the magical world of pink and the transformative power of the tutu. Perhaps next time, I'll show them a little demonstration. After all, a pink tutu is all about joy, freedom, and expressing yourself! It's about spreading positivity and spreading happiness. Imagine that, right there on the bustling London streets in 1891, a girl in a pink tutu twirling away, showing the world whatâs what!
Of course, I know you want more than just a peek at the past. Whatâs on the schedule for me this month? Well, Iâll be off to the theatre in Paris! If Iâm feeling bold, I might even take a walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, the perfect location for a impromptu street performance or two, because nothing delights a city more than a pop of colour and a sprinkling of tutus. After all, if history tells us anything, it's that people always gravitate toward beauty and artistry. I can't wait to see how Paris embraces my message of pink!
Do tune in next month for a brand new time travel adventure from www.pink-tutu.com and letâs embrace the colour pink and the grace of the tutu. You just never know where our journeys will lead!
Yours in Pink,
Emma xx
