Hello my darlings, welcome back to another edition of Pink Tutu Time Travels! Itâs me, your favourite Derbyshire ballet-loving time traveller, Emma, and this month I'm whisking you away to the 10th of October 1891 - a truly fabulous day for ballet fashion history! It's post number 394 on the www.pink-tutu.com website, so make sure to share the link with all your friends!
Now, you all know my love for leotards and the amazing story they have to tell. Well, buckle up because todayâs trip is going to be a whirlwind! It's all thanks to this glorious magical pink sparkling leotard, of course. It whisked me back to 1891 with a sparkly twirl - oh, how I adore its shimmer!
Before we embark on this enchanting voyage, let's grab a cuppa, and have a little chat about what's happening in the world of leotards and ballet fashion, shall we? This month, Iâve been busying myself with a dazzling new street ballet routine inspired by the elegance of the 1890s, which includes a new leotard adorned with feathers and silk ribbon. I managed to snag a gorgeous antique one during a recent trip to the theatre, youâll have to check my social media for photos! And yes, it was the perfect outfit for a thrilling time-traveling experience, don't you agree?
Right, back to the magical machine... As I landed in London, I was instantly caught by the intoxicating air of a bygone era. London, as vibrant as ever, with the scent of pipe tobacco, horse-drawn carriages, and of course, the delicious promise of the finest tea. I knew this trip would be amazing just by the smell!
Today, the world of ballet fashion is a tad more conservative than the exuberant costumes of our times, but that doesn't mean there arenât amazing trends taking centre stage. Imagine! Leotards, just starting to be worn for performances, made from cotton or wool. The ballet fashion then was all about long tutus that skimmed the stage with a graceful flow. It was the age of elegance -think classic ballerina whites, flowing fabrics, and of course, the glorious satin ribbons, so captivating in the glow of the theatre. And then you had the tutus â Oh, darling, donât even get me started on those gorgeous, romantic, frilled masterpieces! They werenât all pink like mine, but there were touches of pale lavender and pale blue, oh so lovely. They all held a beautiful simplicity that spoke of the classical grandeur of ballet.
My first stop? The Covent Garden â what else, darling! There I was, my tutu sparkling like a pink gemstone amongst the crowd. Let me tell you, even with my shimmering leotard, it wasn't all that obvious I wasn't a local. Oh, the wonder of it all - seeing dancers in long skirts adorned with exquisite embroidery, practicing their pliĂ©s and tendus! They moved with such grace and a regal air that captivated everyone watching. I couldn't resist snapping a few photos, discreetly, of course, because time-travelling paparazzi, now that's something for a different blog post!
Now, speaking of Covent Garden ⊠ballet shoes were already starting to become fashionable with an intricate pointed toe â a far cry from the beautiful but practical shoes youâd find on todayâs ballerinas.
Letâs not forget those stunning jewels. The intricate sparkling diamonds on the ballerinasâ costumes, especially in the royal court performances, are truly dazzling, something that continues to enthrall me every time I go to a ballet. The craftsmanship back then is truly awe-inspiring, and it's no wonder ballet is considered the art of elegance and grace!
But, I am such a sucker for a show, so after enjoying the Covent Garden sights, I went on to a performance of a piece called âLa Esmeraldaâ by the brilliant Jules Perrot and Luc Saint-LĂ©on.
Now, you all know me, right? I don't like boring ballet! I have to have drama, romance, a lot of emotion - it has to tell a story. So this play was perfect! A true romance with intrigue, beauty, betrayal, and, of course, death. Oh la la, all set against the backdrop of 15th-century Paris, in the bustling Parisian streets, where dancers took the streets with their performance â talk about theatrical.
This time, I wore my pink tutu â it seemed very 21st-century even by then. Of course, I couldnât just sit in the audience â boring! I decided to waltz in â what a joy, a full dance floor, beautiful music, swirling silks, and men in tailcoats with monocles! You simply had to love it! It was an era where beauty was in the movement itself, and grace was the ultimate art form. I had the chance to chat to some lovely people at a nearby table.
It's a real challenge keeping the time-travelling leotard sparkling - with the swirling dancefloor, not to mention the heat from the audience! There are some perks to travelling with a trusty sparkling pink leotard. I caught the eye of a young dancer, and he invited me to have a whirl with him â I felt like I was dancing a real-life ballet. And, the waltz â perfect music to twirl with!
Now, this wasnât your regular ballet â âLa Esmeraldaâ, the tragic beauty, with her fiery love and betrayal⊠it all unfolded as a tragic, yet compelling ballet tale â perfection â even if it did leave me with a sniffle! But âLa Esmeraldaâ is truly one of my top five! My favorite part â I was even able to meet one of the famous ballerinas of the time! Mademoiselle Caroline FiĂ©rens, known as The Pearl of Paris, as if we donât all know about her, darling! Her costume? Long layers of silk that flowed as she danced like a wisp of smoke â you can't even imagine! It made me feel a little pink with jealousy â but donât worry, it just gave me an even stronger craving for a more 1891 style, 19th-century tutu. Just the sort of leotard history I crave. I might even be able to find some inspiration for a new look to show off at my next ballet class.
Remember darling, every performance tells a tale. The world of ballet isnât just about steps and spins, darling, but itâs also a way to talk about life, joy, tragedy.
The world in 1891 â a time of magic. I even made a little purchase - I found the most gorgeous little antique shawl at an exquisite stall, tucked in amongst an intriguing antique market! Now, that is my perfect pink-tutu-travel souvenir â donât you think, darling? It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and it goes perfectly with my leotard.
Anyway, it's getting late, so it's time for me to say goodbye. This time, darling, I am going back to the 21st century, so I'm getting ready to share my travels on www.pink-tutu.com so be sure to check in with me next month for another journey into the fascinating world of leotard history, my beautiful pink-tutu friends! It is all part of my little mission - to make everyone wear a pink tutu, at least, every once in a while. I hope you've all had fun and have been inspired to go out and celebrate all things leotard fashion!
Stay fabulous, and don't forget to keep your tutus close!
Until next time!
Love,
Emma xx
