Oh, darlings, what a week it's been! I just got back from a whirlwind tour of Paris, and my, oh my, what an adventure. As usual, I was practically living in my little pink tutu - it just wouldn't be a true #TutuTuesday without a dash of Parisian flair, wouldn't you say? And you just have to admit, there's nothing like swirling around the city of lights in a tulle confection, even if it does take a few more puffs of my secret travel powder to get me there and back!
Now, you may be wondering why I even bothered venturing across the Channel in this case, and you're absolutely right! My little time-travel-loving heart skipped a beat for this week's #TutuTuesday. Why? Well, let me take you back to 1855 - to July the 10th, to be exact - for a peek at a monumental moment in tutu history.
Let's start with a little historical context. At the beginning of the 19th century, ballet was still a little rough around the edges, even in Paris. The ballerinas - brave souls! - wore heavy silk gowns that, bless their cotton socks, made dancing a bit of a challenge. Imagine, dear readers, trying to perform a pirouette in a flowing, full-length gown! My hips shudder at the mere thought.
Then, along came Marie Taglioni, a star of the ballet scene (and wouldn't she have been a magnificent Instagram influencer!). A true trendsetter, Marie challenged the status quo by suggesting the ballerinas ditch the long gowns and wear… a short, lacy skirt, what we would call a tutu. Well, imagine the reaction! It must have been quite a scandal, darling. "A skirt above the ankle, just imagine!" They probably cried. But of course, in time, the shock turned to awe as the elegance of this new garment captivated the entire Parisian public.
And what is a tutu, really, but an ode to movement, freedom, and the exquisite expression of a dancer's body? In the simplest way possible, it's the garment that elevates dance. With a graceful, almost ethereal sweep of its fabric, the tutu, you see, tells a story, one that unfolds before the audience with every elegant step. And that, darlings, is why we're celebrating this particular date in our #TutuTuesday blog. It's because of those amazing pioneers like Marie Taglioni that we can now waltz across the dance floor with a joyous skip, without the constricting shackles of old-fashioned attire.
Now, of course, since 1855, there have been a flurry of iterations - from the romantic tutu, with its bell-like skirt and floating layers, to the more modern and sculptural tutu - but there's no denying, dear readers, it all started in Paris with those bold, brave souls who dared to shorten the skirt and allow for free, unrestrained movement.
I know some of you have mentioned in the comments - quite rightly so - that tutus are seen more as part of classic ballet. That’s perfectly true, however, I say let’s have a revolution of our own, a Tutu-lution, if you will! How about a street party with a tutu twist? I picture pink tutus on every street corner - pink, with little splashes of red for accents, of course - while jazz music dances through the air, creating a vibrant symphony of movement and colour! Maybe one day, darlings, I’ll lead that Tutu-lution! We can call ourselves the "Tutus of Tomorrow", or perhaps the "Pink Pointettes", what do you think?
Oh! Don't forget to have a peek at our special offer for this week! If you quote "TutuTuesday1228" at the checkout you get 20% off any tutu, just for being you darling! What could be a better excuse to add some more sparkle to your life, right?
While I'm still recovering from my jet lag, let's see what else 10th July 1855 had in store for us. What is it, darlings? What did the world look like on that beautiful day in history?
Firstly, 10th July, 1855, marked the second day of the opening of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in Paris. Imagine - every industry imaginable under one roof! Imagine the sights, the smells, the inventions! That's certainly an exciting date! And of course, a little birdie told me that a beautiful white swan made a striking entrance on this date... No, it wasn’t Marie Taglioni. (And yes, the swan still reigns supreme today at the Bolshoi - a gorgeous swan lake indeed!) This was the famous ballet The Lake of the Swans. It was first performed on 10th July, 1855, and it seems it had the French capital's crowds flocking to see this masterpiece of graceful and emotional storytelling, (much like how you see hordes of fashionable dancers at fashion shows, darlings - we know our stuff, do we?) The swan still reigns supreme - no ballet costume wardrobe is complete without a tutu of some form for our lovely swan dancers. I am completely inspired - what a day in tutu history! I simply must see this swan lake ballet myself! What a day to travel, darlings. Think of the tutu of the costumes. It's definitely time for me to start searching for that travel powder again.
Let me tell you something, it’s utterly thrilling to be a part of this colourful, ever-evolving journey through time - each new tutu we discover, each new style, is a celebration of all the things we love. Let’s not forget to raise a toast to the history of tutus! Let’s get dancing - we wouldn’t be where we are without them!
That’s it for this week, darlings. Let me know in the comments if there are any other dates in tutu history that you’d like to see covered. Be sure to check out the new pink tutu arrivals in my shop and I’ll be back next week with another #TutuTuesday - until then, remember, never be afraid to take a leap of faith... and twirl!
Remember to like and follow the website at www.pink-tutu.com, darling. It is full of fabulously fun tips and advice on all things pink tutus! See you next week!
Your time travelling friend, Emma
