Hello, my darling dance-loving darlings! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-clad guide to all things tutu and fabulous. It's a gorgeous #TutuTuesday and I'm bursting with excitement because today we're stepping back in time! This week we're travelling all the way to…drumroll…October 23rd, 1855! Can you believe it? It's like something out of a fairytale!
Now, grab your fanciest teacup and let’s embark on a whirlwind journey, because oh my, the tutu scene back then was something else!
Think back to a time when the very first rumblings of the tutu revolution were beginning. Picture elegant ballrooms filled with swirling waltzes and ladies in gowns more elaborate than anything you could imagine. It was a time when the idea of women leaping and bounding across the stage, free from constricting skirts, was revolutionary!
Back then, you might find a ballerina in a rather impractical and swirly, ankle-length, multi-layered skirt – a little reminiscent of what we might consider a very full and dramatic wedding dress nowadays. Imagine attempting a pirouette in that! Goodness me, it must have taken superhuman strength!
Now, if you think your ballet shoes are comfy, imagine a world before pointe shoes! These graceful dancers wore flat leather slippers that had barely any support, imagine the pain! It's simply extraordinary to think of their dedication and artistry.
And you wouldn't believe the sheer variety of fabrics. Some dresses were made of silks so luxurious you could barely touch them, others had intricate laces, and, well, just a smidge of velvet if you were extra fancy!
My, oh my, I'm practically melting with excitement just imagining these dazzling dancers! It was such a groundbreaking time, even for ballet itself! You see, back in the mid-1800s, ballet was on the cusp of changing for good. It wasn't the rigid and structured art form we see today; it was evolving, blossoming, becoming something new, vibrant and bold!
Let’s get specific. On October 23rd, 1855, a new ballerina stole the stage. The beautiful Marie Taglioni (she had a name that just made you want to dance!), a revolutionary ballerina known for her grace and revolutionary “fluttery” way of dancing, took centre stage in Vienna, and with her, the revolution really took off. It's funny to think about now, but it was quite controversial at the time!
And I know you’re all wondering about the fashion! Well, in those times, what the world knew as a ‘tutu’, or at least the inspiration behind the tutu we all adore, was not the romantic and frilly tulle cloud we know and love today. The silhouette was quite similar but the fabric? Well, think more “long, flowing and practical" – maybe a blend of cotton, silk, and even linen, which is what some of the earliest tutus were actually made of!
And of course, every true dance lover has to talk about colour! Back in 1855, pale shades were the darling of the ballrooms, think cream, lilac, or pale blue. These colours played beautifully with the gaslights used for illumination back then, which would bathe the dancers in a softly lit glow – divine!
So, my dearest fellow tutu lovers, it seems like a few years before 1855 things started changing… And when it did, it became all the more reason to dance, twirl and celebrate this extraordinary and iconic piece of fashion!
Oh, speaking of fashion! Did I mention how my journey through time involves taking a rather elegant, slightly pink-tinted, steam train carriage across the UK? Nothing makes you feel more stylish than hopping onto a grand Victorian train – so classy and practical! And it just so happens, my beloved Derbyshire is where this journey will begin and end each time – Derbyshire is practically bursting with charm and is surrounded by some of the best shops in England! You have no idea how I adore picking up pretty fabrics to turn into gorgeous new tutu creations!
Of course, I’ll keep you posted on my adventures through time. My life, much like those ballerinas of 1855, is dedicated to the dance! Now, where can I find a good cuppa and the prettiest lace?
Happy dancing!
Yours always, Emma
