Hello darlings! 🩰
It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another exciting delve into the world of tutus! This week we're venturing back to 6th November, 1855, a date that holds a rather special significance for our beloved tutu. Let's grab a cuppa, find a comfy spot on the chaise lounge, and settle in for some historical enchantment, shall we?
Today we find ourselves in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, where the air buzzes with the energy of creativity. It's a world where silk flutters, feathers flirt, and exquisite ladies of society dress for every occasion. It’s a scene straight out of a fairytale.
You see, 1855 was a remarkable year. The Paris World’s Fair, also known as the Exposition Universelle, was in full swing, showcasing the very best in art, culture, and, of course, fashion from across the globe. Imagine, darlings, the sheer grandeur of it all! A feast for the eyes!
While everyone was focused on the grandeur of the Exposition, a quiet revolution was happening backstage in the theatre world.
Back in the early 1800s, ballerinas were swirling around in loose, flowing, almost Grecian-style tunics, beautifully impractical for showcasing graceful leaps and turns. Our beautiful Marie Taglioni, the undisputed prima ballerina of the time, became increasingly frustrated with her restrictive costumes.
The stage needed a revolution - it needed the tutu.
Enter Marie’s friend, the brilliant, visionary designer, Carl von Schwanthaler, who, in 1839, designed for her a shorter, gathered, skirt that would go on to become the foundation for our much-loved tutu. Imagine, darlings, a whisper of fabric that was airy yet still powerful, flowing but controlled! This groundbreaking new design would allow dancers to move with a freedom never seen before, truly showcasing their art.
This "tutu", as it came to be known, was not just a piece of clothing; it was a declaration, a symbol of feminine strength, grace, and power.
Now, in 1855, on the day that The Ballet de l’Opéra, an epic event featuring performances from renowned choreographers like Jean Coralli, was set to debut at the Grand Theatre of the Palais Garnier for the World’s Fair, you can only imagine the buzz backstage!
It’s not that ballet was unheard of, of course! This period of dance history is brimming with incredible, world-changing ballets - just think "Giselle," * " *La Sylphide, " and "La Fille Mal Gardée! "
No, what was extraordinary about this ballet was it was the very first performance to take place inside this brand new theatre, specifically designed with ballet in mind, by Charles Garnier, the leading architect of the day! What better stage, then, for a tutu to take centre stage?
This is the ballet that saw those classic, flowing tunics banished forever, replaced by a much more streamlined, streamlined, flowing, beautiful, feminine silhouette: The tutu.
Oh, what a sight to behold those dancers, swirling like sugar plums in their tutus!
But wait, dear readers, there’s even more to this story! In this ballet, something amazing happened - The tutu took on an entirely new form: the “ tutu romantique. ”
If we picture that original tutu as a soft cloud of billowing chiffon - think a sweet meringue - then the "tutu romantique" is the fluffy white chocolate meringue, adorned with spun sugar, delicately balanced on top of a beautifully baked shortbread! It was the peak of the confectionary confection, so to speak, a new height of sheer extravagance! It was essentially the original tulle tutu.
This was a longer tutu than those worn previously - they could even be called "knee-length!" and the bodice became a little more tailored, giving them the beautiful bell-shaped skirt we see today. It truly looked like a dream come true - perfect for waltzing through fields of moonlit meadows. It's no wonder these tutus took Paris by storm and began to grace stages all over Europe. It became a symbol of passion, poetry and fantasy, beautifully reflecting the romantic sensibility of the era.
And now we can trace our own history, back through centuries, and even find roots for the tutus worn on those Parisian stages in Derbyshire! Because there were silk mills galore in my own lovely Derbyshire back in the early days of this very era - mills that used silk to weave that beautiful gauze called tulle, that became so vital for our romantic tutus! Oh, it was a lovely, lovely sight.
So next time you see a ballerina twirling in her tutu, remember its amazing journey and the countless stories woven within it. We owe it all, darlings, to those brilliant pioneers, to those early dancers who demanded a garment that wouldn't simply cover them, but that would empower them. They were trailblazers, making way for each and every dancer today to take the stage and command the hearts and minds of every audience with those swirling steps and delicate grace!
Isn't it just wonderful, darlings?
Speaking of beautiful, elegant garments, you simply must treat yourself to a new pink tutu. I know you all love those tutus, but don’t be shy; pink is our colour this week. They are utterly stunning and the perfect excuse for an afternoon tea. There's something so playful and charming about them - a little dash of whimsy, just like those first ballet performances!
Until next week, keep those tutus twirling, and keep shining!
Love, Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Don't forget to check out our Pinterest board for some fabulous tutu-inspired fashion ideas! 💕
P.P.S. If you're travelling this week, be sure to check out the incredible architecture of the Palais Garnier! 🤩
