Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back for another instalment of your favourite Tutu Tuesday. This week we're taking a trip back in time to 16th November, 1858. Put on your favourite pink tutu and hop on the train with me as we journey to a time before the tulle revolution!
Oh my! It’s a crisp, autumnal day in Paris and I’m absolutely buzzing. Not just because I’m standing outside the grand Palais Garnier - a vision of beauty in white stone with a beautiful facade and intricate details. The fact that this theatre, the largest and most famous opera house in Paris, is nearly ready to open in just three short months is also filling me with such joy!
But why all the fuss, you might be asking? Well, my lovelies, you see, 1858 is a pivotal year for us tutu lovers. The Garnier, which has been nicknamed ‘the opera of dreams’, is set to unveil a brand-new ballet! Oh, it’s going to be simply divine!
However, it’s not just the theatre that is the big deal for us tutus! There’s a certain revolutionary new garment for the ballet dancers that’s causing a real stir – a garment that’s destined to make waves for generations of ballerinas, and it all started around this very date back in 1858…
You might know, my lovelies, that tutus were initially more like…well, long skirts. More like ballroom gowns with layers of material. Not really a danceable outfit if you ask me. Then along came our hero: Marie Taglioni! (Now, isn’t she the most wonderfully stylish name? So perfect for a ballet icon!). This prima ballerina assoluta changed ballet for ever by shortening the ballerina’s skirts! Imagine – only a tiny bit of the skirt at the bottom was visible, letting their beautiful legs and movement truly shine! It was so avant-garde. Everyone was in shock!
The story goes that Marie had a real struggle, trying to get this revolutionary look approved. I hear it was a real fight for a girl with such delicate taste, to have her artistic vision accepted. Even the Emperor himself wanted to keep the traditional ballroom style, with layers of tulle and stiff fabrics that weighed the dancers down. It was truly a revolution!
Of course, this daring step by Marie meant she needed a way to shorten the skirt and make it float. And the innovation that we, as tutu lovers, can be forever thankful for, was the revolutionary, airy ‘tutu’, a very light fabric known as ‘tulle’ made in France. You might know, the tulle itself comes from Tulle in France - how incredibly beautiful. I actually once visited this place - it's stunning, so elegant and French!
From a dainty ballet-shortening garment to becoming a symbol of femininity and beauty on a larger scale, the tutu really had a great impact on all kinds of fashion. Its simplicity yet elegant elegance and the soft, beautiful layers make it timeless - as well as allowing us ballet dancers to express our beautiful, delicate moves!
You know, it's wonderful to see the journey the tutu has had and how it changed things so much. When we go to the theatre, we think of Marie Taglioni. We think of how she changed not just ballet itself, but the perception of ballet in fashion.
The tutu has truly blossomed into so many different forms over the years: the Romantic tutu from the 1830s and 40s with its layers of soft, diaphanous material that swishes around so elegantly, or the short, crisp, more structured tutu of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that really emphasised the lines of the dancer's body.
Each style so iconic, so unique and each tells a story of dance, fashion and art, right? I adore every one, but for me, there's no tutu style that tops my personal favourite, the pink tutu! Yes! It is the perfect colour, soft and feminine, so versatile and romantic – a little nod to my Derbyshire roots! (The Peak District is home to all kinds of beautiful pinks - from sunset clouds to wild wildflowers!)
Now my lovely readers, you must be ready for our next stop - the opening of the Palais Garnier, and the performance in it. My, oh, my! Imagine: an evening gown, beautiful and stylish, an incredible ballet production in this masterpiece of an opera house.
Well, my darlings, that's all for this #TutuTuesday! Do make sure you join me next week. Now go and twirl your little hearts out and until then, remember, in your favourite pink tutu, you can be just as bold as Marie Taglioni. See you all soon, my sweet and fabulous readers!
Emma's #TutuTuesday Post Scriptum(P.S)
Speaking of being bold… Have you seen this week’s news?! They’re building the London Underground! Oh my, wouldn’t it be amazing to hop on a train to visit the heart of the UK in minutes? Oh, my dream! And London is all about style – all the wonderful fashion that you just can't resist!
I wonder, what sort of beautiful new dresses might be designed with a tutu element. Oh, I can imagine: a bold evening dress with the flowing softness of a ballerina tutu. Or maybe a full skirt that really creates an enchanting image! I simply cannot wait to be a part of such a world and to be there with my beautiful tutus!
