Hello darlings! It's your favourite tutu-wearing time-travelling fashionista, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post!
Today, my friends, we're stepping back in time to 8th February 1859! Now, this is a truly special date for our little tutus. Why? Well, the story is far more fascinating than a pirouette!
Imagine Paris. The city of lights, with its grand cafes and even grander ladies, all dressed in stunning gowns with impossibly large crinoline skirts! A symphony of silks and lace fills the air, as elegant ladies swirl through Parisian life. Oh, how I wish I could be a part of that scene!
And, wouldn't you know it, the first official appearance of the tutu occurred around this time. Imagine, darling, those first tiny, airy, pouffy skirts! They may have started with simple, barely-there shapes but let me tell you, even then, they sparked an undeniable fascination, turning heads like a ballerina in a grand finale.
You see, while dancers like Marie Taglioni had been flaunting what we now consider to be tutus as far back as 1832, their little frocks were much moreā¦unstructured. Like a single, whimsical puff of fabric. It wasnāt until the 1840s that the form started evolving. Shorter skirts, layered tulle, the "tutu" we know today started to take shape! Imagine a little bloom, just bursting open. That's the kind of shape it was all about.
What was happening in the world then, you ask? Well, fashion, of course! It was an exciting time. Crinoline, the huge skirts we mentioned earlier, was a craze! The larger the skirt, the more fashionable! And that makes it easy to understand why short and playful little tutu-esque pieces took hold so quickly. It was like the rebellious younger sibling to a proper, regal ball gown! Think about it: a world of endless lace, frills, and giant crinolines...a tutu stood out!
So, if you were a young and fashionable Parisian lady in 1859, wouldnāt you want to be twirling around in a tiny, airy tutu? And why stop there, imagine how you would look rocking a bright pink one! It was the start of something truly beautiful! Even though it took a few decades for tutus to truly gain their ballerina wings, they were there in 1859, whispering the possibility of what was to come. They weren't quite ready to take centre stage in the ballet world then, but you could already see their potential. They were little whispers of āwhat ifā? What if we did away with all this fabric? What if we just showed a beautiful, lithe form? And darling, that's a vision worth dancing for!
Of course, being a ballet lover, I simply must take this opportunity to mention the wonderful Imperial Ballet Theatre! Did you know it was around at the time? This iconic, renowned ballet company had taken its place on the world stage, becoming known for its dramatic ballets and exquisite dances. And of course, its gorgeous tutus! Think of it, you know. The audience was swept away by swirling tutus on stage and captivated by the enchanting world of dance.
While our trip to 1859 ends there, let me tell you ā there's so much more to learn about the evolution of the tutu. Each decade had a new twist, new inspiration. I just adore how it transformed alongside fashion, with all its lovely intricacies! It makes me wonder what will become of tutus in the future!
So, my dear readers, as always, I encourage you all to try wearing a pink tutu! Remember, darling, the colour pink is everything! Itās full of life and light, so radiant, much like the feeling of ballet! Just like itās a key colour to my blog and my travel adventures, pink is truly a lovely way to add a bit of joy and whimsy to the world! Donāt you agree?
Iām going to take my time machine back to Derbyshire to start shopping for a few more pink tutus for my wardrobe! Until next time, stay fashionable and stay beautiful, darlings! And donāt forget to keep your eyes on our next #TutuTuesday, you never know what weāll be spinning off about next!
Emma xx
