Hello darlings! It's Emma, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, back for another #TutuTuesday! Today we're travelling back to 1865, the year the London Underground opened (imagine that – underground trains! How glamorous!), and gasp when tutus were only worn by fairies. Yep, you heard right, darlings! The only tutus you’d find were on stage at the ballet or on some lovely Victorian lady’s fancy dress.
Now, don't get me wrong, fairies and the ballet are fantastic, but I can't help but imagine the look on some 1865 Londoners' faces if they could see me strutting down the street in my pink tutu!
Before I start on the history of this era, I just wanted to mention that this is blog post number 1728! I think it's quite impressive how long I've been documenting the tutu's journey! I can't wait to see where the next 1728 posts take me!
Anyway, back to 1865. You see, the ballet was evolving, but it still very much belonged to the aristocracy and gentry. For the most part, those gorgeous tutu's were worn on stage by ballerinas. Even in the ballet, though, the tutus weren't quite the fluffy, multilayered wonders they are today! Think simple layers of white tulle, modest length, not quite a fluffy, swirling masterpiece. Imagine, my dears, if you can, all that fabulous material held back by strict convention!
The theatre scene in London was hopping! Shows were popping up everywhere, even music halls. The theatres weren't as extravagant as today, more on the small and intimate side, which in a way makes them even more delightful, don't you think? Can you imagine going to the theatre in a beautifully cut, ruffled pink dress and feeling the lights dim as the performers step onto the stage in a delicate tutu, dancing beneath an elegant chandelier? Oh, it's utterly romantic!
But even without the fabulous, multilayered, puffy, pink tutus, that time in London was a fascinating period for dance! The iconic choreographer, Marius Petipa, was just starting to make his mark on the ballet scene. We can thank this handsome Frenchman for some of the most stunning ballets we see today. He helped develop and refine ballet techniques and he choreographed Don Quixote, the inspiration for a tutu that wouldn't look out of place today!
Imagine my delight, darlings, to catch a performance of Don Quixote! A delightful mix of beautiful costumes, sweeping melodies, and heart-stopping pirouettes! It is the type of show that reminds me how elegant and expressive dance can truly be.
If we were in London today in 1865, where would I go, besides the theatre, for a dose of fashion inspiration? It is hard to imagine my life in the time period but if I did visit, here are the places I would seek out:
The Bon Marché in Paris: A dream, truly! In Paris, this store, opened in 1860, would be a wonderland of fashion, with a section for fancy dresses where I could just picture myself finding a lovely white cotton skirt, lace embellishments and enough fabric to transform myself into a true lady! It was famous for it's innovation in fashion and was described by some as ‘A palace of comfort, of industry, of refinement and even of art’, sounds utterly delightful doesn't it!
Liberty's Department Store: Okay, so this beautiful haven wouldn't be established for a little over another decade but I'd still get my dose of delightful textiles by making a beeline to Shoolbred's & Company: established 1845 it's renowned for silks and embroideries, the perfect places to find materials to create my very own, beautiful, Victorian tutu, with frills galore and enough lace to make a French milliner weep!
Of course, there are plenty of other stores I'd venture into, like The Army & Navy Stores – one of the biggest department stores of the time! They'd definitely be full of the fabrics needed to create a fancy tutu!
Even without a real tutu, darling, imagine the fashion possibilities! With beautiful fabrics and tailoring, there are so many ways to create elegant looks for a daytime stroll down Kensington Road or a charming afternoon at The Great Exhibition in the Royal Albert Hall (which opened on the 29th of May this year, you know!). Think frilly dresses with floral embellishments, puffed sleeves with lace edging and hats decorated with feathers. A symphony of colour and charm that's truly impossible to resist!
Now, while 1865 is a bit before my beloved pink tutu comes into its own, let's not forget the colour pink was still wildly popular then. Think pastel shades, charming bows, and pretty flower prints! Pink has always been associated with romance, femininity and, yes, you guessed it, tutus! I imagine all the little ladies in the prettiest shades of pink strolling through the streets and attending those divine balls at St James Palace.
So darling, though this year (1865) doesn't see us swirling around in vibrant, modern tutus, the spirit of elegance, of grace and artistry was definitely thriving. And just wait until we see what tomorrow brings! We have an entire world of exciting fashion and dance history to explore! Don’t forget, every Tuesday, you can hop aboard our pink tutu time-traveling train as we take a delightful spin through history, finding inspiration from the most captivating corners of the world. Until next week, darling! Keep twirling, keep dreaming, and keep shining in pink.
Yours always,
Emma
