Hello darlings! Emma here, and oh my, it's Tutu Tuesday!
Have you ever wondered where all these fabulous, swishy tutus came from? Let's journey back to a time when gaslight lamps shimmered on the Parisian boulevards and the scent of lilac filled the air... and discover a tutu history moment on the 4th of April, 1865.
Today's tutu history lesson takes us right to the heart of the Paris Opera, a glittering gem of the Parisian cityscape, where I just adore getting my fill of fabulous performances! That's my other passion besides tutus, you know, seeing ballet, especially when it's in this glorious city!
On this date, a rather special ballet went down in history. It wasn't just any performance, but the world premiere of "La Esmeralda," the hauntingly beautiful story about a young, misunderstood gypsy dancer. Can you even imagine how wonderful that must have been?
This enchanting ballet featured the exquisite dancing of the lovely, legendary ballerina, Marie Taglioni, known for her breathtaking elegance and light-as-a-feather jumps.
And why is today's #TutuTuesday important? Because Marie Taglioni, the ballet superstar herself, is often credited with the invention of the Romantic tutu! That's right, darling!
In those days, tutus weren't quite as fabulous as the pouffy beauties we see today. Ballerinas had been swishing about in long skirts, much more cumbersome for jumping and dancing with such incredible grace, you know? And you can imagine that the movement couldn't be nearly as captivating!
Then, along comes Marie, and she starts experimenting, introducing a much shorter, lighter skirt, a shortened "tutu," allowing her to showcase all of those magnificent ballet steps that make ballerinas' movements seem like magic. Imagine the uproar in the theater!
Just imagine, it's this one special tutu, the Romantic Tutu, that allowed ballet dancers to twirl and leap like the winged creatures they became! The dancers were no longer trapped under cumbersome garments; their movements seemed effortless and heavenly.
This tutu history milestone launched a trend of a sort. From this point onwards, tutus were not only much easier to dance in, but they allowed the dancers to showcase their talent in a new and spectacular way. I can only imagine how delightful it would be to twirl and leap, not having my long skirt tripping me up!
That short Romantic tutu changed the world of ballet forever, and of course, paved the way for the beautiful tutus of our times.
After the premiere, the Paris Opera House buzzed with excitement! The "La Esmeralda" costumes were all the talk of the town, inspiring discussions of style and movement - the Parisian scene at the Opera was positively alive with enthusiasm.
Now, as the world watched, the fashion trends were about to take off! But to truly appreciate just how groundbreaking these "short" tutus were, let's have a quick fashion history time-travel session!
Just think! It wasn't long before, women in Derbyshire were considered 'bold' for exposing their ankles! We still had crinoline dresses and even then, my darling, no one dared to go near those elegant ladies! It is almost too exciting to believe!
And that's not all, darling. April 4, 1865 was also the date the legendary composer Gioachino Rossini was honored at a concert at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan! Imagine, being serenaded by such a magnificent musical genius, it would be an incredible experience, it truly would!
On this Tutu Tuesday, I urge you, embrace the grace, the beauty and the power of tutus. Why don't we try a little dance in celebration? Maybe in our bedrooms, our living rooms, or, dare I say, even our kitchen! It’s all about having a little fun with fashion and expressing yourself!
We can even give thanks to Marie Taglioni for starting this wonderful tradition of feminine fashion and grace! Now that's how I love to embrace my tutu history, darlings.
I always find these fascinating moments in history so utterly delightful. After all, there's a story behind every tulle stitch, isn’t it wonderful? If only these fabulous fashion ladies from back then could see what tutus look like these days!
And as always, darlings, until next week’s #TutuTuesday, be sure to “Follow your dreams! They will take you to unimaginable places… especially when wearing a beautiful pink tutu!
XOXO, Emma
P.S.: My new favourite boutique on the Champs-Élysées is hosting a lovely collection of antique dance garments and of course, many vintage tutus are being sold at auction now! Perhaps it’s the perfect time to expand my tutu collection, eh? I think a fabulous pink tutu might have my name on it! Perhaps one day I can dance like Marie Taglioni, imagine!
P.P.S Don't forget to check out the fabulous website www.pink-tutu.com, where you'll find many fascinating facts, tips, and stories from the glorious history of tutus! Let’s make this Tuesday a celebration of beautiful dancing, exquisite designs and beautiful tutus.
