#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1865-05-23

Hiya lovelies! It's your girl, Emma, back again with another blast from the ballet past! Today we're heading back to 23rd May 1865, a glorious time for a budding ballerina like me - even before I knew about tutus!

But first, let's sip on our floral tea (mine is rose-scented, obviously) and chat a little about my trip last week to the stunning ballet performance at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The choreography was simply divine, and I adored the costumes. I spotted a most adorable new tutu on one of the dancers, all ruffled and swishy, and the whole stage was bursting with colour! If only I could nab myself one for a tea party with the fairies...

Anyway, back to our history trip!

Now, 1865 wasn't exactly what you'd call the golden age of the tutu, not yet, anyway. This was a period brimming with Romantic ballet! Think whimsical fairies, mystical creatures, and ethereal characters twirling across the stage in white, soft, and flowy costumes. It was all about lightness, grace, and a hint of mystery.

Imagine shimmering white tulle billowing around delicate forms, with perhaps a touch of pale pink or pastel blue. It's practically whispering about fairies, ballerinas dancing in moonlit forests, and ballerinas just about to soar like doves, right? So elegant, so graceful!

Just because the tutu wasn't yet fully unleashed in 1865 doesn't mean there wasn't anything to admire. The ballerinas in these ballets still relied heavily on movement and expression to create their magic. They needed flexibility and strength, even if the costumes were a bit less, erm, tutued, if you get me? It's the beauty of the evolution of dance.

But the seeds of the tutu's reign were planted during this time, even if they weren't in full bloom just yet! The foundation for a new era in ballet was being laid.

To give you a better idea of what life was like for our ballet fans of 1865, imagine a typical day. Perhaps they'd start with a delicious breakfast of porridge and fresh fruit, followed by a light rehearsal at the theatre, where they'd practice their steps with delicate tutus that might not yet have been a true tutu in our modern eyes, but they were definitely on the way! They'd lunch with their fellow dancers in a delightful tearoom, with pretty tablecloths and fine china, gossiping and planning for their evening performance. Then it was back to the theatre to put on a dazzling show for the evening crowd. The whole experience would be elegant, even if those true tutus weren't fully there just yet.

But even without the tutus we know and love, there were many fashion and beauty trends during this period that our modern ballerinas would appreciate. You couldn't have a real Victorian era ballet without thinking of bonnets and elegant gowns! And speaking of elegance, the bloomers, a much looser garment compared to previous generations, made a big splash for ballerinas, too. Talk about giving your legs freedom to dance! The beauty of freedom!

Of course, being a time traveler isn't all about history. There's also shopping! London is bursting with fantastic boutiques. Last week I snagged the most divine hat adorned with velvet roses and a veil that looked almost like tulle! It was perfect for a carriage ride back to my little flat, you know, the one with all the vintage ballet shoes. It makes such a charming place to spend a morning drinking tea while sketching ballet-inspired clothing designs!

This week I was especially enchanted by a trip to a small millinery shop in a delightful little village just outside of London, by train, of course. I mean, imagine - puffing through the English countryside with fields of wildflowers in full bloom, all whilst enjoying the rhythmic sway of the carriage... A little dream come true, right?! Especially if you have a charming pink travel case for your latest hat acquisition, and let's not forget - my precious tutus! Oh, those vintage tutus are my favorite. The perfect travel companion.

The village millinery was absolutely delightful - imagine, rows of beautiful ribbons and plumes in every imaginable colour! And so many stunning shapes to inspire my own designs for future tutus! My imagination went into overdrive and I spent far too long dreaming up the most wonderful pink tutu designs! It had to be done! After all, who needs just one pink tutu?!

I can't wait for my trip next week to Paris! I've heard amazing things about the ballet and fashion scenes there, and I know it will be chock full of fabulous fashion and fun. So much tulle awaits!

Until then, darling ballerinas, don't forget to channel your inner fairy, even without a proper tutu, and make sure you twirl your way into the week with grace and joy. We can always be a little inspired by the Romantics and let out our inner fairytale!

See you next Tuesday! Love,

Emma

P.S. Don't forget to check out my next post where we'll explore even more tutu history! I know you love those tutus! So get ready for a trip through history and a dash of pink and romance. Oh, the tutu journey is so much fun!