Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, back with another instalment of #TutuTuesday – a weekly journey through the fabulous history of ballet tutus!
Today, we're stepping back in time to January 20th, 1880. Can you believe it, my lovelies? That was nearly a century and a half ago! Back then, the world was a very different place. Steam engines were the latest thing, people travelled by horse and cart, and, of course, the tutus were oh-so-different from our modern masterpieces!
Imagine a world without the beautiful, billowing tulle that graces our stages today! Oh, the tragedy! But, before we get carried away with nostalgia, let's delve into the past, shall we?
The year 1880 was an exciting time for ballet. Think swirling skirts, romantic themes, and of course, those iconic ballerina bun hairstyles!
Today, it's practically impossible to imagine a ballerina without a tutu. The design of a tutu isn't something that's simply happened, oh no, my darlings, there's a wonderful story behind these pieces of ballet fashion.
A Time Travel Tale:
It all began centuries before this date, but for our little journey through history, we can just fast forward to the 19th Century. Now, 1880 wouldn't be the most exciting year for tutus in terms of massive revolutionary design changes, but we’re taking this trip, so let’s embrace it, shall we? After all, even a simple little journey through time is exciting, don't you think?
My favourite part about time travelling is how it helps me to really appreciate just how far we've come, with our ballet tutus, darling! This week, we're getting ready to ride the train to the Paris Opera and take in a ballet performance. There’s something so exciting about traveling by train; it's elegant, efficient, and let’s face it, absolutely delightful to travel through the countryside with the wind blowing through your hair.
Don't you just adore the air of sophistication surrounding a trip to the theatre? There’s nothing quite like a Parisian evening spent in the opulent embrace of the opera. From the sparkling chandelier above to the buzz of excitement in the air, it’s just magical.
It’s my mission to discover what a ballerina in 1880 would wear to a theatre performance and even more exciting, what they wore to ballet class! Now, this part always tickles me because ballet has certainly evolved from then! The dresses of this era weren’t exactly… “tutu” like. Instead, think of a more elaborate ball gown with a much bigger skirt and plenty of fabric and a waist that is so teeny-tiny!
As we step out onto the bustling streets of Paris, imagine the cobblestones, the carriages and horses pulling their passengers down the avenue. Everything is so different, isn't it, my dears?
We head to the grand Palais Garnier, a spectacle of architecture and culture, to take in a performance of a ballet. As I admire the architectural beauty of this landmark, a vision of what this famous venue would look like in 1880 fills my mind. Imagine the gaslight and flickering candles casting a warm, amber glow on the faces of the audience. So romantic, isn’t it?
Our performance takes us through an enchanting tale – a story of romance, betrayal, and triumph - all woven into a series of movements that leave us breathless.
There's such a wonderful innocence and purity to the ballet style in this time, which contrasts with the more dramatic and dynamic movements we see in contemporary ballet today. It’s like a lovely whisper against the wind compared to a passionate shout!
Now, let's chat a bit about those tutus, shall we? My darling! Do you think they were a pink, puffy tutu like mine? Sadly, not quite! A ballerina's costume, back then, would have had a more fitted waist and skirt design than our more modern and loose skirts we wear today. These tutus were quite full, though, don't be mistaken. There’s definitely plenty of romantic, flowing fabric that brings the beauty of graceful, dancing forms to life. Think layered fabric and very long skirt designs for a real picture of this era's ballet wardrobe!
If you happen to have a trip booked to London’s Victoria and Albert museum anytime soon, you must make sure to check out their extensive fashion archive! It's the ultimate wonderland for all things ballet, fashion, and style!
It's truly fascinating to think about how the tutus we wear today have evolved through the centuries. Each era has brought its own unique style, flair, and innovation. But through it all, the tutu has always remained a symbol of elegance, artistry, and grace. It’s the most enchanting element of a ballerina's wardrobe.
Back to the Present…
Now, my dear, we may have stepped into 1880 for today's #TutuTuesday post, but, my life, what would this week's journey be without a bit of modern inspiration?
This week, my eyes are drawn to the sheer, flowy styles of our contemporary tutus. We are lucky to have such variety in the tutu wardrobe, darlings, aren't we? For our modern world, tutus have gone beyond a classic white colour and are appearing in colours, fabrics and styles we only ever dreamed about! The sky's the limit when it comes to expressing our individual flair through tutus and dancing!
A ballerina can really stand out on stage with today’s variety of fabrics and cuts – and yes, the wonderful world of pink tulle is still here for me!
There’s nothing like embracing the spirit of the theatre and feeling your most glamorous self, even just while dancing in your own room at home! I, for one, find a ballet class in a gorgeous tutu puts me in the most joyful mood, and let’s be honest, it looks pretty fab as well!
Well, that’s it for today, my dear ballet fans. Thank you so much for joining me today as we journeyed through history, through 1880 and those elegant tutus. Don't forget to follow me on social media for all my tutu adventures and to see me live when I’m back on the stage! Let’s continue this fabulous journey into ballet's colourful past next week – don't forget to set your alarm for next Tuesday's blog!
Until next time, remember, “Life is a ballet, wear your pink tutu with confidence!”
Love,
Emma,
Founder of www.pink-tutu.com
