Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another delve into the enchanting world of ballet history!
Today, September 2nd 2025, finds me right here in the heart of Paris - oh la la! I simply had to be in the City of Lights for this particular #TutuTuesday because, as you'll see, Paris played a major role in the tutu's history. This city breathes fashion, just like me, so being here to celebrate this elegant garment is a true delight!
But before we embark on this historical journey, I'm just bursting to tell you about the wonderful show I saw last night at the Palais Garnier. Oh my goodness, it was magical! The ballet was "La Bayadère," a classic piece filled with incredible choreography and breathtaking costumes. And can we talk about the tutus?! So billowing, so light, and so absolutely gorgeous, they really added that extra layer of enchantment to the entire performance. You can definitely see why Paris has such a reputation for beautiful ballet. I swear I nearly squealed out loud at the end, I was so thrilled.
But let's rewind a little! Before we get to those absolutely breathtaking romantic tutu creations you see today, the origins of this iconic piece of clothing are quite simple.
Imagine a little ballerina, like a tiny fairy, pirouetting away in a skirt with a little bit more⌠freedom! That's where the tutu began. Imagine the gasp and ahhhh from the audience as the dancer moved with ease and grace in this revolutionary new garment. The tutus of the early days were short, just above the knees, and sometimes just frills of fabric, to help those little dancing fairies move with complete freedom. Imagine that, moving like a tiny, light as a feather bird, dancing around the stage, enchanting everyone in the audience. What a magical time.
So, who invented this revolutionary design? While there is no one sole creator, Marie Taglioni is considered one of the pioneering forces behind the shorter, more revealing tutu designs in the early 19th century. Marie, you know, the star dancer. Just picture this delicate creature of a woman dancing on pointe for the very first time. Amazing, wasn't it? Can you believe the power and poise in this seemingly fragile body? Her performance of the ballet âLa Sylphide" in 1832 is a very special moment in ballet history. She was an iconic dancer and her groundbreaking performance of La Sylphide, a romantic ballet full of exquisite graceful movements, showed the power and elegance of the short tutu. She was an absolute goddess, a beautiful swan and her tutu became the iconic symbol of ballet forevermore. It's amazing how even today, seeing the dancers wearing these enchanted creations is magical. The whole romantic era of ballet - and I'm not talking about the era where the lovers die, darling, but rather this beautiful, dreamlike, enchanting ballet - really took flight from that one moment, with Marie Taglioni and the amazing, enchanting short, romantic tutu.
Of course, the tutu evolved, darling! Like everything in fashion. The original romantic era designs, so lightweight, delicate and flowing were eventually overtaken by other styles - but let's be real, they never really went out of style. Some tutus had a lot of frills, just lots and lots of frills of tulle. Others got more fitted and less airy. A lot of dancing girls started wearing fitted tutus in white for classical ballets like Swan Lake - think Odette, so pure, elegant, angelic in a white tutu! And for some ballerinas in some productions, it just became so frilly, some would need help to walk around because their skirts were just SO huge, just enormous fluffy skirts full of frills and ruffles. I adore all the tutus! Each tutu was so special.
Think back, just imagine for a moment, of the magic you experience, the emotions you feel watching ballet. It is in many ways like watching an old, favourite, romantic movie! And all these tutu's are the stars! From Giselle and The Sleeping Beauty to La Bayadère, there are all sorts of iconic designs, some grand and romantic, and some, like those amazing creations for Giselle just float so lightly, making those amazing aerial dance moves even more magical. Just picture those big graceful turns - I can feel my dress swirling around me just like I'm up on that stage - they inspire the tutus themselves to twirl, I mean just imagine the sheer beauty and power that makes. Those twirls are magic.
One special thing about these magnificent pieces of clothing - tutus - is that even with all those new styles and interpretations, from ballet tutu to street tutu (we will talk about that later), they remain one of the most recognizable fashion symbols ever in all those genres, so simple yet so beautiful. Even just saying âtutu,â and most people instantly understand, âballet,â oh yes. But let's remember this amazing fashion moment was not born in ballet. Ballet was already in the swing of things and tutu's were invented to give the ballerinas more freedom and the appearance of floating across the stage.
Moving back to our own little adventure... Here in Paris, on the 2nd September, you can almost feel the fashion magic! Paris really is a center of the fashion world. And ballet, well, ballet really has a lot in common with fashion - change is constant. Like that ballet that I saw La Bayadère, those tutu designs were breathtaking and totally timeless, I felt that sense of grace, tradition, elegance, and just incredible beauty in that performance. That magical moment - that's what makes ballet so timeless. I would love to design a timeless tutu for a beautiful classic ballet like that one! Imagine how lovely a light pink and gold, with pearl detailing it could look! My imagination is getting carried away already! But I know the Parisian dancers would wear those colours beautifully. Imagine the scene as a dancer pirouettes, just imagine!
Oh! Speaking of design, do you ever wonder about the special ways a ballerina tutu is created? Like why does that tulle, itâs just such beautiful soft net, why does it move like that, or, why do some ballerinas wear short skirts like the Romantic era? Well, darling, it's really just like when you see an incredibly amazing design on the catwalk and you ask "What are the fabric, what is it made from, how was it made." Ballet is like the world of catwalk high fashion. Each one, a custom creation - so there's an amazing design process behind every tutu! Every little detail counts, right from the colour of the tulle - remember what colour represents elegance and the beautiful feel of ballerina, darling - to the number of layers - sometimes it can have 30-40 layers for that graceful, floaty feel. You want the tutu to feel like it's a natural extension of the dancers body, fluid movements are everything. Think grace, think freedom - every detail is to make those amazing movement and poses even more expressive. The tutu must be designed, perfectly, to look good with each movement, the way it's made is essential for every jump, turn and leap.
Remember, this little magical outfit - the tutu - it's not just for classic ballet! Today's tutus, from the classical tutu that everyone pictures, the billowing, romantic style we associate with Giselle - the short pastel tulle creation, with layers and layers of this softest tulle. Then you have the shorter ballet tutu, the classical poetic white tutus, designed specially for specific productions, and there's also a whole range of tutu styles and colors - youâve got everything from the sparkly fun ones worn for the famous âballet* performances to the âstreetâ tutu. Oh! Speaking of street tutu - my favorite subject of course! - do you remember all those ballerinas performing on the streets! Iâm obsessed with them - I go to every show. You know they arenât actually ballet performers they're street dancers but they've really captured the look, they love the magical tutu design too, they are inspired by ballet but they also go far beyond it!
It's fabulous, really fab ! What makes ballet so special, and the tutus in particular, they are so versatile and can be so different - a mix of classical style, amazing techniques, a pop of street culture, and that unique look just gets even more vibrant everywhere. It's like a whole new level of tutu creativity. That's where the pink tutus just go wild, * darling. I've had mine on everywhere, from Paris to Derby, from New York to Moscow, there are tutus everywhere - think of those vibrant designs for street performances, with added sparkles and lots of customisation. Imagine the beauty and the fun everyone can share when you have your own pink tutu and you get to be a dancer just by putting on the tutu! They are so fabulous, so expressive - that's what I love about tutus most, darling!
So, next time you see someone on the streets wearing a pink tutu, think about that little magical fairy on the stage, about how those designers have crafted such an iconic symbol and remember the ballet that inspired those modern designs. And if you havenât got one already, why not get your own pink tutu, you can wear it to see a show or wear it to show everyone just how lovely and fabulous they are.
Letâs hear your tutu story, let me know what you are wearing! I just adore hearing about your #tututime.
Until next time, darlings. Remember the most magical outfit, and don't forget to always be pink. *
And stay tuned! We've got a fabulous fashion challenge coming up, so get those pink tutus ready!
Love,
Emma
*p.s. If you'd like to be notified by email of a new #TutuTuesday, just sign up for notifications at www.pink-tutu.com *
