My Tutu Skirt: Why My Tutu Skirt ?

Today our subject is the name of the Blog. What made me choose it?

Anna Pavilova in Giselle

So, looking around in the shop where I work , thinking about the challenge of writing a blog. The question came up to my mind. How am I going to name it ? After scrutinising all the rails, analysing all the styles and colours of the new season clothes, I finally laid my eyes on a fluo tutu skirt hanging on the wall. That's it, I tought. "My Tutu Skirt" came to life!

Historically speaking, it's said that the Russians, the connoisseurs of ballet, started to use tutus at the end of the 19th Century, replacing the long dresses worn before. The intention was to give more mobility to the dancers and to see and appreciate better the movements of their legs and the footwork.

In different styles and lengths the tutu is normally composed from 6 to 15 layers of fabric, usually the light ones like tulle, nylon, tarlatan, voile, organdy and organza.

Painting from Degas

It can be a three quarter length bell shaped skirt called Romantic Tutu, as seen in Giselle. Or the Classical Tutu one (pancake) with a very short skirt that extends straight forwards for the hips with wired hoops, in a flat pancake shape, as used in Swan Lake. The other classic version is the Tutu Bell, a short stiff skirt with a slight bell shape as it is shown in the famous ballet painting from Degas.

Katia in her first tutu

There's also the Balanchine or Karinska Tutu, also known as "powder puff". Quite fuller short skirt with no hoops originally designed for the ballet version of George Bizet's Symphony in C .

In her's favourite ones

In the fashion world, tutu skirts are very present, specially for the little ones. In many brands in all seasons we can find very nice tutus. They are cute, feminine and relates of course to the Romanticism of Ballet, the dream of many girls and their mums.

Worn with a classic style ballerina shoes and a glittery cardigan its a nice outfit for special occasions and in trendy way, we can try it with biker boots and jacket choosing a rebel romantic look. Give it a try !