Embellishments, skirts and sparkles

Tutus are so so beautiful and when you look through costume catalogues with lots of sparkly options it’s tricky to choose the perfect one! After a few days of looking, I settled on this one for my friend’s little girls because it’s sparkly bodice and sweet bow on the front won me over.

 Despite the pretty exterior of tutus, making and maintaining them is a labour of love. A standard classical tutu typically features 25 metres of net which then forms 10 -13 graduated layers to build volume.

Crafting a professional tutu can take up to 120 hours but with proper care, they can last up to 20 years. Tutus are stored upside down to make sure the skirt stays “sticking out” horizontally as much as possible. They are not put in the washing machine and dry cleaning isn’t possible due to the delicate embellishments. Instead, it is recommended to gently hand wash the bodice whilst keeping the skirt completely out of the water.

One of the first tutus was worn in 1832 by Swedish-born ballerina Marie Taglioni. In the ballet La Sylphide, Marie wore a longer style tutu which instantly became the model costume for ballerinas. The white bodice and full skirt gave the illusion that the dancer was floating. In the late 19th century it was recognised that a shorter tutu skirt would enhance the ability for the audience to see the dancer’s intricate footwork. A shorter tutu made for easier viewing of petit allegro, turns and arabesque lines.

Fast forward to today and a mix of longer and shorter styles are used across ballets. Popular characters like the Wilis in Giselle and Snowflakes in the Nutcracker wear longer calf-length tutus. Whereas the Swans of Swan lake and The Sleeping Beauty wear a short pancake tutu.

I LOVE all tutus! And enjoy a full tutu review post any ballet I am lucky enough to see. This December, I am excited to go on a back stage tour at the Royal Opera House and I am hoping that I will get to see lots of tutus up close!