Tutus are beautiful to look at and add drama and colour to any performance. Lots of work goes into making these lovely garments. First, a bodice must be fitted. It is made separately from the rest of the tutu from panels of fabric cut on the diagonal for a comfortable fit. It is attached to the Baspue, which is a strip of material that connects the bodice to the skirt. There are several types of tutu skirts.
Romantic Tutus are the original style of tutu skirts and they first appeared in the 1800s. The skirt, which extends to mid calf, was a drastic change from the heavy ball gowns that used to be worn. It was considered very risque at the time. These tutus are made from three to five layers of tulle.
Classical Tutus come in two different types. The first is a very flat skirt that juts out horizontally. It is often called a platter of plate tutu because of the shape it resembles. It is made of stiff tulle netting and is ruffled slightly. A wire is inserted in the tutu to keep the shape. This is called hooping. The second type is called a powder puff tutu. It's made of looser packed tulle and is a slightly shorter skirt. It bounces more freely and is a fun and ethereal skirt.
Bell Tutus are (obviously) shaped like a bell. Because it has no wire running through it, it droops downwards. It is shorter than a romantic tutu, but not as short as a classical tutu. Like the romantic tutu, they are also made from three to five layers of tulle, only the layers are shorter.
Tutus are handstiched and take many hours of hard work and careful craftsmanship. In addition ot this, many special details are added to the tutu ot ensure it stands out. These include feathers, intricated embroidery and hand sewn crystals. The process is so elaborate that a single tutu for a professional ballet company performance can cost several thousands of dollars!