Hello my lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of all things pink, sparkly, and totally fabulous! Today, weâre taking a trip back in time, to March 3rd, 1859, a date that holds a rather special place in the history of a garment I adore: the leotard!
Remember my last post about the amazing evolution of the leotard from humble circus attire to a cornerstone of athletic wear and high fashion? Well, buckle your pink ballet slippers, because this one's a real trip!
Letâs rewind to a time before bicycles had pneumatic tyres, when horse-drawn carriages ruled the streets and the concept of âfast fashionâ was as foreign as a pink-tu-tu-wearing time traveler (thatâs me, by the way!). The leotard was still a fairly new invention, and believe me, things were a lot different in 1859 than in todayâs leotard-filled world!
Before I get carried away (pun intended!) let's rewind back to that magical moment that transported me, via my sparkling pink leotard, back to this time!
My last street performance was in the centre of Buxton â the Spa Town where I hail from â and it went down a treat! Everyone stopped and stared, you shouldâve seen the looks of wonder on their faces â not to mention all the donations from passers-by which, of course, pay for the costs of my time travel and the very pink and sparkly wardrobe I favour. Now I had just enough to get myself to 1859, where a whole new chapter of leotard history awaits!
Step Back In Time: 1859 â A Leotard Adventure!
My time-travel leotard took me straight to the bustling centre of London! Now, imagine a city brimming with cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and⌠surprisingly enough⌠leotards! Can you believe it? Itâs no wonder, the first leotards â the actual real deal, ladies and gentlemen â had been designed in the 1840s by Jules Leotard, a daring circus performer (imagine that!), and had taken the world by storm, and especially the Victorian world!
From Circus to Stage: A Leotard Evolution
Letâs talk leotard styles, my darlings! This period was a big one for the leotard in both the circus world and, believe it or not, on the ballet stage! Picture a classic design â tight-fitting, made of strong, stretchy fabrics. The iconic âLeotardâ had begun his rise to leotard royalty!
I remember seeing one spectacular leotard performance at the London Royal Opera House. It was a circus act with acrobats all in red and gold leotards! I almost forgot my ballerina manners, the leotard combination, in such a dynamic act! My heart went pitter patter as they twisted and turned their bodies into incredible feats of daring acrobatics. You know I tried not to stare too hard as the circus performers danced and flew, but they all looked so unbelievably graceful. What can I say, their leotards were an incredible combination of functionality and pure artistry, all for me to absorb. They were daring in both their acts and their fashion, my darlings! What incredible inspiration! I swear, they looked like dancers from a ballet performance with a dramatic twist. I couldn't take my eyes off those sparkling leotards. I have never seen something so vibrant and daring.
The Victorians embraced the leotard not only for its practicality and style but for its daring silhouette too! For example, a ballet star known for her revolutionary use of the leotard during this time was, Madame Emma Livry. This amazing dancer (and a possible muse, if I dare say, for your's truly â I even share her name, howâs that for a little twist of fate! ) used the leotard to great effect, to be daring and sensual, all the while with that Victorian flair and sensibility. Emma Livry â that is who you call a fashion trendsetter, my darlings! She put the âfabulousâ in âleotardâ. And here I am in 1859 and here she is dancing on the stage of the Paris Opera in a shimmering black leotard with just a tiny splash of gold around her neckline. Now, that is what I call a stylish leotard design! She just showed off her perfect physique in it, which must have been a daring statement at the time! That girl has some major style, my darlings, let me tell you!
But hold on! The evolution doesn't stop there! Did you know that around the same time, some pioneering female dress reformers like Amelia Bloomer (Iâm totally going to look up the âBloomer dressâ for next month's post, my darlings!) were adapting leotard-like designs into more âpracticalâ undergarments for everyday wear! These women were making moves, both on and off the stage, with a dash of rebellious spirit in every step! That, ladies and gents, is how the world of the leotard expanded, and believe me it continues to grow more and more and more!
And as a huge fan of the colour pink, I was so impressed to discover that pink and the leotard was not just for circus or dance performances but the ladies of the period, and they had pink dresses, petticoats and some daring dresses with very loose pink leotards underneath as they called it a âcombinationâ at the time! And, of course, they were all so perfectly done up! All these fabulous, fashion-conscious ladies were sporting these garments as underwear. It seems a common theme amongst fashion â pink is the color of all times.
It wasnât just fashion; they were sporting leotards in gymnastics as well! The leotard, I believe, was truly a garment ahead of its time!
I can't wait for next month's travels! My little pink heart is racing, especially when I consider the number of amazing leotards I have already found from the history books! But for now, letâs all put on our own pink tutus, or just imagine wearing them, and remember the dazzling story of the leotard! Remember my darlings: âThink pink!â
Until next time, lovelies!
Emma xo
