Hello, my fellow dance enthusiasts! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your portal to the most fabulous and whimsical history of dance fashion! Itâs your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another month's worth of fabulous leotard history. This month, we're taking a trip back to the Victorian era, December 12th 1859, to be precise, and I must tell you, the fashion scene was certainly blooming with some exciting trends!
As always, I was wearing my magical pink, shimmering, time-travelling leotard, sparkling under the December sky. It feels so grand to travel through time, especially when you get to see the fashion scene in such fascinating eras. But donât worry, even though this month I'm exploring the Victorian age, I still went full 'Emma' - pink, frills, and all!
Arriving in the cobbled streets of London, 1859, I couldnât help but notice the ladies and gentlemen wrapped up in their elaborate cloaks and fur-trimmed jackets, even with the London fog shrouding the city! Their elegant silhouettes were undeniably alluring. I quickly picked up on the latest fashion trends.
Victorian Leotards: A History of Change
Imagine my delight when I discovered a glimpse of the burgeoning trend in women's fashion - a bold new silhouette for the Victorian leotard! They were still, of course, quite a different shape from the form-fitting leotards we're familiar with today. Instead of stretchy Lycra, these leotards were made of thick cotton and linen. Imagine tights with sleeves, for a wonderfully quaint look. The leotards came with long sleeves, even adorned with frills and lace at the wrist.
Think of those lovely lace gloves your Nan used to wear! Now, these sleeves would've definitely given Victorian ladies extra warmth in their long sleeves but also allowed for much more movement compared to the constricted fashions of the day.
Now, I have to confess, even though I absolutely adored their new leotards, those corsets! Oh my goodness! But this wasnât all about those 'cage-like' constraints you might be picturing. I'm talking about intricate boned corsetry that sculpted their shapes! Think about the amazing curves a well-fitted corset could offer â I couldnât help but try one myself, even if it did involve a bit of a tug and pull.
These Victorian women had a very distinct aesthetic, which they combined with flowing fabrics in long skirts and full-skirted dresses for the perfect romantic ensemble. The leotards, although much more utilitarian than anything you'd see at the Bolshoi today, represented a new freedom of movement, which, to my keen eye, indicated an exciting evolution in fashion.
Taking Fashion Inspiration Back To The Future
As I embarked on a day of cultural exploration, I couldnât help but notice a surprising new trend among the working class in the London theatre district. Leotards were becoming commonplace. Not just your usual tights with sleeves, but actual dancewear! You see, Victorian women, not to be outdone by their elegant counterparts, had adopted this practical undergarment for their own use!
They discovered a much more versatile, movement-friendly attire â leotards! And of course, the âfashionableâ and the âpracticalâ never clash - especially not when there is such elegance and beauty to be had in dance! These new leotards became more comfortable for those ladies who were taking dance lessons in their downtime.
From what Iâve gleaned in my travel notes, a new style of dance - the ballet â was just becoming hugely popular in London and beyond. It was so wonderfully freeing for women and was much appreciated across the various societal classes! I noticed some theatre performances had the same styles of dances that I remember seeing when I travelled back to the late 1700s.
Fashioning The Future
Thatâs right! The Victorian era wasnât just about stiff corsets and billowing gowns, but an important period where we can clearly see the foundations for the fabulous, sleek styles of the future!
As I travel the world, you'd be amazed how each new leotard innovation is a step closer to that magnificent, pink-tutu world we all envision. My dream is a world where everyone twirls in a pink tutu â and believe me, we are closer to that reality with every passing year!
Speaking of âcloser to realityâ...
Leotards In Fashion Now:
Back in Derbyshire, itâs wonderful to be back! I got home from the Victorian era just in time to grab tickets for the newest show at the Derby Theatre. Canât wait to see it, my ballet tickets will give me plenty of inspiration for new âEmmaâ styles in the New Year!
Now, Iâm off to my favourite shops for a spot of Christmas shopping. Have a look for me at Derbyshire Shopping Centre for all the latest leotards and the biggest tutu deals in town! Theyâre getting ready for Christmas and will be celebrating in true festive spirit with some special fashion offerings in January.
Keep your eyes peeled!
Itâs always so much fun connecting with you all here at Pink-Tutu.com! Let me know what your favourite era for leotards is and leave your questions for next monthâs blog! Until then, twirl like it's 1859!
Emma x
