Hello my dearest Tutu-Twirling Troupe!
It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina from Derbyshire, and welcome to another thrilling escapade through the magical world of leotard fashion! This month, I'm waltzing back in time to a particularly exciting date: 3rd March 1861. I just love stepping into the past and seeing how leotard fashion has evolved - or in this case, perhaps, hasn't evolved quite as much as I would have expected!
But before I tell you about my grand adventure, I need to spill the tea, my darlings. Last weekend I had the most fantastic time dancing in the streets of London! People were stopping in their tracks, jaws dropping, handbags clutched tighter - it was absolute pandemonium! And all because of my latest pink tutu, which features the most intricate hand-stitched lace, fluffy pink tulle, and of course, it sparkles like a disco ball under the city lights! I'm telling you, this tutu was made for street performances - it had people chanting "More! More!" as I finished my last pirouette. And you know what? It feels fabulous to bring a bit of ballet joy to people's everyday lives!
Anyway, back to my trip back to 3rd March 1861! I donned my special sparkling pink leotard, a masterpiece of intricate sequins and delicate lace, which I can't tell you enough: it absolutely takes me through time. You won't believe what happened!
The World Of Fashion in 1861
First of all, picture this: Imagine bustling London streets with horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps flickering in the evening. Ladies were decked out in long, full skirts, with bonnets adorned with elaborate feathers. And gentlemen, in their tailored suits and top hats, were no slouches when it came to refined style! This time period was a world of corseted elegance, elaborate lace trimmings, and a general appreciation for delicate fabrics, which made it rather an adventure to slip in wearing my tutu, believe me!
Now, in 1861, fashion was all about femininity and showing off your curves. It was a period of high collars, long gloves, and hoop skirts - and it was a very different aesthetic from the athletic grace we see in the ballet today! You can imagine how the gentlemen around me gasped when my tutu made a swirling entrance! But you know what? There was this really charming gentleman who couldn't take his eyes off my dance and my twirling.
The Leotard Of That Time
Leotards weren't yet the streamlined pieces of athletic elegance they are today. In fact, leotards back then were mainly for gymnasts and were rather baggy, lacking the stylish grace and figure-hugging nature we associate with them. If you saw it today you would think of it as an oversized jersey shirt. In 1861, they wouldn’t be found out and about - they were for private wear, reserved for physical exertion.
The dance world back then, though fascinating, wasn't all about tight-fitting outfits. Think more voluminous skirts and frills. Ballerinas were still using corseted dresses. Can you imagine performing a grand jeté in that?
An Evening At The Opera - And I Mean, REALLY At The Opera
You won't believe what I saw at the Royal Opera House in London, where they were putting on the most extravagant performances - the very height of fashion in that period. But you wouldn't find a dancer in a leotard there, no! The most stunning costume I saw was one made of heavy silk with gold thread embroidery and rows upon rows of ruffled, layered skirts - completely impractical for dancing but certainly magnificent. This really shows the power of theatre: it lets us go beyond practicality and indulge in the realm of beauty and fantasy, even if it isn’t always comfortable!
So, this is the thing, I actually ended up on stage at the Royal Opera House! And not in a normal way, either! The ballerina in the lead role had fallen and hurt her ankle before the opening night! So I offered to go on stage to replace her! Well, who was I going to be other than a sassy Pink Tutu Girl, right? I can't even tell you what the actual role was, all I know is I had to be able to do serious arabesque work as it seemed to be the central piece of the whole show. This dress had several rows of what must have been tons of ruffles. It actually looked as if it could be the wedding dress for about six women and it wasn't meant for ballet. Luckily, this one had pockets where I’d hidden my pink tutu. With the stage lights dimming and the orchestra beginning, I found myself twirling out of that heavy gown and into my light-as-air tutu - the most exciting night of my time travelling ballet life! It was incredible! I received the most rapturous applause from the audience, with the gentlemen particularly enthralled.
And the gentleman I mentioned who was captivated by my dancing in the streets? He’d actually been invited by his sister to see the ballet performance, and you won't believe this, he bought me the most incredible bunch of flowers and declared my dancing to be a revelation! My pink tutu and I? We left that night with the most amazing memories. And all in all, my dear tutu-loving followers, this time-traveling escapade has definitely shown me how much leotard fashion has progressed since 1861! Who knows, maybe my Pink Tutu Brigade is inspiring that next step forward!
What do you say, darling tutus, let’s see the future of ballet wear change for good!
Keep your eyes peeled, dear followers, for a special new piece about modern-day leotards for our April blog!
Lots of Love, Emma!
Visit Emma’s Website - Pink-Tutu.com today and join the Pink Tutu Brigade!
