Hello, my darling leotard lovers! Itās Emma here, and welcome back to another month of pink tutu-tastic time travelling! This time, Iāve whisked myself off to the year 1861, April 4th to be exact, and trust me, this is one fashion trip thatās making me twirl with excitement!
As always, Iām sporting my signature sparkly pink leotard ā the key to my time travelling adventures. You wouldnāt believe the looks I get at these historical events! But honestly, a little sparkle never hurt anyone, especially when youāre on a mission to bring pink tutus to the masses!
1861 was a fascinating time for fashion, my dears! Imagine: crinolines so vast you could fit a whole ball gown underneath, and hats so grand they could double as a miniature greenhouse.
The highlight of my trip, however, was stepping into a London theatre for the first time. There, in the heart of the Victorian era, I got a taste of a fascinating fashion phenomenon: the rise of the 'ballet dress'. It was a captivating sight, with dancers in flowing tulle skirts and form-fitting bodices, the very beginnings of the modern-day ballet leotard!
The design was simple, but oh-so elegant. It celebrated the dancerās movements, highlighting their every graceful step. I was so captivated by the beauty of it all! I felt like I was stepping back in time to watch the birth of ballet fashion, a journey from practical dress to artfully crafted, body-embracing leotards that would eventually become our cherished dance wear today.
Itās incredible to see how ballet fashion has evolved through the centuries. Think of all the amazing innovations: the transition from cotton to the stretch fabrics we have today, the iconic tights we all love, the variations of necklines, the way leotards have become expressive, even decorative, elements of dance performances.
You can bet I was snapping photos and sketching furiously to take all the style inspiration back to the future. Iām picturing the most glorious pink tutu collection inspired by the āballet dressesā of 1861. Oh, Iāve already got some sketches for our next pink tutu collaboration!
Oh, did I mention that my favourite leotard shop in Derbyshire, āThe Twirling Ballerinaā was inspired by this very trip? We've recreated some beautiful antique-style dancewear for those of you who love to go old school!
Before I close off this month's blog post, a quick update on my fund-raising street performances. Last monthās āPink Tutu Ballā performance raised enough money to fund my 1900s trip, and Iām already dreaming up the costume Iāll wear. And next month, Iāll be showcasing some original Victorian style pink tutu designs Iāve been working on, inspired by my visit to 1861! Youāre all invited to my street performance. Look for details on the Pink-tutu.com website.
So, as you can see, my travels have made me appreciate ballet fashion in a whole new light. Each era has left its mark on our dancewear, a testament to creativity, elegance, and the sheer joy of expression.
Until next time, my lovelies, keep twirling, and always embrace a bit of pink in your life!
Yours in tutus and sparkle,
Emma
