Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of all things pink, fabulous, and historically leotard-tastic! Today, I'm whisking you away on a whirlwind trip to February 2nd, 1862, a date that, you might not believe, has a lot to do with the history of our beloved leotard! Buckle up, fashionistas, because we're going on an adventure!
Before we get into the juicy leotard details, let me just say that I’ve had such a smashing time street performing this month. You know, the thing about living in Derbyshire, is you just have the most wonderfully kind people – the audience was especially sweet yesterday and showered me with flowers after my performance at Bakewell Market Square! One gent even shouted, “By Jove, you look like a proper fairy in that pink tutu!”, which I took as a high compliment! (My tutus are a serious investment, you know! The silk is hand-dyed in Italy. Expensive, yes, but I wouldn’t settle for anything less! 😉 )
Right, let’s dive into our journey back in time. I’m whipping out my sparkling pink time-travelling leotard! Ahem… It’s more a secret, as it doesn’t quite look like a leotard at all – it looks like a very sparkly, very pink evening gown, but who am I to spoil the magic? All I have to say is… poof and I’m there!
Alright, 1862! Picture it, a Victorian London brimming with cobblestones and gaslight! Now, here's the thing: in 1862, leotards were still firmly entrenched in the realm of circus performers. Yes, dear reader, the daring acrobats and graceful equestrians were the only ones daring to embrace the streamlined leotard style, made popular by the pioneering gymnast and inventor, Jules Léotard. It’s an interesting story. In 1859, Léotard actually invented the leotard as we know it! And to think it’s named after the inventor, the pioneer. I just love it! It’s an incredibly flattering, form-fitting silhouette for any shape. He truly changed the way we think about the human body and the clothing we wear. Just think about all those gorgeous acrobatic movements. So inspiring!
While you couldn't spot the leotard strutting the streets in 1862 (except for, maybe, at the circus, haha!) we had a very exciting fashion moment that actually ties into our dear leotard, even if indirectly: The arrival of the Crinoline! Can you imagine, all these skirts ballooning out in such a magnificent way, but they’re all held up by… what else, but a contraption of hoops and stays. Sounds very close to what goes on under my tutus! 😉 Now, the Crinoline really revolutionized fashion for women in 1862, it gave them more freedom of movement – something very important to any dancer. Now, wouldn’t it be lovely if this Crinoline era sparked a fascination with leotards and dance? Wouldn't that be something?
Back then, there wasn’t quite a culture for performance dance like we have now. But if you think about it, fashion has come so far! Think about all the glamorous ballet shoes, sleek leotards and shimmering tutus that adorn our beautiful ballerinas on stage – those are the styles I absolutely adore!
Now, here’s something super exciting about this date: imagine, the London Pantomime was all the rage in 1862, filled with lavish costumes and daring performances, and I just can't wait to check it out! They may not be wearing leotards in this performance, but it's that sense of extravagance and spectacle that’s oh-so alluring. It reminds me of all the fabulous, dazzling performances I see now in my travels, from ballet companies in Russia to dazzling modern dance troupes in the US. It's incredible to see how dance has evolved, all while staying true to the human need to move and express ourselves through performance!
Don’t forget to catch my street ballet performance later this month – I'll be rocking a sparkly, brand-new tutu with an exquisite, layered lace bodice, perfect for all the twirls and grand jetes you could imagine. Remember, darling, there's nothing quite as enchanting as seeing a ballet in a pink tutu – even a Victorian London pantomime will never live down to the pure elegance of a well-executed pirouette!
Keep shining bright, lovelies! And remember, everyone can wear a pink tutu - you just have to be bold enough! Don't forget to subscribe to Pink Tutu Travels and let me know where you want to travel next in time!
Bisous,
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
