Oh, my dears!
Welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's a glorious September morning here in Derbyshire, the air crisp with the promise of autumn and a touch of that "back to school" feeling. (Though, admittedly, I haven't been in school since I was a wee thing, pfft! Who needs that when you're a travelling ballerina blogger, right?!)
But enough about Derbyshire! It's time for a journey back in time, as per usual, courtesy of my sparkling pink time-travelling leotard (which, by the way, is so amazingly sparkly, it's basically the whole point!). This month, my diary entry is 9th September, 1867. I know what you're thinking - Why 1867? Well, my darlings, 1867 was an important year for leotards. And when I say important, I mean crucially important. Think of it like... like... the "Queen Victoria" of the leotard world (without the pesky corsets, of course!). So, you know we have to go!
(The sparkling leotard zaps and whoosh!)
Whoa! Fancy this... I've landed, my dears, smack bang in the middle of Paris! Bonjour, darling Paris! (I try my best French - not a strong point, let's be honest) And what a vision it is. Fashion is everything here, darling - a kaleidoscope of gorgeous silk gowns, feathered hats, and enough lace to fill a whole carriage! Oh, how I love that Parisian elegance. But... hang on... the leotards... they seem… missing.
And indeed they are! You see, 1867 is the *year before the real leotard "revolution." * In 1868, the Frenchman Jules Leotard himself debuted his innovative one-piece, skin-tight creation. Before then, ballerinas were performing in heavy and restrictive tunics! Can you imagine?
Don't get me wrong, my darlings - Parisian ballerinas are lovely! The beautiful La Guimard is a complete sweetheart, showing off her stunning pointe work in a lovely white tutu. It’s just slightly frustrating that she doesn't have a sleek, beautiful leotard like mine!
So what are ballerinas doing without those iconic leotards? They are performing in beautifully styled *tunic-like "tricots." * The tricots are long and flowing, giving a dramatic silhouette on stage. In fact, many even incorporate elegant ballet tights - the foundation of many a leotard design in later years, I must say!
Now, before we start imagining all the gorgeous pink tunics of our own, I need to explore the Musée du Costume. The fashion! It is just *too much* **to resist!
After admiring a vast array of fashion delights - including the very finest gowns and even the most daring* "masculine-inspired" ensembles* - I've just realised... the muse for those *beautiful lace and ribbon tricots that I was so entranced by is... leotard style! They have been designing with the elegance of what the leotard will soon bring! That means 1867 is *way more relevant to our world than I originally thought!
Even if 1867 itself is pre-Leotard, my dears - the foundations are already here. You can't deny the connection! And with this year so inspiring the coming design boom in ballet... well, you could call this the spark that lit the fuse, couldn't you?!
I cannot wait to see those exciting changes, the moment that Jules Leotard's name enters the history books (it’s amazing how these men get to have all the big moments - but hey, we're the ones looking good!)! My leotard is tingling - just like it always does when big changes are around the corner - so my inner ballerina feels the urge to twirl...
*(Twirl! Sparkling leotard! Whoosh! Time travel!) *
*(Back in Derbyshire, my dears! * It's amazing what I can pack into just one afternoon in a sparkly leotard! )
Well, what do you think? A wonderful glimpse into the future - or should we say, the past. Let's call it a fusion of times! There's more to say, but, oh darling, the streets are calling! The lovely streetlights, the evening crowds, the crisp September air - this is the perfect time for a spot of street ballet to top off my journey.
I’m just popping off to a local café, my dears - my go-to place for the finest cakes in Derbyshire - to put my trusty leotard away for now. I've just got my dancing shoes in a stylish tote bag - super sleek, as always, a favourite from the local vintage store! Oh, darling, all these things take hours to plan, and everything needs to be perfect, so I'll tell you all about today's performance next month. So much more to share about fashion in 1867!
Until next time, dears. Get twirling, wear pink!
With love, Emma xx
(www.pink-tutu.com )
