Hello my darlings! It's your favourite time-travelling tutu-wearing ballerina, Emma, here, back from another incredible adventure in the past!
As you know, my time machine of choice is my magical pink sparkly leotard - it's quite the eye-catcher, wouldn't you say? This month, my sparkly threads took me to the first day of 1869, and let me tell you, the leotard fashion was quite a sight!
Firstly, a little bit about myself. You've all come to know me as a huge fan of the pink tutu - that's right, the more frills, the better, and the pinker the better! But there's one other item of clothing that I adore, even more so than the tutu, and that is the glorious, versatile leotard! It's the perfect combination of comfort and style, suitable for both the stage and the street - perfect for my time-travelling ballet-performing self, you see!
So, back to my travels, January 1st, 1869! As I time-hopped into my chosen destination, it was straight off to a glamorous theatre to get a feel for the world of performance wear. As expected, the most fashionable outfits were for the ballerinas. The tutus were exquisite! So beautifully handcrafted with intricate details and fluffy, airy fabric.
The ballerinas' leotards were also an impressive display of the time's aesthetics - think full-length sleeves, beautifully detailed necklines and, in some cases, a delicate layer of fabric for modesty, or a second-skin fit that accentuated their stunning movements.
While in the theatre, I stumbled across a particularly fascinating performance by the world-renowned dancer, Fanny Elssler, an Austrian star who took the world by storm with her virtuosic skills and her signature dance, the cachucha. Now, this dance was the epitome of fiery Spanish passion, and it showcased both Fanny's stunning grace and her strength. Imagine swirling skirts and captivating gestures! Her costume, a fitted bodice, a billowing skirt, and a dazzling display of jewels and ornamentation - wow, it was breathtaking. Her performance truly made my heart sing!
Following the performance, I wandered the streets of London. What I saw in the shops, oh my! A dazzling array of clothing in colours such as mustard yellow, deep emerald, and navy blue - all fabrics luxurious and stylish. These fashion items gave me inspiration for my next time-travelling adventure - a little sartorial mixing and matching! But don't worry, the tutu will always be there!
There was a particular shop window display I fell in love with - filled with garments of lace, silks, and ribbons - such exquisite detail. In this window was a leotard that truly caught my eye - the perfect blend of the elegance of that era, and what we call, 'leotard chic'. This particular leotard was quite long, with an interesting and beautiful neckline and, even though this was a century and a half before Lycra existed, there was a clear use of material that showed the natural flow and beauty of the female form - I'd happily time-travel back to 1869 just to buy this leotard!
Now, here's a secret I can't share too widely. Back then, in the early Victorian era, tight-fitting garments like leotards were only acceptable on the stage, not on the street! So, let’s take a moment to celebrate how much we've evolved as a society when it comes to female empowerment and freedom in clothing!
Of course, with the arrival of the 19th century, many important breakthroughs occurred regarding fashion, but this wasn't without its struggles. The Victorian era saw a focus on more elaborate garments like corsets and voluminous skirts. Thankfully, for the dance world, the leotard had already carved a niche for itself.
But my darlings, the journey for fashion and freedom hasn’t been easy, has it? Even in our modern times, women often face pressure to conform to certain styles, often with a focus on 'showing skin' or creating a specific shape that many may not identify with.
That’s why I’m such an ardent supporter of the tutu. This magnificent symbol of female expression encourages women to embrace their own unique style and to feel confident in whatever they choose to wear. This is exactly why I'm on a mission to make pink tutus mainstream, and the whole world is coming around to it, bit by bit, and that makes my heart soar!
On a lighter note, I stumbled upon an interesting historical detail about this very day, January 1st, 1869. That day, a patent for a sewing machine was filed in New York, changing the world of clothing forever! I don't think it's a coincidence that in 1869 the first commercial dress patterns also made their way into the marketplace - the era of affordable, fashionable clothing had arrived, and we’re seeing its results even today!
While exploring London on my quest to learn more about leotard history and the fashion scene, I even had the pleasure of stumbling upon the very first ballet school in Britain, called the "Academy of Dancing" in Covent Garden.
What a joyous place to learn and observe! Their classrooms buzzed with laughter and the sound of tiny dancing shoes hitting the wooden floor, the girls gracefully practising their pirouettes and arabesques.
It truly warmed my heart to see how a place dedicated to art and expression existed way back then.
The Academy had several little girls sporting leotards, of course! There was even a sweet little ballerina who danced across the studio floor wearing her own unique tutu, with tiny ribbons and flowers adorning its fabric. My goodness! It was like watching a little angel move and glide, bringing such joy and elegance to the room! I took it upon myself to make her day by giving her a lovely pink bow from my personal collection. And then, for a moment, I even helped her practice a pirouette – such a magical experience to connect with a little ballet enthusiast, almost as magical as the experience of time travel itself!
However, 1869 wasn’t all about the UK. This journey took me around the world! On my first visit to New York, I got a sense of the social dance scene of the era. At the fashionable clubs and social gatherings, I observed women donning their own interpretations of fashionable leotards, or maybe it was just the first signs of the later 'dance tights' which were becoming all the rage. This was where, amongst all the high-society waltz steps, ladies in dresses would often perform ‘polka dances’, the very heart of social dancing!
I had to sneak away for a short trip to the land of enchantment - France! The French were always leading the way in fashionable styles - this was no exception in 1869, where Paris was the home of exquisite lace, luxurious fabrics, and stylish women wearing some form of fitted garments that could easily pass as the very first leotard designs, or indeed, tights, if one's imagination permits!
These early iterations of what we know today as the leotard have helped the piece of clothing become a must-have for so many - ballet dancers, gymnasts, figure skaters, and more - and these fashionistas are helping spread leotard fashion around the world!
In a world so far removed from today, it was surprising to discover the extent to which the 'early leotard' was used across diverse forms of activity! I witnessed it on female horse-riding enthusiasts, those pioneering ladies of the era who rode astride (shocking to some back then, even though today we can’t even imagine riding side-saddle) wearing sleek, form-fitting designs for their active wear, proving again, that these very early leotard designs were practical, as well as fashionable,
Even before its association with ballet, these ‘tight-fitting, leotard-like' garments became popular amongst fashionistas back in the Victorian era - in the 1850s - so in my own time travelling, the search for the origins of this versatile piece is ongoing, but it’s a journey full of joy!
So, what can we learn from 1869?
- The leotard was a crucial item in performance wear - its practicality was paramount, enabling women to express themselves through movement in their dances.
- Despite its practicality, the early leotard, in some quarters, remained a bold expression of women's choice - almost scandalous - which perhaps led to the fashion that continues to evolve in leaps and bounds today, but only because of such early forerunners.
- The 1800s paved the way for the fashion explosion that we enjoy in modern times, paving the way for modern women’s liberation with regard to our clothing and our self-expression.
As always, I can't wait to continue on my sartorial explorations of the world - and to tell you about all the fashion adventures that await us on my time-travelling tutu. Until next time! Keep sparkling!
Don’t forget to visit my website www.pink-tutu.com and be sure to follow my Instagram and Facebook pages for more updates on my fashion adventures and exclusive snippets from my time travels!
Ciao! xx
