#LeotardHistory during 1872 05 May

Hello my darlings! It's your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, back with another sparkling post! As always, it's a real joy to share another incredible adventure with you, right here on the Pink Tutu website. This month I've popped back to a date in history that's extra special to me, dear readers - the 5th of May, 1872! Now, imagine a world before stretchy Lycra and neon tights… quite the different landscape from our fashion scene today, don’t you think?

You may have spotted the glistening sheen on the latest addition to my wardrobe. My sparkly pink leotard's shimmering with the magic of time travel – a true collector’s item! It's oh so soft, it’s perfectly pink, and it glistens beautifully under the lamplight of a street performer - very good for blending into the crowd! Today’s leotard journey is a real throwback, with long, swirling skirts and billowing sleeves, taking a peek back into history. So come along, darlings, and let's twirl our way through 1872…

Imagine my excitement when I popped out of the time portal, in my time-traveling leotard. There I was, in a bustle of activity at the Theatre Royal in Derby - the city I love - and straight into the heart of the Victorian era. The crowds were all beautifully dressed – I’m talking lace and feathers galore!

Think crisp crinolines, voluminous skirts, and billowing sleeves for the ladies! For the fellas, we're talking cravats, top hats, and suits in all manner of elegant patterns - a fashion era definitely worthy of a dance!

You won’t find stretchy leotards or bright Lycra on the Victorian fashion scene. Those iconic dance outfits that we take for granted today weren't yet born. This was the era of silk and cotton – fabrics with an ethereal elegance. For dancers, it meant undergarments made of wool and linen. But fear not, darlings, it didn't mean there was any shortage of glamour! The women were all fashion icons, wearing intricate bodices and layered petticoats with aplomb, and all very stylish! I imagine a ballet costume of this era might be quite a feat of corsetry - tight-laced with long billowing skirts and lots of flowing movement, which is truly inspiring to see and learn about, wouldn't you say?

But here's the exciting thing, dear readers: ballet in the Victorian era was blossoming. You can picture a stage adorned with elaborate set designs and intricate costumes. The ballerinas had amazing movement, though perhaps not quite the same range we see in contemporary ballet - all those wonderful leaps and pirouettes weren’t yet in vogue!

You see, in the 1800s, the tutu hadn’t yet graced the world stage – the tutu in the form we know today evolved during the 1880s and beyond. And oh, those dancing dresses! So, while they wouldn’t yet be recognisable as modern day ballet wear, they certainly captured that elegant grace of ballet!

Now, the stage was adorned in exquisite fabric, rich embroidery and elegant lines! Those ballerina dresses! Oh, darling, you just had to see them - delicate and flowing – oh so much movement - they twirled and floated like little clouds of sheer silk. Each step was a picture of effortless grace - beautiful!

Of course, I wouldn’t have been myself if I hadn’t taken to the streets of Derby and performed in my glittering leotard for a bit. The crowds stopped and cheered for my whirling spins - just a sprinkle of tutu magic right in the middle of the bustling Victorian era! My performance, in this magnificent space and era, was a little nod to the glorious dancers and artists of their time – truly wonderful and inspiring!

And, believe it or not, there are connections to today! While there might not have been stretchy leotards around, there were definitely forms of body-fitting clothing – corsets and the likes! So it's no wonder, looking back, that a new type of garment evolved for ballet!

This month’s journey through time reminds us of the constant evolution of dance, of the ever-changing styles of leotard fashion! Each era has something special to offer, from the lavishness of Victorian ballet to the freedom of contemporary dance, and everything in between.

So tell me, darling, are you ready for a peek into the fashion of 1872, alongside my colourful memories of dancing in a pink leotard in Derby? Next, let's browse those amazing dresses and costumes – oh, what a journey! It's time for a shopping spree with a time travel twist - a trip to find the leotards and outfits of the time – because after all, darling, my adventures through time aren’t just about learning history. It's about remembering what it is to love life, and what better way to do that than by dressing for a joyful time travel adventure, with my sparkly time-traveling leotard of course!

Catch you next month, darlings. I'm already off on my next journey! It's a busy month ahead, full of adventures in sparkly pink, dancing to the rhythm of history, exploring more leotard styles. Keep a watch out on my Instagram feed. Until then, remember - life is better in a pink tutu!