#LeotardHistory during 1873 03 March

Hello dears! Welcome back to another exciting edition of Pink Tutu Time Travel! I’m Emma, your resident ballerina and time travel enthusiast from the rolling hills of Derbyshire, and as usual, I'm brimming with excitement about today's destination: March the 3rd 1873!

As you know, I have a deep love for leotard fashion - both historical and contemporary. And that passion is what drives me on my monthly journeys through time, travelling in my very special, magical, pink-sparkling leotard. It’s the most magnificent creation, glittering and swirling with every step.

This time, I'm feeling particularly inspired by tutus. That's why, today, I’ve decided to channel my inner Parisian ballerina and donned a gorgeous, billowing pink tulle tutu. It’s the epitome of Parisian elegance – perfectly feminine and playful!

So, I stepped into my magic leotard and – poof! – there I was in the heart of 19th-century London. A world of cobblestone streets, gaslight lamps and horse-drawn carriages!

For today's journey, I’ve chosen to land on a very special date: March the 3rd, 1873. The very same day that one of the most iconic shows of the Victorian era opened in London: “The Black Crook”. A production that forever changed the landscape of theater and leotard fashion!

“The Black Crook”, a story of good versus evil and hidden identities, involved dancers in shockingly daring costumes, with revolutionary knee-length, form-fitting tunics – unheard of at the time!

But here’s the real twist. You can imagine my astonishment as I discovered this "Black Crook" actually featured something almost as groundbreaking as those "shocking" short dresses. They were wearing tights! Tights?! You see, at that time, women weren't supposed to wear form-fitting clothes, let alone tight-fitting ones! It was such a shock. It was an instant scandal, and the dancers became known for their daring displays of legs and bare arms.

They wore black velvet slippers, with silk stockings, and beautifully crafted tutus of white or pale blue.

Now I admit, I am an absolute fan of Victorian elegance, but, in the words of my favourite leotard blog: “I do love a scandal!” The show brought an entire era’s worth of innovative costumes. A true celebration of women’s beauty in dance and in life, a groundbreaking display of both form-fitting outfits and ballet movements. Imagine the uproar! And you can just picture the newspaper headlines...

“What a shame those naughty “Black Crook” ladies weren't wearing my amazing, pink, glittery, tulle, tutu! I bet the theatre would've had to install bigger doors to let in the crowd.”

My adventures always leave me full of inspiration for my own ballet choreography and costumes. After the theater, I couldn’t help but hit the streets for some retail therapy. In London's thriving Victorian fabric markets, I bought some breathtaking silks and laces – you know, just a few things to bring a bit of Victorian flair to my leotards. Maybe I'll give my favorite tulle skirt a new look... and add some ruffles!

That night, I attended the Royal Opera House and watched “Coppelia”, a stunning ballet performed by the dancers in elegant, but very practical ballet skirts. Those lovely dresses were paired with some surprisingly long, but beautifully-designed pointe shoes. I loved their graceful simplicity!

I made a few purchases of some gorgeous, silky pink satin and laces, to experiment with at home, so maybe, next time, I’ll recreate some 1873 Victorian-inspired designs on Pink-Tutu.com.

Oh, and by the way, “The Black Crook” did a fantastic job of inspiring so many, but as it turned out, in 1873, these dresses that were such a shocking reveal on stage, became fashion staples everywhere. By the end of that year, you'd see similar fashion from Paris to London to New York.

As I always do, I like to remind my followers to try and think of how their personal style reflects the history of their clothing and costumes. Don’t be afraid to explore and discover - you never know what you will find, and if you can imagine it – you can do it.

Just be mindful of what you might have in your handbag – for example, no iPhones back in the 1800s – a major wardrobe malfunction could lead to all sorts of trouble!

You've heard me say it before – my dream is to have everyone wear pink tutus and discover their inner ballerina! It’s more than a piece of clothing, it’s an expression of life, beauty, and joy! And let's be honest, if everyone is sporting a sparkly pink tutu, everyone's guaranteed to have a better time, no matter which era they are travelling through.

Until next month, remember to stay creative, and keep dancing.

Lots of love,

Emma

xx