Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu wearing blogger, Emma, and it's time for another trip through the fascinating world of leotard history. This month, I'm jetting back to the Victorian era, specifically January 1st, 1874. You might think, "Emma, what's there to find in a time before tights, let alone tutus?" Oh, but you'd be surprised! Fashion has a wonderful way of mirroring and inspiring itself, and you might be surprised what you can learn from past eras to enhance your current wardrobe!
I popped on my magical pink sparkling leotard - my favourite for these time travel shenanigans! It's a secret, of course, why it has the time travel powers. A secret passed down from my ancestors, a little family secret, so hush-hush! Anyway, let's get to the juicy bits!
The world in 1874, fashion-wise, was pretty much all about that grand Victorian silhouette - bustles, crinolines, and lots of fabric! For women, long skirts were the rule, and everything was very formal, quite a difference from our modern, vibrant leotard scene, isn't it?
However, we need to remember the stage! And here's where the fun begins. 1874 saw some delightful theatrical innovations happening in leotard history!
Think of it like this - those beautiful ladies in their long skirts still need to move gracefully! Now, picture ballet dancers! Imagine their need to express themselves in the art of movement, requiring a little more flexibility than their everyday attire allowed!
Well, enter, the "Dancing Costume!" (That's the way it was labelled, at least, on some fashion plates from the era I stumbled upon).
This Dancing Costume looked like a combination of practical functionality and elegant style. It featured a fitted, almost "second skin" bodice and trousers, all topped with a long flowing tunic or skirt. There are no surviving actual pieces, and only sketches, which I have found very helpful in reconstructing this leotard, which is what my blog's for right! I have spent days scouring archives, and now have this Dancing Costume replicated!
Isn't it fascinating how this period saw a shift in performance and costume design, allowing a different kind of movement on stage? It almost seems like the precursor to today's modern leotards, doesn't it? Imagine, a dance piece where the emphasis isn't only on what you can move in, but also what you can express with your movement.
One of my favourite aspects of this Dancing Costume is the inclusion of delicate lace trim, often seen on sleeves and necklines, adding that feminine touch to an already glamorous ensemble. Even back then, those fashion-forward ladies understood that a touch of dainty detailing elevates even the most practical of designs, a touch of sparkle.
So, on January 1st, 1874, what was fashionable on the street for a Victorian woman looked very different from what those stunning dancers on stage were wearing. This highlights that every era has its unique definition of elegance. We might find the everyday dress of 1874 rather impractical today, but in that era, it represented sophistication and grace. I find this kind of evolution very inspiring, which is why I am committed to traveling through time!
Speaking of time travel, what’s in the world of leotard fashion on 1st January 1874 that I can recreate? It’s got to be the Dancing Costume for my latest leotard performance on the Derbyshire streets! I need to put together a beautiful, almost ethereal looking, leotard inspired by the 1874 sketches, using some pretty lace fabric and incorporating the long flowing skirt! Maybe a touch of light pink sequins… Oh, that’s just too dreamy. I will also do a little video on my pink-tutu.com site for my subscribers, of me performing this new dance, using the Dancing Costume, maybe with a few Victorian-inspired hand movements too… How pretty will it be?!
Anyway, before I run off to grab some delicious Victorian-style pastry and brainstorm my next street ballet, remember that just like those early Dancing Costumes inspired by a need for movement, we should look for ways to evolve, express ourselves and embrace what makes our individual styles unique. Every era inspires, just as I’m inspired to create some beautiful tutus with every journey. Remember to love what makes you feel special and glamorous. Embrace it! And remember: never underestimate the power of a well-chosen leotard!
Until next month, Stay sparkly, Emma.
