Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, and guess what? I'm back from another delightful time-travelling adventure! This month, I whisked myself back to September 1877. Oh, what a whirlwind of fashion, dancing, and sparkling pink! It truly was a dream!
As always, I zipped back in my fabulous time-travelling leotard. This time, it was a shimmery lilac, with swirls of pink around the neckline - you know I adore my colours! And wouldn't you believe it, a delightful pink tutu was exactly the look that caught my eye in 1877.
It might be a little known fact, my dears, that the leotard was already a star of the stage in 1877. Well, a stage star of sorts. It had certainly been around, first designed for circus performer Jules Léotard who you know, was famous for performing acrobatic feats whilst, let's say, slightly scantily clad. This is what got him his name in history, even though his invention of the leotard (not a complete surprise, eh?) was initially for the sake of practicality - no loose fitting, snaggy bits when you are flinging yourself about the air!
So in 1877, whilst the women of the world weren't all quite wearing a fabulous pink tutu like yours truly, some were enjoying the convenience of leotards. We can't talk about leotards of that period without mentioning the ballet world, where leotards had already become popular under the layered, voluminous skirt. They offered more movement and elegance for all those beautiful pirouettes and entrechats!
I, for one, was delighted to witness this era of ballet in 1877. Can you imagine? The women had just the hint of leotard, showcasing their incredible figures, gracefully peaking out from those layered skirts! There was something about that early ballet aesthetic which screamed glamour! My favourite tutu would look absolutely perfect beneath those skirts!
I actually got to catch a live ballet performance during my trip! A little different than today, my darlings, but oh-so-fascinating! I took a seat, all my tutus aflutter with excitement (pink naturally), in a grand old theater. And there it was: dancers, swaying and flowing in beautiful dance pieces set to exquisite melodies. I think the one with the gentle leaps really did capture that magical essence!
Speaking of enchanting moments, let's talk about leotard fashion in 1877. A whole plethora of styles! They really embraced those textures, oh, I felt like I'd stepped into a fashion magazine of silk, satin, lace and velvet! Such gorgeous details...
It really felt like a revolution for the women to even be thinking about this new kind of movement. It was about beauty, and femininity whilst embracing practical ways to move. This felt more than just clothing; it was about expression and change! The evolution of how women were viewed in society even began to change when they didn't feel trapped by big, cumbersome clothes. A tiny touch of leotard would become that touch of liberation for so many.
The men were not left out either! You know what I'm going to say next, don't you?! There were even men's leotards about, all those fine details and colours! They certainly wouldn't have had tutus back then, although my, what an idea... wouldn't that be delightful?! Maybe the men would have worn trousers instead, or breeches! I am going to research and bring that back for you in the next time travel adventure! What fun for men in leotards to add some colour and flair to their street fashion - all that fabric just asking to be added!
My time in 1877 gave me some food for thought about the ever-evolving nature of ballet and the incredible leaps that leotards and tutu styles have made since. Just wait until you see what we’re rocking on the streets right now, my dears, but more on that another time!
Don't forget to keep checking in at www.pink-tutu.com for more thrilling adventures in the history of leotard fashion. Next month, I might take you on a trip further down the fashion timeline, it's all a bit secret as to what I'll choose to visit, but let's just say a new decade or so may just bring some real exciting finds for you all to swoon over! Until then, my darling fashionistas, wear those fabulous tutus and strut those street performances! Remember, a pink tutu can make anything magical!
Yours in Pink, Emma
