#LeotardHistory during 1877 10 October

Hey everyone, Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time travelling ballerina! This month, I've travelled all the way back to 10th October, 1877. Honestly, this has been one of the most fascinating journeys yet!

Remember my aim is to get everyone wearing a pink tutu. What could be more magical than seeing a pink tutu on stage? Especially in the era when they were not just in vogue, but at the peak of fashion? But first, I need to share with you what I discovered on my historical leotard hunt this month. Buckle up for a sartorial journey back in time...

Of course, I never travel anywhere without my trusty pink sparkling time travelling leotard! It wouldn't be right to travel back in time with a boring, unsparkly ensemble. Honestly, I couldn't resist spinning around in this leotard in front of some of the most historic buildings.

Honestly, with its light-as-a-feather fabric and flashes of sparkle, it has allowed me to blend in beautifully in every historical era. A little pink can work wonders! Let me tell you, when you travel in a pink sparkly leotard to the Victorian era, you will certainly catch an eye! I had an amazing conversation with a young lady wearing a bustled dress who asked me about its 'sparkly design.' Now I know I can't tell people that I'm a time traveller but I let her think that this design is an absolute must have and very fashionable in London in the coming years - let’s hope she started a fashion trend, shall we?!

### The Fashionable World of Leotards in 1877

The first thing that struck me when I travelled to 1877, was the stunning variety of leotards already being worn - both on stage and on the streets! It’s fair to say the dance world was thriving. From the stunning tutus in performances to the playful leggings that graced fashionable streets in the cities - everyone was expressing their creativity and artistry through what they wore!

When it comes to the leotard history, no era would be complete without exploring what ballerinas were wearing. In 1877, I was amazed at how the graceful movement of these magnificent performers were amplified by the outfits. Their dance garments had incredible detailing and craftsmanship - you could really see the passion for dance in everything they wore. The soft pink silk ballet skirts - with their carefully designed and hand sewn tulle - would flutter in a soft gentle way as the dancers floated across the stage. Honestly, I had the most amazing opportunity to try one of them on myself - and when you think it could only have got better from there - the ballet shoes took me by surprise - made out of the softest leather. It really was the most perfect combination and certainly had a special place in my heart - until I stepped onto the stage of the Opera House…

I made sure that I caught a few performances while I was here, and I must say the leotards at the Opera House took my breath away. The attention to detail on each one was mesmerizing. There were so many gorgeous shades of pink on display - with everything from silky pinks and pastel pinks to a gorgeous hot pink with intricate embroideries on them. The leotards created a symphony of colour as they swirled and danced around the stage - simply stunning. It’s clear to see that the stage was already becoming a stage for creativity, flair and fashion - it was all about making a statement and the theatrical outfits made sure this was achieved.

Now for some surprising news. The streets themselves were alive with leotard styles. I was particularly interested in those worn for a certain "gymnastics" that was gaining traction, I won’t share any more about that… These street styles used simple designs with beautiful fabric patterns to give them personality. I spotted some with intricate woven patterns, stripes and bold colour choices that made me feel inspired! Honestly, seeing a street leotard style on a lady wearing a bustle - well, it was definitely an iconic look, and it inspired me to play with new ways of styling my own tutu. A classic look mixed with a hint of my own style - why not! It also really brought to life that people used fashion as a way of expressing themselves - with so much freedom of style choice, it allowed people to express who they were in an interesting and modern way.

Back home in Derbyshire now, I'm absolutely buzzing from my journey. This trip really ignited my passion for understanding leotards and the art of performance fashion. This really was a trip to inspire the world of the pink tutu.

Speaking of which, next month’s post - prepare yourselves - is dedicated to a brand new pink tutu I discovered in my travels and it’s coming to pink-tutu.com soon!

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to see in my next time-travel adventures in the comments.

And for now, keep twirling and shining,

Emma

*Pink-Tutu.com *

*Find me on social media at * @EmmaPinkTutu