Hello my darling tutu-loving darlings! Emma here, your time travelling tutu enthusiast extraordinaire, and this month, my journey has landed me on a very exciting date, 12th December 1884, just a few weeks before Christmas. My sparkling pink time-travelling leotard has brought me back to a time when Victorian fashion was still the norm, but whispers of the new, the bold, the exciting, were starting to take hold.
You know me, I’m always looking for a splash of the fabulous and on this journey, I've discovered some absolutely dazzling leotards that really caught my eye, perfect inspiration for your own modern day ballerina look.
Now, you might be wondering - what in the world would be going on in the world of leotards back then? It seems the Victorian ladies might not be leaping about in full-length tutus and tight-fitting leotards, right? Well, my sweet, hold onto your pointe shoes! Because although the fashion scene was focused on those elegant, voluminous Victorian gowns, it wasn’t all frills and lace.
Underneath the "grandma skirts" and buttoned up dresses, things were wild. I found that many Victorian women were drawn to practical and fashionable undergarments - yes! Undergarments that had a distinct, very trendy look to them. Remember the bustle, that beautiful padding at the back?
Now, that's the very start of our exciting leotard journey. Think about it, the Victorians were starting to adopt a shape, they wanted to create the curves and lines we associate with beautiful figures - think elegant hourglasses - and, they wanted to have movement. I bet, tucked underneath that stiff bustle were garments just asking to be freed, wanting to take off like a ballet dancer!
Discovering the Victorian Underskirt
The *"Corset"* is always our favourite starting point. This undergarment helped shape the Victorian silhouette, offering both a structured frame and a hint of daring rebellion against the layers of cloth above it. But let me tell you, these corsets had some very daring, almost leotard-like, details: They were fitted to the body, made from lace or satin with detailed, intricate fastenings - just waiting to peek through those layers and surprise the world!
Now, for those daring Victorian ladies wanting a little extra oomph in their movement? Well, it's not a leap to imagine them loving the Crinoline. Yes, that skirt like hoop. Made of horsehair (you hear that? horsehair!), that crinoline gave Victorian ladies a little movement as they sashayed about. Now, we wouldn't be so surprised if some adventurous Victorians even adapted these undergarments for "performing" underneath those large, sweeping gowns.
Imagine a ballroom or even a concert where one might dance, tumble, move within these large Victorian costumes - wouldn't it be exciting? Just a hint of leotard inspired movement and sensuality, all tucked in, just begging to be seen!
My Time Travelling Style Tips!
Okay, time to get back to the here and now and take a look at some ideas you can use for your own unique and fashionable look! Now that you understand a little bit about leotard fashion from the Victorian period, let’s start planning for the modern day!
The layered look has always been a darling and what's more fabulous than layering for modern day ballet and performance? We are just taking a leaf from our time-travelling journey - you get that beautifully structured, graceful, Victoria shape but give it a more modern twist by mixing it up with bold leotards and modern layers.
Remember that the Victorians wore some wonderful and innovative corsets! Just look at all of the fascinating details - beautiful fabrics, detailed trims, stunning laces! Why not add that touch to your modern look by making a statement with modern, beautiful leotard accessories? Think of a delicate ribbon or trim or lace! You can create something absolutely captivating, adding a little touch of the past, for modern fashion *bling.
Let's Celebrate Our History and Inspire our Future!
So, darlings, keep on moving, keep on swirling! It’s about showing those who came before us, just how strong and innovative the power of fashion truly is! I want you to love your style, love your leotards, love your tutus! Go ahead and *embrace those bold, colourful, exciting designs and let’s keep those ballerina spirits going strong, even in the Victorian Era and way beyond. ** I hope to see you all next time at pink-tutu.com and be sure to send your time-travelling fashion finds to @EmmaTimeTutu on all your favourite social media platforms. Until next time!
