Hello lovelies, welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, the world’s most stylish leotard fashion travel blog, where we embrace all things pink, twirly, and oh so fabulous! Today’s journey takes us way back, back, back to the glorious Victorian era – and of course, it’s a pink tutu adventure!
February 2nd, 1888, I’m zipping through time in my sparkly, oh-so-magical pink time travelling leotard. Let’s head back to the streets of London – oh, what a grand city it is! I do adore a good Victorian city – imagine the amazing leotard shops they must have had!
Imagine – lace-trimmed leotards, maybe with silk ribbon bows and pearl buttons! And what about the shoes? Delicate pumps and perhaps some fancy Victorian boots, the kind you see in old plays, with tiny, tiny buttons up the sides! Now, these are the kind of leotards I’d love to see in today’s ballet shops – oh, to have an entire leotard and tutu collection dedicated to Victorian style!
Speaking of plays, did you know that in 1888, "The School for Scandal" starring a famous Miss Lilian Adelaide Neilson, a most brilliant actress, was being performed on the London stage! Can you just imagine what costumes and leotard-like costumes she would have worn?
My street performance was a roaring success, my pirouettes never looked more graceful, even when performed under gas lamps in a bit of a chilly evening. Now, the reason I travelled to this date in time – oh, you want to hear about the incredible news, right? I discovered the latest in dance fashion – leotard designs!
From the Ballet Studio to the Victorian Stage!
It’s 1888, the time of gaslight and steam, and leotards are undergoing a bit of a fashionable renaissance! They are now a key feature in many popular theatrical dance numbers. I am just thrilled, these pieces of clothing are moving beyond just being ballet essentials - They are entering the theatre and moving out into the wider world of fashion, perhaps even the street?
This exciting development is inspired by the phenomenal popularity of ballerinas in all types of performances. They are becoming, let’s say it, “The Hottest Trend!” People want to see these elegant dancers, and they want to mimic their styles.
Imagine this scene: beautiful young ballerinas in gorgeous leotards, performing all kinds of intricate movements, under shimmering gaslights. It's enough to make any fashion-loving time traveller, like me, want to shout "bravo!"
The Art of the Leotard - The Rise of Ballet in 1888!
In these very exciting days, ballet itself is growing into something spectacular! There are more schools opening in Britain, more theatres presenting amazing ballet productions. Everyone loves the grace, the beauty, and of course, the fabulous leotards that adorn these talented performers. Just thinking about it gives me a twirl, an urge to prance around the streets in a fancy, elegant pink tutu!
The Big Tutu Revelation
As the art of ballet develops, leotards, naturally, take center stage. But something else happens - the tutu! You see, the iconic fluffy, multi-layered tutus that we know and love today – well, they're still very new! It is 1888, and the "tutu", in the sense that we recognize it today, is really in its earliest, most charming, phase of evolution. The designs we see on stage are quite simpler, sometimes with shorter lengths. They're a bit different than the tutus I normally wear, they don’t always feature lots and lots of tulle – but there are plenty of options when it comes to their decoration! There are feathers, ribbons, beautiful fabrics! Imagine, just as stylish as my favourite pink tutu, but oh so “1888 chic.”
I spotted this incredible dancer in a London play, in a bright, lovely lavender-pink tutu - such a dazzling vision under the lights! It gave my imagination a whole new set of sparks.
You're getting me inspired! You can imagine the fantastic street performance I'm going to create back home with a lavender tutu and a fancy gaslamp inspired look – with a touch of pink! I always like to add some pink to anything!
From 1888 to 2023!
It’s always wonderful to travel back to 1888 and get some ideas for street performances and leotard designs. Remember, it was 1888 that ballet really came into the light, and along with it came those beautiful early tutu styles. You see, all fashion trends eventually come back! So don’t be surprised if we start to see an 1888 style of tutu on stage and in our street style again soon!
Let's spread the Pink Tutu Love!
Now I hope you are feeling all pink tutu inspired for February! Don't forget, everyone loves to twirl!
That's all for Pink Tutu Travels today. Catch me next month, I’m off on another grand adventure. Make sure to visit our shop – www.pink-tutu.com - where you can shop our fabulous, fun, and pink tutu outfits!
