Hello, my lovelies! It's your favourite Derbyshire girl, Emma, back with another sparkling journey through time, all for you! This month, we're stepping into October 10th, 1889, and oh my, let me tell you, the world of leotard fashion was absolutely buzzing. Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to twirl into this fabulous history!
Now, I don't have to tell you how much I love my pink tutu, but I think I might need a second one for time-travelling! My new sparkling, holographic pink creation, complete with celestial sequins, allows me to hop between eras with the greatest of ease! So, after a marvelous street performance outside the Royal Albert Hall last night (did I mention I raised enough to buy a vintage silk scarf?), I zipped through time to find myself… gasp! in 1889 London!
Oh my word! The first thing that struck me was the energy. People just moved so differently. Walking, talking, even their carriage rides had a rhythm, a sense of purpose… a rhythm! Could this be where the modern dance started?!
Stepping off my pink time-traveling tutu (and into a comfy but very practical Victorian bustle!), I hit the streets. You know me - gotta see what’s hot! I spied all the stunning styles… The gents in their dapper frock coats, the ladies in divine layered silk dresses. And the shoes… darling, the shoes! Every pair had an elegant pointed toe.
But then my heart did a little leap - I spotted it. Not a leotard, exactly. But it totally felt like a precursor, like a stylish whisper of things to come. A bodice.
Now, you’re probably wondering… bodice? Why the big deal, Emma? Well, ladies, in the world of 19th-century fashion, it's all about the corset, the bustles. Think layers of structure, a whole lot of fabric… And bam, in a Victorian shop window I found a *bodice. Made of lace and silk, it had tiny straps and fit close to the body. Think a little bit like a ballet top… a very precursor leotard!
It was a beautiful thing, a peek into a revolution that would soon come! I spent the entire day browsing those glorious old-world shops. And let me tell you, the shopping was something else. The lace, the silks, the ribbons… it was like being bathed in an elegant, historical dream!
And speaking of dreamy… imagine my delight when I discovered The Empire Theatre was hosting a spectacular show on this date in 1889. “Cigarette, or, the Adventures of the Duchess of Albemarle’ a new drama by Sir Henry Lytton”. Ooh, how I longed to watch that show! I am an avid fan of Victorian melodrama and love nothing more than watching the costumes!.
But, alas! Back in the future we had to go. But with my vintage scarf tucked under my arm (and a few exciting new leotard-inspiring fashion ideas, of course!), I danced back to my time, swirling my pink tutu like a ballerina on clouds, already dreaming of the next era and the fashion treasures it would hold.
Do you, dear readers, know of any leotard fashion history or fascinating shows from 1889? I'd love to hear your stories! Comment below with your #leotardhistory discoveries and let's make a dance of it together. Until next month, keep twirling and shining!
Emma, The Pink Tutu Queen www.pink-tutu.com
