Hello, lovelies! Emma here, back from another amazing journey through time. This month, I travelled all the way back to 5th May 1890! Can you believe it? The Gilded Age! It's such a fabulous era for fashion, and I was absolutely thrilled to soak it all in. Of course, I had to don my sparkling pink leotard for the journey. It's magic, you know. Just a quick twirl, a pinch of glitter, and poof, I'm whisked away to a different time!
This time, my destination was London, where the fashion scene was absolutely buzzing. I could practically smell the elegant perfume of the ladies and feel the excitement in the air. I mean, have you ever seen those incredible crinoline gowns? The bustle, the intricate lace, the flamboyant colors! It's all a dream come true for a girl like me!
However, while I was absolutely captivated by all those elaborate dresses, my real focus was on what the ladies were wearing underneath the gowns. The corset was a key piece of underwear back then, used to achieve that perfectly sculpted silhouette. It's no wonder why those big, voluminous skirts look so incredible when they were crafted on such a strong base! It's all about the balance, my darlings!
The cambric underwear was another fascinating discovery. Imagine, they wore thin, white cotton undergarments under those extravagant dresses! So light and airy, perfect for the sweltering heat of a summer ball, even when you're squeezed into those tight corsets! I took some pictures, of course! (I may have sneakily bought myself some cambr ic undergarments for my own collection as well... shh!)
Of course, the real highlight for a leotard lover like myself was ballet fashion! It was just a tad different to our modern ballet world. The dancers of that time had to wear what they called "tights," made from flesh-colored silk or wool! They even wore breeches! Can you imagine that? It was the first time I saw ballet shoes, too. They had flat, satin slippers with just a little elastic strap to hold them onto the foot. It was such a simple and graceful style, just like the way they danced.
And then, the real shock of the whole trip – there were no leotards! The concept was only just emerging. In fact, 1890 saw the debut of one of the earliest styles we might even consider an "ancestor" to our leotard – the bodice. These were short, sleeveless garments that came down to the hips, giving the dancers more freedom to move than a corset but still maintaining a respectable silhouette. It's quite fascinating, you know, seeing how ballet fashion slowly evolved.
Speaking of evolution, I couldn't have a time travel adventure without bringing back some inspiration for my own street ballet performance! For the first time, I decided to include a historical element. My dance incorporated a graceful, almost regal carriage and a delicate fluttering of my pink tutu as I swayed in rhythm. The audience absolutely loved it! And, of course, I gave away little pink tutu headbands to some of my enthusiastic supporters.
But, my adventure didn't stop there, darlings! I continued my exploration of the era by hopping onto a stagecoach to Paris, which was at that time the real center of fashion for all things leotard-adjacent. I popped into La Belle Epoque, where they had the most dazzling silk blouses and bonnets that would put any modern fashionista to shame! It was sheer elegance and refined style that made you want to twirl in delight!
One of my favourite shops, L’Olympia, also featured a fantastic display of the early 19th-century corsets. Oh, they were works of art, those corseted silhouettes! You know, they had those exquisite strapless styles, a little different than what we think of when we talk about “corsets” today, with those decorative ribbons and floral patterns that added that little bit of je ne sais quoi. The designers really were pushing the boundaries of form and structure then.
It truly was an inspiring trip for any leotard enthusiast! If you ever have the chance to time-travel to the Gilded Age, I implore you to make it happen! Who knows, you might even find inspiration for your own ballet outfit! But do remember to pack your sparkling pink leotard because, darling, it truly is a magical experience. And, while I don’t mind being a slightly eccentric pink-tutu wearing dancer, I'm so grateful for the world of leotards we have now! No more corsets or cumbersome underwear, just the pure joy of a leotard!
Until next time, lovelies, keep those pink tutus swirling!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
