Helloooo my darling leotard lovers! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another scintillating dive into the glorious history of leotard fashion!
Today, we're taking a twirl back to 12th December 1890. My sparkling pink time travel leotard has just zipped me back from the most fabulous journey!
I've always found something quite enchanting about the end of the 19th century. It was a time of such massive change - the Victorian era was slowly but surely being replaced with a more modern style, even in the world of dance!
And trust me, leotard fashion in 1890 was definitely moreā¦ restrained compared to our wonderfully free and flamboyant styles today.
Just imagineā¦ bustles! You just wouldnāt see a bustle anywhere today! But back in 1890, a full skirt and layers upon layers of petticoats were the height of fashion - for everyday life and the theatre.
This brings us to our darling dancers, who, you guessed it, had their own unique style of fashion.
Now, let's chat about balletā¦ you wouldn't be seeing a bright, neon pink leotard on a dancer in 1890. Those kinds of brilliant colours were not exactly popular then, and for balletā¦ the classic white was the absolute favourite.
But, it wasn't the boring kind of white we sometimes see now! Oh no, they used fabrics with incredible detail, luxurious embellishments, and a touch of elegance that would make any modern-day ballerina green with envy! They'd even decorate them with pearl buttons and ribbons and, wait for itā¦ sequins! Yes, sequins were a popular trend back in the late 1890s. I love vintage tutus!
The key element in the 1890 ballet leotard design was to show the dancerās form in a beautiful way. I am talking all those amazing layers! You would find that dancers back in this period still adhered to the tight-fitting silhouette of a leotard - very flattering. The leotards were designed to show the curve of the dancerās body - absolutely beautiful, so elegant! Just the kind of thing that gives me those gorgeous dancing ideas!
What I loved most about 1890 is that leotard design went far beyond the actual costume. The whole silhouette, the flowy skirts, the sheer fabrics, they all played a huge role. It was a complete, graceful, feminine image - all very delicate!
Letās think about the kind of fashion we were looking at on 12th December, 1890! Well, in Europe at the time, there would have been a mix of classic leotard designs as well as the beginnings of more dramatic styles.
Some might still have worn a full tutu style in performance. And others were starting to experiment with more simple forms, short skirts, or even leggings with fabric attached, with an almost āOrientalā flair to it!
Did you know that the ballet world in the late 19th century was full of fashion experiments? You can actually see a whole revolution in how ballet was moving. It influenced both dancers and their clothing - a new wave of creativity was blooming. It was also the start of ballet becoming even more spectacular, as the fashion embraced colour and unique design. And that's something I'm so happy about.
I love that feeling of discovering different fashion trends and bringing a bit of that flair to my own look.
*But you want to know the big news from December 1890? *
Letās go back to that āOrientalā flair I mentioned. The Tutu in the Middle East was just blooming! You have to imagine the magic. Imagine the stunning colours of their fabrics! It was such a unique style, full of drama, it really made a statement in the world of ballet and its fashion. You see, they were already pushing boundaries at this time. It was so amazing to see! Just imagine if I had a pink tutu made with fabrics like they used in 1890 in the Middle East. That would be an outfit for a ballerina fit for a queen! I might just have to get that idea into my little time travel bag for laterā¦
Hereās a bit of fashion gossip for you, thoughā¦ you know how they say pink is always on-trend in ballet? It wasn't a huge colour in 1890ā¦but the colour pale pink was already creeping in, mostly for young dancers and even some adult performances. There was even the start of a rose blush and other softer pinks appearing in ballet leotards towards the end of the century - exciting times ahead!
What I love is the beautiful dance fashion, and the stories they tell about their period, the way it was! I'm so excited to share this passion for the history of leotard fashion with you! Because everyone deserves a bit of leotard sparkle, wouldn't you agree?
Remember, I post these fashion chronicles every month! Donāt miss out on our pink tutu time travel adventure! Check in with www.pink-tutu.com - because it's all about the love of leotards and our fashion journey through time. And while you're here, feel free to leave a comment below! Tell me - What's your favourite colour combination in a ballet leotard? And what kind of leotard do you think would be super fashionable back in 1890? I love to hear from you all!
Till next month, darling leotard lovers! Let's twirl!
Your time-traveling pink tutu bestie, Emma
