Post #389
Hello my darling dancers! Emma here, and it's time for another magical time travel adventure, straight from the archives of my very own pink sparkling leotard! Today we're stepping back in time, all the way to 5th May, 1891! This particular day is rather special as it holds a lot of significance for leotard history and for me, personally, it's all about discovering a dazzling leotard trend from the past that deserves a grand comeback in our modern world.
This month's adventure was, dare I say, an absolute hoot!
Now, if you can picture it, the year is 1891. I arrive in a flurry of pink and sparkle, a little out of place on this day, in Victorian London. I don't look out of place because my trusty time travelling pink sparkling leotard does a splendid job at blending in with the fashions of the era. Honestly, with all the ruffles and layers, it could pass for a fancy Victorian undergarment. But then, who would have thought, that an actual 'dance leotard' existed on this date, albeit more tailored towards gymnasts, as a utilitarian and practical garment?
What we know about dancewear in this era, well it's mostly just little snippets gleaned from historical sources, but it appears leotards for the ladies were simple, usually one piece affairs, primarily white or beige in color and not the flamboyant tutus we enjoy today. But what really caught my eye, oh it was utterly glorious, and worthy of its own spotlight! I happened to stumble upon a very stylish ballet performer in an extraordinary leotard: a dazzling number, fashioned with delicate floral detailing, made in a silk fabric so shimmery that it truly caught my eye. It looked almost like it was crafted out of spun moonlight and dew drops, honestly, absolutely divine. Imagine the feel of that luxurious fabric against the skin, oh, a sheer dream!
The dance world was undergoing its own little revolution, so much emphasis on technique. It's like everything about the dance world was being redefined in 1891! In this fascinating timeline, a group of brilliant ballet performers came together and introduced their revolutionary methods which truly elevated and modernised ballet dancing, the likes of Petipa and Marius were truly revolutionising dance at this time. Oh, what an incredible feat! Their innovative techniques for jumps and turns demanded elegant flexibility and of course, an appropriate wardrobe. I have to say, they were really taking their dancewear in a more fashion-forward direction. There were hints of innovation in dance leotards during this era. You could almost imagine the silhouette of the modern-day dancewear just starting to peek out, and honestly, you know what they say? āWhat goes around comes aroundā! That, darling dancers, is something I absolutely adore about leotard history! The way things come full circle, some trends simply never die.
On a more practical note, it must have been quite an uncomfortable thing to perform in the attire of the time, heavy silks and intricate embellishments in those stuffy ballrooms! But there's a reason that a dancer would invest in such elaborate attire and I'd have loved to witness that. I just wish we could peek into the daily lives of dancers back in this era, what a fascinating time in dance history, truly revolutionary and full of promise, all culminating in the magical moment when, in a dramatic crescendo of twirling and pirouettes, they embraced their true selves, their movement, their artistic vision!
So darling dancers, when you get ready to dance in your favourite pink tutu and leotard, just remember the captivating dancewear history of those elegant ballerinas in 1891, those beautiful ballet dancers with their unique, intricate style! If it wasn't for these brave dance pioneers, we wouldn't be graced with the freedom of movement and style that we cherish today.
Now, while we're here, I want to talk about what the world of dancewear had to offer on that very day in May, 1891, 5th May to be precise. We were just starting to get used to the first āelastic fabricsā! Those would revolutionise leotard design. But, the fact that dancers were so obsessed with aesthetics then is quite refreshing. So here are some interesting finds from 5th May, 1891:
Firstly, I had the absolute delight of strolling around a fashion magazine dedicated to the fashion needs of dance enthusiasts, oh how it filled me with joy!
And in a world without social media and the magic of the internet, a little paper fashion journal could provide some of the hottest trends. The publication I found focused on showcasing āThe very latest dancewear fabrics for our darling ballet ballerinasā. In that paper I read:
āLace trimmed tulle, made to be gathered, layered, pleated. What better way to bring the ultimate graceful silhouette, perfectly for any pirouette? We also advise all of you, oh darling readers, to invest in the most stylish of materials for dance practice, āSilk taffetaā, such an effortless fabric to perform in. Be the centre of attention! In our final fashion feature for the season we shall explore new additions to the dance wardrobe for the up-to-date ballet dancer - and this is truly something magical to explore! Silk Jersey, not the silky kind we know now, that's another modern miracle we will be sure to discuss in a later issue but a wonderfully flexible jersey that allows our ballerinas to have greater freedom of movement. Let us give praise to those pioneers for creating what is to become our ultimate performance favourite, so effortlessly modern, what a lovely fabric and something so simple in its design.ā
Just reading these vintage dancewear fashions sends shivers down my spine! Just a bit of fabric and so much vision, what an absolute dream to browse those old publications!
Next, my time travelling escapade brought me to a theatre, one that played host to the hottest shows in the London dance scene. In the stalls of this particular venue, I sat enraptured by a show entitled āA Symphony of Romanceā. Imagine if you will, the dramatic orchestra, the enchanting lighting, the magnificent choreography. In all, I was in my element, the essence of beauty! The costumes, exquisite; the movements, eloquent! Honestly, darling dancers, there was not a single wrong step! You know my dear dancers, in any era I simply cannot resist attending a ballet show and on this occasion, they didn't disappoint. Such an incredibly lavish production and as I strolled past the theatre door after the final bow, I just had to indulge myself in some of the delightful treats being offered! The London candy kitchen served up divine treats; caramel chocolate delights that melted in your mouth! Pure bliss! This show truly cemented my fascination with leotards of all kinds, with their magical properties to make a dancer feel so free.
I will definitely be revisiting 5th May 1891, for a return visit to see more ballet, I simply love their intricate styles! Maybe this time I can take some ballet classes myself, maybe try my hand at their incredible choreography and dance a new piece for the blog. What do you think, darling readers, should I add to the agenda?
Before you go, donāt forget, head over to our blog at www.pink-tutu.com where you can find a whole plethora of articles on all things pink, and find more fashion-related history content from all corners of the globe!
Until next time, darling dancers, take care of yourselves and spread the joy of dancing!
Emma, out!
