#LeotardHistory during 1892 03 March

Hello darlings, and welcome to post number 399 on my Pink-Tutu.com blog! It's me, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, straight from the cobbled streets of Derbyshire and ready to whisk you away to a world of tutus, leotards, and the sheer, sparkling wonder of fashion history!

This month, we're twirling back to 3rd March, 1892, a date brimming with history and fashion secrets waiting to be uncovered! But before we take that fantastical leap, let's indulge in a little pink-tutu fuelled gossip, shall we?

As you know, my time travel leotard - the one that shimmers and glows like a thousand tiny stars - is powered by the joy I bring to the world with my street performances! Every time I pirouette on a London pavement, twirl in a bustling market, or perform a grand jeté in a bustling train station, a new burst of magical energy fills my leotard. It's a whimsical way to keep my fashion-forward adventures running!

And talking of running, a little bit about my week... Last week I was in Covent Garden, spinning and leaping under the gaslight, to the delighted cheers of the throngs. I danced for the joy of it, the music surging through me, the thrill of performance coursing through my veins. Afterwards, of course, a trip to the dress shops on Oxford Street was mandatory! It's the best place in the world to indulge in vintage, beautiful silk fabrics and lace. You can find anything you dream of there! Oh, the ribbons! The delicate fabrics! It truly makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Victorian romance novel.

Right, back to our historical journey! So, dear readers, where shall we begin our tour? Let's dive into the world of 1892 leotard fashion, where graceful lines and delicate details reigned supreme. This time period, just think, it's when ballet was evolving so rapidly! So let's step back in time and peek into the wardrobe of the day...

Oh, the Victorian Era... Just thinking about the beauty, the elegant dresses, and the graceful dancing. In 1892, the leotard wasn't as much of a focus in ballet class as it would be in later years. But if you did go to ballet class in 1892, you would likely be wearing a kind of "tunic", a soft white linen or cotton, tied around the waist. Imagine a classic ballet tutu, but not a big circle skirt... Imagine instead a mini skirt shape with ruffles, just below the hip, and then imagine it made from flowing fabric. That's kind of the look that would have been on you in ballet class.

Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a bodice or top! Often they would be white and very practical, though they might have had ribbons, ruffles, lace, or beautiful decorative knots. Sometimes, it would be worn under a white silk dress for public performances! It all depends on how much we wanted to be able to move and spin! Imagine, that little "tunic" was worn by ballet stars across the globe. You know, back when travelling involved a slow, stately boat ride and possibly even a stagecoach.

I bet it made them feel beautiful as they glided and twirled across the stage, a cloud of white linen swirling around their delicate ankles. But alas, imagine being so delicate! No need for worries here, my leotard gives me all the grace and spin-ability of a modern dancer, without having to restrict my movement like the Victorian era did.

Now, let's shift our focus from the studios and onto the streets of London. Here’s a fascinating nugget about March 1892 - did you know that in those days, "ballet costume" shops were becoming very popular? It seems our Victorian friends really were serious about leotard fashion.

For example, one store, The Dancing Duchess, is a delightful haven on Oxford Street. They have every style of leotard for our lovely ladies... the delicate, the frivolous, and the ones fit for a Queen! There is even a dress maker on the second floor who designs costumes for ballet! Oh, just imagine the lace! The silks! The feather boas and ribbons, all painstakingly hand-stitched with care.

I’ll have to make a stop here on my next time travel jaunt - The Dancing Duchess has me absolutely entranced! You just know those fabrics and lace must be absolutely divine.

So let's imagine those outfits, shall we? The shops would have offered:

• Ballet slippers: Of course! With a a soft, supple leather in classic shades, perfect for the elegant ballerinas who danced through London's streets.

• Leg warmers: I can’t believe they wore them even in the Victorian era! What are those tights they’re wearing? They must be warmer than the leg warmers. So they could easily cover the lower leg and provide warmth to their dancers.

• Bustles: A classic piece of Victorian clothing, the bustle, adds a bit of fashion magic to their outfits, adding just a bit of "poof" to their leotard, you know? Imagine having all these little hoops, making you look fuller on the rear end and providing such elegance, even when we’re trying to make a good “jump” as we practice! How would they do a simple tendu with that kind of dress under it? A mystery!

• The corset: Of course, those tight-fitting bodices to sculpt the body... But wouldn’t it just kill you to try and get up into fifth position? They seem very rigid and stiff. Imagine if the front of your costume was that rigid while the rest of you wanted to twist and turn into arabesques! What a marvel it is that they could dance at all!

And last but not least... let's not forget the jewels! A ballerina in the Victorian era was never seen without them. Imagine dainty pearl necklaces, dangling earrings, and bejewelled tiaras for their hair. And all under gaslights that would make their costume glow and sparkle. How simply wonderful!

This trip back to 1892 has left me truly mesmerised! The Victorian world's influence on ballet, from the beautiful dresses worn for performances to the meticulous dancewear in the studios, makes me absolutely adore their passion for style. And to think, the elegance they achieve in their performance through it all…

What do you think of my little time travel story, darling? If you're a fellow leotard and tutu aficionado, what are your favourite things about Victorian leotard and costume styles?

And of course, please don’t forget to visit me over on the website www.pink-tutu.com where I update my leotard blog every single month.

Now, go and twirl!

Emma. 🩰💖