Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Adventures! Itâs your girl Emma here, ready to whisk you away to another spectacular slice of leotard history! September 1893 â that's a date thatâs all about pioneering women and pushing the boundaries of athletic elegance, which is basically what I do in my daily life, am I right?!
As you all know, Iâve been absolutely bursting with excitement to share this particular journey, because today weâre venturing all the way back to 1893! I'm wearing my newest creation â a luscious blush-pink tutu with swirling tulle and sequins so sparkly they practically shimmer in the moonlight (though itâs not quite moonlit yet, weâre just about to leave for the time vortex)! Itâs going to be absolutely splendid.
Right, where are we going this time? Well, it's back to my home turf â Derbyshire! Yes, folks, Derbyshire â a place that's known more for its rolling hills and quaint villages than for cutting-edge fashion. Or so youâd think! But believe me, 1893 was quite the year for fashion in Derbyshire! This is when we saw the rise of a brand-new movement that took the world by storm. You wonât believe how the world looked back then, in the grand ol' year of 1893 â the world was buzzing with women in long, billowing skirts, and it all had to change. I love that the Derbyshire ladies took their stand, wanting to look good while doing it. And this is what makes this trip so intriguing - seeing how Derbyshire got involved with the early development of the "health corset", a garment that literally paved the way for the modern leotard.
Remember last time, when we visited those revolutionary corsetieres, the Parisienne ladies with their exquisite creations? Well, they weren't the only ones who were onto something quite spectacular, folks! We're venturing deep into Derbyshire to the heart of a movement called âThe Rational Dress Society." These ladies were serious about changing the way women dressed. They were tired of all the constraints and impracticalities of traditional clothing â you know, like, what my grandma wore to garden parties, not very practical! They wanted freedom of movement and comfort for exercise and outdoor activities!
Now, hold on to your hats, ladies, because the pioneers of the time literally threw down the gauntlet with an article published in The Times newspaper back in June, and it absolutely shook up the world! This article spoke out in favour of⌠brace yourselves, folks⌠wearing⌠trousers! Can you believe it?! Now I have to admit, the trousers they advocated were actually bloomers, all tucked in at the ankles to keep things pretty and ladylike! But still! Imagine wearing trousers in the Victorian era? They weren't all about flounces and frills! These ladies, the founders of this radical society, they didn't just preach about the wonders of practical clothing - they wore it!
As you can imagine, this created a whole lot of chatter in the fashion world! It became quite a fashionable statement! The whole concept of bloomers and freedom of movement was a bit too "revolutionary" for some. The British newspapers were full of opinion articles, praising and denouncing this brave new era of practical clothing in equal measure! The fashion scene was quite the playground!
And guess what, it worked! They made such an impact that even the high-fashion magazines started to feature their clothes in 1893. My grandmother used to show me the La Mode IllustrĂŠe back when I was little, just imagining how fashionable ladies from the Victorian Era must have looked - so grand, so stylish, so, well, very complicated!
They showed designs of long dresses and skirts over bloomers, featuring practical designs for outdoor pursuits, with jackets, bonnets, and yes, of course, my favourite: corsets!
Oh, did I mention the corsets? Now this is where our dear leotard story gets truly interesting. In 1893, a woman called Amelia Bloomer created her revolutionary designs based on bloomers, and the trend of 'Health Corsets' became a huge hit in Derbyshire! Imagine! Corsets in the Victorian Era were tight, they pinched and pushed and squeezed, but these new âHealth Corsetsâ were about support, elegance, and ease of movement - it sounds very familiar to me!
The âhealth corsetsâ, which were much looser and made from more flexible fabrics - like light cotton, and I have to say, even silk sometimes - started appearing all over the county! They didn't just make moving about easier, but they helped redefine feminine elegance for the 1900s! This was when it all started. I even managed to find a photo of a fashionable lady from 1893 at The Chatsworth House garden party in Derbyshire sporting a health corset paired with a fashionable floral skirt! I bet those health corsets were very popular at tea dances, what with all the dancing they could do!
It was quite fascinating to see how even those âHealth Corsetsâ werenât necessarily just about convenience. Women wanted a garment that not only allowed freedom of movement for everyday life and outdoor pursuits, but they also wanted them to accentuate their figures, just a tad, without looking too bulky.
That, my darlings, was where the genius of the early 1890s corset makers came in! These were some real visionaries, blending comfort and grace. I even found a beautiful sketch in an 1893 fashion magazine - think of Vogue in pink tulle, a leotard version, you know, only better â with an advert for a âHealth Corsetâ paired with a full skirt, with a woman in a classic 'Bloomer' design sporting a bright blue riding suit for cycling â oh, they were fashionistas even back then! I'll be back soon with a special post all about early leotard fashion history, because, honey, I bet you wouldnât believe how revolutionary some of their styles were!
And, that's not all, my darling readers! 1893 was also when the Ballet Russes - my favourite dancing troupe â came to existence. A bit early, right?! This isn't how the history books usually portray it, but in a tiny village outside Paris, called Chennevières-sur-Marne, the young Serge Diaghilev started creating those magnificent ballet productions! The Russes, you see, were all about making a show of everything: drama, movement, spectacle. Their costumes were elaborate, luxurious, and truly magnificent. They pushed the boundaries of theatrical design â imagine exquisite, costumes, opulent fabrics â everything they did was sensational, dazzling the audience!
Whatâs particularly delightful, my darlings, is that they were also experimenting with a range of dance styles, exploring everything from classical ballet to folk dances! The choreography, the costumes, the music⌠all of it combined into something so extraordinary it took the world by storm. And letâs be honest, those costumes! The sheer creativity, the audacity, and the exquisite attention to detail... oh, you've just got to see these costumes, girls, they were absolutely captivating! They created costumes for ballet performances that just wowed everyone! There were leotards adorned with layers and layers of glittering tulle, and swirling silk, with amazing patterns, like a tapestry of silk and gold â they made a strong case for leotards. Oh, honey, I can't even! And you know I adore leotards!
Thatâs why Iâm making a date to visit Serge Diaghilev next time I travel through time. And of course, Iâll keep you updated on my adventures, just keep checking in, right here on my blog at www.pink-tutu.com. Now, while youâre busy adding pink to your lives â wear your favourite tutu or those bright leotards â let me know which costumes youâd like me to show off in my next blog post!
And until next monthâs time-hopping, let your pink shine through! And remember, every day is an opportunity to embrace a bit of magical style! Stay vibrant, and see you soon!
