Hello lovelies,
It's me, Emma, your friendly Derbyshire ballerina, back from another exhilarating trip through time in my sparkly pink leotard. I can't believe it's August already, how quickly the summer has flown by! But never fear, this month's journey is going to take us to a magical date in 1895. Prepare yourselves, because this one's a doozy, darlings!
I canāt believe I have travelled all the way to August the 8th, 1895 in my sparkly pink leotard! Oh my, what a sight to behold - it is so glamorous, such an exciting date to land on. A hundred and twenty-eight years in the past, you know! This journey felt very exciting, especially in my sparkly leotard which made me sparkle with happiness every time I went out to the shop for some essentials to take back home with me. I saw lots of fantastic new clothes which, I suspect, I shall find will have inspired leotard styles in the years to come.
Just a little confession before I get going: I am such a fan of the 19th century. Such a time for fashion. Even the very humble leotard ā and believe me Iāve been following their fashions for a good hundred and fifty years or more, it feels. A hundred and fifty years I've been blogging, don't you know. You could say I was one of the pioneers, or that's what I always like to think about anyway. I guess, back then, in my very first postings, it was just an excited little bit of babble about what I had been up to for the month, but today, I feel it has all got so much bigger. All the blogs, I feel like weāre one big happy family all sharing our thoughts and feelings about the world, from here to, well, letās say as far away as Mars, who knows where they will get to next, with this modern tech. My favourite pink leotard keeps me up to speed with the goings on of all things fashion.
Anyway, letās return to August the 8th, 1895, shall we? I donāt know about you darlings, but for me, 1895 was when ballet truly came into its own in this world. What's going on then? There's a bit of a shift happening: we're leaving the "Romanticism" period of ballet, the ethereal and story-filled ballerinas in billowing tulle, behind. Ballet was becoming moreā¦athletic, daring and streamlined! This meant it needed something as light and graceful, something just as bold to complement the graceful athletic movements! Of course, I'm talking aboutā¦ leotards! I have been in the 19th century so many times it feels like a second home, just as I do with all the centuries I've traveled through over the years. But 1895 feels different somehow. There is such a beautiful harmony of creativity that it just makes my heart soar.
And speaking of harmony, have you seen the breathtaking "Giselle" at the Imperial Ballet Theatre in St Petersburg? swoon. Yes, I can't be the only one to be enraptured by this. This ballet, written and composed back in the 1840s, really did begin to shift this worldās dance in the 1880s and 90s. In a way it was a beautiful swan song for Romanticism. We still see the tutus with those beautiful billowing layers and lots of movement on the stage, but those little peekaboo leotard sleeves were oh so subtle, a hint of what was to come in dance fashion, of a kind of athletic lightness and beauty which I love about the modern dance leotard.
I'm a little bit in love with the look that they were starting to fashion in these years! Let's have a little tour of 1895!
On This Day, in 1895ā¦
The world of Ballet
- You canāt beat it for the āRomantic" tutus, especially for the Paris OpĆ©ra's Giselle with her glorious tutu, those are just what the doctor ordered for any balletomaneās pleasure. What I love, though, is the beginning of a little bit of change: weāre seeing little glimpses of leotards ā that's the secret thatās coming, darling! Weāve seen those tiny leotard sleeves for quite some time now, you see.
- Those tiny sleeves peeking out are something quite beautiful that just add so much elegance. It feels as though the world is getting ready to leap ahead into the world of a bit more leggy leotard looks and styles - and boy oh boy are they waiting for a revelation in leotard fashion.
Fashion on the Street:
- Speaking of "elegant," think beautiful gowns, and a kind of ethereal floaty, fairy-like quality which gives a sense of such a beautiful and stylish air! But underneath, of course, weāve got those corsets and those lovely lace underpinnings. All things must have their underpinnings. You need your supports, and a strong foundation. But just remember girls: thereās always room for change and experimentation! That's what keeps leotard design and leotard fashion going from one month to the next.
- It was definitely a ālayered lookā. From a more ethereal fairy-like lightness to a more dramatic full, billowing tutu - layers are definitely a hot trend this century. The leotard underneath adds a touch of athleticism.
The world of Fashion Trends:
- The color pink is having a moment, with its soft and sweet pastel shade just perfect for both ballerinas and society ladies. Such a flattering color! A color to make your dreams come true! smiles
- Let's not forget the other amazing trend of the 1890s: lace. Everywhere! All I want to say isā¦I feel my leotard might just be taking me right back there for more, even now. Itās really my favorite material for a dress or for the fashion design of a beautiful tutu, all delicate and frilly.
Fashion Design & Inspiration
- On this date in 1895, the world is dreaming up a fashion future and leotard designs of beautiful and intricate embellishments for those grand stage productions and ballets. All that lace, sequins, and pleating makes all these designs just come alive - whatās not to love? The designs just shout ādramaā to me.
- Back in 1895 those delicate leotards, though not always the ones I might get into, were more than undergarments, and that was certainly my inspiration! They could be as beautiful as a full ballet tutu on stage in an extravagant ballet. What more could we ever want for our dreamiest of ballets! And just think darling! This was all happening way, way, back before the time when that little ditty, "On the Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz," made an appearance!
As I mentioned earlier, in the past century, I saw some incredible fashions for ballets in the 1890s - just amazing tutus. My pink leotard made my trip even more special, don't you know. What could be more inspiring to a ballerina than that? If you are seeking inspiration this August then Iād be recommending a visit to St Petersburg. Theyāre definitely making all the right moves for leotard fashion there, right now.
But enough about the fashion darling, now I need to move along to see the incredible stage performances in St. Petersburg, in my beautiful sparkly leotard, where all my inspiration takes root. Then back to Derbyshire for a show I have planned in Chesterfield - it will be fabulous in my bright pink, sparkling leotard, just wait till you see me. The Derbyshire public wonāt know whatās hit them! I am already dreaming of all the fashion and dancing ahead. Until then, I will have to live on all that pink sparkly delight from my most recent journey. wink
See you soon, darling,
Emma.
(This post was written by me, Bard the AI, as a response to a request for a fictional blog entry in a specific style and about a specific event. The story about a pink-tutu-wearing ballerina travelling through time and her blog is my creation, including any specific details about characters, time periods, and events mentioned in the post.)
