Hello my lovely little lovelies, and welcome back to my monthly musings on the wonderful world of leotard fashion! I'm your trusty time-travelling tututu-wearing guide, Emma, bringing you all the leotard news from down the ages, straight from my very own sparkly pink time-travelling leotard!
This month, I've popped my pink tutu on and zipped through time all the way back to August 8th, 1898, a date you'll soon see was rather special, even though we don't usually call it âleotard dayâ. Today, though, I'm feeling particularly playful and I'm calling this day, "The Leotard's Almost Birthday", which sounds much grander and more fitting for the momentous occasion that we'll be exploring.
You see, today, on this wonderful 8th of August, the French circus acrobat Jules LĂ©otard - yes, he of the fabulous last name which, as we all know, the wonderful garment itself takes after - he did something remarkable. Not just by being incredibly brave and impressive on the high-wire, oh no! Today was a big step forward for both acrobatic performance, AND fashion! Today, dear readers, Jules LĂ©otard designed and wore a brand-new kind of circus attire, designed to give performers much more freedom to move - in the shape of a tight, one-piece garment. We're talking about a piece that's truly revolutionised circus performances and will become the base for so much else over the years to come. I mean, what fashion wouldn't you want your name associated with?
So today is about that moment in time, where Jules LĂ©otard, that fabulous French performer, created a fashion moment, so iconic it was named after him - a fitting tribute indeed! While Jules didn't know it yet, his performance outfit would become known across the globe as the leotard.
Now, you might be wondering how this historical moment came to be celebrated by someone as pink-tutu obsessed as myself. I have to be honest, this date was nearly completely forgotten! After all, what would I have worn to celebrate? Maybe some historical Victorian clothing?
I wouldnât have the freedom to move, dance, and have that fabulous twirl in my fabulous pink tutu. Besides, wouldn't I just be covered in layers of impractical undergarments? Ugh. Thankfully, my Time-Travel Log Book, which keeps an ever-growing record of fashion history, made a very important note - that this particular day could have begun the Leotard story. After all, even if Julesâ garment wasn't called a leotard at the time, it was definitely the earliest mention of something very, very, similar. A bit of a milestone, if you will!
Anyway, you can bet your favourite ballerina shoes that, once I'd heard the story, my lovely pink time-travelling leotard was practically sparkling with excitement. There I was, on August 8th, 1898, in my tutu, dancing down Parisian streets and finding the most marvellous dĂ©but (which is a lovely French word for âbeginningâ!) of the most iconic, fabulous piece of fashion history - the one-piece wonder, that would eventually inspire fashionistas worldwide!
My own Pink-Tutu blog, naturally, is all about showing you how leotards are celebrated in every style, across history and time, so this date, whilst not a celebration of its own right, was very special to me and deserves some historical focus, don't you think? Let's travel to the history and celebrate!
Before we continue with our fashion timeline tour of Jules Leotardâs wonderful and timeless creation, I want to tell you all about the street dance-off I had in Paris earlier this week. It was brilliant fun and it also earned me a few more coins for the next trip in my Pink-Tutu Time Machine! This monthâs performance wasnât even a particularly tricky choreography. Just a lovely pirouette-led performance set to "La Vie en Rose".
I must tell you, dear readers, if you ever want to impress Parisians with your ballerina flair, then thereâs a street just a stone's throw from the Place de la Concorde that makes a perfect ballet performance venue. Just make sure to have your ballerina-style smile ready as it helps win those Parisian hearts!
Back to our history timeline then⊠What is fascinating is that on this very day, Jules Léotard wasn't just thinking about designing a garment. He was also pushing the boundaries of circus performances! The Leotard was created not as an accessory for a fancy dress party, but as a solution to a particular kind of challenge - how to allow for freedom of movement during challenging and thrilling acrobatics on a high wire!
The one-piece form, as opposed to several pieces of clothing worn underneath a jacket, was a true revelation and a game changer. Suddenly, there was the most fabulous freedom to move around with agility, grace and ease! No more trailing sleeves or long skirts catching in things. Thatâs quite a thought, really! It had all been very much about function and practicality at first! Can you believe that something that looks so fabulous, stylish and even sexy began from an acrobatic challenge?!
Of course, I love to look at history through the lens of fashion, but we cannot deny that there were far-reaching consequences for a variety of performing arts because of the one-piece invention. Ballet dancers especially loved it. I even read a review of one London ballet show that remarked on how the dancer's freedom of movement allowed for a whole new dimension to her dance. It even mentions how this freedom helped to increase the speed, control and expressiveness of movement! This just goes to show how Jules' idea made a big difference in ballet too. A lot more ballet performers chose to dance in the newly styled costume as it made them feel far more free and comfortable.
Of course, by the late nineteenth century, dancers, just like myself, were keen to make their mark on their own unique style! Jules Leotard, while an inspirational innovator, might have only focused on functional style, but dancers were keen on adding in their own touches, of course.
There were all sorts of trims and colours in fashion - frills, ruffles and sparkles, along with those colours of the Victorian era such as soft pink, turquoise and lavender were a big hit, so you might find yourself noticing those tones creeping into the outfits that Jules Leotard started - you know, those designs he created that gave a little more âexpressionâ and movement, to the worldâs performing arts!
Speaking of expression! Whatâs the point of travelling through time without experiencing some fabulous, history-making shows? Now Iâve never been known to let a good fashion opportunity pass me by - no, Iâm never afraid to join the crowds of people looking at fabulous leotard style and performance! Last weekend, I joined a ballet company from France. What did I discover, I hear you asking? Oh, well⊠just some more fantastic additions to my âleotard history bookâ, which I think I'll eventually publish as a full-scale Leotard Book one day! I've learned all sorts about how the late nineteenth-century performers werenât afraid of a bit of colour! In fact, it was in full bloom! We are talking pinks, reds, yellows - colours to really highlight the movements, grace and beauty. Itâs just as exciting and striking as you see today! I have a feeling, you know, that Jules Leotard might have actually given himself a huge helping hand in becoming one of the key men to have given birth to the era of colourful dancing, all through that early version of the leotard he invented on August 8th!
But hold on a moment! That's enough about Parisian shows! Don't think Iâve forgotten what the date, 8th August is really all about⊠Itâs the celebration of Julesâ design which went on to become so popular! While this month's fashion theme is âthe startâ of a really important chapter, and as we are heading into autumn and a cooler season, don't forget to look back at the fashion trends that have inspired us today and will continue to inspire us across all these months to come, too.
Next month I'm off on my trusty Pink-Tutu Time Machine. Who knows what leotard-licious stories Iâll discover on the way? I think we'll be back in the 20th Century! Keep those leotard fashion eyes peeled. It might not be long before we see a very fashionable invention that turns all those pink tutu dreams of mine into a realityâŠ. Until then, you better believe that Iâm going to be wearing my favourite pink tutu. Itâs a wonderful piece of fashion that will certainly bring smiles all aroundâŠ
See you in October! I'm Emma, from Derbyshire, the âPink Tutuâ Blogger! Do say hello if you see me about on my time travels! Don't forget to check out my monthly Pink-Tutu blog posts at www.pink-tutu.com - we can celebrate all those little (and large) milestones together. Don't forget - wear a tutu, always wear pink and always smile! Let's make the world pink, one fabulous outfit at a time!
