Hello my dearest readers, and welcome to the fabulous fifth hundred and first edition of Pink-Tutu.com! This month, I've got an exciting new destination for you, dear readers, one that takes us back to the turn of the century! Imagine a world where the car is just starting to emerge, ladies wear big hats, and a brand new style of leotard is born! Yes, it's true!
It's September the ninth, and the year is nineteen hundred! Itās hard to believe, isn't it? In all this time, I haven't yet ventured into this magical century - so it's time for some serious exploring! I've packed my sparkling pink time travel leotard - because I mean, why blend in when you can sparkle, right? - and I'm off on another adventure in time, a truly dazzling one I hope, because the year nineteen hundred, as we know, was full of wonder and change!
And this month I want to celebrate a fashion revolution - the debut of the Leotard! That's right, ladies and gents - while the leotard had actually been in the wings for a while, the first official mention of the āLeotardā appeared in the year nineteen hundred, and you wonāt believe how stylish it was. Think, oh so pretty silk with soft ruffles and elegant cuts - so much more than a simple leotard we wear today, my dears!
Time to put on my pink tutu, it just screams 1900 fashion, doesnāt it? Imagine ā flowing satin, and a soft frilly, girly skirt, perfect for dancing in a dreamy pastel world, and all that pink. The world canāt be anything but fabulously girly with a tutu!
I popped into a shop on a dusty, quaint street called āMadame Pomponne's Haberdasheryā. Oh, my darlings, imagine this shop! It was crammed full of treasures; sequins, silks, and buttons, lace, all those beautiful shades of pink. Madame Pomponne herself, dressed in an incredible black lace gown that made her look as though she stepped straight out of a novel, looked at me with eyes wide as saucers. I do think my pink tutu stunned her - it does cause a stir when I travel.
āMy dear child,ā she gasped, āWhat are you doing here in thatā¦ most peculiar attire?ā
I explained myself ā always try to be polite and helpful in these situations - explaining my travel ways and love of history and my leotards and... you know, tutus.
āMadame,ā I said in my sweetest, most charming Derbyshire accent, āI am Emma from the Pink Tutu Time Travel blog, I am here for the new style of leotards that just emerged! ā
Oh, how her eyes widened when I mentioned leotards, Iām sure the 1900 Parisian scene wasn't known for leotards, not yet! And so we fell into conversation about leotards and fashion history ā and my dreamy leotard outfit, which Iād rather delicately pointed out inspired some incredible modern designs, really quite avant garde.
My lovely Madame Pomponne got excited about the future. And sheād never met a tutu wearing ballerina blogger! My, she had so many fascinating stories of her travels to London ā and her admiration for the stunning performers of the London Palladium, the theatreās just opened and oh, so grand! Imagine a dazzling hall decked out in dazzling pink satin! That's why pink tutus just had to be invented for that space, donāt you think?
And thatās the amazing thing about history, my darlings! We have such wonderful and glamorous things to explore - the magic of music, performance, art, and of course, our beloved leotards.
Now that weāre at the start of the 20th century, think what the future holds, for leotards - imagine! Itās incredible that, although this year, 1900, marks the leotard's debut , we now see leotards, of course, in all sorts of incredible, colorful designs and all sizes! In this era, the leotardās all about practicality and elegance, about movement and graceful beauty. The designs then are far more dramatic, with elaborate frills, sequins and intricate detail. Think Belle Epoque glamour! But it's the shape, the fit - so beautiful and, for me, quite romantic! It truly shows off a graceful feminine form in a simple but elegant style.
But then I travelled forward in time, my dear, and see how much has changed in a mere century! So much change in the fashion of the leotard, and how itās evolved from the simple form to being the very centre of athletic, vibrant performance fashion. Today it's the symbol of freedom, of grace, of dance and sport, all wrapped up in a stunning silhouette. Imagine that! Just in one hundred years, the leotard, this piece of clothing, has evolved through styles from the simple, functional one we find at the dawn of the 20th century to its current state: A statement of expression, a fashion choice, and a vibrant symbol of art, and strength and athleticism!
After leaving the incredible Madam Pomponneās shop ā it is in a perfect pink street for this magical Pink Tutu blogger ā I explored further - the scent of baking bread and hot croissants, the bustling markets, the city alive with energy - that wonderful 1900s vibe ā so elegant. But oh my, it was all so elegant back then, everything was a masterpiece, from the shop windows filled with elaborate creations to the splendid gowns worn by the ladies, I found it so thrilling! So my mission now, of course, is to find a performance - oh I love a show - and of course, everyone in a leotard! I found myself at an intriguing performance venue, in fact itās quite extraordinary to imagine where ballet, as a spectacle for the masses took place. Iām at a hall, and on the stage, I spy... Oh, wow -such amazing, frilly designs for those leotards. And pink tulle skirts? The tutus are everywhere - oh my, what a delight - so elegant and delicate! My mission - as ever, of course - is to bring more pink tutu fashion, and let's hope this will continue as leotard style evolves! I found some lovely dancing with graceful dancers in a stunning array of leotards and tulle in that elegant theatre ā I wonder where else I can dance in the world. Maybe I'll travel further back in time to see where ballet comes from, to the very roots, I'd love to explore its origins! This era, this year 1900 - well my darlings, itās quite enchanting.
So whatās to come for Pink Tutu Time Travel ? It's so hard to imagine - but for the moment, I'm content just basking in the pink glow of the early days of the leotard ā the early 20th century! My Pink Tutu - what an adventure it's taken me on!
Don't forget, my dearest readers, you can find the Pink Tutu Blog at www.pink-tutu.com I look forward to reading your comments and to our future adventures in fashion history!
See you next time for our next Pink Tutu adventure in history!
Stay stylish, stay vibrant and remember... always dare to wear a Pink Tutu!
Emma
