Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things pink, twirly, and fabulous! This month, we're taking a trip back in time to the wonderfully whimsical world of fashion in March 1901!
Oh my, wouldn't you know it? It seems I have another new leotard addition to my wardrobe – a magical one, no less! It's pink, naturally, with sparkling sequins, and the ability to take me whizzing through the corridors of time! With the help of this extraordinary leotard, I get to delve into the world of fashion, past and present, and share it all with you lovely lot!
So, let's get this month's journey started with a grand leap into the 1900s!
The Leotard Fashion of 1901March 1901, imagine it: Edwardian elegance, long, flowing gowns, a sense of decorum, but also a glimmering peek into a more free and modern aesthetic. I arrived in Derbyshire – just like the Emma I am today! – and wow! It's amazing how much time itself can make the world feel so different.
You'd be surprised to hear that "leotard" was still a relatively new word then. It only became popular after the famous French acrobat Jules Leotard made it his go-to performance attire. In those days, you'd call what we now know as a leotard "a practice dress", or "a body suit." Fancy names, but you've got to admit, not quite as glamorous as our contemporary "leotard"!
In the 1900s, it was all about corsets, long flowing skirts, and even those iconic S-shaped silhouettes we see in old photos. Ballerinas, for example, had to deal with thick layers of petticoats and bulky gowns on stage, all in the name of fashion and modesty. Imagine all the effort it took just to do a simple pirouette! It wasn’t the ideal attire for leaps and twirls, and as a fellow dance enthusiast, my heart truly aches for them. It seems so constricting!
Now, don't think this lack of streamlined leotard means the ladies of 1901 weren’t into their fashion. Believe me, they were – it was just different! There was elegance in those layers and frills, and they found ways to accentuate their silhouettes through delicate embellishments and clever tailoring.
Let me give you an example! I popped into a shop called Madame L'Etoile on Market Street, and Oh my, what a place! I found myself swooning over the lace-trimmed bonnets and frilly petticoats, all with subtle pink accents (because even in the 1900s, my heart always calls to that delightful colour!), so delicate and charming!
Taking 1901 Style for a SpinNow, you know I wouldn’t miss a chance to experience life as it was in 1901 – even for a brief moment! And as my grand time travel escapade allowed for a bit of a show-off, I whipped up a mini performance!
The heart of Derby, just around the corner from the shop, was buzzing. After changing my pink shimmering leotard into a shimmering silk and satin dress and finding myself a vintage top hat and gloves (it just had to be a pink top hat!), I found a makeshift stage: an empty flower cart. It wasn't the grand ballet theatre I was used to, but it provided a little bit of "pink" in a black-and-white world.
It was more of a dance recital than a full ballet production. I didn't want to get too ahead of my time (it was already 1901, for goodness sake!), so I kept the performance sweet and simple: a little twirling here, a little swaying there, with a touch of that playful "Pink Tutu" sass thrown in for good measure. The crowd loved it! They laughed, they cheered, and some even tapped their feet along. Maybe that was me sowing the seed of that vibrant ballet-love in their hearts! And of course, I found my "pink" fan in the crowd – a lovely gentleman in a dapper suit.
Pink Tutus of the World, Unite!My heart truly ached at the thought of not wearing a pink tutu back then, but maybe, just maybe, this experience will inspire someone in the future to bring them back. After all, isn’t it the little things, the small acts of rebellion against the status quo, that set the wheels of fashion revolution in motion?
One pink tutu can inspire countless smiles, and perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, one little show in the heart of Derby might just change the world one twirl at a time.
Until next month, darlings! Stay beautiful, and remember, there's no such thing as too much pink, especially if you're rocking a fabulous tutu! ✨💕
See you on www.pink-tutu.com soon!
