#LeotardHistory during 1907 02 February

Hello darling dancers, and welcome back to another magical escapade through the world of leotards! It’s Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and today, we're heading back to 2nd February 1907, the day I first discovered a secret, a shimmering world of leotard history.

It all began, as usual, with my trusty sparkling pink leotard, the key to all my time-travelling adventures. I had just finished a dazzling street performance in Derbyshire, England - the crowds had been utterly enraptured, I even got a tip from a charming gentleman in a top hat! He whispered "Fabulous, darling! Truly fabulous!" - the sound of those words still sends shivers down my spine.

Then, I popped back to my apartment for a spot of tea and some cake - a fellow time traveller has to fuel those journeys, you know! Whilst munching on a rather delicious pink-frosted cupcake, my eye caught the sparkle of my leotard. I'd barely finished polishing it earlier, so it gleamed like a candy floss cloud on a summer's day. And in that instant, a flash of energy struck, like a bolt of sunshine in the middle of winter! My apartment spun, colours swirling around me until I landed with a delicate "thump" on a stage in, well, 1907, apparently!

My first thought was - where are all the pink tutus?! They seem to have missed the memo here in the early 1900s! Thankfully, though, the leotards were a marvel to behold!

In 1907, leotards weren't quite the statement pieces we see today, and you might be surprised to hear that dancers had different styles for different dances. For example, there were two types of leotards being worn during ballet performances: one style for ballet dancers, and another for the vaudeville dancers. Now, while they might both be considered "leotards," they were definitely distinct in style and were designed to complement their specific dance form.

Oh my darling! The ballet leotards were something truly special! The ones I spotted on the ballets girls were tight-fitting, crafted from flesh-coloured, silky fabric, and made to hug their graceful bodies. Imagine a sleek silhouette, delicate and refined, like a petal ready to unfurl in a gentle breeze! This wasn't the colourful, flamboyant, attention-grabbing kind of leotard we see in today's ballet performances; they focused on highlighting the dancer’s form, letting their moves speak for themselves!

The ballerinas of the day also often added a touch of whimsical charm, using tulle, ribbon, or even flowers! Now, my lovely darlings, let's imagine - a simple but elegant leotard adorned with a silk ribbon swirling around a tiny ballerina, a blossoming lily adorning her wrist! So beautiful! I was practically speechless, but of course, my manners had me keeping silent while observing!

Now, the leotards the vaudeville girls wore? Those were a completely different story altogether. Just the sight of those dazzling pieces of fabric gave me the chills - I swear I heard a sizzle of electricity when those beautiful performers graced the stage in their costumes!

Gone was the simple, almost understated beauty of the ballet leotards. Here, we were dealing with leotards designed to shock, to inspire the audiences. Imagine a leotard, shimmering with iridescent sequins, clinging like a dream, shimmering like a million twinkling stars. Now, sprinkle some lace here, a dazzling plume of feathers there, and top it off with a breathtakingly bright jewel - and, my dearest darlings, that was it - an explosion of leotard heaven!

While the leotards for ballet were a testament to grace and fluidity, the vaudeville leotards spoke volumes about confidence and vivaciousness, adding a splash of color, sparkle, and that little extra flair.

Back then, the stage wasn’t the only place where you could spot these incredible leotards. While I was roaming through a beautiful bookstore in London, I stumbled upon a book titled “The Illustrated London News.” On one page, there was a fantastic article featuring the daring gymnast, Mademoiselle Suzanne. Just like a real-life fairy tale, this courageous lady performed some thrilling aerial stunts - in a dazzling, jewel-toned leotard that was truly revolutionary! This gave me so much inspiration; I thought, if gymnasts could make a statement with leotards, why not the rest of the world?

This date was certainly a time of innovation and progress in the world of leotards! Imagine - a century ago, we saw a transition from the classical simplicity of ballet leotards to the more expressive styles of vaudeville leotards.

I, of course, spent the next few hours studying these wonderful garments and imagining the excitement those audiences felt when they watched these daring dancers! These experiences filled me with joy, excitement and a longing to share these fashion stories with the world, making sure all my readers know that even our love for leotards started with just these simple garments - and all this beauty originated long, long ago!

Of course, no time travel blog would be complete without a little shopping spree and some glimpses into the incredible shows going on back in 1907. As soon as I made it back to my 21st century home (my oh my! That was some serious energy consumption!), I was off to find the best local vintage stores. There are still so many treasures to be unearthed, just waiting for a keen eye like mine.

I managed to find some rather gorgeous leotards for my collection - I couldn't resist buying a black velvet leotard adorned with tiny glass beads, and a lilac-hued silk one. But I am hoping to stumble upon one that was a faithful replica of the 1907 style for my next stage performance. Perhaps one for my Pink-Tutu Leotard Fashion collection, perhaps in my very favorite colour... Pink!

I’d love to hear all about your favorite leotard finds. I've started collecting information about vintage styles; who knows what little beauties are hiding in your grandmas’ attics?

But, of course, it wasn’t all about vintage shopping! I took a trip to London’s West End, enjoying a performance at the Gaiety Theatre - oh darling, just picture a room overflowing with the elegance of that time, women dressed in elegant hats and feather boas, and men in sharp suits.

The performers graced the stage with graceful routines - each dance seemed like a piece of a fantastical, swirling dream. I must say - I'd love to go back and see those dancers in action! My oh my! I must get working on those time travel plans again. But until then, you can keep up with all the exciting happenings here on the Pink-Tutu blog! I’ve got a plethora of amazing information to share in the coming weeks. Just subscribe to the website www.pink-tutu.com so you don’t miss a single dazzling leotard discovery!

Until next time, keep those pink tutus ready to twirl! And don’t be afraid to let your love for leotards shine!

Love and sparkle,

Emma xoxo