Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's your girl Emma here, your Derbyshire-born, pink tutu-wearing, leotard-loving guide to all things fabulous and fashionably fabulous!
This month, my magical, sparkly pink time travel leotard whisked me away to a rather turbulent date in history - December 12th, 1914! Can you imagine? It's almost a century ago! Now, normally I love jumping through time to experience glamorous dance nights and exciting costume creations. However, this time, the air felt…different. There was an undercurrent of tension, a sombre atmosphere. It seemed like the world was holding its breath.
Stepping out of the time portal, I landed in a bustling street, the cobblestones slick with rain, and a rather serious looking gentleman staring right at me. I swear, his jaw almost dropped at the sight of my dazzling, pink tulle, layered over a sparkling leotard. My, my, time travellers can be so dramatic sometimes.
“Are you…are you lost, miss?” he asked, looking quite bewildered.
“Not lost, sir, just on an adventure!” I replied with a twirl and a playful curtsy. “And, oh, it is rather a lovely day for a leotard!”
Now, I’ll be honest, his eyebrows did a right royal arch over this. Clearly, time travel hasn't quite caught on in this period yet. Oh well, he seemed rather taken aback with my playful sass, so we had a quick chat. He was a journalist, writing about the “great war” happening on the Continent. He had so much to say, the stories so heartbreaking. It reminded me of all the injustices that have plagued humanity for far too long. But, that's the thing about time travel – it puts the world in perspective!
After giving him a bright smile and a reassuring, “Everything will be alright!”, I left him pondering my sartorial choices and decided to find out about the state of leotard fashion back then. This, of course, had me heading for the city's biggest theatre. Now, in this era, it seemed that ballet wasn't quite the cultural explosion that we see in the 21st Century. No full-blown tutus here. Instead, I was seeing the beginnings of the leotard's influence – the practical, yet graceful form finding its way into dance attire. It felt rather exciting to see this evolution, so subtly, on stage.
However, as a devoted tutu lover, I can't help but think that even back in 1914, these dancing beauties could've used a splash of pink. Oh, the joy and frivolity they were missing out on! The outfits I saw, though lovely in their own way, were more utilitarian and understated compared to the contemporary styles I usually find myself frolicking in. There was definitely a lack of flamboyant flair, a subtle reminder of the difficult times. It was more about elegance and form, than any showstopping style. It almost felt like the world was holding its breath – waiting for something joyful and exuberant to break through.
Despite the solemnity, I found that 1914 leotard fashion held a unique beauty. Ballet garments weren't quite as intricately designed, with the focus being on comfortable freedom of movement. Think delicate velvet tops, graceful, flowing skirts, and practical leotards in neutral tones of white and black. I managed to find a lovely little antique store with an excellent selection of dance apparel from the era. I even spotted a little, pearl-studded leotard – I may just have to snag one!
Speaking of snagging, I found myself drawn to a small, rather humble dance studio tucked away in a back street. There, I met a troupe of young ballerinas who, even during this period of hardship, were dancing with such spirit. And boy, did they move! So fluid, so elegant. I spent the afternoon learning a bit of their repertoire, a little step here, a graceful leap there, and sharing stories of future tutus with these delightful girls. Their dedication reminded me of the beauty that continues to flourish, even amidst conflict and turmoil. It was all so very inspiring.
To wrap up this extraordinary journey to December 12th, 1914, I have a few reflections. Although the world was embroiled in conflict, leotards continued to grace dance floors, symbolising grace and strength even in times of adversity. In a world that could benefit from more pink, a reminder to be like the dancers in this studio: resilient, dedicated, and graceful. I may have even gotten a few young minds excited about the idea of a pink tutu revolution. Let's see how those seeds I sowed grow in the future!
My next time travel date is up for grabs – have any suggestions for me? Maybe I'll go for another dramatic event, another pivotal year. For now, though, I'm heading out for some street ballet, trying to spread a little pink magic, reminding the world that even amidst hardship, dance and beauty can blossom.
Till next time, lovelies.
Emma x
