Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! As we bid farewell to the roaring twenties, for now at least (cue the sad violin), we find ourselves stepping into 1916! I hope youâve had a fabulous festive season and that the new year is treating you kindly. Itâs time to get your sparkly tights on because weâre off on another pink tutu-filled adventure!
Remember, dear readers, itâs all about embracing the past, the present, and of course, the leotard-filled future! Every month I pop a magical leotard on (you know, the one with the twinkly sequins) and it whiskâs me away to a different date in history! Itâs like time-travelling in the most fashionable way possible, wouldnât you agree?
So, settle in with a cuppa, grab a biscuit and join me in exploring what the world of leotard fashion looked like on this chilly January 1st, 1916âŚ
Leotards of the Last Century:
Fast forward a century! It seems quite mad, doesn't it? A hundred years ago the leotard scene was rather different from what weâre used to today. This was an era where ladies preferred their undergarments to be less, shall we say, âexposedâ. So imagine the shock if a daring woman dared to step out in a skin-tight leotard, for goodness sake! Now, we embrace those daring designs but a century ago it would have been met with some raised eyebrows.
Back then, most women wouldn't have dreamt of a leotard - except for maybe the circus, or, if you can believe it, the newly emerging world of professional swimming. However, they were typically simple garments made from cotton or wool, in all the typical Victorian era colours: dark blues, browns and, very occasionally, muted shades of pinks or yellows. Can you imagine? No sparkly fabrics, no bold colours, just simple practical garments!
Across the Atlantic:
While Europe was engrossed in the Great War (remember the âWar to End All Warsâ? Well, we know how that turned out!) America was celebrating the rise of a brand-new star! It was the year that a woman by the name of Gertrude Ederle, an up-and-coming swimmer, shattered records by crossing the English Channel, with an incredible time of 14 hours and 31 minutes. Talk about dedication to your craft!
This epic feat led to a national fascination with swimming. I bet, given time, it would even have nudged more women into those stylish, if basic, one-piece swimsuits of the time - which, funnily enough, we now consider to be an early ancestor of the modern leotard! It seems those bold swimming champions were pioneers, paving the way for today's fabulous dance and activewear.
My Own Little Time-Trip Adventure:
Now, I donât want to get too bogged down with details about the âwarâ - I know it's important to learn about these times, but letâs focus on the leotard side of things. So, how did my little time trip go? Well, imagine if you will a bustling London street scene, with carriages, ladies in elegant hats and gentlemen with mustaches as long as your arm (I mean, seriously!). The shop windows didn't display the dizzying array of leotard styles that we see today. Instead, I spotted gorgeous flapper dresses and luxurious silk blouses, the kinds that we wouldnât be able to resist today, if they werenât a century old!
I waltzed down the pavement - not just any walk, but a full, sweeping, ballerina strut - you know how it is! Imagine my surprise when I spotted a tiny "costumier" (you'd never call it a leotard shop in those days) nestled amongst the many other shops, offering a little bit of fancy dress. Inside I discovered some very basic one-piece undergarments. No lycra, just a hint of shimmer on the fabrics! Can you believe it? It was an interesting discovery!
Leotards at the Shows
While I was out and about in the big city, I decided to check out what was on offer in the theatrical scene. Now, you see, ballet, as we know it today, hadn't quite arrived just yet, and so the theatrical outfits, while glamorous in their own right, looked nothing like the leotards we are familiar with. No stretch, no sequins, just the most incredible and intricate costumes. It was all so different but very fascinating, my dears.
I got a glimpse of the incredible, elaborate costumes - you know, flowing gowns, elegant corsets, and beautifully detailed fabrics, a spectacle of colour and glamour! You could tell they took so much effort, even for something that would only be on stage for a brief time! They had all the dazzling elegance and charm - quite beautiful really. I saw these creations up close, so intricate! Imagine all the hand-stitching! That made me truly appreciate how much effort and dedication goes into these productions. It makes you realise how far the world of leotard design has evolved.
Pink Tutu Adventures - The Inspiration
Despite my 1916 jaunt into leotards-that-were-not, let me be clear - I always go in search of leotard inspiration wherever I go! I found some fascinating things. There were beautiful fabric details I saw - lovely embroidery, velvet trimmings, and those beautiful lace necklines - so much elegance. Even though it wasn't strictly âleotardâ - all that craftsmanship still makes my creative brain think about future design ideas for the Pink Tutu leotards! And the colour? Ah, the colour - all the vintage pastels - muted creams, dusty blues, delicate pinks.
This makes me think that next month, my trip into the past will involve the pursuit of the elusive vintage pink leotard! Maybe it exists somewhere, tucked away in some dusty box, waiting to be reborn as the ultimate fashion statement of the future.
Remember...
Itâs been quite an inspiring journey this month - a trip to a historical London to appreciate just how far our beloved leotards have come. It makes you realise what incredible pioneers the first leotard wearers really were - their boldness, their dedication to performance.
So, as we venture back to the 21st century, let us do so with our heads held high - in those magnificent pink tutus that remind us of all the magical journeys yet to come!
And don't forget to visit our shop, Pink Tutu Leotards, for some truly sparkly inspiration! Let me know what you think of my trip into the past! And, of course, don't forget to share this post with all your friends and loved ones, because the more the merrier when it comes to pink tutus! Until next month - Happy leotarding!
