#LeotardHistory during 1920 12 December

Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, back with another magical time travel adventure, this time venturing to a fabulously vibrant decade - the Roaring Twenties! As you all know, I'm utterly smitten with the glorious history of leotards, and the 1920s hold a special place in my heart, a time when women's fashion really started to blossom and find its feet. I just had to pay a visit to December 12th, 1920, a day packed full of excitement for leotard fashion. So, grab your tiaras, darling readers, let's get ready to go back in time!

My magical time-travelling leotard shimmered, its delicate pink sequins catching the light as I danced with anticipation, ready for another adventure. The scent of vintage perfume, and the whirring sound of a gramophone playing a catchy tune, drew me through the time portal to a new decade. Oh, the wonders of the past!

This time I'd landed in a theatre foyer in New York City. Oh, to have been a ballerina in the 1920s! I immediately saw the gleaming gold lettering on the building: “The Metropolitan Opera House". So many iconic shows must have played on this very stage! The air hummed with energy, with elegant ladies in drop-waist dresses, and dapper gents sporting sleek suits, making their way into the auditorium. A whirlwind of excitement surrounded me!

The foyer, awash with warm lamplight, was alive with an enchanting energy. It made my pink tutu spin with a vibrant energy of its own! But, let’s dive deeper into leotard history...

I immediately gravitated towards the shop windows overflowing with a wealth of luxurious garments - a stark contrast to the wartime fashion of a mere five years before. There were chic dresses with a flowing, almost- Grecian feel, featuring silky fabrics, luxurious velvet and of course, beads, pearls and the iconic drop waistline! What a stylish ensemble, all accentuating the silhouette beautifully.

I found myself captivated by a gorgeous leotard display in the window of a Parisian fashion house - it showcased a selection of delicate, silk leotards that emphasized the female form in an entirely new way. These leotards were quite different from what we’d imagine nowadays - no stretch fabrics here! Think finely spun silk, a beautiful satin feel, a sense of glamour in every line.

Then, it hit me like a bolt of sunshine. The 1920s were about liberating the female silhouette - just like my tutus! They were designed to move with freedom, a total departure from the corsets and restrictive clothing of the Victorian era. A huge sense of revolution was in the air!

As I drifted through this glamorous wonderland of fabrics and fashions, I even stumbled upon an absolutely sensational vintage fashion magazine – "Vogue"! Now, this magazine featured everything about the emerging styles, even leotard trends.

My dear readers, can you believe how ahead of their time the ladies were? Imagine them strutting around town in elegant leotards under those fabulous dresses, confident and chic! They were pioneers, my darlings! Pioneers of comfort and a sleek sense of style, which, I am proud to say, carries on through the decades and influences my tutus and my dancing!

The magazine spoke of the latest fabrics that were arriving in the UK - like Rayon and the incredible “Lingerie Knit” (which made the dreamiest leotards, if you can believe it!) All about softness, and beautiful, luxurious movement. Imagine what these felt like, my lovelies. They simply had a quality that's hard to imagine!

Speaking of colour - what a joy to see such vibrancy on the streets! There was a freedom, a vibrant excitement with the use of colour. Rich reds, passionate blues, deep purples, they were everywhere, just begging to be enjoyed! My pink tutu wouldn’t have been out of place here!

The magazine article also mentioned an elegant new style for a ballerina’s leotard, featuring an enchanting combination of the colour navy and gold - so timeless and stylish, I just have to find one myself!

However, pink wasn't quite so prominent yet in 1920. You know me, though! This is about to change - and, let’s just say the pink tutu is soon to become an unstoppable force!

Of course, no trip back to the 1920s would be complete without a visit to the theatre! I waltzed through the bustling doors of the Opera House, with a feeling of pure joy that's hard to express! There was such an electric sense of excitement! The chatter and the clinking of glasses, mingled with the delightful strains of the orchestra as it began its final tuning. Oh, a magnificent treat!

It was “The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart that graced the stage. As the elegant ladies around me in their glittering gowns listened to the performance, it was a visual feast! Such a stylish performance, even for the audience, they seemed so connected, and ready to soak up the performance. What a privilege to have witnessed a little slice of history.

I can’t help myself - shopping is in my blood, even in a time gone by! This time I had to find a piece from the glorious, stylish decade - a unique garment to keep the leotard history flowing. So off I went to the biggest department store in the city – it was an adventure!

There were fabric counters, full of stunning silks and satins and laces. I was mesmerized by the beauty, the textures. There was so much to touch, to admire. The ladies were all very stylish in their dress styles and their makeup. It all was so effortlessly beautiful, with a charming Parisian flare. It was truly a feast for the senses.

I did find the perfect piece in a quaint vintage boutique on Fifth Avenue. It was an absolute treasure, a pale-blue leotard from the 1920s, made of the most beautiful silk! It’s such a joy to imagine how elegant the lady who wore it originally must have felt dancing around the city! The delicate seams were expertly done and it was just perfect to wear under a fabulous gown. I imagine a flapper style dress with beading would suit it beautifully - such a luxurious feel!

It will make a gorgeous addition to my collection - and you know I’ll share all the details with you, my dears! It was such a delightful, memorable day for leotard fashion! I love going on these adventures through time - I really can’t imagine a life without them!

I know you’re all eager for me to talk about leotards!

Well, 1920 saw the beginning of something exciting for fashion, and particularly for the development of leotards. I love the movement, the style. It was such a dynamic and glamorous era for leotard history!

Think about those soft silks, those stylish colours, and the revolutionary shapes that embraced the figure beautifully. All a perfect recipe for comfortable movement, just like what we have in my tutus today! I see so much to celebrate and to admire from those fantastic years!

I do hope that my trips into leotard history have inspired you, my darlings. You all know that it’s all about getting creative! I know it's all a bit different these days, but I feel a lot of that glamour and style, even in our leotards today! The way a good leotard looks and feels, the confidence it gives. It all has roots in the past, and this history is what I love to explore. It really makes me want to spin around in my tutu all day long.

See you in the pink next time!

Emma, the Pink Tutu Time Traveller www.pink-tutu.com