Hello my gorgeous little tutus! Welcome to another fabulous edition of Pink-Tutu.com, your monthly dose of leotard history, fashion inspiration and, of course, lots of pink! This month, weāre whisking you back to 1st January, 1921. Buckle up your leotard straps and get ready for a glamorous time travel journey, because, my dears, this era was simply dazzling!
Now, you know I'm a Derbyshire girl through and through, so imagine my delight when I found myself standing in the middle of a snowy London, my pink sparkly leotard sparkling under the vintage lampposts. The crisp winter air tickled my cheeks, but nothing could dampen the excitement swirling within me!
My Time Machine is Pink
I popped into my magical time-traveling pink leotard earlier today (you know, the one that glitters just a little too much). You can never be too fabulous when you're about to time travel! Honestly, Iām obsessed with my sparkly leotard. The material feels like pure magic! Itās always shimmering, and I donāt need to worry about sequins falling off! Anyway, I hopped into my sparkly leotard, twirled once for good luck (my mama always says it brings me good luck on my time-travel trips) andā¦poof! There I was, 100 years in the past!
This time travel lark does take its toll, you know? Thankfully, I've learnt to time travel on a budget - a little bit of street ballet fundraising in the Derbyshire countryside really helps with expenses, like new leotards! Did I tell you my collection is quite a sight? Just ask my little fluffy, white rabbit (who acts as my little tour guide!). She keeps me grounded and even helped me get my first leotard! (But we won't tell everyone how she earned her keepā¦) She was a bit dubious about the ātime-traveling in pinkā business, at first. But now, she adores it, though I canāt tell if it's the sparkly outfits or the copious amounts of pink marshmallows.
Anyway, this month's time travel was particularly special as the leotard scene in 1921 was bursting with elegance and flair! It's quite different to my usual Derbyshire countryside performances, even when Iām wearing a fancy, twirly tutu. But I love to mix it up! Let's dive right into the fascinating world of leotard fashion 100 years ago.
The Art of the Leotard: Fashion for Performance and Fun!
So, what was the world of leotard fashion like back in 1921? Well, imagine flowing, soft fabrics like silk and crepe, and a range of styles from slim and tailored to more relaxed silhouettes, all emphasizing movement and grace. These leotards werenāt for dancing - at least, not on stage!
Underneath It All: A Peek at the Fashion Revolution!
Believe it or not, 1921 marked a significant year for the underwear revolution, specifically in the ābody-hugging, revealing garments" world (thatās a lovely euphemism for underwear). This is where my story begins!
Imagine my surprise when I spotted these chic, lightweight āknitted silkā or āmercerized cottonā leotards (as they were called in those days) popping out from the bottom of long, flapper dresses. They perfectly sculpted the female form, and were incredibly popular in those early flapper years. Imagine the excitement! We owe a big thank you to the flappers, those pioneers of freedom, for breaking down barriers with these body-conscious garments! And, they werenāt afraid of pink - in fact, pink was super popular for the leotard, in fact for most things fashionable! Youād be surprised how the pink shade matched many, what are considered today to be 'neutral' colours - such as black, white, grey and beige. They were, of course, perfectly pinked in shades like baby pink, shell pink and fuchsia!
You know, my fluffy white rabbit pointed out the interesting twist to this time. The flapper generation were pushing the boundaries of female fashion in those days - think daringly shorter hemlines and new shapes. And this fashion change reflected itself in the garment styles! This new, revealing leotard had the same effect as the revolutionary short skirt - it highlighted womenās independent, free-thinking and lively spirit. Now thatās an amazing, uplifting impact that leotard fashion brought upon the world!
Of course, weāre talking the 1920s, so think of beaded designs, delicate embroidery, intricate lace details, and splashes of bold colour! All in a tiny, slinky garment that was worn underneath clothes. I loved the colours, but that was only the half of it, some leotards had such beautiful patterns and detailing that they were worthy of being the focal point! What a testament to the creativity of those time periods! Even for their āunderwear.ā In fact, these werenāt just underwear - the new styles of undergarments made women feel fabulous, bold, stylish and liberated!
And the fun didn't stop there!
1921 Leotard: Beyond the Body!
Leotards were starting to step out from beneath clothing, literally! They made a splash on the dance floors at jazz clubs and dance halls! I went to a performance at the Palladium, London ā the hottest place to be! These garments really were the āinā thing, and the more decorative and the more revealing, the better. There were simple leotards - I was very keen to copy some for myself and recreate them! I am just the perfect size to make some beautiful ones and have my fluffy rabbit show me her best 'how to sew' skills (sheās the cutest sewing rabbit you'll ever see!). You can see a few photos of my collection of designs - but remember, I've got a rule - no tutus unless you've got a proper skirt on!
Even better, I even saw some talented acrobats in spectacular, brightly colored leotards that looked incredibly daring, especially in their acrobatic performances. I did try to find a suitable leotard of my own in a local, rather grand department store, but they had some really weird leotard styles. I almost wanted to go back to Derbyshire! (Yes, even the glittery sparkly leotard didn't make that day a happy one for me! It would have been such an ideal day for a trip into the past, but really it was very hard work. I am certainly not saying the fashion was hideous! But, letās be honest - nothing comes close to a pink tutu, no matter what era it's from!
Pink, Pink, Pink! The Leotardās Favourite Colour!
There was a sense of lightness, of playful fun! That reminds me, when I travelled to the United States - to be exact - New York, New York, the āBig Apple!ā Now that is some seriously good dance fun, especially the shows. I discovered that leotards (as we call them in our Derbyshire countryside!) were actually called ādance costumesā or even more weirdly āpractice garmentsā!** The most glamorous dancerās outfit was often a leotard and that made a big difference to my own fashion decisions (thatās what inspired me to bring out a line of new ādance leotardsā for dancers! Remember girls - just add a pink tutu, because, my dear, nothing is more elegant than a good pink tutu!)
What I noticed most, about those ādance costumesā and even their practice leotards is the emphasis on colour! Thatās where the real joy began. Just as my time travel wardrobe reflects a bright pink aesthetic, so too did those beautiful American performers embrace colour in their leotards! There was vibrant purple, deep red, golden yellow and emerald green. Imagine those dancers leaping, spinning, and gliding across the stage, a colourful tapestry of leotards catching the stage lights! Even more fabulously - they used sequins on their dance leotards to give an extra dimension! I meanā¦ how glamorous! This sparked an obsession, and even made me feel quite jealousā¦ I mean - all those glamorous, colorful leotards just begging for a Pink Tutu to make it perfect!
So much inspiration - you just have to admit, that pink leotard was my destinyā¦
So what is in store for my readers?
From Derbyshire, to London and all the way to New York, I have so many memories! I will even confess that after my last trip (last month was truly magical) I even got my fluffy white rabbit to design my very own Pink-Tutu line! You can even check them out at the end of this articleā¦
Thatās all, folks! Remember: Always keep your leotard straps tight, and never forget to embrace the fun and freedom!
Stay sparkly,
Emma
*PS! * Youāre in for a real treat this month - My super-sweet leotard collection is launching! And it is all pink - even a pink leotard made especially for your fluffy bunny! Get them at my store - just search on Google āPink Tutuā and you will find my very own boutique ā I have some fantastic online sales too!
I really hope you loved reading about the Leotard Revolution of 1921 and the incredible, colorful outfits of this magical period!
And for those of you interested in knowing a little more about leotard historyā¦
Quick Fact: In 1921, there were about 6 million leotards sold worldwide - this might seem shocking, but I reckon it could be true, with those elegant Flappers. You'll find leotards were selling for anything between a dollar to five dollars - depending on style, materials, decoration and length, so it would have been a lot more affordable then. Even today, the popularity of leotards never really died down - and just look at how fabulous weāve all become with our pink leotards!**
If you enjoy reading all about this type of Leotard History, check out more on www.Pink-Tutu.com!
I canāt wait for the next time travel adventure! I just have to finish my latest line - a pink tutu especially for dancing on a giant spinning wheelā¦
See you soon, gorgeous!
Love,
Emma
Please remember this was written as a 'fantasy' piece and to fit with the original brief as requested - as a playful, female voice, full of whimsicality. If you'd like me to write something with a more accurate portrayal of history and clothing style for the 1920s please let me know!
