#LeotardHistory during 1923 10 October

Hey lovelies,

It's your favourite Derbyshire darling, Emma, here, bringing you another dose of leotard loveliness and, of course, a whole heap of pink tutu fun. As you all know, this is my favourite time of the month - it’s time to pack my pink glitter-infused time travelling leotard and embark on another dazzling, dance-tastic adventure through the world of leotard fashion!

This month, we’re going back to 10th October 1923 - an exciting date in history when a young girl called Louise Brooks first put on a revolutionary, chic leotard. It wasn’t just any leotard - it was a black velvet leotard, with a cut-out design, created by the iconic fashion designer, Paul Poiret! Talk about making a statement! It was like a burst of glamour and sass in a world just discovering the joy of modern dance!

Can you believe it?! 1923. Back in the Roaring Twenties! I can just picture it - Louise, so full of excitement, slipping into that velvet beauty and feeling like she could conquer the world! You can imagine the buzz this creation caused, right? The whispers in the back rows of the theatre, the excited gasps as she took to the stage, the stunned silence that followed her powerful, graceful movements!

Oh, to be there and experience the birth of such a revolutionary, trend-setting design. Don't you just wish you could have been there, darling?

Speaking of exciting, this month my travels were just bursting with amazing leotard fashion moments! I started off in London, where I strolled through the vibrant markets on a beautiful, crisp autumn morning, taking in the spectacle of bustling London life in its all its charm! This was a world where dancing was emerging in all forms. It was also a great time for leotards too! They were getting shorter, more playful and experimenting with new textures. Think sleek silks, shimmering velvets and pops of bold colours – an exciting time indeed for dance and the development of new and beautiful leotards.

Speaking of London's vibrancy, I also managed to snag tickets to the very trendy “Black Cat Revue.” Can you even imagine?! You know, the one at The Hippodrome. There was a young star who appeared on stage dressed in a leotard that stopped me in my tracks. Imagine - a sparkly black one! Now that's what I call dancewear that grabs attention. They were pushing boundaries in the theatre, moving with ease, wearing leotards that were designed to be seen. I know what you're thinking, and YES I totally grabbed a sketch of this magnificent outfit. Just wait till you see what I come up with when I incorporate it into my next pink tutu street performance!

And of course, what trip to London is complete without visiting the magnificent Royal Opera House?! Talk about glamour! Imagine a grand palace overflowing with magnificent fashion. And the leotards, darlings, the leotards were spectacular. They were so very elegant, a study in artistry, with the softest silks, the finest embellishments and cuts that brought out the beauty of every curve. You’d have been completely mesmerized, as I was, by the sheer brilliance of the dancers as they twirled and leapt, their leotards shimmering with every graceful move! What an absolute delight! It made me wish that everyone could enjoy the enchantment and sheer beauty of a world filled with amazing, dance-inspired leotard fashion.

Then, after London's exhilarating bustle, it was off to Paris – a city renowned for its sophisticated style. I was ready to soak up the artistic flair of the fashion scene! Of course, I simply had to see a performance of the ‘Ballets Russes’ in their dazzling leotards. Talk about legendary! Their unique styles - those vibrant colours, bold designs and captivating performances – were pure inspiration for me. Oh darling, to witness the ballet world being revolutionized right before my eyes! Just seeing how those iconic dancers move in their vibrantly coloured and innovative leotards, it just took my breath away! And they used colours too that had never been seen in a ballet leotard. So daring, so wonderfully brave. They inspired me so much to bring back more bold, colour and playful pieces for my dance street shows and designs in pink, of course!

My dear friends, Paris is simply bursting with fashion! It's such a treasure trove of gorgeous leotard styles! But did you know, darling, it was back in 1923, when my time travel began, that they decided to show ballet outfits as ‘real clothes' and not just costumes! Now how clever is that? We see the designers creating outfits inspired by these graceful, ballet costumes - the ballet designs are flowing into high street trends! So daring and clever to inspire the designers with outfits inspired by these stunning creations!

It's incredible to think how far we've come since then - that little leotard revolution sparked by the talented designers of the 20th Century and then carried into the modern age! They have created these revolutionary styles, so beautiful, so inspiring. Just think, darling, back then, these bold dancers inspired by bold fashion design choices, they were true trailblazers of the fashion scene! They just took those leotard designs, pushed them to new extremes and made them incredibly stylish! They showed that you could be strong and powerful, and, of course, wonderfully, gloriously stylish at the same time!

Today we see the amazing leotards from these bygone eras inspiring a whole new generation of dancers and designers, and, honestly, isn't that just beautiful?! It’s like a tutu-licious cycle, one where passion, elegance and confidence keep swirling in that fantastic loop of fashion, making the world a little brighter, and a little more twirly. The designers in these bygone days didn't know just what a big impact they would have. But look at it today. From catwalk to street wear and to stage and, oh, of course, the glorious world of pink tutu performances, a world inspired by ballet leotard designs.

And just remember, I hope you all can bring a bit of the 1920s vibe, a hint of vintage leotard loveliness to your everyday look - whether it’s a striking pair of pink tutu pants with your favourite vintage top, a bold colourful statement scarf and matching lipstick or just simply embracing a stylish new approach to leotard wear for you every day. It's not just about dancing, darlings. It's about inspiring and celebrating our individuality and sense of style!

Speaking of celebrating our individuality, have you all had a look at what the big fashion magazines are showing this season? Leotards in soft pinks are definitely a key trend in all those wonderful glossies! That's definitely where I am taking inspiration, right now. Can't wait to work some of these chic leotards into my next pink tutu performance! What will be my signature dance move for October - just imagine the drama and glitz?!

Of course, my favourite part of these adventures is always finding the time to discover more beautiful ballet shows! Last month it was The Nutcracker and oh my gosh the beautiful ballerina’s outfits! And their stunning pointe shoes too - they twirled and pirouetted with such incredible elegance! And to think they were just like that all the way back to the 1920s! What a wonderful time capsule it all is for me!

Until next month, darling, remember to embrace your inner diva! Don't forget to follow me on social media and come back for more fabulous time-travelling, pink tutu fashion stories, my dearest friends. Because for me, it’s all about the leotard and finding joy and fabulousness every single day!

See you all soon!

Emma

XXX