#LeotardHistory during 1926 07 July

Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing time traveller, ready to take you on a sartorial journey to the glorious, glorious year of 1926! This month, my sparkly pink leotard has whisked me back to a time of flapper dresses, jazz music, and a dance craze that set the world alight! It was, you guessed it, the Charleston.

Remember my dear blog readers, you've all got to have a dream and chase it! Just like my love for pink and my quest to make everyone rock a tutu, the dream that spurred on this time travelling adventure was all about the joy of dance!

Oh, and I forgot to mention: my favourite part of this journey? All the fab leotard styles I discovered! The twenties, my lovelies, were a golden age for leotard fashion! Let me tell you all about it!

When I landed in 1926, it felt like a scene straight out of a vintage movie! Ladies were dancing in their short, shimmering flapper dresses, sporting daring bobs and oh-so-sophisticated make-up. They were bold and free, a true embodiment of the changing times. The music, my goodness, it was electric! It filled the air with jazz rhythms, swirling dancers and roaring laughter!

But you know, for a time traveller like me, it's always about the leotards! What leotard fashion secrets would this era unfold?

The flapper era saw leotards transformed, becoming lighter, smoother, and oh-so-feminine. No more stiff, heavy fabrics! Soft, silky fabrics became the norm. Think flowing chiffon, smooth silk, and even lightweight knits, offering comfort and flexibility for dancing! You could swing those flapper dresses freely, showcasing a new breed of daring and agile dancers.

This also marked the beginning of more expressive dance forms like ballet, modern dance, and, of course, the Charleston! These exciting dance forms led to the invention of a new type of leotard – the “practice leotard” - designed specifically for dancers.

Speaking of the Charleston, it was the dance everyone was talking about! The energy, the flair, and that mesmerizing move of the knees? My, oh my, it was electrifying! People were crazy for this dance! It even found its way onto the silver screen, with films like “The Charleston” (1926), making waves at the cinema. The craze swept the nation, with dance halls springing up everywhere! It even caught on across the pond in New York!

Can you believe, that just in this decade, dancing was slowly evolving from an elegant art form in the salons to something that could be enjoyed in lively and informal settings?

Of course, all this dancing called for even more gorgeous leotard fashion!

You know, darling, what’s wonderful about these old time travels? Discovering that, right in the heart of this fun and energetic era, fashion also went beyond practicalities! Leotards now reflected individual flair, creativity and style, a move that totally resonates with me!

Remember, I love to combine dance, fashion and travelling. This led me straight to the ballet stage! In the West End, my lovelies, London was simply exploding with dance extravaganzas! There were musicals, opera, ballet, you name it! Even street performers were embracing dance and leotard styles in their own way, which meant I was right in my element!

Oh my, speaking of stages! I did tell you, 1926 marked a shift in leotards. We weren’t just talking about practicality but also style! So what was hot on the dance scene? Let me take you to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden…

It was a dazzling ballet production called Le Carnaval, based on Russian folk tales! The stars? Well, they were a sight to behold! But one little detail really caught my eye, you won't believe it... it was a pink tutu!

Yes, the first ballet tutu in pink! It had these fluffy, airy layers and looked absolutely enchanting as the dancers moved on stage. My heart just about skipped a beat!

That was the day I learned about the tutu’s unique power – to be a true symbol of dance, of grace, and, my dearest readers, it even symbolised the future of leotard fashion! You just need to picture it – pink tulle, shimmering with each twirl and leap, taking a dramatic turn in the heart of dance!

That one pink tutu sparked a whole new level of creative exploration in dance wear and even influenced other dancers. Not long after this show, the pink tutu began popping up in various ballet productions. It felt so fresh and exciting!

Of course, you already know that I'm a little obsessed with tutus. And this pink one truly solidified my passion. So I have to thank those early ballet pioneers for giving me the inspiration for this incredible time travel journey.

It truly gave me a glimpse into the dazzling, expressive dance world, the leotard fashions that blossomed alongside it, and a huge dose of pink magic! I bet that one tutu changed the dance world forever and made my pink loving, tutu-wearing heart so, so happy.

As you can imagine, I couldn’t resist hitting up the shops. Just think - the dance craze was sweeping the nation. Even though dance fashion wasn't on every shop window yet, there was one department store that truly understood this new craze…

Liberty! That’s the one in London, ladies! Oh, what a wonderland! The place buzzed with energy, full of dazzling designs, vibrant colors and, yes, the perfect fabric selections.

Imagine rows and rows of sumptuous silks and satins – just what you needed to fashion a showstopping, Charleston worthy leotard! They even had a fabulous collection of tulle in the most stunning shades imaginable – like a kaleidoscope bursting with colour and textures! It was like a time traveller's dream!

But there was something so intriguing – the attitude of the leotard! The design seemed to go hand in hand with the era.

Instead of the long, sweeping lines and complicated frills from the Edwardian era, we now had an era of simplified, streamlined silhouettes.

But let's not forget about practicality. For all the fashion-forward design and flair, dancers need functionality, and leotard designs reflected this need. That's how I noticed a particular trend: leotards for dancing began with a sleeveless silhouette! You betcha, they looked stylish as well as gave dancers full range of movement! This kind of freedom was important to me! And, yes, you guessed it! I was back at that ballet! Dancing around those elegant halls at the Covent Garden Theatre...

And now, as I head back to my Derbyshire cottage, I'm overflowing with inspiration! There’s something so utterly charming and captivating about seeing the past. This little trip through time reminds me that the past isn’t just history, it's the very root of how we dress, dance, and move.

And if you've read my blog, you know I love exploring leotards, all of them – from the glitzy ones on Broadway, to the ones we dance in in Derbyshire's fields. I believe a leotard is much more than a piece of clothing! It is freedom! And you never know, with my love of dance, who I'll meet next on my next little adventure, who will inspire me or whose heart I can touch!

That’s it for this month! Remember to check my website - www.pink-tutu.com - every month, as I'll be whisking you off on another spectacularly stylish adventure through time! And if you ever need me, just hop onto that nearest pink tutu and take off on your own adventure. You never know where it may take you. It just might take you somewhere amazing!

Now, let's go dance! See you next month, lovelies!

Warmly,

Emma