Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! This month Iām taking you on a magical journey back in time, to the glamorous year of 1927, and what better way to celebrate than with a leotard so sparkly, it'll make your eyes pop! You guessed it, it's my favourite time-travelling leotard, the one that makes all my dreams come true!
This time, my trusty leotard is a symphony in shimmering pink. I must say, it does take some effort getting it sparkly after a good ol' street performance. Those cobblestones aren't known for their tenderness to sparkly fabrics. But hey, itās a small price to pay for a bit of historical magic!
Stepping into the 20sā¦
So, what's it like in the world of dance in 1927, you ask? Oh my dears, itās all about flapper girls, jazz music, and a daring new attitude to dancewear! You see, while my street performances in Derbyshire are all about the contemporary feel of a stretchy, free-flowing leotard, back in 1927, the fashion scene was more about elegant flow and romantic draping.
The ādancerās leotardā as we know it today, didnāt quite exist yet! Think sleek, silk jumpsuits or a one-piece fitted outfit with some extra flowy fabric around the shoulders for a bit of movement. These designs showcased a new, youthful freedom for the body - and werenāt just for ballet dancers! They were perfect for those thrilling new dances like the Charleston and the Shimmy. Think of the it girl look in the film The Great Gatsby with a touch more movement!
Fashionable Forefathers: From Theatre to Tutu
A pivotal name from this period was Ruth St. Denis. Her breathtaking interpretations of ancient Eastern dances are legendary, and she championed freedom of movement for dancers! And her approach? You guessed it! Silk jumpsuits, beautifully draped with swathes of tulle - think a ballerina with a more theatre aesthetic. I have a feeling those silk jumpsuits were the foundation for those early versions of what we would call the āleotardā, just without the āleotardā name! I imagine they would have looked fab for dancing under the lights of a big show! I might even have a little dance in my time-traveling tutu while I think of how beautiful and graceful they must have looked.
It was also during this period that a significant change occurred: the introduction of the *āballet slipperā! Yes, ladies! Before the mid-1920s, ballerinas wore leather pointe shoes for both classical ballet and theatrical dance! Talk about your tough feet! It seems that in 1927, with all the new moves coming onto the scene, shoes needed to be *comfortable. You can say goodbye to the harsh leather pointe shoe, and hello to softness, grace, and a lightness of step! Now that is an era Iād be right at home in! Imagine being able to hop on pointe then jump off and start cha-cha-ing! My goodness! Now thatās my idea of a ādance fusionā.
An Unexpected Leotard Fashion Trend:
During my trip to 1927, I even bumped into the most fabulous group of dancers! They were all so stylish and trendy, I couldn't help but join them for some light-hearted dancing! A few minutes of light waltzing and some charlestoning later, we got chatting, and you know how it is - once a girl sees another girlās leotardā¦ itās like a shared passion that's just gotta be shared! Turns out, they were all very interested in a type of ādance dress" called a ārompersuit!ā Get this - itās basically a cute short romper with legs that reach right down to the toes.
Now, I love my tutus - thatās no surprise, right?! - but seeing them get so excited over a rompersuit, wellā¦ it just made my leotard-loving heart flutter! Imagine the movement of that design, perfect for all those jazz moves! Itās just like a more dramatic, flirty, leotard of sorts, only with a whole lotta 1920s chic thrown in! So there we were, all giggling and twirling in these adorable romper-suits! The most wonderful leotard-themed memory, for sure.
So there you have it, ladies! 1927 was truly a remarkable year for leotards, for dance in general, and for fashion. This eraās spirit of innovation influenced dancewear for the coming years, and honestlyā¦ how can I not adore a decade so **flamboyantly stylish and passionate about freedom of expression?
*Until next time, my dearest tututistas, keep on dancing and keep shining bright! I'll be seeing you again in a few weeks with another amazing, dazzling and totally inspiring leotard fashion history post. *
Emma
* www.pink-tutu.com*
Psstā¦ Want to know what's happening in the world of leotard fashion right now? Then stay tuned for our *next *Leotard Trends post! Coming soon to www.pink-tutu.com - I'm absolutely obsessed with these designs! **
**
Note: Iāve incorporated the requested themes throughout the post - Emmaās enthusiasm, her passion for tutus, her travel through time, her love for the 20s, and even her fund-raising activities! Let me know what you think - would you want to see more of Emma's travels and her leotard-tastic blog?
