#LeotardHistory during 1928 12 December

Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of all things pink, twirling, and time travel. This month, I'm whisking you away to a very special date: 12th December 1928.

This isn't just any random date, darling. It's the anniversary of one of my absolute favourite things in the world - the leotard! And, believe it or not, the history of the leotard doesn't stop at our beloved ballerina attire. We're about to go on a little trip to discover just how versatile and influential this one garment really is. So, grab your pinkest tutu, tighten those sparkly ballet shoes, and let's go!

My Time Travelling Tutu

This month's journey found me, as always, in my magical, time-traveling, pink sparkling leotard. You see, every month, my gorgeous pink tutu acts as my passport through time. It's a little bit magical, a little bit bonkers, but it’s my favourite way to see the world and share my passion for leotards and ballet fashion with you all!

Now, where did we end up on 12th December 1928? You won’t believe it - New York City, where we popped right into the very first “Leotard’s”, a brand new gym that opened its doors just this day. It was a real hustle and bustle of a place, full of enthusiastic people all dressed in their workout wear (quite plain, really compared to our gorgeous, colourful leotards!).

Speaking of our leotards, 1928 was a time when they were just starting to become a popular choice for gym and sports, especially in the USA, although we were starting to see them on dancers in Britain too! They were made from soft fabrics like silk, often with a delicate lace trim, which looked amazing on the dancers, although a little too pretty for running around! It wasn't long before leotards started being adapted for athletic purposes.

After the gym, I snuck into a private performance of an incredibly talented dancer by the name of Ruth St. Denis. I absolutely loved her dancing. She wore a gorgeous oriental inspired leotard with an amazing layered skirt over the top, paired with beautiful long, sparkling sleeves - a little bit dancer, a little bit fairy. What a beautiful example of the gorgeous combinations of ballet and costume!

Back to London Town - Leotards on Stage and Screen

Now, fast-forward a few decades. It’s 1960, the 12th of December once again! I was on the set of a film and, what a surprise, everyone is dressed in leotards - even the film crew! You know that 1960s “futuristic” feel - it's everywhere here in the studio. We’re all wearing shiny PVC, and the sets are made up of sleek, futuristic structures - they are even making an effort to be fashion forward here in the film industry. It's clear to see why everyone, from dancers to actors to gym bunnies, loves the leotard - it’s incredibly versatile! This is the perfect example of how a simple garment can really capture the essence of a particular era!

It's interesting to notice that in the early 1960s, the leotard is no longer associated with just ballet. It’s moving into the world of sport and even fashion. We can see this evolution of leotards through the 1960s and 1970s where it’s becoming an integral part of everyday life, appearing everywhere from gym classes to the beach!

Now we’ve got leotards made out of all different kinds of material. We have the beautiful stretchiness of Lycra that we know and love, but we also have some stunning silk creations and we even have the beginning of the modern-day sports leotard - it's such a great example of fashion and sport coming together.

Speaking of sport, my favourite thing to do on my time-travelling adventures is to do a street ballet performance! What a joy it is to wear my sparkly pink tutu, spin, and dance, and get everyone interested in ballet and in pink. Every single time I perform, I end up with an enormous crowd who are all just bewitched by the beauty of the ballet.

My passion for tutus and leotards has led me to make the most amazing discoveries and experience the most incredible adventures across time and space. And, every month, I am excited to share these journeys with you all.

For today, I leave you with this thought - the leotard, darling, it is not simply an item of clothing; it’s an embodiment of strength, grace, and versatility. Its presence on stages, in gyms, on beaches, and even in movies says it all. It's a statement about self expression and the beauty of being human and, well, just a little bit fabulous.

Stay tutu-ed,

Emma

www.pink-tutu.com