Hey darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and today's travel date? June 1929! Can you imagine? Just a hop, skip, and twirl through time and BAM, I'm in the roaring 20s. Oh my, what a time!
And you know what? As a bonafide leotard fashion enthusiast, this particular journey back in time has me doing a little pirouette of joy!
Let's chat leotards, shall we? The 1920s? A whole world of new and exciting things happening for the female form in the world of leotard fashion!
Firstly, remember how everything was evolving? You had the roaring jazz age, women getting the vote, all this amazing new art happening, and you just knew, even back then, that leotard styles would need to step up their game! Think about it! Those new flapper styles, all about being daring, free and glamorous, just wouldn’t work with restrictive undergarments! Those women needed flexibility and freedom in their dancing outfits – which brings us back to the wonderful world of the leotard!
Now, let me tell you, my favourite leotards from this era are what we call 'one-piece garments' – think sleeveless, maybe a scoop neck, or even a little low-backed. The important bit, you see, was showing those glorious arms! No longer bound by those huge puffed sleeves! Just beautiful lines and freedom for the body to move and swirl – just how a ballerina loves it!
What I was also noticing were all the new materials cropping up! Of course, you had your classic silks, satins and velvets – you always will! But back then, a whole load of other choices started to emerge! Think of things like rayon, georgette, and the even dazzling crepe de chine! All those shimmery and drape-y materials – truly amazing!
But let's get practical. One of the absolute BEST things about those 1920s leotards was all those added details! Think sequins, think fringes, even some beaded embroidery! Oh, the sparkle, the drama! It was the ideal era for turning even a simple practice session into a whole performance. And my favourite element? Why, the little necklines and armholes that would allow for those sensational dropped back straps! My goodness! What a vision in elegance and freedom – oh, it was just magnificent.
Now, darling, before you ask – Yes, I was sporting my shimmering pink time-travel tutu – oh it felt so chic with all those daring new dance looks – we were twins!
The funny thing was, most of the leotard fashion of the time wasn’t really for the stage, per se! It was mostly for things like dancing classes! You had those big dance halls where women would learn the Charleston, the Foxtrot, even a bit of a tango! Leotards for a bit of social dancing! What a concept, eh? And you know, my darling dancers, it made perfect sense – it just made that whole feeling of moving freely more achievable and comfortable – perfect for the flappers to shake their thing!
I mean, my favourite thing about being a dancer is how utterly free it makes you feel, especially when I get to twirl my way around in my pink tutu. Can you imagine all those flappers twirling, swaying, with those new free forms – those were the golden days of freedom! And in the centre of it all, those beautiful leotard shapes! Oh the excitement!
So what’s the story here, darlings? If you think back, the 1920s brought us the start of a really amazing movement towards freedom of movement in dance – for men and women alike – and of course, the iconic leotard was front and centre for this! Isn't that beautiful?
Well, let’s shift gears a little, shall we? It wouldn’t be a true pink-tutu fashion time travel without some good old-fashioned shopping and entertainment.
Now, I might be living my life as a time-traveling tutu enthusiast, but that doesn’t mean I haven't been paying close attention to the leotard-y bits going on in my home town of Derby! Oh, darling! I discovered this adorable little place called The Dancing Duck, a shop just off Sadler Gate – a haven for all things dance wear – including leotards, shoes, and drum roll… You guessed it! Tutús! They are so darling there.
And speaking of entertainment, it wouldn’t be 1929 without catching a show. I found myself at The Hippodrome. What a marvel, with that huge glass dome, with its beautiful art deco decorations. The dance troupes there were phenomenal. They called their style the "Follies," a whirlwind of dance, song, and humour! Honestly, a true dance party with everyone decked out in glitzy, show-stopping outfits.
You’d find my shimmering pink tutu nestled perfectly amongst those stylish gowns and flapper dresses at The Hippodrome – and even if a little out of time, we danced, we shimmied, we twirled… oh it was the best time!
Darling, after a day filled with dancing and shopping and a little time travel magic, I must say: this was a day for my diary! The magic of time travel is something you never really get used to, even after all my trips through history – and the chance to meet those roaring 20s ladies was truly an absolute delight! The free spirited movement they brought into the world of dance is absolutely breathtaking – and yes, they’d probably appreciate my pink tutu! It's all about celebrating that beautiful, joyous world of dance and fashion, isn’t it?
Till next month, my darlings, be free to dance, embrace the magic of the past, and maybe… just maybe, you’ll discover a new style of tutu or leotard to make you feel fantastic! I know I do, and nothing brings more joy than knowing I have brought my personal pink-tutu obsession to everyone in every century!
Your faithful ballerina, Emma xx
