Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-traveler, and today we're taking a trip back to a very stylish decade - the Roaring Twenties!
This month, my magical pink leotard has transported me to the 7th of July 1929, and let me tell you, the streets are alive with flapper dresses, cloche hats, and an exciting air of freedom! Now, I might be in my shimmering pink leotard and tutu, but let's just say I caused a bit of a stir when I waltzed onto the scene. A "bit" of a stir. More like a flurry of shocked gasps and raised eyebrows!
But that's the beauty of time travel, isn't it? You never quite know how your sparkly leotard will be received in a different era! Thankfully, after a quick twirl and a wink (and perhaps a few well-placed pirouettes to accentuate my lovely leotard) the initial shock quickly gave way to intrigue and curiosity.
So, what exactly was happening in the world of leotard fashion back in 1929?
Well, leotards were still quite a niche garment at this point. Imagine! Back in those days, the word "leotard" was most commonly associated with circus performers and gymnasts. It was seen as quite an athletic and almost masculine garment!
Now, for you and I, darling, this just won't do. We know that the leotard is the most versatile, elegant and downright fabulous piece of clothing you could possibly wear. In fact, this is what fuels my little pink-tutu crusade! One tutu, one sparkly leotard at a time! I know I can turn the tide!
But back to our fashion journey... Despite the relatively "underground" status of the leotard, it was slowly starting to make its way into dance and ballet performances. Ballet, as a genre, was experiencing a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Europe. It was also starting to be used in Hollywood, and those wonderful, flapper-esque dancers were just begging for the sleek lines of a leotard.
This year, 1929, was also a very significant year for a ballet company that would become one of my all-time favourites - The Ballets Russes. Can you imagine the sheer spectacle? I was enthralled. My fellow ballet lovers, you MUST go back in time and see this ballet! Think gorgeous costumes, mesmerizing movements and a powerful expression of emotion that would make any dancer envious!
Although, admittedly, I was a tad disappointed that I didn't see more pink in the costumes! Now, just a hint of pink here and there...imagine how absolutely glorious it would look under those shimmering lights.
Speaking of spectacular events, another exciting thing I found in my travels through July 1929 was a lovely, vintage shop called "The Dressmaker's Dream." It's hidden in the backstreets of a quiet district of London, a stone's throw from Piccadilly Circus. Now, this little gem was bursting at the seams with the most exquisite fabrics and leotard-making paraphernalia.
My oh my! I just knew I had to peek inside and see what hidden treasures they held. There were rolls and rolls of satins and silks, in every shade of pink imaginable! And wouldn't you know it, even a few rolls of sparkle-embossed stretch fabrics, just perfect for a truly sensational leotard. Now, this was just a girl after my own heart!
I couldn't help myself. I grabbed a lovely shade of dusky rose, some pearly grey and some shimmery black and had them whip up a gorgeous leotard right then and there! They finished it within hours, just before a late afternoon tea at Harrods. It was a gorgeous affair! I wore my newly crafted dusky rose leotard with my vintage pink tutu and it looked sensational.
To top it all off, I even had the honour of performing a little street ballet piece in the square outside the department store, for the crowds that gathered! Oh, darling, to see the looks on their faces, pure delight and wonder, when I danced! They even cheered for my "little pink tutu dance"! You see, that's the magic of my work – to inspire joy and spread the love for dance.
After such a wonderful time in the heart of London, I headed back to my humble Derbyshire home. Feeling refreshed, inspired and full of delicious afternoon tea (and just a teeny bit of excitement about a potential "Pink Tutu Crusade") I retired to my writing desk and finished my monthly blog post.
Now, if you'll excuse me darlings, I think I need another visit to "The Dressmaker's Dream" very soon, a new leotard, in that dusky rose pink, is definitely in order! See you soon my dearest, keep those tutus twirling!
Until next month,
Emma x
