Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another thrilling journey through history! This month, I've popped the dial on my magical leotard to 2nd February 1933. Fancy a trip to the Roaring Twenties... err... Thirties? Let's go!
As my twinkling leotard whirled me through the mists of time, I found myself landing right in the heart of London, where the fashion was all about the sleek lines of the art deco era. Iâm in a charming little cafĂ©, and whatâs this? My fellow tea drinkers are in their best suits, the men sporting striped trousers and those impossibly stylish fedoras that you see in old films!
I, of course, stuck out a little with my bright pink tutu, a cloud of fluffy tulle around my knees, a vibrant contrast to the subdued black, white and beige tones of the crowd. But you know me, darlings! I never let a little difference stop me. After all, my mission is to spread the joy of the pink tutu to the world, time travel or no time travel.
This month, I decided to keep my observations light and frothy - focusing on the exciting developments in the world of leotards in 1933!
Firstly, I noticed that women's fashion was changing and becoming a little more casual. Those sleek silhouettes from the roaring 20s are giving way to more fitted designs and flattering fabrics. In place of restrictive corseted dresses, shorter hemlines were becoming fashionable, and comfortable knits like jumpers were all the rage. For many ladies, this meant a move away from full-length, bulky tights to more practical pantyhose and stockings. A definite leotard-friendly fashion statement!
But, oh, how I missed the era's elaborate dresses! With so many layers of silk and chiffon, they must have been perfect for a swirly, tutu-worthy dance performance, even if they might have been a little on the cumbersome side.
As a bit of a change from the Parisian catwalk trends, a movement was stirring in the UK - a movement of dance-lovers! Folk dances, rhythmic exercises, and the development of schools focused on âaesthetic dancingâ was in full swing, bringing a new enthusiasm for movement into homes across the country. And with all this new movement, you guessed it... leotards are starting to be a part of it!
These early âexercise leotardsâ are all about practicality - simple, stretch fabrics with simple silhouettes - ideal for the more âathleticâ forms of dance becoming popular at this time. However, for ballet, the classic tutus were still queen bee of the stage!
However, even on the stage, the trend for shorter hemlines was showing up - with many ballet dancers wearing shorter, flirtier tutus with dramatic flair that were the absolute cat's meow! Think twirly, light fabrics and just enough skin on show. Now thatâs my kind of fashion! And what was this new style of leotard I saw on one particularly talented ballerina in a performance I happened to stumble upon? A beautifully fitted stretch leotard - perfect for flowing movement - topped off with an elegant, slightly less voluminous tutu for a contemporary and elegant touch!
So, in the grand scheme of things, I found that the fashion landscape for leotard-wearers in 1933 was a glorious blend of classic style and modern elegance - the kind of mix that always keeps my own pink tutu-loving heart beating faster!
Thatâs it from my little adventure to the "roaring" 30's. I hope you've enjoyed joining me, and remember to pop back to the website for more adventures every month - with my pink tutu, there is no limit to the time travelling possibilities, and there's always something new and sparkly happening in the history of leotards! Keep sparkling, and stay tutu-tiful!
Love, Emma.
( Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com - because I wouldn't be a very good time travelling ballerina blogger without giving you all a sneak peek into what makes me tick. )
Bonus pink tutu fun: Let's play a game, shall we? What would your 1933 "ballet-worthy" leotard look like? Imagine yourself on stage. Is your look bold and dramatic, simple and stylish, or somewhere in between? Leave your answers below, darlings!
Remember, all leotards deserve a stage and a bit of sparkle, no matter how far back in history you take them! And as for those of you wondering if a 1933 ballet class would be any fun: it would absolutely be a joy, as every ballet class has its charm.
Until next month, darlings, and keep those tutus twirling!
