Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling blogger, ready to whisk you off on another fantastic adventure in the wonderful world of leotards! This month, I'm popping my sparkly pink leotard on and hopping back to the 3rd of March 1936 – a date jam-packed with leotard history and some utterly fabulous fashion finds!
Before we set off, a quick catch-up from yours truly! You lovely lot will know I’m a bit of a leotard fanatic, and there's nothing quite like a new leotard to get my heart fluttering. Oh, and did I mention my new street performance routine? I've incorporated a cheeky little pirouette into the finale and the audience just can't get enough! The funds I earn are enough to keep my time-traveling sparkly leotard fully charged for my fabulous trips through history, which is great because the shopping on my latest trips has been divine!
Right, back to our time travel adventure! I've popped my dancing shoes on and I'm ready for this trip to 1936! I can feel it's going to be a good one…
Leotards: Then and Now
Stepping out of my sparkly leotard, I landed in 1936, right in the middle of the fashion boom. A bit like now, I found that the 'leotard' term was a bit vague back then, encompassing everything from the athletic designs favoured for physical activity, to the luxurious silken creations favoured by fashionable women. This versatility has always made leotards so exciting – and in 1936, they really were the star of the show!
While the 1930s had a penchant for minimalist dance outfits, things were already taking a fabulous turn towards dramatic, glamorous pieces. As I walked through the streets of 1936, the leotards of the time reminded me of ballet fashion with an artistic edge, influenced by a fascination with the glamorous performers who were sweeping the nation!
Just imagine: imagine ballet-inspired fashion for everyday life! Imagine flowing silk and beautiful cuts! Imagine dancing the streets with graceful twirls and an aura of timeless elegance!
The Leotard Love In 1936
There's one designer from this era that just had me smitten - Madame Rosine de Vaufré, whose leotards were absolute stars. This Parisian fashion house was renowned for its gorgeous, sleek designs – so sleek, in fact, that their designs made the bodies of their models look practically statuesque.
And, of course, no time travel trip is complete without a bit of history – specifically leotard history. Did you know that back in 1936, the "leotard" we know today was just gaining traction? The classic leotard design that most ballet dancers wear now was still a new invention! We are looking at the age of athletic leotards with sleek lines, inspired by the gymnasts and performers of the time.
Dancing Into History:
It's not just fashion that makes this time period so amazing. In the world of performance, 1936 saw a flurry of dazzling performances. Let’s go back in time to what was taking centre stage in this captivating era!
- Ballets Russes: My heart truly skipped a beat as I popped in to see the legendary Ballets Russes! A true titan of the ballet world, they performed at Covent Garden, and their influence on ballet costumes is something that resonates right through the decades. The colourful tutus and intricate designs are simply a feast for the eyes and I got my fill of pure ballet bliss, It was breathtaking!
- The Theatre: I ventured into a show at the Piccadilly Theatre - and oh, my stars, I discovered a fascinating stage play titled Escape Me Never that used the leotard as an integral part of the stage costumes. Leotards weren’t just confined to the ballet, darling - they were making their way to the wider theatre scene!
- The rise of the athletic leotard: For those of you who adore activewear like I do, 1936 was seeing a fantastic boom in the athletic world. The rise of sport and physical activity for women was pushing leotards towards a functional but equally glamorous aesthetic.
Let’s talk style:
I’ve been scouring the 1936 style guides, magazines, and catalogues and the leotards on offer really made me think about the design inspirations behind today’s outfits. Take the ballet designs, with their focus on flowing lines, sleekness and a perfect blend of comfort and elegance, They're truly timelessly beautiful, and they set the stage for the iconic ballerina silhouettes we see today. This period even began the transition to nylon for a less restricting feeling!
Imagine it darling - ballet designers crafting the look and feel of athletic wear. Think about the grace of ballet in a contemporary sportswear silhouette!
- And remember * those elegant ballet skirts with flowing frills that so many ballerinas still wear to this day, their design roots were found in the gorgeous fashion of the 1930s. A true time of design and evolution for dancewear, if ever I’ve seen one.
I left 1936 completely charmed by its fabulous dancewear – it truly showcased that the world of leotards was flourishing into a haven of graceful elegance and style. If I could have crammed a 1930s leotard into my sparkly time-travelling leotard, I would have! But maybe I'll try that on my next trip – who knows what sartorial wonders I’ll stumble upon in my next time-traveling journey! I’ll see you on the blog soon! Until then, remember – rock your own pink tutu with style!
