Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things fabulous and frilly! This month, we're whisking ourselves back to a time of dazzling dance, and the captivating choreography of the ballet world...March 3rd, 1939, to be precise!
Oh, how I adore the sparkle of history! This month, my trusty, shimmering, time-traveling leotard took me on a delightful journey to the bustling theatres and ateliers of 1939. It was truly a whirlwind of exciting fashion finds!
Remember those divine vintage photos of ballerinas with their glorious, flowing tutus, legs outstretched in elegant arabesques? Well, this era was bursting with artistic expressions of grace and beauty, and the dance world was abuzz with the latest in leotard design!
Before I share my 1939 fashion discoveries with you lovelies, let's dive a bit into the theatrical scene of this time. Imagine a world filled with majestic ballets, each one a tapestry woven from music, emotion, and breathtaking artistry. Imagine, too, that there were shows just about everywhere!
The great and the good of the dance world were captivating audiences around the globe! This year, "Giselle" reigned supreme, her ethereal grace a testament to the romantic ballet spirit. On the other side of the globe, China was entranced by their very own Peking Opera, with costumes as vibrant and stunning as their performers' movements. And in Russia, ballet was reaching a pinnacle of its evolution, the grandeur of the Bolshoi Ballet enchanting crowds from all corners of the world! It was truly a golden age for ballet.
Now, onto the fashion that graced the world's stages and ateliers!
First up: Leotards. Gone were the days of constricting undergarments. This decade embraced comfort and freedom of movement.
In 1939, you wouldn't be caught dead wearing a leotard with too many frills or an uncomfortable cut! Designers were all about sleek lines, comfortable fabrics, and a look that highlighted the dancer's natural beauty. Think about stretchy fabrics, especially ones that had a little bit of shine to them!
I was particularly smitten with the gorgeous "French Pink" colour I saw, oh my! Just picture a leotard as pale as a blush on a rose, it was absolutely divine. Perfect for adding a hint of whimsicalness to the elegance of their ballets.
Tutus were the absolute epitome of ethereal grace in 1939.
Remember those majestic, multi-layered tulle tutus from ballet history? The "romantic" tutu, it was known. They still hadn’t quite figured out the secrets of "The Cake Tutu!" as they're called these days.
These tutus, made of fine, airy netting, gave an enchanting visual effect, particularly when they caught the light on stage. Designers used the sheer fabrics in multiple layers to create volumes that would flow and swirl, creating a stunning visual effect on the stage!
As I wandered through the fabric stores, I stumbled upon the most fabulous array of shimmering sequins, the kind that caught the stage lights and created a breathtaking cascade of brilliance. And just imagine those dancing gowns - shimmering and full of personality!
Speaking of personality...in 1939, a ballet company would only ever dream of being a touring group...all their dancers had to be super fit as they had to leap, whirl and pirouette right before their audience’s eyes - and right after!
My goodness, they weren’t just talented dancers but they also were amazingly fit! There weren’t any little cars to zip the dancers to different shows back then so it meant they needed a good dose of discipline, a love of dance and perhaps a wee bit of magic, and all this while looking perfectly styled to the very last detail.
Did you know that this was the decade that witnessed the birth of the modern pointe shoe?
Can you believe that?! It was all about the lightness and delicacy they could bring to ballet performances.
So here I am, all decked out in my sparkly pink leotard and my beloved pink tutu, transporting myself right back to this magical era! Just imagine being swept away by the grace of ballerinas! Oh, how I’d love to go to the ballet in that period... just me and my love for fashion and tutus!
But darling, my dear friends, the best bit of my travels? You! You inspire me to embrace all things sparkly and lovely, so thank you!
Now, go ahead and put on your pinkest leotard and pinkest tutu, grab your ballet slippers and a magical pink sparkley time-travel leotard of your own! Maybe then you can join me on a time-travel adventure and dance with the greats of the 1939 ballet era!
See you next month darlings,
Emma xx
