Hello, my lovelies! Happy New Year from Emma, your Derbyshire-born ballerina blogger, currently zipping through time in my very special, sparkling pink leotard!
January 1st, 1944… can you imagine it? The world is in the throes of World War II, and yet, somehow, even amidst such a turbulent time, fashion, like always, perseveres!
Today, I'm venturing into the heart of 1944 to see what leotards and dancewear are doing, and honestly, even in the midst of conflict, the fashion scene was bubbling!
The news from across the Atlantic is telling me that wartime rationing was still impacting the U.S. A, meaning fabrics for fashion, including leotards, were limited! Luckily, my trusty vintage sewing patterns reveal that the use of cotton was encouraged, and with it, came a fresh, airy style.
I, of course, have my trusty sewing machine packed within my leotard's magic pockets (the benefits of a sparkling pink time-travelling leotard!) and I plan on making my own leotard from the prettiest cotton imaginable – pink, of course! The pastel pinks were fashionable at the time, and so delicate, so feminine.
Back in the UK, the war's influence was strong. In spite of it all, the show, "The Lady in the Dark" opened on Broadway – starring the amazing Gertrude Lawrence – she even performed in the show! And I couldn't resist taking a peek at the costumes – so very theatrical, just like I love them!
But hold on, darling! This is 1944, we are still at war! So even with rationing, fashion still held strong.
I’m particularly excited by this glimpse into the past because the ‘40s really set the scene for the future of dancewear. This is the decade where the dance world started to favour leotards for their comfort and functionality. Can you imagine what the world of dance would be without those iconic, snug, little beauties?
Oh, and while I’m at it – I must confess that I found the cutest little pink tutus in an old Parisian vintage shop in 1944! You know how much I adore those little delights. You can't have a leotard without a sparkling tutu. It's just against the law – well, against Emma's Law of Tutu Etiquette!
Oh, and one thing I learned on this time travelling trip – that the 1944 dance scene loved vibrant, bold colours. There’s an elegant vintage picture in my mind right now: dancing in a vintage blue or red leotard – I can imagine a beautiful stage set around it – so many amazing visions!
Even now, all this wartime history has really got me thinking. It must have been incredibly hard to carry on as normal while facing such challenges. And it must have been challenging for fashion and dance, but oh my, those creative spirits found a way! The leotards they were wearing might have been different, but the beauty, the grace, and the power of movement is universal.
To think of the dancing during such a time, all those dancers wearing beautiful costumes, expressing emotions and telling stories - it's so inspiring. They remind me to never give up, even when times are tough. And I am still dedicated to making everyone wear pink tutus - the power of a beautiful, sparkly pink tutu!
Anyway, it's been lovely chatting. Until next month when I time travel to 1st February 1944, do remember to get on over to the Pink-Tutu website to leave a comment or message. It’s www.pink-tutu.com, if you are on the hunt for some fabulous fashion inspiration! Don't forget to keep up to date with my street dancing schedule and get tickets to one of my performances.
Stay pink and tutu-ful! Love you!
Emma xx
