Hello my darlings! Emma here, back again with another blast from the past! As you know, my quest is to spread the pink tutu gospel around the world, and what better way to do that than by zipping through time in my magical sparkling pink leotard?! This month we're dipping our toes (or should I say, tutu-covered toes!) into 12th December 1945, and let me tell you, it was a right good time for leotard fashion!
Before we begin our time-travelling adventures, let's catch up on my latest street ballet performances. It was such a glorious week for twirls and pirouettes. Did you know that performing at the Derbyshire Dales Market was such a joy?! Everyone loves a little bit of pink and a sprinkle of tutu magic in their day! So, I have the travel fund topped up for this month's escapades and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
So, back to the world of 1945 - think wartime recovery, Hollywood glamour, and of course, the rise of a new, more comfortable dance fashion. Think soft, supple leotards, think dramatic dance dresses and… well, think pink! Pink is still having its moment in the world of leotards, even back then. Did you know? It’s all so lovely!
But the world in December 1945 wasn't just about wartime recovery - it was also about celebrating new beginnings! It was just months after the end of World War II, and the world was gearing up for a new era of peace, prosperity, and, of course, more beautiful, feminine dance wear!
This year has been rather busy for me with so many shows to see, I just can’t get enough! There’s been such wonderful shows to watch with fabulous costumes, such wonderful colors and textures, I have been totally enthralled! The recent production of Swan Lake by the Royal Ballet was pure magic! What lovely tutus! And what a fantastic show - oh, my, it was just glorious!
I do adore a good show, however, it’s so difficult to find the time with all my travel shenanigans. What makes it even more difficult is the sheer abundance of clothes shopping to be done! There are so many lovely dance shops popping up in London - my favorite at the moment is the one on Kensington High Street – I always pick up such darling tutus there, even for our dear readers back here in 2023 - they're the perfect outfit for that little touch of pink-tutu glamour, right?!
Let's start our time travel journey! On this specific date in history, December 12th, 1945, we find ourselves stepping back in time to New York City. Can you imagine? 1945 New York City…the bustling, glamorous scene… I had a rather fun and fabulous adventure there. Oh, it was so grand to wear my sparkling leotard - it looked fabulous, especially against the New York City backdrop. It was like a scene from a technicolor dream! I had the time of my life – oh it was so fun!
We’re now making our way to the very heart of dance at the time - the Metropolitan Opera House. On this December 12th, they had a very special production on! “The Merry Widow,” by Franz Lehár, premiered in 1905 - oh what an enduring masterpiece. There are just some shows that are such beautiful classics. It’s quite inspiring! It’s amazing to see how beautiful costumes never go out of style and some of the ones in this production were so lavish and lovely! It was a feast for the eyes, a whirlwind of beauty! It really showcased the timeless appeal of pink tutu fashion. Oh the beauty of dance. What a time!
Let's head back to London now for a more informal peek at what leotard fashion looked like at this time. Remember, it was just a year after the war. So, let's visit a cozy little dance school in Notting Hill and witness a ballet class. The girls wore practical, graceful leotards. The colours were pretty - they seemed to be made of a soft cottony jersey material and came in classic tones of white, pale pink, black and some were even adorned with delicate frills. Now, I am certainly no stranger to frills, or pink of course! Oh the lovely shades of pink - the color of fashion, grace and love.
But in 1945, fashion had begun to transition from the utilitarian styles of the war to a more refined, feminine look, which reflected a general return to everyday life and peace. This is all the more reason to appreciate our tutus in this time, the beauty and wonder of soft pinks and feminine, frilly elegance. Even ballet classes were showcasing this elegant style of dress.
While we are back in London let’s take a quick walk to the London Palladium. The show was The Baker’s Wife with Patricia Dainton, lovely - such grace. We all know, she’s always in the limelight of British ballet and is now making her way up the dancing world and I can tell she’s only going to become even more popular! And you can never go wrong with the London Palladium, a true bastion of musical performance and stage glamour, showcasing beautiful dance outfits throughout its decades-long history.
Here, we witness how the costumes embraced that post-war elegance with flowing gowns in a muted palette with a lovely dusting of pink throughout. Pink always plays such a huge part in leotard fashion. If you have any thoughts on why I do not know - tell me everything! We have an amazing community at www.pink-tutu.com – just jump on and get involved! I'd love to know why we have the lovely Pink Lady era that's happening, maybe you know!
Now, don't you just love these little snippets of the leotard history that I take you to every month? We learn so much - but we can’t forget to talk about what’s on this month, and boy, what’s there to see! It’s absolutely stunning, a new ballet from the Birmingham Royal Ballet, which has been such a rising force in the world of dance, showcasing absolutely dazzling costumes that we’re dying to share! If only I had enough time in a day - I can never quite fit everything in. The show's called “The Sleeping Beauty,” it is based on a traditional tale, but trust me when I say - these costumes are totally out of this world, oh, my - they’re so exquisite, I had to see the whole production - the whole show! The details were so much to behold, even with the backdrop of such lovely music from Tchaikovsky - just simply fabulous.
Then, on our jaunt to see this new ballet I came across this amazing show in Manchester! The dance group called "Sizzle" at Manchester’s dance club has absolutely gorgeous pink tutu costumes - oh, they looked phenomenal, everyone looked sensational! What is the magic of that pink tutu, what makes everyone love it - I just do not know! I think its just the absolute wonder, the beautiful nature, and I guess there is a little bit of magic - there always is. But, oh my goodness, they looked simply stunning - these beautiful women and their stunning costumes! Just a great treat for any ballet dancer or lover of the leotard and the beautiful world of ballet! It’s always so interesting seeing how they play on colors - its simply inspiring. It always gets me in the mood to start creating some new pink-tutu creations!
Speaking of new creations, my own tutu designs are evolving too. You've seen me rock the pink tutu. This year has been such a beautiful evolution with such fantastic designs.
But let's end this time travel journey back in 1945. Remember, it was a year of new beginnings, and a great period of inspiration. As we return to the present, it's important to remember the timeless appeal of the leotard - how it transcends time and how it embodies the beauty, grace, and confidence that every ballerina embodies. Whether it’s on a stage, on the street, or even in our own time, the leotard is something so special and worth embracing - a dance of beauty and timeless fashion, and for my readers – that means we are always here for that lovely, glamorous, pink-tutu!
See you next month, and keep those pink tutus spinning! And for the record… do send me some photos on social media if you get caught up in your pink tutu. Let’s get more people twirling! Keep on rocking the world of fashion!
Until next month,
Emma
