Hello darlings! Emma here, and it's time for another jaunt through the decades with my trusty pink time-travelling leotard. This month, we're waltzing back to a rather poignant day â 5th May, 1946. It's just a few weeks after the war, a world in flux, but my goodness, a world ripe with fashion possibilities! And I just had to be there to catch them.
Before I delve into the glorious leotards and breathtaking costumes I witnessed, I have to confess to a bit of a secret! Last month, I popped into the 1920s. There was this fabulously glitzy soirée at the Savoy, and I donned a gorgeous feather-trimmed sequined dress... But, let's face it, darling, you can't go to a swanky ball without a bit of preparation. I spent weeks planning the ensemble, perfecting my make-up and researching the latest dance styles to charm the audience! You see, I found these marvellous little dancing shoes on a time travel whim. They have magical sparkly powers - think, pink jelly shoes infused with all things magical - and they let me dip into the past... well, for a very small fee.
For a gal with a penchant for pink tutus, itâs all a bit like winning the lottery! You see, a few months back, I was just a Derbyshire girl who absolutely adored ballet and everything about it - leotards, the tutus, the beautiful costumes, the intricate choreography. Then, a chance meeting at the Peak District Arts Festival with a rather eccentric, flamboyant street magician gave me the means to fulfil my biggest dream - a time travelling life devoted to leotards and tutus!
I perform street dances - well, I canât tell you my exact tricks. Let's just say, think Pinkalicious meets a bit of âPhantom of the Operaâ, a whole lottaâ twirls and quite a few dazzling, shimmery surprises. Thatâs all it takes! Those performances â a whole whirl of shimmering leotard moves â pay for my next jaunt in time! And this month? 1946 - think âGone With The Wind meets wartime London.â My goodness, the leotard designs were divine! I was simply gobsmacked!
Imagine my glee, arriving in London - a bustling metropolis just emerging from a difficult period. It was as if all those old pre-war fabrics had become an artistic revolution! Imagine the colours - a swirl of post-war bright pastels against a background of rich charcoal and indigo! It was all so very thrilling!
My destination was Sadlerâs Wells Theatre. Balletâs resurgence after the war was an event to see and a fashion show like no other. Ballet had come roaring back! I quickly found a wonderful dressmaker, and before long, I was whisked into my perfect ensemble. You know how it goes â you arrive with an image in your head, then you get whisked into a fashion wonderland!
Now, you have to visualise this: A fabulous 40s-style floral print dress â so vibrant, so chic. The waist was cinched, the skirt flared. I was almost ready! A few deft movements of my little dance shoes - âtwinkle twinkle' I say â and Iâm whisked through time, arriving at the theatre in the nick of time.
And there it was â the spectacle that had captivated the world! I wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by! The Ballet Rambert was on the bill! Imagine it: Ballet set to music composed just months before, by Arthur Bliss, and it was a piece called âCheckmateâ. Just picture those stunning leotards, with an air of strength and beauty. Think sharp and sleek, the perfect canvas to showcase an array of stunning dance moves. It was nothing short of an enchantment. They had a modern vibe, these leotards - think sleek black against that sharp contrasting white. It was the perfect wartime palette, bringing an understated but highly effective chic to the stage.
What else caught my eye, darling? Ballet fashions! As I walked down those vibrant streets, I saw a resurgence of fashion. And how about the sheer abundance of wartime dresses with the occasional glamorous embellishment to elevate those fabrics to couture status? Think intricate sequins, sequins, and more sequins - on those vintage silk nightgowns that became the wartime dance ensembles! Talk about transformation! I even spotted those divine corsetry designs. It was the wartime fashionista who wore these little beauties â so elegant, so delicate! Imagine cinching in that waist while showing off those beautiful shoulders and arms. Just beautiful, and it made me see the fashion world as an artistic revolution, almost a post-war ballet itself.
After the performance, the dance-inspired, high-spirited crowd flowed through Covent Garden. A real swirl of those fabulous post-war 40s fashions! It felt like everyone had rediscovered a new love for dance, and this passion for expression just flowed through the streets. The atmosphere was joyous, like a party after the end of a difficult world event. The war might be over, but its memory remained, but so did the hope for the future. I'd have been lost if not for my trusty little time-traveling dancing shoes!
But let me return to that captivating Ballet Rambert show. What stood out? Well, it wasnât just the colours, or the movement, it was the impact. Think ballerina dancers performing for a nation seeking comfort in a chaotic world. Ballet brought a glimmer of peace, beauty, and artistry in those bleakest of post-war times. I found myself gazing at a dance scene infused with hope and grace, and a remarkable ability to heal through its artistry. Ballet, for all its beauty, was so much more. It brought people together, offered them a story to absorb, a dream to embrace, and a beautiful moment of solace in an ever-changing world.
You see, this trip back to the 40s made me realise something important: We must never underestimate the power of a beautiful ballet outfit! A perfectly fitting leotard can bring confidence and beauty. And don't get me started on a breathtaking, perfectly fitting pink tutu! And remember, fashion isnât always about the clothing â itâs the artistry, the magic of expressing oneself through a graceful swirl, a confident dance step. A ballet leotard isnât just about the dance â itâs about bringing together grace, artistry and expression.
Thatâs the beauty of this job - seeing fashion come alive through a time lens. Ballet inspires creativity, gives a touch of grace and beauty to the world. And that, darling, is the inspiration I'm leaving with you this month - never underestimate the power of fashion. Never let anyone dim your shine, especially not the doubters in the world! You just put on that perfect tutu and go out and spin, spin, spin until you reach the stars, and then, darling, you dance even more!
I canât wait to see you next month with my next time travelling adventure!
See you then!
Yours in leotards and tutus,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
