Hello my lovely Leotard Lovers!
It's Emma here, your time-travelling ballerina, back with another dazzlingly delightful journey through Leotard history! October is my favourite month, don't you just love that crisp autumn air? And October 1946 is extra special as we’re delving into a fascinating era for leotard fashion! I recently whipped up a batch of delicious blackberry and apple crumble with lashings of custard - and as I watched it bubble away, I realised how many culinary creations would have graced tables around the world on this very day in 1946, all thanks to my trusty time-travelling leotard! It’s like a magic wardrobe but made for ballerinas…oh, to be whisked away to the glamour and grace of a bygone era! It’s time to dance, my darlings!
As I travelled through time, my pink sparkling leotard shimmered like a disco ball under the lights of the 1946 London Palladium. What a night! I was utterly mesmerized watching Margot Fonteyn glide across the stage in her ethereal, beautiful tutu, its wispy layers catching the stage lights in an absolute dream.
Margot Fonteyn: The Pink Tutu Muse
Talking of tutus, what are my fabulous fashionistas wearing? The 1940s had it all! The traditional tulle tutus were as fluffy and perfect as ever, with their elegant, romantic swirls and graceful shapes. But it was a time of experimentation, too! Experimentation was on everyone’s minds; with shorter tutus in layered, feathered, and dramatic designs popping up everywhere. Imagine, if you will, the vibrant world of leotards in 1946, filled with colour and imagination - it’s the leotard history my time-traveling heart longs for!
There was a playful exploration of colour too; pink was all the rage (well, naturally, as pink is simply divine!), but vibrant reds, emerald greens, and deep blues brought a captivating punch of excitement to the ballet stage.
I’d have to say though, that the one thing I saw in London in 1946, that had everyone in the theatre saying ‘ooh!’ and ‘ah!’, was this exquisite vintage pink leotard with a shimmering gold bodice - truly something to behold! The glittering bodice complemented the feminine simplicity of the leotard. Imagine the excitement - and then to add to it, the graceful ballerina (I suspect it was Margot) then wore a cloud-like pink tutu that seemed to defy gravity, adding an elegant and delicate touch. It was the epitome of grace and femininity - a sheer vision in the ethereal, delicate beauty of a bygone era.
As the final curtain descended on the show, I had a quick pit stop to pick up a pair of those fabulously impractical platform shoes with little sparkling diamantés on them that they called ‘ballerina flats’. They were definitely ‘a thing’ then, so much so that even the shops were starting to stock them - you just had to have a pair, so of course I did!
It's all about the Accessories
One of the joys of travelling through time is the unique opportunity to indulge in fabulous leotard fashion. In 1946, accessories were every bit as important as the leotards themselves. What’s a ballet fashion queen to do when time travelling to an era where leotard-obsessed shoppers get to accessorize to the hilt with these gorgeous leotard and tutu companions!
Headbands, you might be thinking? Oh, yes! 1946 had so many! They were as fashionable in London and Derbyshire, England as they were in the United States. And with everything else that was so fabulous on offer – shoes, bows, feather boas and the ubiquitous tiaras, all made to sparkle and dazzle, leotard fashion seemed endless, oh yes, absolutely endless!
Let's not forget the sheer magic of those velvet tiaras, the perfect finishing touch for a chic ballerina’s look! Oh, and there were even velvet ribbon neck scarves in rich colours of maroon and teal to go with everything from the latest tutus to the iconic simple leotard. Imagine my time-traveling wardrobe - brimming with colourful scarves, sparkling hairbands, and exquisite ribbons to accent my pink tutu!
And those exquisite dance shoes? I adore the fact that the women of 1946 also sported matching satin shoes! Who doesn’t want to complete a perfect ballet look? This isn’t simply an occasion for just any ballerina to add a dash of colour to their ballerina ensemble. Oh, no. This is time travel – the ballerina needs her shoes! And she must make her mark, so satin ballet shoes were a key detail, worn with everything from those sleek, simple leotards to flowing, fabulous tutus.
But oh, how much I long to travel back in time to that delightful vintage pink leotard in a 1946 theatre store, oh what I would give to have a look around then!
Leotard fashion – A Global Movement
Now let's venture a bit further, shall we? What was happening in the world of leotard fashion around the globe? The fashion-conscious Parisians embraced their chic and sophisticated leotard designs, always setting trends and always glamorous! They simply oozed elegance - and Parisian women’s sartorial choices have definitely inspired the leotard fashion we see on ballet stages around the world! And let's not forget the Russian dancers in 1946 with their iconic, elegant tutus and the timeless, classic leotard styles. The impact of the 1946 World Dance Festival in Paris has helped me travel across the world in time, and it's definitely made its mark on leotard fashion!
So much has changed over the years but there’s one thing that’s constant and that is, my dear leotard fashionistas, that there’s always room for pink tutus – my lifelong mission! As we’ve all heard, the leotard has come a long way and the love of pink tutus is growing globally. This fashion obsession is something we all share and the world is falling head-over-heels in love with pink tutus… As a proud leotard and tutu aficionado, it truly fills me with joy to see it!
The vibrant and playful world of leotards is where I always love to be. And as you’ve heard me say before, every time I travel to a new date in Leotard History – my favourite bit of time travelling, as you know - is getting to share the world of fashion in my favourite clothing and dance with all of you!
Keep shining brightly in your fabulous leotard and tutu outfits, you fabulous Leotard Lovers!
Lots of love, Emma xxx
