Hello darlings! It’s your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another peek into the fascinating world of leotards and dance! Today, I’m whisking you off to a sweltering August in 1949, my pink-sparkling leotard ready for another whirlwind adventure!
This month, we're delving into a period of incredible change for dancewear, and believe me, it's sparkling! Imagine a world before stretchy fabrics, where leotards were essentially long underwear! Gulp I shudder just thinking about it!
You see, back in the day, dancewear wasn't exactly… fashion forward, let’s just say that. They were more about practicality and not, I repeat not, about showcasing those elegant limbs. The '40s were all about utility and practicality - tight fitting cotton or wool leotards in basic colours, not a rainbow to be seen!
Well, it was a world crying out for some vibrant pink, and luckily, my pink-sparkling leotard has got it covered. Now, I must confess, it did feel rather out of place when I popped through time this month, but I decided to use it as an opportunity to start a little ballet fashion revolution!
Ballet On The Boards
This month, I happened to be in London for a special occasion - the premiere of The Sadler's Wells Ballet's production of *"The Lady and the Unicorn." * Fancy that, a performance celebrating the world of fashion and imagination! You can bet I made sure I stood out in the crowd! My bright pink leotard was a sure fire way to make the ladies swoon! The ballerinas were simply breathtaking, they were the epitome of elegance and grace, though I did think they could have done with a touch more pink.
Speaking of "The Lady and the Unicorn", imagine my surprise when I noticed this ballet was based on a set of 6 famous medieval tapestries. The inspiration for the tapestries were the themes of "the senses" and the themes were so inspiring. In the dance the five senses were portrayed through balletic performances using symbolic representations, colours and textures. I bet you could imagine how perfectly this inspired my love for all things colourful! Just think of all the different fabrics, textures and of course pink! *
This trip gave me plenty of ideas about how to showcase ballet in my own city. A real 'pink-tutu' themed ballet spectacle would make everyone sit up and take notice. You have to remember that Derby hasn’t had a major production of anything since "Ballet Russes" arrived there back in 1915. Perhaps one day it’ll have a full ballet theatre.
Keeping It Practical
And now to the serious matter of fashion. Oh, that classic look! Back in the 40's when practicality trumped all, women often danced in simple, plain cotton, sometimes a thin layer of wool. Imagine my excitement when I saw a group of girls in the 40s experimenting with ballet shoes - they were a real innovation for the time! Ballet pumps weren't available in shops, they had to have them made. In Derbyshire I heard rumours that they were made out of "thick leather or suede leather."
So, if the time traveller, the pink tutu wearing ballerina Emma, could wear this fashion style today. How would it be viewed? This classic, plain style, perhaps a white wool, layered under a sheer, tulle, flowing skirt. To top it off, my pink leotard, and we have a complete timeless ensemble fit for the ages! It’s all about knowing what suits you, girls.
Fashion Forward In Derbyshire
It was actually Derbyshire where my quest to change dancewear truly began. That is where my passion for performance began and as any Derbyshire girl will tell you, dancing is in our blood! We have been making waves with our moves ever since, it was here that I learned that I love to twirl!
Back in the 1940's , there were no dedicated ballet schools in Derbyshire, and certainly no 'Dance Shops' - so you could say my arrival to teach everyone to wear pink was a long overdue one! My Derbyshire love of leotards has blossomed into something beautiful and now I aim to have all of you dressing like ballerinas in Derbyshire - yes, pink and fabulous! My biggest mission in life, darling. You bet you will see me perform on the streets of Derby dressed in a pink tutu sometime soon - stay tuned for details.
On a More Global Scale
Speaking of tutus - they’re changing so fast in other parts of the world. Remember that classic puffy tutu? I always adored its majestic form, a testament to all that was dramatic and glamorous about ballet. Well, the '40s were seeing this puffy look slowly becoming lighter, almost more airy. Now, can anyone imagine ballet without this iconic item? And who needs practicality when you have such a wonderful garment?! It’s so versatile. You can do so much with it – add some extra sparkle for an elegant finish. But don't tell me the simple, short, classic tutu never gets old - it's such a wonderful shape, especially in pink. Gasp. Dreams! *
To sum it all up, I think the '40s were all about moving forward in ballet and dancewear fashion! There is such beauty to be found, a whole host of ideas to be borrowed from this wonderful era! They’re all about making dance a spectacle for all!
Remember this time travelling ballerina loves shopping in the vintage shops. A good shop will have all the styles from the past, and this time period is an absolute treasure trove. That said, the most exciting thing about time travel is looking at where our world is headed in terms of fashion. It is so exciting.
So, darling, make sure you get out and strut your stuff! Dance in pink! Spread the joy! Dance until you drop! Until next time, my dears! I’m out for a shopping spree – there is a new vintage shop opening in Derby! And maybe a spot of street performance is in order – pink tutu alert!
*P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for the website at www.pink-tutu.com for the latest news and views in leotard fashion! Let’s all dance! *
