Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your one-stop shop for all things leotard, tutus and time travel!
This month we're venturing back to 12th December, 1950, and boy, oh boy, what a stylish trip it was! It's not every day you get to dance through history with the glamour of the 50s in all its pastel pink and sparkling glory.
As you all know, my passion is leotards. Every style, every colour, every texture – you name it, I’m in love! And December 12th 1950 gave me the perfect opportunity to indulge in some truly divine leotard history.
My time travelling, sparkly, pink leotard glittered as I zipped back in time to a world where the Cold War was simmering and bobby socks were all the rage.
Firstly, let’s get down to the business of the day. The world of fashion was booming in the 1950s, with full skirts and cinched waists reigning supreme. For the modern ballerina, this meant elegant leotards paired with dramatic, flowing tutus - an era of pure, romantic grace. I felt like a living and breathing illustration of one of Degas’s ballerinas!
I was just off to watch a performance at the Paris Opera when I stumbled upon a delightful little boutique on the Champs-Élysées. It was just my kind of place – full of exquisite ballet necessities. The owner, a charming lady named Mademoiselle Dubois, explained that the trend for ballet wear back in the 1950s leaned towards simple, elegant styles – soft pink, pristine white, and of course, that glorious shade of blue they called ‘electric’. She held up a pristine white, ribbed leotard and, honestly, it took all my willpower not to snatch it off the rack and run for the hills.
From there, my journey took me to London. I decided to watch the Royal Ballet perform Giselle, the first ballet in this iconic company’s repertoire. I'll admit, watching these world-class dancers wearing the most classic leotards made me want to try on some tutus, get on stage, and just spin my heart out. Talk about inspiring!
Before I time-travelled back to my little flat in Derbyshire, I popped in to Liberty department store. The staff told me about a lovely dance boutique near the Strand that was all the rage amongst ballet students. Of course, I had to find it. The boutique was absolutely brimming with beautiful leotards in all shapes and sizes. Imagine my delight when I saw a rack packed full of the softest pink and yellow ballet slippers I have ever seen in my life.
It was a delightful, glittery, history-filled day of leotard and tutu inspiration. My mind was buzzing with ideas for the Pink Tutu Dance Studio that I'm hoping to open one day. The 50s have really opened my eyes to a world of fashion beyond just the glitz of a modern ballet.
Remember, lovelies, pink is always the answer, whether it’s the colour of your leotard, the design of your tutu, or your heart’s desire! And as always, thank you for joining me on this adventure.
I can't wait to take you on another leotard-tastic time-travel escapade next month! Until then, keep dancing, keep shining, and most importantly, keep it pink! 🩰 💖
Much Love,
Emma x
