Hello my lovely readers!
I'm Emma, your bubbly ballerina blogger, here to share my adventures through time in my fabulous pink tutu. As always, we’re diving deep into the dazzling world of leotard fashion - where else? And this month, we’re heading to…
1956! April the 4th to be exact.
Don’t get too excited yet, my dears! I am writing this, of course, while I’m back in the future (Derbyshire to be exact!), recovering from my jaunt. There were, of course, a few hiccups with the Time Turner, but as you all know, that’s just part of the thrill! But more on that later.
You see, my lovely readers, you all know about my fascination with leotard history. This passion - that’s an understatement! This outright obsession with the beautiful way leotard styles change over time - the fashion! The colours! The sparkle! The… well, you get the picture. But anyway, as any good ballerina would say, let’s put on our dance shoes and take a spin back to 1956, April the 4th.
Now, this month we're on a quest to capture the essence of the ‘50s - what are they up to in the world of leotards? What styles are the in thing? Let me tell you - 1956 had me captivated, and not just by the time travelling in my sparkling pink leotard. There is something undeniably elegant about that era.
This whole experience began just like all my time travelling trips - a quiet moment in my Derbyshire home with a cuppa (and a chocolate biscuit of course) in hand, while scanning the fashion magazines, which had fallen out of a time-travelling book that day. They'd always given me inspiration but this one, for April 1956, sent me into an excited spin. The fashion! So bold and daring, with such beautiful, sleek, and form-fitting silhouettes.
I just HAD to time travel!
You know how much I love a good theatrical performance - I'd seen everything from ‘Swan Lake’ at Covent Garden to local drama club performances! I love that you can see just so much with the right performance - so I headed to the ballet! (A necessity when it comes to a pink tutu loving time traveler!).
And you'll never believe what I saw!
The ballet world was utterly captivating. We're talking ballerina-esque ballet flats, oh-so-classic leotards in crisp black or soft pinks with delicate floral embellishments - simple but sophisticated. It's like ballet fashion had finally blossomed!
It seems 1956 had been the dawn of an era for ballet fashion - everything felt elegant. You'll probably gasp when you see some of the outfits from the performances, especially that one stunning ballerina wearing an almost invisible leotard under her beautiful pink tutu… almost transparent. I just HAD to have that for my collection!
Of course, no adventure would be complete without shopping for some delightful new pink tulle and adding to my leotard collection. Oh my, my dears, this era had the most gorgeous silks! I snagged a deep burgundy leotard with a high neck and some gorgeous white ballet shoes for a grand total of three pounds and two pence – such a bargain!
I'm talking about quality materials, elegant cuts and the prettiest pastels, even the tiniest of details seemed to be thoughtfully considered in a ballet wardrobe in 1956. Everything seemed like it was made to help create those elegant and flowing movements – something I tried to embrace, with varying levels of success.
It's funny, now I think about it – my Time Turner has sent me to so many exciting places through history. The vibrant ‘60s, with the advent of bright and bold tights; the elegance of the ‘70s and the bold leotards - I even got caught up in the craze for funky patterned leggings and colorful tights during the ‘80s - those fashion shows were SO much fun, but something about the time period of 1956 stuck with me. It seemed there was a timeless elegance that was more about beautiful and sleek lines that never went out of style - you could practically see the graceful, fluid movement they created even when the dancer was not on stage.
After those ballet performances and my time travel, I went back home, excited about the wonderful stories to tell. And you, dear readers, are my first audience, as I want to share all my wonderful experiences!
After spending several hours sketching new patterns and writing blog notes on a notepad that suddenly appeared in my bag - how very Time Turner - I sat back down, in the stillness of my Derbyshire home and began writing, sharing the wonderful experiences I had on my Time Turn trip.
My little Derbyshire flat has slowly become my home-based fashion studio – it’s all rather hectic, I confess – so I have all these drafts for leotard designs all around the flat next to my trusty pink tutu…
You know what else I am most grateful for, dear readers? You! You, my delightful audience, inspire me with all the kind and appreciative comments. So I’d like to ask you, darling reader – tell me – what are you favoring in the world of leotard fashion?
Oh and of course, if you love fashion history, check out this video, it really made my month: [insert link to your favorite 50s fashion show/vintage video]
So what about you? What would you like to time travel to and experience with a leotard? Perhaps the roaring twenties, or a magical ballet performance in Vienna during the 19th century? Or, do you wish to find inspiration for the future of leotard design? I cannot wait to hear what you, my dearest readers, think!
Stay stylish! And always wear pink!
Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
[image of Emma with pink tutu and sparkling leotard in front of a beautiful ballet backdrop]
