Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your portal to all things fabulous and sparkly, especially when it comes to leotards and tutus!
This month, I'm taking you on a whimsical journey back to the 12th of December 1956. Now, I know what you're thinking, "1956? Surely, there wasn't much happening in the world of leotards then!" But my darlings, you'd be surprised. Leotard fashion has always been a fascinating dance through the decades, and the 1950s was no exception!
Today, I'm wearing a magnificent pink leotard - my time travel ensemble - which sparkles so much that it's basically a disco ball. You can't see it properly in these photos because I am holding my breath while I attempt to time travel. But let me tell you, this leotard is the perfect blend of glamorous and comfortable - ideal for time hopping around the globe.
Time Travel Tales:
As I materialised in 1956, I immediately knew I was in a different world. The air was crisp and fresh, the streets were bustling with the energy of Christmas preparations. The music, oh the music! There were joyous carols in the air. Everything just seemed so much... sparkly.
Of course, my first stop was a visit to a Parisian ballet school. You can't travel through time without a peek into the heart of the ballet world! Now, I know some people associate leotard fashion with contemporary styles, but trust me, the history of the leotard is as old as ballet itself.
This was the time when ballet, at least in Paris, was evolving into the modern forms we know and love today. It wasn’t just about tutus anymore! Leotards were being used as integral components of the dancing styles of dancers like Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn.
They were taking centre stage! You see, the leotard was a canvas upon which the dancers could express themselves, to show their graceful fluidity of movements, their flexibility. Just thinking about those ballets still gives me shivers!
Of course, there was more than ballet to explore. I also took a little detour to see a performance on Broadway, one that, ironically, would soon become one of my favourite films; West Side Story! What better time travel destination than the very place where leotards helped to tell a whole new type of story!
The dancing and the singing in this musical were unbelievable! I immediately grabbed myself a seat in the back row of the audience and tried to pretend I was in on the secret! To me, the dancers seemed like tiny jewels scattering themselves on stage like a delicate dust in a bright, bold light! I had to take my notebook out and draw, and it was no wonder why my friends say I have such an "amazing imagination!".
My little notepad was filled with the most creative drawings of outfits I could design for my next time travel performance. A fabulous mix of those fantastic '50s costumes from the play with that beautiful classic pink ballet fashion you can’t find anywhere but in a Paris ballet school, just by making small but important tweaks to the fabric, the embroidery. It was just like being back at my sewing machine. Oh, I'm already brimming with ideas for my next creation. Wait until you see my 1950's "West Side Story inspired leotard collection". Let’s just say that it will definitely be in a rainbow of colours.
A Global Whirlwind of Leotard Trends:
1956, however, wasn’t just about ballet and Broadway!
There was something else happening on that December 12th. I had stumbled into an exciting moment in the fashion world – the emergence of “activewear”. Can you believe it, it has always been with us but 1956 saw its actual moment in history! Think stretchy pants, sporty sweaters and, you guessed it – LEOTARDS!
Back in those days, though, you would find them primarily on sportswomen like swimmers, gymnasts, and ice skaters. And they were not only sporty - some were as pretty as my favourite ballerina's dresses, made of the most delightful fabrics, which came in all those amazing colours and, you've guessed it – PINK!! I almost threw away my magical pink sparkly time-travel leotard to go for a swim myself!
So, you see, 1956 was an important year for the leotard! This seemingly ordinary article of clothing had already made waves in dance and sports. It had begun to capture the imaginations of some of the biggest fashion designers across the world!
A Glimpse into the Past:
Just as I’m sure you love seeing what was in vogue during these decades, I do too. That's why I also made sure to do a bit of research on the 12th of December, 1956 before I actually went on my adventure. A fashion guru is never out of practice, even when she is in time travel!
In fact, I have discovered some amazing fashion highlights from 1956:
The poodle skirt - a huge hit! What’s even better is they wore their poodle skirts with their leotards!
The little black dress had just become a real fashion statement – it’s easy to understand why. Can’t you just imagine dancing the night away with one on – perhaps it could become an even bigger hit if someone added some tutus and a sparkling leotard, like those worn by one of my idols!
- The classic and forever fashionable cardie – that will never go out of fashion. And we can combine them with anything, so what’s not to like about them!
Now, of course, in my world, I always wear a tutu. It’s a great statement piece for dancing! But, it seems as if the girls of 1956 didn’t wear tutus that much – and I really need to see a 1950s ballerina with a pink tulle tutu!
Future Visions:
As always, I'm inspired by the history of fashion. The past reminds us that leotard fashion has always been an expression of the times, an evolution of the dancer, and an art form in itself!
What does the future hold? My pink tutu and I are excited to see! One thing I can tell you, as much as I love the beauty of those classic ballet dresses, leotards are set to play an even bigger role in fashion. And you never know what trends are about to emerge. Remember, history repeats itself.
What leotard trends do you see becoming popular? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
In the meantime, you can visit my shop on www.pink-tutu.com. I have lots of lovely pink tutu designs for you.
See you next month, lovelies! Don’t forget to let me know if you have ideas for the 1950's West Side Story inspired leotard collection in the comments below! Until then, remember, everyone can be a princess – a pink-tutu-wearing, leotard-loving princess that is!
Yours, Emma Xx
