Hello my darling dears, it's Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina! Today I'm twirling back to a time where leotards were becoming everything. And believe me, my loves, it's a total fashion explosion! Buckle up your leotards, it's going to be a pinky wild ride!
First, I have to tell you all about this amazing magical leotard that got me here. Itâs pink, naturally, and glitters with every tiny star in the cosmos â imagine if a galaxy exploded, but only the sparkle was left behind, that's this leotard! Every month I find a new fabulous leotard to help me journey through time â I canât tell you how much I love this aspect of the job! Iâve even found a way to bring my own personal tutu â this one has delicate layers of shimmering pink tulle and little sparkles on it â it's divine!
But I'm getting distracted! Where was I? Ah yes, 1961. On this particular day, darling, ballet was taking over! All those fancy modern pieces with those amazing leotards that look so light, so flowing⌠it was like everyone was saying 'weâre done with restrictive costumes!' - Thank goodness! This was a time for freedom, a time to embrace dance for the art form it was becoming.
Now, if you can imagine this, 1961 saw not one, but two of the most iconic ballet productions premiered! The Royal Ballet was performing "The Rake's Progress" by Igor Stravinsky. Honestly, you just have to see these dancers - their movements are so dramatic, with this wonderful feeling of raw, primal passion!
Then there was a new one in New York, âThe Taming of the Shrewâ choreographed by John Cranko for the New York City Ballet. Imagine this: A combination of incredible ballet technique and a very funny story that kept the audience in stitches - it's all so clever! There was so much colour and movement⌠I almost forgot what time period I was in!
Can we talk leotards, though? 1961 saw the rise of these amazing, streamlined, super-comfortable dance leotards, you know, the kind with the very simple design that made the dancers look both modern and graceful? Just think, back then, everyone was still getting used to the idea of women wearing trousers outside of the home! It was all a bit rebellious for a ballet to have the women in outfits that werenât even considered 'ladylike'. They wanted to break the rules with these new leotards, and letâs face it, they absolutely nailed it!
And guess what, dears? I spotted a little gem, an incredible vintage leotard, right in a little antique shop â think of an old French shop with dusty treasures, vintage lace and even more beautiful, glittering, leotard inspiration than you could possibly imagine! The moment I put it on it felt like magic! It was pure pink - a delicious shade of pastel with tiny pink flowers â it was as if a tiny fairy had personally stitched it together from magic and whispers! I bought it for a snip, of course! This, my loves, will go straight to my wardrobe. My heart is filled with a special type of pink-sparkly joy!
The amazing thing about 1961 was this wonderful atmosphere â an ecstatic air around ballet. You've got the traditional dance mixed with the incredibly modern leotards. It felt so liberating, so empowering!
Well, Iâve got to dash - another amazing vintage find is waiting for me, right here, right now in 1961, but before I go, dears, let me leave you with a few ideas to fuel your pink fire! * Try incorporating a vintage-inspired piece into your modern leotard wardrobe - imagine a ballet-style top with a wide, flowing skirt! It would look magnificent! * Add a little pink glitter to your everyday outfits! This can even mean adding little pink embellishments to your jeans or even to a basic plain white t-shirt! Pink is about being feminine but it's powerful too. * Go to a ballet, dears, or at the very least, a dance class, to really get your imagination working - you never know, the next amazing leotard idea could just pop into your head!
Remember to join me here next month, I'll be travelling somewhere even more magnificent! You'll need your sparkly-pink-tutu shoes ready, and letâs remember, in the words of the great Judy Garland: âAlways be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else." Now, thatâs a truly pink motto, isnât it?
Love,
Emma xx
P.S. Donât forget to check out my amazing pink tutu fashion blog - www.pink-tutu.com, darling, because the pink party never stops there!
P.P.S - Remember my vintage finds go to my pink-tutu website every month, and all my sales, and street performances support my amazing time travel adventures, but also go to charities, including those that support dancers. Thatâs right, sharing is caring! Now, thatâs a pink-tutu story for the ages!
