Hello my lovelies! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another dose of leotard loveliness! As always, you know I couldn't let a month go by without a fabulous journey through history and, wouldn't you know it, this month's trip landed me on 5th May 1966. Buckle up, darling, because today's a corker!
Right, as soon as my trusty pink-sparkling, time-travelling leotard landed me in the 60s, I could feel the energy in the air. Swinging London, baby! Imagine this: miniskirts swirling, music pumping, a scent of freedom wafting in the breeze - all that jazzy spirit, and me, in my perfectly pink, frothy tulle, ready to explore!
Before I went off to explore this exciting decade, I couldn’t resist the lure of a local haberdashery - always my favourite place to scout for inspiration. It’s amazing to see how different fashion looks now. The 1960s saw leotards embraced with open arms – not just for ballet, but for all sorts! Gymnast and fitness fanatics alike wore them as stylish workout gear, even the famous yoga instructor, Indra Devi, wore her favourite pink one, while it was fashionable to go for the simple black, white, or bright colour, leotard styles were quite varied with sporty high necks and daring sleeveless cuts. There was definitely a "Less is More" feel in the air!
As you can see, Leotard style wasn’t too far from the simple cuts we enjoy today, however the ‘60s embraced the vibrant, pop-art-inspired style in the form of funky patterns, graphic designs, and bold colour palettes. A far cry from the traditional black and pink we see now, no?
In terms of colour, well, let’s just say that I found some gorgeous examples in all sorts of hues! Bright tangerine orange was quite popular back then, it was a favourite for sporty outfits for those wanting to make a statement! Now that was my kinda vibe, so you can imagine my excitement as I sashayed into a retro record shop with its rainbow-coloured, spinning vinyl and catchy tunes - I even spotted a couple of sassy young dancers practicing moves to a soulful jazz song with their leotards perfectly in sync.
It was right about then that I bumped into this truly incredible chap, Ted! He looked the part - corduroy jacket, Chelsea boots and, yes you guessed it, a dashing mustard yellow leotard that would put a fashion mag to shame! Turns out Ted was an aspiring designer with a vision for turning leotards into everyday fashion. He had this charming twinkle in his eye as he spoke of wanting to revolutionise fashion and bring back a touch of elegance - all the while in his snazzy yellow leotard of course! We had a little chit-chat, him offering up fashion insight and me giving him the low-down on what the leotard trends might be in, say, a hundred years from then! Who knew? We bonded over a love of ballet, leotards and our dreams, his were very much focused on designing costumes for his favourite ballets. Maybe, he might just turn into the fashion icon of the 60s – we shall see!
This encounter gave me some serious fashion inspiration and so, with a whirl and a twirl, I hopped back onto the dance floor for my favourite past-time. This 1960s version was amazing! My oh my! I swear, London was just teeming with passionate people showing off their moves and having an absolute ball. Think jive, twist, and all sorts of dancing that I’d never even imagined! It made me want to just launch myself into the air and twirl through the entire city!
Right before I was due to leave this awesome time, I stopped at a performance – not a dance show this time! Imagine my delight - a musical showcasing the fabulous London’s West End, and believe me when I say the costume design was outstanding! There were bold colours, sequins that shimmered in the light, and even the gentlemen wore shimmering gold leotards as they spun across the stage! What a treat!
As you know my dearest, all good things must come to an end! I bid farewell to swinging London and landed back home in my beloved Derbyshire with a heart full of vintage style and an agenda full of creative ideas. What a blast from the past! The 1960s leotard trend reminded me just how exciting and vibrant a decade it was! I bet you'll see a resurgence of bright coloured retro-inspired dancewear with sleek lines, and playful embellishment sooner than you think, I wouldn’t be surprised if even a few ‘60s fashion houses decide to bring their archives back from the cold! Let’s make this happen, and you all know the drill, let’s all bring the sunshine into every performance, so, pop on a pink tutu, darlings! Don’t forget to tune in to www.pink-tutu.com next month to see where my time travel takes me!
