Hello my darling dancers, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, Pink-Tutu.com! It's December the 12th, 2023, and guess what? It's time for another magical journey through time with your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller! Today, we're going all the way back to 12th December, 1971, for a leotard-tastic exploration of fashion history!
This is post number 1356, and if you're new to my blog, I'm Emma, a Derbyshire-born lass with a passion for leotards, tutus, and travelling through time in my sparkling pink leotard! Every month, I take a magical leap into the past, all thanks to my very own time-travelling leotard (a bit of a secret I can't divulge just yet!), to share with you the wonderful world of leotard fashion.
But before we set off on our time-travel adventure, I want to talk about the joys of a little pink tutu, a little magic and the thrill of performance. You see, funding these incredible journeys is no easy feat. But I’m lucky to have a talent for dance! I travel the streets and perform, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces with a touch of pink tutu magic. From London to Paris and back, my pink tutus grace the cobblestone squares and open spaces. It’s a brilliant way to meet fabulous people and see incredible places - and you’ll never guess what happened the other day… a street artist drew me as I performed! Imagine, me, in a pink tutu, immortalized! My little corner of magic is catching on. 💕
Alright, onto our exciting historical fashion journey!
12th December 1971: A Glimpse of Leotard Fashion
Today's date takes us to a vibrant era, filled with colour and a certain, let’s say, 'groovy' feeling. In 1971, fashion trends were shifting. A bolder, more liberating style was gaining momentum! Imagine bell bottoms, vibrant colours, and that playful 70s attitude, and you've got the picture. This is reflected in the world of dance and leotard fashion, too.
So what was on the scene?
The Rise of the Colourful Leotard: Remember that 70s love for bold hues? Well, it definitely took centre stage in the leotard world. Gone were the days of strict black and white; it was all about showcasing personality through a splash of colour. Think vibrant yellows, deep oranges, blues, and even hot pinks! This was the dawn of expressing your individual style, and leotards became a playful canvas for creative expression. I'd imagine lots of fun patterns and prints too! It sounds just divine, doesn’t it?
The Playful Experimentation: A sense of liberation and experimentation was rife, with dancers exploring unconventional cuts and styles. Think dramatic cutouts, ruffles and embellishments – the wilder the better! I bet those leotards were a delight! A testament to the time's spirit, embracing individuality, with a whole lot of funk! The leotard really became a statement, pushing the boundaries of what it could be, and it was about time, too!
Leotard Innovations for The Dance Floor: The 1970s saw new dance forms bursting into the spotlight - think disco, hip hop and contemporary dance! This naturally led to new innovations in leotard design, seeking comfort and flexibility as movements became bolder. Leotard designers embraced lightweight materials that stretched with the dancers, creating a truly dance-ready garment. It was a thrilling evolution, blending fashion with practicality.
The Fashion Influencers: Of course, I have to give a nod to the fashion visionaries of the era. Some incredible designers like Rudi Gernreich and Yves Saint Laurent were making a splash. Yves Saint Laurent, of course, made that famous iconic jumpsuit which looked absolutely fabulous and made the leap from everyday street style into the world of dance, creating that powerful, liberating feeling of dance.
The "I Wear Pink" Tutu Dream Let me tell you, seeing those vibrant colours in a leotard just gets my imagination going! In my little time travel journeys, it’s been fascinating to see how fashion influences dance and how those movements come back to fashion – a circle of inspiration! And while those funky 70s leotard designs might not be what you'd find on the stage today, they show just how powerful the dance world’s impact on fashion can be! As for me, my tutu dreams keep going, always spreading that love for a dash of pink, and who knows, one day it might be my pink tutu on the stage.
Looking back to 1971 with a Pink Tutu: We’ve glimpsed the 70s leotard world - that fun, bold and energetic spirit. You're all probably thinking of what a magical trip this would be, and I have to say, it really is. Think about those brilliant colours, those daring styles, and just how expressive leotard design was at the time. It makes me long to jump into that pink sparkling leotard and take a trip back to the 70s, a dance floor, with all that vibrancy and style! And as always, I want you all to think of how you can rock a pink tutu today! Don’t be afraid, get your dance on and embrace the magic.
I’ll leave you with a quote that just speaks to me and reminds us of the important role fashion has, and what I hope to do with Pink Tutu. It comes from the fashion icon Iris Apfel, “Fashion you can buy. Style you have to possess."
Until next time, my darling dancers, don’t be afraid to dance and spread that tutu love everywhere you go!
And please do visit Pink Tutu again next month for more adventures!
www.pink-tutu.com
