#LeotardHistory during 1974 01 January

Hiya darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here, ready to take you on another dazzling trip through leotard history! Today, we're whizzing back to the 1st of January 1974, in my oh-so-sparkly magical pink leotard, of course! As always, my trusty tutu is swishing and swirling with excitement, ready to twirl its way into a fantastic fashion adventure!

It's amazing how fashion changes and yet stays the same, right? So grab your favourite pink beverage, settle into your comfy chair and let's explore the world of leotard fashion as it was all those years ago!

Stepping back into 1974, I'm instantly caught in the swirl of the Seventies. It's a world where flares are still a big deal (but they seem a bit too much for my taste!), bold colours are everything and a bit of glitz goes a long way. And of course, it wouldn't be the seventies without those iconic disco balls, oh how they sparkled!

But here's the thing, you know... 1974 was a truly special time for leotards! Remember how I told you I loved shopping and seeing shows? Well, the 70s were a dream come true for leotards, it's as if they were everywhere. It was the age of the “Leotard Revolution”! They were starting to become a fashion statement beyond dancewear and onto the street, popping up in everything from gym classes to music videos and even nightclubs. Think, you know, ABBA in all those glittery costumes, now THAT's a style I could get behind.

As I sashay down a bustling 1974 London street, I can't help but feel the energy buzzing around me! There are posters everywhere for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, just as if it were a brand new release, and that quirky, fun look was reflected in leotard trends as well. The colour palette was bursting with all the vibrant colours, think rich burgundy, mustard yellow and sky blues with touches of velvet and sparkle - that iconic 70's feel!

Now, I can't travel back in time without checking out what's going on in the world of ballet, right? So, on to Covent Garden! Oh my goodness, there are some incredible performances happening here, including a re-run of the iconic Swan Lake by the Royal Ballet. Such graceful movements and a truly captivating show! But then there are the costumes! Oh my, talk about elegance! Gorgeous long tutus of beautiful chiffon in pale pink, ivory and blush, all flowing around these magnificent dancers as they danced, absolutely divine! It really feels as though, just as I love doing now, dancers in this time are constantly reinterpreting classic ballets by playing with the fabric and form of their costumes, and even the colour palette - making ballet exciting and full of unexpected surprises! It makes me feel incredibly connected to them - and what’s more, there is a real, positive vibe from ballet. A community! I think they would be so excited by what’s coming in future leotard fashion - we all love those pretty pink, frilly, frilly tutu styles, right?

Speaking of frills... let’s jump back in my pink leotard for a minute! I’ve spotted some truly delightful trends in fashion which reflect how much the 1970s leotards were embracing frills, ruffles and - yes! Even the word ‘sexy’ can make its way into this blog! - sexiness! (Okay, it's more of a ‘rock-chick-sexy’ than a glamorous, ‘Hollywood’ sexy but I like it. )

A lot of the dancers on stage are opting for leotards with ruched fronts and ruffled necklines – think ballet dancers but all about femininity with a twist. The whole silhouette was streamlined and glamorous!

Let me take you with me on an imaginary shopping trip at Liberty's, that grand London department store! You can’t imagine how exciting that experience is. The whole floor was overflowing with fabric, colours and designs. Can you see the image: mountains of vibrant, tactile velvets, shimmering silks, crisp cottons and every shade of pink imaginable! There were fabrics everywhere that could have made absolutely stunning leotards! Of course, the ballet departments had their own dedicated space too, overflowing with all types of leotards: leotards, dance dresses, dance tops, skirts, and of course tutututu tutus! I know I'd have had so much fun just spinning around, choosing what to try on first, it really does feel so glamorous!

But let's take a trip back in my leotard for just a moment… did I mention 1974 was the year that Grease came out! Yes! Yes it was! The film had already released in the US and is beginning to hit the UK at the start of the year. Grease has given me some great pink-tutu-wearing style inspiration - it just feels like every single scene is full of so much fantastic dance choreography! The leotards, skirts, jackets - and even those iconic shoes are simply so inspiring, it's just screaming out to inspire a whole new wave of leotards!

I really can’t help thinking how 1974 was just such a fantastic year for leotards and dance. I mean everything was becoming such an amazing visual and creative playground - and not just in the professional dance scene, but on the streets, on stage, in film, even in the classrooms of school gymnasiums!

I guess you’re probably thinking it’s getting a little late in my post. Yes, of course you’re right – you’ve got all these delicious pink cakes to decorate for the annual Derbyshire New Year’s Day cake-baking contest - how exciting! But one last thought before I have to hop back to my own time – this isn't a time for me to be saying: 'Oh I can't believe this was the time when... ' or to be mourning the loss of the past. The past is wonderful. It is inspiring. And yet - and here is the point – our lives are still filled with wonderful dance and leotard fashions. We still love them. We are always embracing the newest, and the coolest leotards.

If 1974 has inspired you as much as it’s inspired me - why don't you start making some beautiful, unique pink tutus and leotards now! Go on… don’t forget, pink tutus for every day - for every body – it's always a fantastic idea! 💖🩰✨

And that's me, signing off - until next time, my lovelies!

See you on the dancefloor !

Emma xx

www.pink-tutu.com