Oh darling! Fancy seeing you here. Welcome to Pink-Tutu.com - the ultimate guide to everything leotard and tutu. You can find my posts here every month (because as we all know - we never have enough leotard content)! And don't forget you can find my street performance schedule on this page too! I always make sure there are plenty of opportunities to see me in action (and even perhaps have a chat). I just know we can get all the ladies in our pink tutus if we work together!
This month I have popped over to the wonderful 4th of April 1975. Isn't this the most lovely year for leotard history? It truly is my favourite! But as I love sharing, I will save my love letters to the year 1975 until next time, and we will step through my magical sparkly pink leotard for this jaunt.
(Please be advised, these travel logs are about the leotard trends - I can only provide vague clues about the larger events in this world because my priority is, naturally, all things pink and twirly.)
A Londoner's Leotard Day Trip in 1975
So my lovely London-born ladies - you will already know it is not always the easiest to make time for a day trip outside the city, what with the shopping and performances, however, my sparkly leotard decided on Derbyshire this time. Fancy seeing you too, Derbyshire! It was a glorious Spring day, just like when I travelled to see the Easter egg decorations in Derby on 1st April, but somehow - there was something about this Derbyshire leotard mood - which you would not quite be able to capture on film... You can't capture everything, but a trip to the beautiful countryside - even when time travel takes you from Derbyshire to London, that feels just divine! And so you will see the influence of these gentle, graceful curves, reflected back on the 1975 London stage. And this is truly a reflection! Because all leotard trends are just one giant mirror, and that is where this reflection will shine brightest...
A Leotard for Every Occasion
Today it seemed, all the big names, were simply putting their foot down and saying 'enough with the practicality of a dance outfit', and 'lets get some fabulous fashion instead' - and so we do have a trend where every woman felt they should buy at least four leotards for each occasion. There was no longer a single dancewear brand, in the capital city anyway, which didn't offer their range for different activities - which is what is wonderful and very liberating - what does that mean for us though, you may ask?
Well this is the big question - but there were three obvious occasions; "Everyday Casual," 'Dance Class,' and "Dress-Up" (a good dress-up party in 1975 will always mean dressing-up for a disco, of course.)
Now, some dancewear was made to dress-up, which was lovely and a whole world of its own but even some of these leotards still managed to fit right in at your "Casual-Weekend" wear and, on some occasions, if it was casual but still at least slightly smart, the "Class-Leotard" even crept out and snuck onto the dance floor - but only when you knew they could take the pressure! (Of course we know that only a great 'Class-Leotard' will really make it at the 'Dress-Up Party.')
Dance Class 1975- A Leotard Fashion Lesson:
(Quick Note: Do not forget, we do not use "Dance Class Leotard" in this blog as it can mean one thing in a shop and mean a very different thing for the same brand, five miles further down the road - if we have the chance - next month perhaps - we can discuss this amazing cultural "Leotard Identity" divide! )
A 'Dance-Class Leotard' in 1975 really, should only be worn to a dance class - well it really shouldn't be, but that is how they have decided on a term.
This "Dance-Class" Leotard can only be officially worn for 'Class', however, they make wonderful travel companions and when worn 'Out and About' on the streets - always with a tutu on top and never just on its own - they show an amazing "class-attitude," that's so charming in these elegant fashion circles in 1975. The 'Class Leotard' (though they try not to wear it, you understand) will always wear a bright, playful "Fashion Tutu" on top in 1975. It really gives the game away (to everyone) that this particular leotard - when it shows its face to the 'dress-up world', - actually means business and wants everyone to know it will never, never, leave the studio.
So, darling, be warned, if your 'Class Leotard' is out in public, make sure it is dressed up to the nines. And do be kind enough to always let everyone know what you're up to with this little beauty. Because as they are always looking for a home on the stage, even those "class leotards" are quite simply, starring in the lead role today. (There are plenty of fashion rules though!)
Shopping Spree Leotard
Oh - don't we all just love a shopping spree! A good shopping spree simply wouldn't be possible, in 1975 (and most likely every other era we visit too! I just haven't seen enough to comment yet).
The perfect Leotard to wear shopping in 1975 is just - divine, and not nearly as challenging as that 'Class Leotard.' *This *"Shopping-Spree-Leotard" is not even that difficult - even without the shopping!
If you would have told me what the fashion was in 1975 - I wouldn't have believed it! So it is no wonder to me that the Shopping-Leotard has made its name on fashion runways - all the beautiful dancers just had to know the style! They look as beautiful when walking around the shop as when they are actually on the runway. I would have given just about anything, not for this "Shopping-Spree-Leotard," darling but, for all the great street dance shows - I missed, because, naturally I would have to do the right thing and shop for everything myself and dance around every corner in all these stores.
*(If you happen to be one of my fabulous street show dancers you will know we do always make sure we go and get all the great dance-fashion at least once - it truly helps to add some character to these stories.) *
1975: Where does your Leotard sit, on the Scale of Style?
Oh, if we were still in Derbyshire, perhaps in our beautiful Bakewell ... the heart of Derbyshire you see - oh - I just love Derbyshire. (Maybe that's why it called to me when my pink leotard was just aching for a dance!)
The Bakewell "Class Leotard" - always the one to keep its little nose tucked into a little notebook with "lessons to learn, lessons to learn, from the dancing class!" It seems that is simply all the "Class Leotards" can talk about - however the "Class Leotard" - really knows everything.
This 'Class Leotard' has a huge amount of 'inside-knowledge', the Bakewell "Class Leotard" even looks almost-smart when it's doing "dress-up." I tell you, just make sure that Bakewell "Class Leotard" has all its homework before going to a disco in that little notebook ...
You see there's a special secret of fashion, that the 1975 Derbyshire class leotard wears - but the secret of how to blend from the studios - out onto the stage, it is something very precious which not every single fashion class leotard knows ... This little "Class-Leotard' - well, they have so much to tell us, you simply will not believe ... even just by reading those notebooks we simply could have learnt just so much! I wonder what secrets they keep in these beautiful books?
I think it is always good to remember the things we are missing. You can't "dance-travel" in 1975 without those Bakewell notebooks you just couldn't - because everything in Bakewell would simply have felt "incomplete" - I truly do wonder what they wrote about... What will they write next month when I visit for my leotard dance lesson in a "Class-Leotard".
I am really not a huge believer in that "Dance-Class Leotard," and if you happen to live in the very elegant capital city ... you will need to take great care about which dance classes to choose for your real fashion.
What about you dear - can we see that 'Class Leotard' - will you take that little secret - and go a step further than Derbyshire - oh, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Now let's go back to those dance shows and discover how this year's "Shopping-Spree Leotards" really came together...
*Leotard Styles - 1975: Fashion or Function? *
When you shop on a shopping-spree, for that 'shopping-spree-leotard' that you always wished you'd had, ( and that really makes up for the missing notebooks, in a big way.) There is a certain special touch to how a fashion designer will combine leotards with tutu's on that 1975 fashion runway. Just have a look - don't be too frightened to let those dancing shoes glide in these very delicate shops ... I know I did (and all those "class-leotards" will still be in the shop but those shopping spree leotards they do not really get how important a little dress up is to them)
When we step out onto the street and dance, in the shadow of the amazing shops in 1975, we find some fashion surprises. Oh the stories, that a London street will tell! We find many amazing 'Class Leotards" but then you simply do not know, what other fashionable leotard style you are about to run into, just when you step through one door into the next! It feels like magic.
We will meet some amazing performers who really want to live up to their 'dress-up' fashion. And when you come to a place which you find truly remarkable - it is very hard not to start thinking "That really is a place for dancing."
And sometimes, when your little dancing toes tell you a fashion dance is not all that special (they often say the opposite to you of what they actually feel) there is just something about that beautiful 'Dress-up Leotard" in your heart and mind - and this makes me think, darling, it can make the fashion feel right, right where you are standing - but I'm a big believer - always! that a Leotard only looks truly 'wonderful,' when it can wear any color that makes its wearer's eyes shine (you just have to do it, like this "Shopping-Spree-Leotard'!)
The Shopping Spree Leotard is also very lucky, and we can see there are just so many ways the 1975 leotard can dance - it is almost too much, for our minds (oh what fashion lessons, just waiting to be taught ... ) So if we *meet that *Shopping Spree Leotard - be kind! It can truly be an opportunity, just a *whisper away... I tell you.
The fashion trend of 1975 feels a little unbalanced for this London shopping spree. Oh Darling! we do have a whole "Style Guide" on pink tutu which I will share at the end of this entry, just make sure you come back next time so you won't be lost on your next dance visit to the world of 1975.
But as you must know, the 'Dress-Up Leotards' are truly 'dreaming of the day they will truly find the most amazing (we have just learned, there is a* huge opportunity in a "Dress Up" ) - But for a Shopping-Spree-Leotard, this could be quite a difficult choice, and so darling, just wait, the Shopping Spree Leotard must not forget that* the Class Leotards" - and the "Dance-Class Leotards' really can not be the ultimate guide... but - you know what darling ? it all just has such great potential, - we do need some very clever "Dance-Class" ideas to come together - and it is truly not about finding that "Shopping-Spree Leotard" it is about knowing *how to find the most wonderful Shopping-Spree Leotard
*The 1975 "Shopping-Spree Leotard," needs to really understand the bigger picture to understand its place! I tell you... *
1975 - Shopping Spree
Oh - don't you love all those big shops! I think every day could just be a 'shopping spree' - and perhaps, I think that is why 1975, does it just love to dance, this whole "Shopping-Spree," ( you could not do a single move in the right way, or dance a single step, if the 'dress-up' and *the 'Class Leotard* (and yes I think there was a secret love between the Class Leotard and the Dress-up Leotard.)
You have got to dance in the dance shop- and not think about anything else! So dance a little 'Dress-Up-Leotard,' - how does the music feel ? Do not worry about anything else- just your Leotard-fashion.
But - oh no. My Shopping Spree Leotard - really did a huge favor for these beautiful boutiques. If there is a * Shopping Spree Leotard, or an *extra-ordinary* shopping-spree leotard ' it really did do more for the *Fashion ( you just need to dance-dance-dance)
I truly feel, that if the 'Shopping-Spree-Leotard' is able to follow all of its "Fashion Rules," and know how to 'style-itself', 'in these big beautiful stores' it **will dance like no one else.
( It will find a unique "Shopping-Spree-Leotard' 'dress-up' look and the dress up Leotards are starting to really want some special magic, so I really am not surprised it has become so fashionable) - (My little secret) I would never really have seen Shopping-Spree-Leotards,' in a different color or style- so don't worry *- I did always just go for 'Pink'.
It does need some imagination, I think and we all know these fashionable people have a huge imagination! This is what it truly takes!
The 1975 Fashion Runway- is simply *a *shopping spree in a magical leotard - you know when you can't find *that perfect dress-up Leotard, and - well darling, just have a look for yourself.
And my wonderful Derbyshire Dance Class leotards - we shall get back to this topic (of those amazing Bakewell notebooks) I do promise *because what I have discovered has really amazed me! * (Remember the fashion-fashion-fashion- always take time to just watch it.) I will also share my secrets - it will take time to understand - but, darling - all you really need to do is just start shopping, shopping, shopping for that 'shopping spree leotard."
1975 is a fashion dream and don't you forget this... It does really *know what a "Shopping Spree" means, and those fashion classes - what *amazing shops for shopping leotards! I will certainly let you know what else is special.
I hope you enjoyed my Leotard History entry for 4th April 1975! See you again in a month - I've got so many more magical fashion secrets to share. Until then, don't forget to shine brightly in your own pink tutu.
Keep it twirling,
Emma**
(Stay tuned for my Leotard Style Guide on Pink Tutus on www.pink-tutu.com.
[ Style Guide Link ] )**
**(Don't forget to keep checking this blog - there is just so much we still have to explore - like this new amazing pink tutu for the "Shopping-Spree" leotard ... or the pink tutu that just melts away into a dream (you see I cannot just give away all my secret styles!) and the ultimate pink tutu - for those wonderful 'Bakewell ' fashion lovers. I will share my thoughts for these magical pieces of fabric as soon as I can! )
