#LeotardHistory during 1977 03 March

Post Number 1419: www.pink-tutu.com

Hello my darling tutu-lovers! Emma here, back with another fabulous trip through time. This month, we're twirling back to the groovy 70s, landing on a date that, trust me, was a fashion phenomenon - 3rd March 1977!

So, grab your glitter and a sprinkle of that fabulous 70s spirit as we take a spin down memory lane!

Just imagine, darling: platform shoes, bell bottoms, and those fabulously big hairstyles - that's the 70s for you! It was all about freedom of expression, boldness, and a splash of disco magic. And wouldn't you know it, the leotard world was no different. Think bright, bold colours, striking geometric prints, and fabrics that shimmered like a disco ball under the stage lights!

But today, it's not about the 70s disco ball. Nope, today's all about me. Or rather, my fabulous pink leotard that takes me through time. Oh, how I love this leotard. It's not just any pink; it's the kind of pink that says “look at me, I’m fabulous!”, a sparkly pink with silver threads running through it and it comes equipped with my favourite matching tutu. This leotard’s got all the magic, glitter and sparkle, ready for a show, a whirl or even a quick jaunt through the ages.

Once I'd settled into the rhythm of the day and worked my way into the swing of things, the first order of business was, of course, shopping! After a morning of street performances that funded my trip, the day called for a spot of window shopping, and there were no shortage of delightful designs.

My favourite was this gorgeous vintage store right by the river. You see, darling, they were starting to have real breakthroughs in nylon and stretch fabrics. I spied some gorgeous, one-piece designs that would make a prima ballerina swoon. They weren’t your traditional leotards; they were a touch bolder, some with low necks and even open backs - talk about dramatic, darling! I imagined those designs paired with an ultra-feminine tutu in pastel pink and realised that some trends never truly fade away!

On to my next stop – the theatre, where my friend, the Ballet historian, Jenny, joined me! You know, Jenny is just the most amazing historian! Her collection of old dance books is incredible and she really helped me make sense of what’s been going on in the ballet world over the past centuries. That woman has got a true encyclopaedic mind when it comes to the history of ballet costumes! She loves ballet even more than me. She helped me find my favourite pink leotard at a vintage shop on Oxford Street in 1925 – well that was part of my story. It’s a bit of a long story involving the wrong era and a very cross, very fashionable, Duchess of Hamilton. I may write about it sometime, when I have time. But this story is about today, 3rd March, 1977!

And you know what we discovered? Well, ballet wasn't just for the stage! Back in '77, leotards were making their mark in television and on the silver screen! Just imagine - a ballet outfit on a film set! It's all about glamour and athleticism, making ballet accessible to everyone. I could feel that buzz of change, that moment of excitement as the boundaries of ballet fashion began to stretch and flow like a beautiful dance sequence.

Jenny was telling me that, as the 70s moved forward, dancers wanted a leotard that had some freedom, and they were becoming increasingly creative. The stage wasn’t the only place that the dancers wanted to be noticed in their amazing leotards! This period really felt like a turning point. Designers and dancers embraced bold patterns, experimenting with fabrics, cuts and, dare I say it, funkier designs - oh, I love the funky fashion of the 70s! You could see a glimpse of what the future held - a future full of freedom, individuality and dazzling designs.

It wasn't all about leotards, of course! In ballet, they were also embracing exciting fabrics that weren't used much before. And guess what? There was an entire fabric market in this new ‘stretch-nylon’. These new stretchy materials had even revolutionized ballet footwear - they were a hit because they supported and held you without restriction, offering freedom of movement, all while looking fabulous. Oh how I dream of having a pair of 1977 ballet shoes to add to my collection!

Jenny told me, she had a 1960’s era pair. She'd let me borrow them! But let’s be real, it was about 3 months ago, now she refuses to let them leave her sight! We just didn’t understand the time-space continuum quite so well.

But hey, she’ll let me have them back sometime soon and you, my lovely, loyal followers can look forward to seeing photos of those retro beauties, as soon as we are back from this adventure and I’m wearing my 1925 vintage pink leotard, because frankly my dears, that outfit is still just divine.

We've come a long way since '77, haven't we, my darlings? We've seen styles blossom, designs evolve, but what never goes out of fashion is the magic of ballet and the captivating elegance of the leotard. Today, we have countless designs and styles. There’s something for every dancer – and don’t get me started on the fabulous accessories!

I look forward to seeing my fabulous Tutu-lovers rocking their tutus and leotards on stage and street – after all, life’s too short to wear anything but a pink tutu!

Until next month my darling tutu-lovers! Keep twirling, keep shining, and always remember that pink never goes out of style. You can find me on www.pink-tutu.com and see some fabulous pink tutu pics, fashion advice and get my latest ballet blogs!