Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of all things sparkly and leotard-tastic!
As you all know, this month's trip took me back to September 1979, and what a glorious time to be in the world of leotard fashion! I can still feel the excitement from that whirlwind tour of fashion, ballet, and oh-so-much pink. And for this blog, it all starts with a rather special little fabric you might know - Lycra.
Now, it might sound odd, but I actually landed smack-bang in the middle of the launch of Lycra. The name, of course, means "light and strong". Well, that's quite apt! Think about it: this brand was changing everything, and the dance world was giddy with excitement about all the possibilities for their leotards, tights, and well, you know the rest!
Street Performing my way Through September
And let me tell you, there was plenty to do to keep even a pink tutu-clad fashionista like myself on her toes. The hustle and bustle of street performing certainly helps you get a feel for what's trending, and this was no exception!
Imagine cobbled streets full of brightly colored leotards in all shades imaginable! Oh, the joy! I can’t begin to describe how happy my inner leotard lover was! Even those leotards made with the “old" material had their own sort of magic - thick and almost luxurious, with all those lovely ballet-inspired designs and patterns, like a wearable piece of art!
But, it's September 1979 , so the talk on the street wasn't just about fabrics; it was all about Dance Mania, darling! It was the new fashion frenzy and I mean - every fashionable woman (and man, oh yes!), was out and about dancing. That included those incredible outfits, some as sleek as sleek can be - just what you'd want in a leotard!
But it wasn’t all about the street scene, London's West End was buzzing too! Imagine my surprise as I strolled down Shaftesbury Avenue – the home of those glorious musicals, and I happened upon a brand new, sparkly theatre, the Barbican Arts Centre. They’d just opened their doors, and wouldn't you know it - it’s got to do with, yes, you guessed it! Dance!! It's just wonderful. Even Rudolf Nureyev was performing there at this time, who can resist his magical charisma? The London Ballet Company, of course, were having a splendid year as well!
Leotard Fashion Finds of the Month
Speaking of finds - my leotard shopping adventures led me right to a little gem, a small shop hidden away on Tottenham Court Road called "Dancewear Galore." The sheer number of colours, styles and - well, just everything, had me practically skipping with glee! And that magic touch? Yes, that Lycra. Imagine a ballet pink leotard that feels like a soft cloud – it was simply divine, my darlings! Oh, and you haven't seen ballet shoes till you've seen what was in stock at "Dancewear Galore"! Those tiny shoes - with their elegant ribbon tie-up? Divine!
But that wasn’t my only adventure - oh, no! The "Dance Mania" fever spread like wildfire all through September, and you can be sure, darling, that even though I'm a Derbyshire girl at heart, I was making my way to Paris. Now, what would any fashionable ballerina be doing in the City of Lights? That's right, a fabulous show - it's about dance, Le Temps Perdu, * by Maurice Béjart, oh the drama and passion! And of course, there was another wonderful ballet at the *Paris Opéra that same month called, * "Donizetti's Le Comte d’Ory".* Both are fabulous. Do visit, if you can.
Now, darling, I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into my travels through September 1979. There's always so much to discover in the world of fashion and dance, and this month was no exception. Don't forget, keep that pink tutu ready, because I'm always on the lookout for the next great leotard adventure! See you soon!
Love,
Emma,
Your Pink Tutu Travel Blogger
Don't forget! To check out our pink tutu fashion collection, and other magical leotard designs, pop over to www.pink-tutu.com - and you can find a video of Emma street performing in London on our YouTube channel, pinktutu19!
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