Helloooo lovelies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, ready to whisk you away on another whirlwind tour of leotard history. This month, my sparkly pink leotard is taking me right back to June 1982, a year bursting with vibrant colour, fabulous fashion, and of course, leotards!
As a proud Derbyshire lass, I’m always a little giddy when I step back into this era, because it reminds me of how much my county shaped the UK's ballet world. So much incredible talent comes from our lovely countryside, and it was bursting with talent back in the 80s. Back then, my pink tutu would have been twirling on the stage of the Royal Ballet, in the arms of legendary dancers like Anthony Dowell and Darcey Bussell – what a dream!
Back to the 80s!But the excitement doesn't stop with ballet. This month, my time-travelling mission leads me straight to a dazzling, brightly coloured world of leotards. Just imagine: neon pinks, electric blues, sunny yellows, and dazzling greens! Oh, how I wish I could just pop into my vintage wardrobe from this time! Every colour of the rainbow was being worn, with plenty of glittery and patterned fabrics. Think of it: lycra leggings, sweaters tied around waists, over-sized bows, headbands, and those fantastically patterned leg warmers! It's like a fever dream of fabulousness, but it’s all oh-so-real. The 80s are the undisputed champion of neon bright leotard love!
Now, some of you may be thinking that these were the years of leg warmers and tight, high-waisted leotards that hugged every curve… Well, you’d be absolutely right!
You can be sure I was doing a little shimmy in front of the shops, soaking up all those vibrant hues and the amazing silhouettes! We are talking body-conscious leotards! Oh, those are just what I’d adore right now. We may have ditched those colours and styles in favour of neutral and simplistic elegance. But everything seems more beautiful in those eye-catching hues!
My goodness, how I miss seeing those fabulous displays of colourful leotards in shop windows back in the 80s! Don't get me wrong, the leotard choices of today are magnificent, but oh, what a joy to look through the dazzling racks of clothing in a Laura Ashley shop and see so many variations on the iconic leotard.
We can’t talk about the eighties without mentioning Jane Fonda. That is where the craze for high-impact aerobics, stretchy leg warmers, bright coloured, comfortable and often sleeveless leotards, came from! Let’s not forget the iconic 80s exercise videos, complete with jazzy dance moves and those amazing leotard silhouettes! How much fun it would be to visit those vintage aerobics classes, just to join in for a few minutes. Those leotard outfits made everyone feel confident and unstoppable, don't you think?
A World of PerformanceAnd, darling, you can bet I took a quick spin around some legendary locations in this amazing decade! Just a little whirl around the stage at the Royal Albert Hall, where I saw the magical Royal Opera House performing such beautiful ballets as Giselle, The Nutcracker, and the dazzling Swan Lake. I even caught the incredible performance of the Bolshoi, the iconic dancers who brought a little magic to the West End. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Oh, and to see those exquisite, traditional costumes - it was a glimpse into a world of breathtaking elegance. The National Ballet of England were putting on some gorgeous shows back then and those beautiful and intricate costumes must have been stunning!
Now, just imagine – what if I took that magical, pink time-travelling leotard and landed myself backstage in one of these legendary performances? To see those fantastic, detailed, glittering tutus, maybe even be dressed as a flower or swan, a peasant girl in Giselle, it’s a dream I'm never going to stop wishing for!
The 80s were an incredible decade for all types of performances! I found myself in awe of the legendary Royal Shakespeare Company, and you can bet your pink tutu I had a little cry at their performance of Hamlet – it was absolutely soul-stirring. And it doesn’t stop there – there were stunning plays from all around the world; my oh my, it's all so exhilarating. It was the era of Broadway, the West End came alive in so many ways. But there’s more! Did you know that this was the year that “Cats”, with its leotard-style costumes and *amazing music, stormed Broadway? And we simply must talk about the legendary “Dreamgirls”, the flawlessly tailored outfits… Well, they simply deserve a standing ovation! And did you see the dancing on roller skates? It all took place in the 80s - it’s enough to send any girl into a dancing frenzy, don’t you think?
Just imagine, finding myself backstage at any one of these incredible events! To meet all the famous artists, to be surrounded by all that magic – oh, it’s enough to make this pink tutu twirl off its axis!
Oh, I love sharing all these time travel adventures with you. But don't forget about the other fun things I like to do! The ballet is always close to my heart and I adore taking a stroll around London, shopping for leotards and watching the fabulous, flamboyant street performers. It's amazing to see so many talented individuals expressing themselves through their art. It gives me the most amazing ideas, so don't be surprised if I start incorporating street-style inspirations into my future pink tutu outfits! But remember, it is all about fun! You can express your own style too! Whether it's pink or red or green - let those leotards twirl with all that love and confidence!
Fashionable 80s Style - My Time Traveller's PicksAs I weave through the history of leotards, I always have an eye on the little details, the unique designs and the fabrics that tell such beautiful stories about that specific era. This time, my oh my! Those iconic styles really speak volumes! So, just for you, my lovelies, I’ve been busy looking at what you could try yourself – and of course, we are talking leotards, so just picture those outfits:
Classic pink leotards: Look for high-waisted leotards and ones that really show your fabulous form. You’ll find those everywhere, with lots of cute patterns. I would even love a pink polka dot leotard! Oh, how stunning and fun!
Neon-bright leotards: The more color the better. Don’t forget a cute leg warmer for that iconic 80’s look.
Leg warmers: A definite must-have! You can get those anywhere! Why not a pair for every outfit in your wardrobe, you know – one for each leotard! It's just a fashion statement you need to have!
Bright leggings: The 80s is all about that wonderful combination of leotards and leggings. Go crazy with colors and make sure it looks super comfortable and functional. Remember those lycra leggings in all those incredible colors and those amazing textures? Oh, just go for it. The comfort is incredible. It's simply about a love of body-con style and vibrant hues!
Fabulous shoes: Oh, we are talking ballet flats, of course, with lots of colorful stripes, sparkly touches and patterns. Add a pair of leg warmers for that authentic look!
Oh my, those leg warmers – they are perfect for the ultimate street ballet, I feel so tempted! If you ever visit London, you must try a street ballet! If you happen to be near me, feel free to reach out and we’ll try to dance our way through the streets together! I'll teach you all about that fabulously creative style! I promise that there are infinite possibilities to experiment with. The only limit is your imagination and confidence.
*A touch of pink and a dash of fun – that’s the pink tutu philosophy, darling. So, let's embrace those 80s colours! *
