Hello my darlings! It's Emma, your resident pink tutu enthusiast and time-travelling ballerina extraordinaire! As you all know, the pink leotard is a magical thing - it transports me to the most wonderful places! This month, I found myself back in 1983! I landed, literally (thank you, sparkling pink leotard!), smack bang in the middle of an exciting theatre production of "The Nutcracker"! The 80s was a fabulous decade for leotard fashion, and you just wait till you see what I found!
Before we dive into the colourful world of leotards in 1983, let me tell you about my extraordinary adventure! I popped into a fantastic street fair in the heart of London, showcasing some of the best street performers and local talent. My trusty pink leotard was practically a beacon! So many admiring glances! My routine was inspired by the iconic music of David Bowie, naturally, and a very friendly shopkeeper bought me the most wonderful pastel pink cupcake – he even agreed to take a photo of my amazing "Pink Princess" outfit! You can see it on my Instagram – the picture already has 200 likes!
The show was totally rocking, complete with neon pink tutus, leg warmers, and the most sparkly hair accessories I’ve ever seen! The dancers were amazing! They all wore gorgeous colourful leotards - bright lime green, ruby red, deep blue, electric pink! There was one particularly glamorous dancer wearing a fabulous bright red leotard and gorgeous diamond-encrusted tiara! My, oh my! My inner fashionista went wild! She wore her hair in a glamorous ponytail adorned with sparkling pink clips - talk about 80s chic! I wanted to try everything on and just be one of the dancers! But, as I only travel to the past and never the future, my adventures in 80s London came to an end.
Speaking of time-travel – do you know where I found the most incredible pink sparkly leotard, my friends? It was a lovely vintage boutique just a stone's throw from my starting point! I snagged it for a bargain price. My travel budget can be tricky to manage sometimes (I can’t go asking the local squirrels for a £20 note, can I?) but my fabulous street dancing brings in enough to keep my leotard collection thriving, as well as allow me to visit my favourite fashion and theatrical haunts. Of course, nothing is better than finding a leotard like this – perfect for travel.
You might be asking, “But Emma, what was the world of leotard fashion really like in 1983?” And honestly, it was an absolute delight! Remember my gorgeous, fabulous street fair? Well, it also had the most wonderful stalls! One stall was overflowing with these beautiful bright patterned leotards with intricate lace sleeves. Oh, the lace! And all in different shades of purple and pink! The best bit? A woman was selling stunning headbands with sparkly rhinestones, to match every outfit! You should have seen me! I practically jumped for joy - my purse (actually a vintage handbag!) was emptied within minutes!
For those of you with more of a vintage taste than an over-the-top 80s vibe, the trend towards minimalism was just beginning! One shop window I spied displayed the most exquisite black, leotards in different styles: basic, minimalist and very chic! Even my classic black leotards look a bit dated in comparison – but trust me, vintage always comes back around! The 80s was a period of such fantastic leotard design - bold, vibrant, and full of fun - it was truly a special time to be a ballerina and an even more magical time to be a time-travelling, leotard enthusiast like me.
Speaking of amazing 80s ballet fashions! Have you all seen the movie Flashdance? If not, then put on your best leg warmers and sparkliest leotards and get ready! The costume designer, Shirley Besson, deserves an enormous high-five - what fantastic leotards, tutus, and leotard accessories! And the best part? They all showcased this brilliant, dazzling, energetic style that epitomised the 80s!
There was a very glamourous performance by a famous group of dancers from Derbyshire, I swear they were right across the road from me in the 1983 Derby theatre. If only I had had my phone, I would have sent all of you the most fabulous pictures. A whole series of photos - the iconic sparkly pink tutu, pink feather boas, the vibrant leotards with leggings, and some dazzling, bold geometric designs. Even now as I type this blog post, the memory of all of those fantastic performances is making me want to pack my tutu, time travel again, and grab my trusty pink sparkly leotard, oh, how I'd love to join in!
There's one leotard, however, that keeps calling my name: the perfect bright pink leotard! The perfect leotard is the reason why I am a time-travelling ballerina. I search for that leotard all over the world – past, present, future – who knows where it might be? Perhaps I'll even write a whole blog post on it when I find it. Until then, my dears, don't forget to visit me online at www.pink-tutu.com!
P.S: And remember: every day is a chance to wear a pink tutu!
