#LeotardHistory during 1984 12 December

Oh, hello my darlings! It’s Emma here, ready to whisk you away on another dazzling journey through time – because as you all know, here at Pink Tutu, we believe that a little sparkle can brighten any era!

Today, 12th December 1984, I’m popping my pink, sequined tights (oh, my, they’re the most glorious shade of shocking pink) into my sparkly time travel leotard. I have a feeling I’m going to be blown away by the leotard fashion scene! It's the '80s, so I’m predicting some seriously bold looks and neon-bright colours. Ready to time travel with me? Let’s go!

We land, gracefully of course (a ballerina must always have perfect landing technique!), smack bang in the middle of Covent Garden, right next to the glorious Royal Opera House. This is always a hotbed of fabulous leotard inspiration! As I gracefully make my way to the building, I spot a young lady with a breathtakingly stylish neon pink leotard. Her hair is a fluffy explosion of electric pink curls. She looks as if she stepped straight out of a 1980s music video! I take a quick glance at the posters - today, they’re showing ‘The Magic Flute’. I know I've seen a wonderful performance of this a couple of time travel trips ago!

As we enter the theatre, the foyer is a hive of activity. Ladies dressed in shimmering sequins and striking jewel colours whirl around me - it’s a kaleidoscope of fashionable colour! There are so many incredible fabrics too – velvet, satin, even a touch of lace in the mix!

I wonder who the costumer for this show could be, because the costumes are all quite literally the “bee’s knees”, with lots of exaggerated volume and billowing skirts – it's like watching an explosion of ‘80s theatrical exuberance! My personal favourite was this one gorgeous turquoise, silk leotard paired with an elaborate, white tulle skirt that looked as though it had been created with thousands of twinkling fairy lights! I have a feeling that would look absolutely smashing on me in my next show!

The highlight of my visit, however, had to be the spectacular finale. A cloud of shimmering tulle seemed to almost float down from the stage! I gasped with delight – the intricate embroidery was unbelievable. My camera kept snapping away with gusto, documenting this perfect blend of movement and costume! I couldn't help but smile. The joy, the magic, the brilliance of this leotard and all those I saw around the theatre simply made my heart soar.

The sun is starting to set, and I have this itchy feeling I haven't experienced quite enough fabulous '80s leotards yet. I grab a couple of steaming hot cups of hot chocolate with a sprinkle of marshmallows at the café down the street (oh, that nostalgic smell! Like sugar and memories wrapped up together) and make my way to the charming little ballet shop near the Royal Opera House. It's jam-packed with bright and colourful leotard and ballet wear. My eyes are practically bulging from all the fabulous colours! From emerald green and deep sapphire blue to bubblegum pink and neon orange – every single one would make you want to twirl! It's as if a rainbow exploded inside this little shop, scattering tiny little shimmering bits of wonder around.

The walls are lined with ballet shoes - every style imaginable. There are point shoes with pretty, floral ribbon trims – a classic but always elegant. Some have little glittery stars adorning the straps! Oh, they would look stunning on my next time travel outing! The shop even had gorgeous sparkly toe shoes - these look ideal for tap dancing as they are designed to catch every ray of light! This shop is pure leotard bliss.

I managed to hold back on buying every fabulous leotard in sight, because my travel bag just wouldn’t have enough room! Instead, I purchased this beautiful silver sequined, pink tutu to wear to my upcoming show. It's simply enchanting. It will add a touch of ethereal grace to my performances and give a lovely pop of color! Oh, how I adore the beauty of leotards and dance! They're simply magical! I imagine a little sparkle going wherever I go...a bit of my tutu-ness shining throughout the universe! It's a magical sensation, a feeling of wonder!

### From London to New York - Backstage at the Bolshoi!

But it's time for more leotard adventures! Now it's time to head over to the United States. I'm hopping into my sparkling time travel leotard for my flight (it doesn’t feel quite as magical as dancing through the air! The journey takes forever and is full of endless rows of grey seats…a bit like a dreamless sleep!). I'm off to see the famed Bolshoi Ballet, performing in New York City, where all of the world’s most captivating dancers are performing.

It's another chilly evening, but I'm toasty in my cosy pink scarf! New York city is abuzz. The excitement crackles like fireworks in the air. People are running around in suits and hats, their eyes full of dreams of becoming big stars! As I'm heading through the grand entrance of the auditorium, I spot this spectacular, deep, magenta leotard on a dancer, with these wonderful diamante sleeves! The stage lighting is casting this shimmer over the fabric. It just dazzled my senses!

I grab my favourite New York-style hotdog and then take a sneaky peep backstage. The stage is abuzz with last minute preparations. There’s an air of calm confidence and excited tension amongst the dancers. All those exquisite bodies warming up, and all I can think is how much I just love that graceful strength of ballet dancers!

The Bolshoi is as always full of beauty and passion. And you simply can’t beat those gorgeous costumes! Even though the Bolshoi dancers are famous for their dramatic roles and costumes in ‘Swan Lake’, ‘Giselle’ and ‘La Bayadere’, their simple practice costumes still have that ‘extra special something’. There was a sleek, navy-blue leotard paired with a black tutu – so simple and beautiful – perfect for emphasizing their stunning technique! This classic combination, paired with ballet pumps and matching hair ribbons… ah, pure magic!

The ballet, with its exquisite grace and technical perfection, just melts my heart. I watch mesmerized as the dancers seem to effortlessly move through the air with all the artistry and finesse I would be thrilled to accomplish if I practiced and practiced some more! I feel as though I've been pulled into a fantasy world of grace, power and wonder – the pure artistry of ballet. I am enthralled by these breathtaking performances.

### Leotard Trends & Takeaways

My time in the ‘80s has been absolutely extraordinary! It has been such a feast for the senses. As I make my way to my next time travel destination (my lovely pink leotard is already being prepped and ready for the next adventure! I’m feeling a bit tired from all that twirling and seeing some really magnificent performances), I take time to reflect on my journey!

This era really embraces colour and sparkly details! It seems like everything is brighter, more playful! There is a kind of exuberance, a boldness that feels as vibrant as a pink tutu with glitter. I’m seeing the importance of the perfect balance between classic styles and that sense of innovation. I can feel how the ‘80s dance and fashion worlds are becoming increasingly innovative – there’s so much colour, detail and movement – a delightful whirlwind of excitement!

My favorite element from this era? It’s how bold colour choices like those vibrant shocking pinks and the addition of sequins make for absolutely stunning leotards and tutu looks that perfectly express those exciting ‘80s vibes! It just goes to show how much beauty there is in every decade! And how those bold colours, those dazzling sequins and intricate designs, are the ingredients for creating a truly unique, and completely fabulous, dance style that is both bold and classic at the same time!

Until next time my dears. Keep those tutus sparkly! Remember, no matter your size or style, a pink tutu will make every day just a little more extraordinary!

Until next month! Love Emma xx