Hello darlings, it's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu wearing time traveller! Today, I'm whisking you all back to a most exciting date: November 11th, 1985. Why, you ask? Because this is the day I discovered something absolutely thrilling, which, as always, ties in magnificently with our beloved leotards.
Before we hop into the time machine though, do join me in the usual delightful way. Pop a cuppa (with a sprinkle of pink sugar, naturally), pull on a comfy leotard (maybe even your best tutu), and get ready to twirl through the fashion annals of the past!
Now, my dears, let me paint you a picture. It's a chilly morning in Derbyshire, and I'm nestled in my cosy attic bedroom, the faintest hint of morning mist clinging to the rolling hills beyond my window. I'm preparing for a particularly exciting day: A trip to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Not only is this a truly grand place for any lover of ballet, but my latest street ballet performance, "Dancing on the Cobblestones", a whimsical reimagining of the "Street Ballet" by Maurice Béjart, has garnered much attention, landing me a fantastic invitation to the world premiere of “The Little Mermaid" by Kenneth MacMillan. The world is brimming with beautiful ballet, and I'm positively quivering with excitement to see it!
Oh, but I almost forgot, this being my time travel blog, the day is not about "The Little Mermaid" or the excitement of the Royal Opera House. It's about November 11th 1985!
It was at the Royal Opera House, amongst the vibrant hues and rich fabrics of the ballet costumes on display, that I had my revelation. While studying a breathtaking sapphire blue bodice of “The Sleeping Beauty", my gaze was drawn to a delicate pale pink silk tutu - not the full, multi-layered princess style, but one composed of a mere whisper of tulle and satin ribbons, perfectly catching the light as it rested in the glass display case. I realised this wasn't a new creation; its style, with the delicate layering, the soft, almost transparent fabric, hinted at something from a previous era - a style echoing the iconic early ballerinas, the pioneers of graceful movement who demanded such fluidity of fabric in their costumes.
This stunningly delicate creation made me question: What leotard history were these dancers dancing with back then? This question was all I needed to push the time travel leotard button on my sparkly pink leotard. With a swirl of light, my magical garment transported me right into 1880s Paris!
Paris, my dear readers, was truly alive with a dance craze in those times! This wasn’t simply a world of graceful ballerinas in exquisite tutus like the one I saw at the Royal Opera House. This was a vibrant dance scene bursting with every style imaginable - from graceful ballet performances in intimate salons, to raucous can-can performances at bustling cabarets.
What shocked me most was that women from all walks of life wore leotards - or, as they were known then, "danseuse costumes”. Imagine a world where you didn't have to be a professional dancer to be seen in a stunningly beautiful and comfortable leotard, designed for freedom of movement. These dancers weren't all professionally trained, they were simply women enjoying themselves in their dancing, and leotards allowed for full movement in every kind of dance. You could be wearing a "danseuse costume" while waltzing gracefully in a salon one evening, then twirling excitedly in a boisterous can-can cabaret later the same night. Now, that's what I call versatility!
It wasn't all frivolous dancing either, the early dance styles influenced by the graceful lines and flow of classical ballet, and leotard styles often echoed this. These elegant and free "danseuse costumes” showed off their movement perfectly. Even everyday dress during this period often embodied elements of leotard-like design. This is where the magic truly shines, seeing leotards affecting fashion outside of dance itself - the ultimate leotard revolution!
During this era, leotards were predominantly made of a thin, stretchable fabric, often cotton or silk, with details that could be as simple as ruffled trims to as extravagant as draped sashes, or frills and bows that added just a dash of coquettish elegance. I even found a beautiful "danseuse costume” made of embroidered linen which would be considered an absolutely timeless design in any era! Imagine, the elegance of such simple yet striking details and practicality, worn as part of an everyday ensemble, what an enchanting fashion statement, don’t you think, dearest readers?
I found this particular period of history a wonder to behold. I can't help but wish the world would adopt this philosophy once more, where leotards are simply a common clothing option to be enjoyed by everyone! A simple idea, perhaps, yet so empowering. Think of it: A world where a little girl could be seen spinning and leaping in her pink tutu with no hesitation, where boys would wear comfortable leotards as readily as their favourite trousers. What an amazing world that would be.
My trip into the past, as always, has brought an abundance of new inspiration and an overwhelming desire to encourage everyone to embrace their inner dancer and enjoy a little freedom of movement. It's all part of our mission, you see, to encourage everyone to wear pink tutus in whatever style they prefer, because with leotards and tutues, we are all connected to the universal language of dance!
Stay tuned, my darlings, I'm certain more fascinating leotard discoveries await us in the future. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get back to my own pink tutu! A final twirl from your favourite pink tutu wearing time traveller. Until next time, darlings!
