Hello my lovelies! Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire-born ballerina blogger, and I'm absolutely buzzing to welcome you back to www.pink-tutu.com for another installment of our fantastic time travelling adventures.
This month, we're whisked away to the dazzling era of 1986. It's a time when shoulder pads were big, hair was big, and leotard fashion was equally fabulous! Can you believe it's been 37 years already? It's quite amazing how time flies. I love time travelling in my pink sparkling leotard because it helps me learn from the past so I can use these fashions and ideas to create my fabulous looks today. Just think - if you love the fashion of 1986, I can create that look for you now in your own custom pink tutu, so feel free to reach out to me via the blog website if you'd like some bespoke ideas or your very own handmade tutu.
Of course, before we step back in time, I need to talk about my latest fundraising street ballet performance, as without that magical time-travelling money I wouldn’t be able to go where I want when I want! You guys know that to support my pink tutu travelling habit I make sure that I hold at least two performances per month in my home town of Matlock, in Derbyshire. This month, we danced in the beautiful and famous Matlock Bath, as we welcomed the New Year with a classic dance set featuring some of our favourite contemporary pieces that everyone loved. The sunshine was warm on our skin and the energy of the crowd was amazing. We always get such great applause - I'm so glad everyone loves the costumes, the moves and the positive vibe we bring. Thank you so much, to all who came to support and everyone who has made a donation online - your generosity helps make my time-travel adventures a reality!
Right, now onto the good stuff! We're arriving in 1986 and there are some very special fashion gems awaiting us!
1986 - Fashion Takes Flight:
Remember how big those 1980's shoulder pads were?! Leotards at this time had big, strong shoulders - everything from dance to gymnastics used this powerful silhouette, and these powerful designs perfectly reflected the decade. Think power ballads, rock and roll music and a big statement on the dance floor - these were all part of the cultural zeitgeist and reflected in leotard trends. You could even spot a hint of the 80s shoulder pad in the leotards that dancers wore in "Footloose"!
Let's delve into a little bit of leotard history for 1986, shall we?
The '80s Power Leotard: 1986 saw the rise of leotards designed for powerful dance styles, such as contemporary and modern dance. With sleek, fitted designs, they embraced a more streamlined silhouette. They were also seen as the perfect way for ballet dancers to look incredibly sharp while they were dancing en pointe - think very athletic lines in combination with feminine silhouettes and powerful body movement - it’s like wearing a second skin but giving the perfect bodyline definition. We saw a range of designs from full-body suits with intricate necklines, and classic tank-top leotards. A classic that has stood the test of time, you could pick up the same style today, it truly is timeless!
Fashion Focus: I just can’t get enough of that classic 1986 leotard design. Imagine a vibrant cherry red tank-top style leotard, perfectly cut with a strong, feminine silhouette. Add in a matching leg-warmer - they're another staple of this period - think a fun pair in pink and black with an eye-catching polka-dot pattern - perfect for contrast! I always loved this bold combination, even the boys' dance troupes embraced it at the time!
Back to Our Journey: As we stroll through this magnificent era of fashion, let’s think about how to inject some of the 80’s power in today’s leotard looks! This period inspired many designers, and that bold leotard silhouette remains so popular now.
Think About It: How could you create your own twist on the '80s leotard? How can you use classic patterns and silhouettes from this time and bring them into the twenty-first century? For example, when you wear a leotard in your everyday fashion, take a bright-coloured leotard like our ‘Cherry Blossom Pink’ colour and combine it with a black tailored jacket or blazer for an instant upgrade. It’s the perfect way to elevate your casual look to more fashion-forward - that’s how I do it - it's a little fashion secret I love!
1986, What’s On Show?
The most spectacular dance performances from 1986 definitely left a huge impact on ballet history and influenced me so much! This year saw the release of many incredible musicals that embraced a powerful 80’s style and many amazing dance movies, some classics. I especially loved the amazing, highly talented cast of “A Chorus Line”, I just love the original 1985 production in the USA, and of course "Starlight Express," and the dazzling “Dance With Me.”
I’ve loved travelling back to 1986 and reminiscing about this incredibly vibrant and exciting decade - don’t forget we are a magical place for amazing leotard history! So, make sure to follow @pinktutu.com on social media for all the latest on leotard style updates, dance news and our incredible monthly adventures into fashion and history! Remember that our new Spring collection for your leotards and tutus has just arrived - we’re already sold out of the ‘Ballerina’ range so make sure to snap up the remaining pink tutus and leotard sets now!
Catch you next month, when we embark on a magical trip to 2001 for the “Moulin Rouge!”
Your favourite Derbyshire ballerina blogger, Emma xx
