Hello darlings! Itâs your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be back with another blog post. It's the 1st of July, 1999, and guess where I've landed? You'll never guess⊠Itâs the iconic Barbican Centre in London! I absolutely love the history and culture this place holds, especially with all the beautiful arts and theatre performances going on here. Plus, I must confess, the architecture just screams 'ballerina' to me!
You'll be thinking, how on earth did you get to the Barbican? Well, letâs just say my magical, sparkly pink leotard has taken me on an unforgettable journey. It all started back in Derbyshire, where I was in the middle of a street performance - think shimmying in my pink tutu to some BeyoncĂ© - and then whoosh! My leotard suddenly transported me to 1999. I mean, come on! What a fabulous era! This journey, my dears, has been about exploring what was happening in leotard fashion in this amazing year. Let me tell you, this era had a lot going on!
But first, coffee and cake, because a girlâs got to fuel her fashion adventures! The Barbican Centre is just buzzing with cafes â I mean, I'm absolutely living for the 'latte art' right now â just beautiful! I had a scrumptious carrot cake while watching some pretty incredible street performers. I might have very subtly incorporated a couple of their moves into my own routine â a bit of jazz and breakdancing never hurt anyone, right? I feel the pink tutu can do pretty much anything.
After my much-needed sugary pick-me-up, I went straight into the heart of Londonâs cultural scene. I mean, have you seen the Barbican's schedule? There were a lot of plays, operas, and ballet shows going on - even some really quirky âdanceâ shows! I love how diverse the creative arts are here in London. The Barbican was absolutely buzzing â I almost got lost in the sea of black turtlenecks and velvet jackets (which let's be honest, were just crying out for some pink!). I was very lucky, as I happened to be just at the right place at the right time, right outside the Barbican Centre!
While all this is happening, my eyes are totally glued to all the different fashion styles - it was basically a leotard fashion show! There was the "minimalist leotard", usually paired with some comfy leggings or ballet skirts for a "chic yet simple lookâ. You know the kind I mean: streamlined, elegant, a classic style that is always in vogue. But then there was also the "maximalist leotard", oh so bold and colorful, really everything is in the 'maximalist' leotard â even sparkles and sequins, and for me itâs always a huge yes! These leotards were bursting with details, think feathers, ruffles, even metallics. Let's just say, the bold was on display!
The âstreet styleâ fashion outside the Barbican was quite frankly AMAZING! I found this really funky little shop in a side alley and went into a total frenzy with their collection. I bought the most stunning pair of knee-high ballet boots - perfect for my London walks. And let me tell you, the shop assistant had the BEST outfit ever - a silky, dark green, floor-length maxi-dress topped off with a pink leotard, yes you heard me correctly, pink!, a little bit unexpected and it totally blew my mind. This leotard looked like something straight out of an elegant Parisian boutique and the color just stood out amongst all the other garments â it was seriously so stylish! I thought: "If theyâre getting their style cues from me, then I must be doing something right!"
It was a whirlwind of vibrant colours, edgy patterns, and a general feeling of fun. Honestly, I felt like I was right at the heart of the London Fashion Week scene - only instead of seeing a multitude of designers, it was dancers! Everywhere I looked I saw these stunning outfits. This year was all about self-expression - no limits on style! Youâve got to love it!
I also popped into the National Gallery - just a short walk from the Barbican Centre â I mean, whatâs a time-travelling ballerina without a bit of art history? As I was perusing a classic portrait (it was lovely!), this little girl with pigtails approached me. She had a beautiful pink leotard on and some gorgeous pink sparkly tights â the kind with those glittery butterflies on. She gave me a shy wave as she stood in front of a masterpiece â just pure delight. We started chatting and she told me about the dancing class she's in and how much she loves twirling around. It reminded me of why I started time-travelling in the first place.
Iâm back in Derbyshire now, sitting in my studio, but my mindâs still dancing in 1999! That day made me realise that the 1990s weren't just about grunge and boy bands, but they also embraced this whole "fusion" look with a lot of amazing influences - ballet, street dancing, and, of course, pink.
I just love being back home! My next stop will be in the United States, where I am planning to delve into the iconic leotard fashion of 1998. This era was a very unique one - with some exciting style trends for leotards and other dance wear. We're talking super bright colors, patterned leggings (I hear they even wore animal print in the '90s!), and yes, even more sparkles.
And remember darlings, stay tuned to my website, www.pink-tutu.com , for all the latest fashion updates from my fabulous time-travelling adventures! Until next time, may your leotard collection grow even more magnificent and always remember: pink is power.
Love, Emma, the pink tutu ballerina
