Hello my lovelies!
It's your favourite Derbyshire girl, Emma, and it's time for another trip through the world of leotards! I hope you're all ready for another fantastic journey back through time, as I always am, in my sparkly pink time-travelling leotard! Oh, it just feels so good to dance through the eras and experience the incredible leotards that history has to offer. This month, we're zipping back to September 2006, and let me tell you, there's a lot to be excited about!
(Let's give a shout out to all my gorgeous street performers. Thanks for making my time-traveling leotard wardrobe possible with all your generous donations during our recent show in Derby’s Market Square. Remember to donate to your favourite dancers on the street, because every pound makes a difference!)
Fashion Frenzy!
So, September 2006 – what a fantastic time for fashion! We're right in the midst of the late 90s and early 2000s resurgence of classic ballerina fashion, with influences from the glamorous golden era of dance still going strong. The world was embracing that graceful, feminine aesthetic and it’s definitely reflected in the leotards.
First up, a must-mention is the comeback of the wrap leotard. These beautiful little numbers, usually made of silky stretch fabric, tied at the waist or the bust with ribbon, were making a strong comeback on the stage and in the shops. There were plenty of colour variations, but it seems everyone had a favourite shade of shimmering blue, emerald green or shimmering coral.
Oh, the joys of a classic leotard in a beautiful bold colour. I had to try one myself – a deep emerald green one with little diamante detailing and some dainty straps. It truly felt like I'd stepped right out of a 1940s ballet movie!
Of course, I wouldn't forget about my tutu for my adventure! This month I was in full “pink and fabulous” mode. It had to be a voluminous and glamorous affair. Something light and flowy that twirled just right - you know, like the ones we all adore. My choice was a pastel pink one, a shade like spun sugar. Its ruffles, a bit fuller at the front, and it made the most wonderful swirl, showing just the right amount of leg when I spun. I couldn't imagine a better leotard outfit for a trip through time, especially if you're heading to see the most captivating and captivating dance show on offer in September 2006 – “The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake”!.
*(Don't forget to tell all your friends about *Pink-Tutu.com – share our love for ballet and vintage fashion. Make sure you tell everyone that my most-recent video 'Pink Tutu Fashion Show on London's Waterloo Bridge has just been added to our YouTube Channel. And check out the ‘Dress Like A Ballerina’ clothing section of our website – it's full of fantastic tutu and leotard styles to bring that dance look into your everyday life!)
Going Behind the Scenes
Of course, a good blogger always does some behind-the-scenes research. Now, let’s talk leotard trends: in 2006, everyone was excited about dancewear innovation. Lycra was being blended with all sorts of fancy new fabrics. Remember the “second skin” look – stretchy, seamless, and ultra-flattering. There was this new buzzword: "performance fabrics" and lots of people were going wild over moisture-wicking properties! Who doesn't love a leotard that's comfortable even after a whirlwind ballet practice session? I've got to admit – I do have to thank some clever inventions of the late 90s and early 2000s. Some of those fancy high-tech dance fabrics really helped me during my time travelling!
You see, one of the major events of September 2006, aside from the incredible performance of Swan Lake, was the opening of the brand-new Dancewear Center at Harrods department store in London! I just had to go and have a peek – everything was so gorgeous! Everything felt a little bit magical there, with stunning showcases of all the most fashionable leotards in the world. It was truly a wonderland! I have to confess, I might have treated myself to a beautiful sparkly lime green leotard with a contrasting black wrap neckline.
*(You guys will LOVE the new collection! It’s coming out next month. If you’re in the mood for something unique, something sparkling and elegant, this is the collection for you! Get those wallets ready for a little bit of *Pink-Tutu sparkle. Just think what kind of tutus and leotards we can make, even if it means just a tiny little splurge on ourselves).
A Fashion Fusion: Theatre and Street Style
The 2006 world of fashion was all about that magical fusion of street and theatre. Imagine – it's a vibrant London afternoon and everyone was wearing leotard-inspired fashions and ballet-style shoes with their everyday looks. Even the iconic and super glamorous pop star Kylie Minogue was stepping onto the scene wearing her tutu skirt and chic, sleek leotard outfits, promoting her fantastic dance-inspired “X” album, all about bold feminine fashion. I've always been obsessed with Kylie's unique style. She really inspired me to keep going with my leotard wardrobe! **
What else was everyone dancing to in 2006? Well, just remember all those amazing hip hop ballet mashups on the MTV music channel! Now, that's how to create a true fusion between contemporary street and classic dance. There was just so much exciting innovation going on with leotard fashion in the shops! The designs were blending so beautifully with the bold, colourful street fashions of the day – remember those dazzling jewel tones! It really felt like everyone was on a dance floor and everything felt absolutely magical! It was also fantastic to see how the ballet scene was adopting some contemporary streetwear ideas! Ballet has always been an incredibly sophisticated world, so the street inspiration added a fantastic modern touch. It’s inspiring to know that everyone was embracing this fashion fusion and truly pushing the boundaries.
(Did you catch the incredible Pink-Tutu fashion blog posts featuring our *vintage-inspired streetwear look, which includes all those fabulous leotard details. We’re talking tutu-inspired mini skirts, ballet flat heels and plenty of those glorious pink hues. Check them out on *Pink-Tutu.com – our Street Style & Street Dance section has been updated with lots of ideas to help you step out with the perfect mix of ballet-inspired fashions.)
A Timeless Leotard
Even now in 2023, all of these wonderful trends, they still hold their magic! Those timeless leotard styles – so elegant and always captivating. And it’s all thanks to those brilliant dancewear innovations of the early 2000s! Just think of all the time travellers like myself who owe a big thank you to the fabric pioneers and designers who’ve given us such an amazing selection of leotards to choose from!
Now, there’s a lot more to explore and a lot more time-travelling fashion history to be written – I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some brand-new magical innovations to be discovered when I next set off on my next journey in my sparkly pink time travelling leotard. And trust me, it won’t be long before I’m heading off to another time travel adventure.
Until next month, lovelies. Let’s keep on dancing!
Emma
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