Hello darling, it's Emma from www.pink-tutu.com, your guide to all things leotard! September 2020 - can you believe it's already here? I'm so excited, this month is brimming with fabulous leotard-y moments in history. I can't wait to share them with you all! Before we get started, have you entered our fantastic 'pink-tutu-giveaway' this month? We are giving away a gorgeous custom-made 'Sparkling Pink' leotard! You can find all the details on our homepage, www.pink-tutu.com, you wouldn't want to miss it.
This month, in my sparkling time-traveling leotard (a must-have for any true fashionista!) I've decided to whisk you all off to the world of…wait for it…. The Leotard's Name Change! Hold onto your tulle, loves, this is a doozy.
It all starts back in the 1800s, a time when fashion was all about hoop skirts and tight-fitting corsets. Enter Jules Léotard, a daring acrobat, a master of the trapeze, and the reason our favourite dance-wear got its name. This fabulous chap was a true innovator, defying conventionality (very "Pink Tutu"!) with his flamboyant style and even more, dare I say it, flamboyant movements on stage.
But how did his name become so intricately linked with dancewear? You see, to enable him to perform with complete freedom and grace, Jules decided to shed the constricting garb of his era and adopt a single-piece suit for his trapeze performances - an utterly daring move, I say.
Jules' suit was designed by a chap called Clément, an artist in Lyons, France, who understood Jules' need for a truly freeing piece of garment. This design, consisting of a single-piece form-fitting garment reaching from the neckline to the knee, would become known as the *'leotard.' **
The early leotard, unlike what you see on stage nowadays, was worn by both men and women. Its form-fitting design, revolutionary for the time, liberated the body for both sporting and performing endeavours. Imagine, my darlings, dancing or exercising without constricting corsets. How thrilling! The freedom, the flair, and oh, the sparkling opportunities that blossomed for all with this liberating design!
Fast forward a century, and we arrive at the early 20th century where a different type of revolutionary was on the scene - the ballet dancer. These ladies were demanding practicality and aesthetics that went beyond traditional garments. And lo and behold, the leotard became their hero, proving that sometimes fashion isn't about mere embellishment, but true practicality and form following function.
This transition was quite beautiful, my darlings. The leotard morphed from being worn under large garments to a stand-alone article of clothing for ballet. Its form-fitting nature allowed for freedom of movement. The design provided practicality for every movement and grace, but it also emphasized the dancer’s elegance. No longer relegated to circus rings and tightrope performances, it had become a true staple in the ballet world.
And wouldn't you know it, a Derbyshire girl like myself, found herself utterly entranced! * My passion for dance, my love for beautiful and graceful movement, and, of course, my innate passion for all things pink and leotardy has led me here today. My blog, *pink-tutu.com became my portal for celebrating leotards in all their glory - the perfect vessel for my time-traveling journeys!
In my leotard travels I've discovered some interesting leotard developments from this era. We have Madame Anna Pavlova to thank for the 'tutu' - her groundbreaking innovation! The tulle design for dance and its incorporation in all things ballerina has created what we now consider an absolutely essential, beautiful, and iconic garment, especially when in pink, of course. We are utterly indebted to her style!
In the world of the 'leotard' September 2020 sees some truly spectacular developments - modernisation has brought a rainbow of fabrics to our beautiful ballet and dance world. Spandex, nylon, and polyester now grace the wardrobes of ballerinas globally. The 'leotard', my dears, is truly the garment that embraces it all!
You know I had to venture out into the streets to see what trends the world is buzzing about. *Did you know? It’s a great time to be a dancer - the contemporary leotard is so incredibly popular! * I mean, look at it, its flexibility! Its form, so utterly elegant - what a joy!
In fact, my journey led me straight to a most magical place: the London Palladium. A show that would captivate the most jaded hearts was underway at the famous venue. A vibrant production of "Moulin Rouge!" Oh, I simply adore its showstopping costumes!
And you, my dears, will be thrilled to discover - the "Moulin Rouge!" production celebrates the leotard! * It uses embellishments and colours like *black feathers, shimmering gems, sparkling pink and bold red-and-black patterns. * They even manage to work sparkling, dramatic, dramatic *lace-trimmed fishnets. And if that wasn't enough - my darling, the dance performance! I can only say that I gasped! It's utterly magnificent and completely unforgettable! * It was more than a leotard performance, it was pure art. *
My travels for this blog have certainly not stopped there. In Paris, my dearest friends at the École des Ballets de Paris (whose leotards, by the way, have not strayed from the traditional and elegant form – an absolute necessity in my books!) are experimenting with their costumes this month. I have it on good authority (a charming French ballet dancer with stunning red hair and the most sparkling smile I’ve ever seen!) that they’re going all out on beautiful, sleek leotards. Oh darling, there’s going to be a lot of glitz and glam! I am truly thrilled and am dying to see what their new collection will be like - I might have to just pop back for another little tour of the École des Ballets de Paris. You never know.
From the bustling Parisian streets to a charming little ballet studio in Derby itself (where else!), my adventures took me to discover local dancers getting very creative with the leotard this month. Their innovations are so wonderfully unexpected and I can't wait to share them all with you, darling. Stay tuned for a fabulous collection of local 'leotard' designs that are oh-so creative. We are truly in a golden age for 'leotards' and I can't wait to showcase their inspiring artistry.
But I have to be running now as I need to get ready for my next performance - what's a pink-tutu girl to do when she's a little short of time? A little street dance ballet performance usually funds the journey! You should try it – nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of taking to the streets!
Until next month, darlings, don't forget to keep sparkling and 'live life in pink'.
See you on the dance floor,
Emma xoxo
(p.s. don’t forget to sign up for our pink-tutu mailing list – we’ve got exciting news coming in next month and who doesn’t love a little more pink sparkle!)
(This post number 1941)
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