#LeotardHistory during 2028 05

Hello darling tutu-lovers!

Welcome back to another thrilling edition of "Pink Tutu Travels" - your one-stop shop for all things leotard and tutu fashion history. I'm your bubbly ballerina blogger, Emma, straight from the charming county of Derbyshire, England, and today, we're whisking ourselves back in time, all the way to the 18th century - specifically, May 2028. Now, grab your favourite pink tutu, a cuppa, and let's embark on another time travel adventure!

This month, my sparkling pink time-travelling leotard brought me to the enchanting city of Paris. I simply can't resist a bit of Parisian flair, especially during this era, when elegance reigned supreme. And guess what? It's time to dust off those tutus, darling!

Think of leotards in the 18th century and you might conjure up images of elegant women dancing gracefully at the court of Versailles. Well, darling, you'd be partly right. However, the connection is more complex. It was this era when ballet began to transform from the aristocratic dance it was known to be into something more, well, 'leotard-y', dare I say!

Let me explain.

Before this, dance attire for ladies in the aristocracy resembled gowns: elegant and restrictive, often embellished with silks and ribbons, more akin to a full skirt or petticoats. Ballet itself wasn't 'sexy' in this time period. It was all about a strict code of movements that would highlight their gracefulness. And you know what? It wasn't all about freedom of movement.

You see, in the 1700s, women began to take the spotlight in ballet and this era is crucial for what the leotard became later in time.

The change happened due to the rise of ballerina Marie Camargo who introduced this notion of ‘jumps’ (shock horror!) - those acrobatic feats - and all of a sudden, leotards began to shift in fashion from elaborate gown-like ensembles. They needed something looser. Then, when a ballerina by the name of Marie Sallé appeared, her introduction of even more challenging moves meant even tighter fitting and form fitting clothes!

The dance itself evolved - but so did the clothing. And leotards were just beginning to make their debut. By the late 18th century, we start to see women dance in tighter clothing, and we know the world of ballet changed for ever!

Okay, let’s picture this. You're waltzing at the Palace of Versailles. The atmosphere is luxurious, adorned with chandeliers sparkling brighter than the stars, with gentlemen in silk breeches and fine powdered wigs, and women clad in flowing gowns and elaborate hair. Yet, just across town, a new wave of dancing was capturing the imagination of Parisian society.

Within the opulent and grand backdrop of the Opéra de Paris, a young woman clad in a sleek, close-fitting garment (not so much a leotard yet - perhaps more of a simple body garment that would've resembled a very, very short dress with some added detailing) performs ballet, showcasing fluidity, strength, and technical skill like never before. And here we go: a little bit more revolutionary? They were the earliest ‘ballet tights.’

Here's the thing: those ballerinas wore leotards, or rather, a simplified, practical garment, that gave them more movement. These clothes would allow dancers to fully express themselves and show off the refined technique of ballet. It's the early form of what became the classic, timeless ballet garment of a tutu.

The revolution, my friends, was well underway!

Now, speaking of trends:

Let's talk tutu talk (the 18th century version of that!) What kind of tutu or garments could have a dancer wear, well it really was the era of ribbons, frills and delicate silk and embellishments:

• Flounces: These were a wide band of pleated or gathered fabric that were added to hems and bodices in order to accentuate the lines and shape of a dancer's movement and posture. And this wasn't for the bodice, but also for the sleeves!
• Sleeves: A ballet garment was often loose and sleeveless, which helped create the impression of effortless gracefulness as dancers stretched, and twisted and flowed their moves, but these garments could be styled with what we’d refer to as 'puffy' or full sleeve that sat below the elbow. It looked very feminine and provided a great level of elegance to this kind of costume and was also practical. Think of this kind of dress - in the shape and material - more like a corseted version of today’s stretchy ballet bodice.
• Bows: The detail of bows or ribbons. They were very feminine and adorned tutus or ballet garments and were tied on arms or as a embellishment for the chest or stomach area.

This era was a huge moment in the development of leotards and the start of what we recognize in ballet and dancewear today. This era gave us these iconic elements! It's the start of what we love.

It's time to bid farewell to our charming time-traveling Parisian adventure, but remember, darling: This is just the beginning of our journey through the wondrous world of leotard and tutu history. It’s time to go back and look back on how far these essential garments for dancers have come.

Stay tuned next month for another fabulous edition of "Pink Tutu Travels" - as we travel the world with all of you! Join me on this sartorial journey as we uncover the secrets of style, history and celebrate the artistry of leotard and tutu fashion. Don't forget to pop by my website www.pink-tutu.com for a closer look at our dazzling outfits and all my adventures in style. And remember, you don't need to travel through time to express yourself, your fabulous fashion, or your love of dance, so pop on a tutu - even a pink one, and let your inner ballerina shine!

Until then,

Stay sparkling,

Emma x