subject: How Did The Leotard Get Its Name? [print this page] How Did The Leotard Get Its Name? How Did The Leotard Get Its Name?
The leotard, a staple in any ballet dancer's wardrobe, has a fascinating history. This garment is a one piece article of clothing that hugs the upper body tightly while allowing for a free range of movement. The legs are usually not covered by the garment. Leotards can be sleeveless or long sleeved, and today they come in a multitude of designs and colors. This garment, though enormously popular today, was first developed just over 150 years ago.The first leotard was worn by a French acrobat in the 19th century named Jules Leotard. Jules was born in 1838 and began practicing acrobatics as a child in his father's gymnasium. He was especially talented and drew large crowds for his performances. Jules was recognized as great performer at an early age and was eventually accepted into a professional acrobatics company in Paris. In order for him to perform tricky stunts and maneuvers, Jules realized that he needed clothing that would allow him to move about freely. He specifically designed a garment to allow him to perform his flips and stunts without being hindered by his clothing. He had a tailor make his first leotards out of simple black velvet and then began wearing them at every performance. Because Jules was a phenomenally successful acrobat who always had large numbers of people in his audience, his unique outfit soon gained lots of attention. While he was alive, others began adopting the style of his garment. Soon, other acrobats were wearing similar clothing in their practices and performances. The French were the first to use the article of clothing for ballet. After they adopted the interesting outfit, other ballet dancers worldwide began wearing one too. Though Jules died in 1870, his outfit lived on in ballet and gymnastics studios.It is interesting to note that Jules never referred to his design as a "leotard." Jules actually referred to his garment with the French word for "bathing suit." The term we use today came after his death, and no one knows who first gave called it by Jules' last name. The first documented use of the term in reference to the exercise garment occurred in 1886.
It was Jules Leotard's popularity and legacy as an acrobat, as well as his prominent display of the new type of exercise wear, that caused the leotard to become fashionable worldwide. That is the simple story of how the leotard got its name!
