The History of Leotards

In the late 1860s, aerialist Jules Léotard debuted a revolutionary costume during his performance. It featured a remarkably close fit and allowed for much greater range of motion than previous costumes. It was quickly adopted by others in the circus arts as well as gymnasts, dancers, and ice skaters. When Lycra (spandex) fabric was invented in the mid-20th century, leotards became even more functional. They began to make their way into the fashion world in the 1970s and took fashion by storm when the 1980s fitness craze hit; this was fuelled by stars like Jane Fonda, who were routinely seen wearing leotards. In recent years, leotards have also become popular among many female singers as stage costumes. Leotards also remain important garments in many artistic sports today and are also worn as fashion items, particularly as a base layer.