Leotard

Leotard is a one-piece close fitting garment almost like a bathing suit, generally worn by dancers, acrobats, circus performers, sportsmen and women and keep fit freaks. A Leotard is made of supple stretch fabric. It may be with or without sleeves. A Leotard covers the torso but leaves the legs open. However Unitard, a modified version of leotard covers the legs too. Leotards are often worn together with tights - a fabric leg covering, usually extending from the waist to feet.

Unlike a bodysuit, a Leotard is entered through the neck. The basic purpose of Leotard is to make the user feel at ease while performing. Since Leotards are made of stretchable material, it helps the user in performing jumps and many other activities that involve multiple flexible movements. Leotards and Unitards are considered to be standard uniform dance clothes. Dance Leotards are accompanied with special dance shoes by the performers. Generally dancers performing with Leotards, wear dance shoes similar to that of ballet shoes or ballroom latin shoes. It may be mentioned here that dance sneakers are not used for such performances. They are specially designed for dance forms ranging from jazz to hip-hop or even funk.

Leotard was designed by French acrobat Jules Léotard (1842ñ1870). He named it as ’Maillot’ and initially, it was intended only for men. Maillot was first known as ’Leotard’ only in 1886, quite many years after Jules Léotard's death.

In the early 20th century, use of Leotard was confined to acrobats and circus performers. During 1920s and 1930s, Leotards started influencing the style of women’s bathing suits.

In the 1950s, Leotards were used as exercise garments in schools and in fitness training. They were of black and white colour and worn together with thick tights. From 1970 onwards, colourful tights came into the scene, mainly as ballet wear and ballet clothes.

Men's Leotards gradually evolved along with the women's style, ultimately resembling the latter very much. The men's version had a lower cut leg openings and a considerable lower cut in front. When worn for ballet, the man generally wears his tights over the leotard, while woman performers wear their tights under their leotards.

By the late 1970's, Leotards were regular outfits for exercise and even street wear, initiated by the disco and aerobics fashion culture of the time. These Leotards were manufactured in a wide range of nylon & spandex materials and traditional cottons. Exercise videos by celebrities popularized the garment.

During this period, the dancewear company Danskin, created a wide range of Leotards for both dance and street wear. Other companies, such as Gilda Marx also produced leotards during this time period.

Leotards for exercise wear become just a bit more than bikini bottoms with straps over the shoulders by 1980s. They were usually worn with cropped shirts. During the beginning of 1990’s sports bra & shorts replaced the Leotards.

Leotards are still popular among ballet dancers and are available in different designs and in various colour combinations. There are scoop-necked Leotards, which have wide neck openings. Other designs include crew-necked or turtle-necked Leotards, which are closed at the back. However, in this style of Leotards the back is closed with a zipper.

Good quality Leotards are expensive, but then, amateur dancers usually buy discount dancewear because of the low prices.