You don’t only see leotards associated with sports though, and that’s been the case since the 1970s. Leotards have crossed over into streetwear and are still worn for fashion purposes to this day. When Should Dancers Use a Leotard? What About a Unitard? What we can say for sure is that at the start of the 1900s, dancers and models wore unitards that were flesh-colored to mimic nudity. If you walked into a ballet class wearing a unitard, you wouldn’t make a good impression on your instructor or your classmates or dance partners. Waist: Find the place where your waist indents and have your buddy place the flexible measuring tape there. Place one finger on your belly underneath the tape and measure.

Into the 20 th century, those involved in acrobatics and in the circus almost exclusively wore leotards. By the early 1900s, the one-piece swimsuit for women evolved from the leotard; one-pieces still resemble leotards to this day. By the 1950s, leotards were still the favored garment by circus performers but soon bled into gyms and exercise facilities as well. Biketards have shorter legs than a unitard and longer legs than a leotard, so they truly fit in between both garments. What Is a Unitard or Leotard with Shorts Called? Unitards are not exclusively long pants, but that’s usually what this dancing and athletic garment is known for. If not long pants, then a unitard may feature ankle-length leg protection or shorts.

OOPS!

You might have noticed that cyclists were not on the list of those who wear either leotards or unitards. That’s because they wear their own special garment that’s unofficially known as a biketard. Unfortunately, Leotard was not alive to see it. It was in 1886 that the leotard was named that, as Leotard himself preferred the name maillot instead. That’s a French word that refers to a very tight-fitting sports shirt. In other words, the unitard is unisex, which should be easy enough to remember! Do Dancers Need Both Unitards and Leotards? Why? This didn’t last forever, though. By the 1990s, gym fanatics and exercisers largely moved away from the leotard. Women began wearing sports shorts and sports bras instead. History of the Unitard

In dance, while your skills and talents matter the most, we would be remiss to ignore the fact that one’s looks do play a role as well. That’s why dancers put so much time into their hair and makeup and buy the nicest-looking dance outfits. We do our best to ensure that our photos are as true to colour as possible . However, due to inconsistencies in monitors, digital photography and production variations, we cannot guarantee that the colour you see on your screen accurately portrays the true colour of the product. You don’t have to worry about your arms feeling squished and encumbered since your arms are free in a leotard. There’s no fabric underneath your armpits, making you warm and sweaty.

OOPS!

Figure skating had banned unitards in the 1990s, calling them illegal to wear when competing. Those rules have since changed and unitards are allowed again. The Leotard and Unitard Today There are times to stand out and times to blend in, and you’ll want to wear the right dance uniform to your class or rehearsal depending on what that style of dance calls for. That’s why having a unitard and leotard handy is best. History of the Leotard When should a dancer wear a unitard? For more physical and certainly more acrobatic dance styles, a unitard allows you to enjoy a full range of flexible movement while offering more protective coverage than a leotard. Why Is the Leotard More Comfortable Than the Unitard?

Unitards, although still an uncommon sight in many physical activities, are the preferred garment when doing circus performing as well as equestrian vaulting, dancing, gymnastics, acrobatics, and other forms of physical activity. As we discussed earlier, ballet is the primary type of dance in which leotards are favored, but it’s not the only one.

Leotards vary in quite different ways from both bodysuits and jumpsuits. Let’s take a closer look now.

Both unitards and leotards are often sleeveless. You might see some leotards with short sleeves, but this is uncommon.The leotard is named after Jules Leotard, who was born in 1838 and died in 1870. Leotard himself was an acrobatic dancer from France who sported the original dancing garment named in his honor. Jumpsuits are usually long-sleeved and feature long legs but might have short sleeves or no sleeves and could have shorter legs as well. Skintight spandex is probably not anyone’s definition of comfortable, but the general consensus among dancers is that the leotard is more comfortable than the unitard. Why is that? A jumpsuit is a full-body garment that is again usually a women’s fashion item but can be worn by both genders if used occupationally (such as a hazmat jumpsuit). The design of a biketard reduces exposure of one’s legs so that when a cyclist is using the bike seat, they have less pain, chafing, and discomfort when on long bike rides.