Welcome to 2004 Flair

Leotards started taking a turn for the dramatic in 2004. Coincidence that Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction took place the same year? We think not.

Leotards were more colorful overall. Fabric-wise, some countries stuck to traditional velvet, while others, like the U.S., broke out the shinier, more space-age fabrics. Romania’s Catalina Ponor (far right) really went for it in an edgy leotard with see through cut outs and metal accents.