The costume or work clothing of circus performers was significantly molded by Jules Léotard (1830-1870), who performed for the first time in a skintight bodysuit, which he himself fashioned from elastic wool, on November 12, 1859 at the Cirque Napoléon in Paris.

The world's first "flying artist", who swung from one trapeze to another for the first time, developed this bodysuit as an aerodynamic form of clothing that does not constrict movements during daring artistic performances, but still accentuates the well-toned body. Léotard not only defined the typical look of circus performers from then on, but also gave the clothing his name.

For example, tights are called "leotards" in Spain even today. Léotard's artist costume also had a large impact on ballet costumes, whose form-fitting bodysuits today are called leotards as well - whether long or short-legged, or with or without feet.