Friday, 3rd June, 2011
Hello darlings! It's Emma here, reporting live from the heart of London! I'm absolutely thrilled to be in the capital, my favourite city in the whole world. I took the train down from Derbyshire, which I always find such a romantic journey. There's nothing quite like watching the countryside whizz by as you listen to the rhythmic click-clack of the wheels on the track.
I'm always in a right old mood after a train journey. Itās like my body is already filled with anticipation for the adventure to come. The energy in the air just electrifies you as you approach the station. Iām sure you know exactly what Iām talking about.
Speaking of adventuresā¦this is post #770 of the Pink Tutu Blog and we're embarking on a whole new adventure in London, exploring the cityās cultural hotspots, from its incredible theatre district to the iconic boutiques where I plan to shop ātil I drop. Itās a fabulous day to be here in London, because there is so much to do and Iām just brimming with excitement!
Iāve donned my signature pink tutu, naturally, to add a little sparkle and a dash of my trademark āEmmaā flavour to the city's already vibrant landscape. I believe pink tutus are a must-have for anyone who wants to spread some joy, which is why I aim to make them mainstream. Just imagine, pink tutus for every occasionā¦a whole world wearing tutus, what a fantastic, fun vision for the future!
My itinerary is jam-packed, full of wonderful experiences for a true tutu lover and fashion enthusiast. I will tell you all about it as we go alongā¦but, firstā¦Iām off to grab a cheeky little pastry and a hot latte. Youāve heard the saying ā āa balanced breakfast is an essential component of a happy dayā... well, who am I to disagree with this pearl of wisdom?
And then itās off to the theatre. Iāve got tickets to see a ballet performance ā "The Nutcracker". The iconic story is always such a magical and romantic experience, full of intricate movements and captivating storytelling. I just love the costumes in āThe Nutcrackerā, I know Iām going to get inspired! I always have my sketchpad and trusty pencil with me just in case a fantastic new outfit design hits me mid performance! It happens more than you might thinkā¦
First Stop ā Covent Garden
The first thing that hits me when I step out of the tube station at Covent Garden is that famous bustle and vibrant buzz. The street is just alive with energy, thereās the smell of street food in the air, music is bouncing off the brickwork, and of courseā¦you can always count on an eclectic array of buskers to add some entertainment to the street scene. I love it here.
The main square in Covent Garden is a real spectacle - an open-air market buzzing with creative crafts, local produce, and delightful food stalls offering every possible flavour imaginable. The colourful fruit and veg stalls with their beautiful displays of colour really grab my attention. If my kitchen was only bigger Iād probably fill it with an explosion of colour, it's really hard to resist a fruit and veggie stall when youāre looking at these displays!
Then there is the architecture. This part of London has such a lovely collection of buildings from all sorts of periodsā¦ and itās so impressive to look at how they are all pulled together in a way that creates such a lively, chaotic and fascinating atmosphere.
But you just know that no trip to Covent Garden is complete without a wander through the Royal Opera House ā the jewel in the crown of the whole area, even though I love to get lost exploring the little streets surrounding it and finding new things. It really is one of my absolute favourite places to be in the whole worldā¦which I always feel the need to tell people when I am there.
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is everything I dreamt it would be ā grand and regal. It stands like a proud palace in a charming city square.
Inside it is just as spectacular ā velvet seating, chandeliersā¦the theatre's auditorium truly takes your breath away. It makes you just want to dress up in your finest ball gown and twirl on the stage.
The grandeur of it really resonates with the history and tradition that runs deep within its wallsā¦ the stories and lives of famous singers, actors, and dancers who graced its stage ā I felt a kind of magical electricity in the air as I just imagined myself dancing on the stage...
Back to reality
But back to reality! Itās Friday evening and I need to do some food shopping for tomorrow's lunch so I can have the time and freedom to properly soak in some more London culture and indulge in more shopping. There's no way I'm leaving London without a few new additions to my wardrobe - I can always find a little inspiration here. There are shops on almost every corner, all filled with fascinating fashion treats, with designs I have never even dreamed of!
Speaking of new looks, a very famous clothing shop in London called āHarrodsā has its own in-house style magazine! And do you know what the magazine is all aboutā¦? I am not jokingā¦ itās full of fashion advice for tutus. It seems everyoneās starting to see the value in a tutu ā I mean, have you seen how chic some of them look at these fashion shows?
Harrods has everything from casual to classic to formal looks for a tutuā¦ a whole floor is dedicated to tutu looks. And to be honestā¦it kind of feels like the whole shop is based around tutus and finding something to wear with a tutu. It seems London has become a city of tutu-loversā¦ how absolutely wonderful!
Tutus, shopping and fashion
I'm absolutely buzzing. My head is swimming with ideas ā a classic black tutu paired with a little black dress for a night at the theatre; a long tutu paired with a sharp suit jacket for a contemporary and fashion-forward business meeting; a vibrant, bright-pink tutu with an old vintage dress for a romantic stroll through the park. You really canāt beat a tutu to liven up a basic outfit. And then there are the opportunities to mix and match materials ā lace, chiffon, silk, tulle. It is simply endless! Tutuās will work with just about everything you can throw at it, which makes it the perfect item to make your fashion look that much more unique, eye catching andā¦fun. I just love how you can create your own fashion vision using tutus. It truly is endless!
Ballet Street
This week, London's Ballet Street has been putting on some exciting performancesā¦and who am I to miss an opportunity to watch beautiful dance routines! I just have to find the time to squeeze it into my schedule, of courseā¦ which means an extra early morning and some caffeine in order to avoid any stress.
Speaking of Ballet Street ā my mission this time is to make Ballet Street a real contender as one of Londonās hotspots for theatre and dance lovers. This is going to be a long-term ambition though! I need to talk to the right people about how to elevate the dance street and make it one of the must-see locations in London, which will probably require an official event or opening ceremonyā¦ a full-blown theatrical opening. Maybe next time! I can't help myself, I am an aspiring dance lover ā it just comes naturally. This makes it incredibly difficult for me to visit a ballet school or street of ballet schools without bursting with excitement about making ballet street one of the iconic things to do in London!
This time, Ballet Street has chosen the theme "Ballet and Ballet, through the decades", which features modern takes on classics. If thereās one thing I love in balletā¦ it's a new twist on an old favourite. Ballet Streetās mission is to promote the very best dance performances, from professional and student levelsā¦ so if you find yourself in London I highly recommend it, itās a true ballet paradise!
It's not all glitz and glamour of courseā¦ I really enjoy the simple process of choosing the outfits for the various performances and getting myself in the right frame of mind for enjoying ballet and appreciating the dedication of the ballet performersā¦ a simple pleasure that is a great feeling after a long day of travelling around London.
Ending the weekā¦and a cheeky selfie
It has been a full-on day. A bit chaotic. But absolutely packed with colour and energy. And just wait until you see all of the outfit changes I had to go through just to get to my little pink tutu moment for this blog. So far I've walked the Covent Garden Market, explored Royal Opera House, made plans to hit up Ballet Street for a bit of culture, and I am absolutely stuffed from all of the wonderful food stalls. I hope you've enjoyed my little slice of London today.
And now, to relax and let London settle into my bones. Until next week darlings, Iāll see you on Friday, don't forget to keep up with my adventures over on my site - www.pink-tutu.com And while you are thereā¦ be sure to leave a little comment in the comments section to tell me what you think of my new outfit! Iād really love to hear from you all!
And now for the grand finale - it wouldnāt be a pink-tutu.com blog without a selfie or twoā¦ I just can't help myself.
[A photo shows Emma in front of the Royal Opera House, in her pink tutu. She's striking a dramatic ballet pose, looking fashionable and happy.]
See you soon, London!
Emma x
