#PinkTutuBlogLondon Friday 2017-02-10 Exploring London

Oh my darlings, a glorious good morning to you all! I am simply buzzing to be writing this post - it’s Friday and that can only mean one thing: it’s PINK TUTU BLOG LONDON DAY!

Now, let me just say, this week's adventure has been one for the ages! This time I took a little jaunt up to the Big Smoke, all the way from Derbyshire! My darling Granny Agnes always said, “Travelling by train is a part of the magic, Emma love. Sit back, enjoy the scenery, and don’t forget to pick up a nice cuppa.” Wise words from a wise woman, as always! I took a leisurely ride in first class, I was rather delighted to have a complimentary pot of Earl Grey and some proper decent biscuits – what a treat! It was an experience fit for a ballerina, let me tell you!

Now, I wouldn’t be Emma without a little something special. This week’s travelling ensemble had to be one that combined both glamour and comfort, for a long journey: a gorgeous pale pink cashmere sweater, my signature tulle pink tutu, with an extra layer of shimmery, glittery tulle – always keep a touch of sparkle handy, darling! To finish, some sleek ballet flats and my go-to Chanel quilted handbag (don’t worry, it was pre-loved and comes from my darling mum's extensive wardrobe!).

Anyway, onto the fun! This week’s adventures saw me venturing through London with my nose firmly stuck in a map - because even though I am rather good at navigating, I am never truly too sure of myself. It is this delightful lack of surety that brings me back to the beauty of exploration, of discovering the unexpected. After all, there’s something about getting lost that takes you off the beaten track!

And so, armed with my guidebook (the one that recommends all the most wonderful shops for tutus!), my list of shows and performances (ballet of course!) and an insatiable need to embrace all things sparkly, I was off.

First stop: The London Coliseum! I must admit, the English National Ballet put on a spectacular performance of Sleeping Beauty. Those costumes, darlings! Stunning - particularly the Princess Aurora's elegant tutus, all shimmering gold and frosted lilac! Each and every movement was perfection. From the powerful elegance of the principal dancers to the captivating beauty of the corps de ballet, the whole performance truly enchanted me! Sleeping Beauty really is the quintessential ballet tale and it was pure, blissful escapism. I’ll be daydreaming about the beautifully swirling choreography and the dazzling choreography for days. I can so recommend going to see this ballet at the London Coliseum! It's a masterpiece, and the acoustics of the theatre, my goodness! Wonderful!

But you know me! Ballet’s wonderful, but sometimes the real adventure starts with fashion! Oh darling! This Friday saw me finally discovering that magical haven for ballet fans - a little shop in Notting Hill called "The Ballerina's Closet." Honestly, darling, this is no exaggeration! It was just what my fashion dreams are made of. Now, there's more than a fair amount of pink going on here, which, let’s face it, I love a little pink pink pink – there were tutus aplenty, in every shape and style imaginable, a beautiful selection of silk ballet shoes, and even a selection of ballet-themed clothes and accessories, some stunning dancewear, and a little corner dedicated to vintage ballerina gear – all those beautifully crafted leotards, in a gorgeous selection of pastels, were begging to be admired! I, of course, walked out with some gorgeous new tulle - I just had to have it, even though I'm afraid my suitcase was getting rather full!

It was a dream come true! I spent hours wandering about in that delightful shop. The staff were truly lovely and there was an atmosphere that could only be described as pure enchantment. A girl could get lost in a place like that. Just look at what I managed to find! (She snaps a picture of herself standing with a full length mirror, in the store, sporting a new tulle overskirt with shimmering pink details and sequins that she has managed to fit into her already rather packed luggage, she looks delighted. She smiles sweetly, holds a perfectly posed pink tutu up to her chin with her hands, like a photo booth!)

Later that evening, I couldn’t resist taking a stroll through the city, taking in all that this magical place has to offer. And so I stumbled across a real hidden gem: a tiny little tea shop called Afternoon Delights. Honestly, I'm thinking of adding a London travel tip! You must stop there if you’re ever in the vicinity, darling! A little cuppa, a slice of scone (fresh out of the oven, no less), a gorgeous selection of loose leaf teas. Perfection! My darling Granny would approve of my choices. She always insisted upon scones with clotted cream. "Good, wholesome foods are a must, Emma love," she always used to say, as if I didn’t know. She was a woman with some really wonderful and unusually stylish fashion sense! Now she is very dear to me and a great source of inspiration. She even got me started on my pink tutus - I have to admit, she taught me how to sew them. Well, to make a long story short: my scones at Afternoon Delights were delicious and made my evening rather lovely!

Later, I ventured to The Savoy for an unforgettable night at "The Blue Room" – the decor is truly stunning! It reminds me of a wonderful stage production in the 1920s: glamour, grace and decadence in equal measure, all infused with a dash of the theatrical! The evening was an absolute joy: fabulous cocktails, the live band, the lovely lighting and all the glamorous and chic gentlemen in suits and beautiful women with glamorous gowns. One can almost imagine oneself in a grand ballet performance! I can honestly say, this evening, this location and the decadent glamour left me spellbound! Oh to be in London…

But of course, being the budget conscious fashionista I am, I couldn’t indulge too much. After all, there’s nothing quite like getting up and enjoying a full-on ballet day - it was time for the grand finale.

Of course, no Friday would be complete without a night at the theatre. It's tradition - the highlight of my London trips! So you can imagine my excitement for this one: The Royal Opera House! They were hosting the London Ballet’s production of La Bayadere. Honestly darling, I was just absolutely swept off my feet! I had always wanted to see La Bayadere live and now I could finally experience the captivating power of the story in all its grandeur! The Royal Opera House itself is simply majestic; it's like walking into an ancient world of beauty, elegance, and drama - but it still feels quite modern!

Now, La Bayadere itself is one of those ballerinas' must-see ballets. Every aspect was breathtakingly executed by the London Ballet: from the intricate costumes to the incredibly dramatic music. And the dancers, oh my! Such power, elegance and finesse – they held the whole performance on their fingertips (or toe tips more accurately).

To think of what those beautiful dancers, especially the graceful principal dancers, had done! They’d put in so much practice to create the powerful emotions that just shone through on stage. Watching such pure beauty, emotion and skill never ceases to be awe-inspiring. And to be honest, the entire experience makes you really understand what ballet is really all about – it was simply perfect! (Emma again takes a photo, looking beautiful, in the Royal Opera House hallway. She wears a stunning light blue leotard, a glittery pink tutu, matching ballet shoes. A gorgeous gold, slightly decadent scarf drapes over her shoulder in a fabulous ballet pose.)

I confess that even I, a pink tutu ballerina, became mesmerized! It truly made me remember the simple, unwavering beauty of this dance art form and that feeling when the entire production and cast work together in perfect harmony to weave such magic that makes you gasp in awe. I must add the magnificent Royal Opera House had been the perfect backdrop for this very special, very unique ballet performance, too!

Overall:

Well, darlings, as always, it's a pleasure to be back home again, safe and sound! It was a weekend to cherish, all those fantastic performances, those shopping delights and the memories that are sure to stay with me. There's just something magical about exploring the streets of London. I can’t help but think, if you’re thinking about exploring London, try a little trip out of the everyday! Put on your best tutu, embrace the sparkle and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and memories that this incredible city has to offer.

But darling, this isn't goodbye. There is so much more I have to share with you all, from my new fashion finds to all the inspiration I gleaned in those ballet classes, all in London! And you can bet your bottom dollar I will be back next Friday! I hope to see you here.

As always, darlings, remember… every day is a chance to embrace the pink and the beauty of a tutu!

Until next week!

Emma

www.pink-tutu.com