#PinkTutuBlogLondon Friday 2020-03-20 Exploring London

Hello, darlings! It's Friday, and you know what that means… ahem… Pink Tutu Blog London time!

This week, I took the train from my lovely Derbyshire home straight to the heart of London town! As always, I've been twirling with excitement all week for this little adventure. It's such a thrill to be in this fabulous city - so full of history, charm and oh, so many shops! It really does take the cake for inspiring me, you know? Today’s blog post will be filled with my London highlights for today and all the glorious inspiration I picked up along the way.

(P.S. don’t forget to check out this week's post over on the www.pink-tutu.com website - I’m starting to write some little extra blog entries, including fun ‘pink tutus you could wear for work’ outfits! Do take a peek. There's something in it for everyone! )

Friday’s adventure started, as always, with a good dose of train travel! This week, I chose my trusty bright pink and lavender printed travel tutu with its pretty satin bow. The best bit? I managed to snag this beauty at the charity shop in the village. (My secret to always having a great tutu wardrobe! Always check out those bargain bins! ). My gorgeous little travel companion was also essential - a pink, fluffy travel rug. It doesn’t just add some cute and comfy elegance to the train journey but makes for the most delightful (and envy-inducing) little photo shoot when I board the train!

The trip down was as charming as ever, filled with watching the world rush by (at a slightly slower pace, obviously!)

*Don’t forget your ticket darlings, but do get lost in your daydream and enjoy the scenery, too. *

I had a meeting planned with the head ballerina of the V&A's performance team this afternoon, so decided to pop over this morning for some inspiration! I love browsing their incredible collections, there's always something truly inspiring there. They have a dazzling selection of stage costumes, furniture, fashion, and so many things, that it makes my heart leap! And as you know, a ballerina needs to have a lot of inspiration and to keep herself inspired! It was an absolute joy to admire their collection of Victorian era tutu designs.

I’ve got my eye on recreating my very own Victorian era pink tutu from my inspiration - you watch this space! It could be just the thing to add some extra magic to my London dance performances in the coming weeks.

Speaking of inspiring costumes, I’ve just got to mention a stunning outfit I saw at the museum! I spotted this gorgeous dress and hat display - imagine a light pink 1930s party dress - think sparkling, elegant, and a hat with pink velvet ribbons… absolutely fabulous! You know that I just had to whip out my trusty pink and purple selfie stick to capture the look and it gave me a lot of fashion ideas for a upcoming ballet performance - watch this space, my lovelies! I will definitely be updating the blog soon!

This year I really wanted to have a shop in Notting Hill. There's something very magical about those lovely pastel coloured houses, cobblestone streets, and vintage clothes shops. It feels incredibly charming and somehow perfectly dreamy.

My first stop had to be a little boutique that had been calling my name, all week: The Curious Cat Vintage. I can never resist a shop like this – there is nothing better than rifling through beautiful dresses. There’s something magical about owning something with history – just the feel of an old silk dress or vintage hat just sets my imagination spinning, you know?

Notting Hill never fails to inspire me – and this afternoon was no different! You’ll never guess what I bought. A truly fantastic vintage, floral brocade coat. (If you are ever in London, you must take a wander through the charming shops, it's pure magic).

It’s amazing how many ideas I pick up in those gorgeous boutiques! This one really was one of the gems that you find hiding on the more tucked away corners of the shops, in those charming old alleyways... so if you want to really explore Notting Hill – definitely go for a stroll off the beaten path. That's where all the most exciting discoveries are made, darling! (P.S, make sure you bring a good book for when you’re having your picnic lunch, if it's a gorgeous sunny day like today – like a very very sunny and mild March day… can you believe it??! I think my favourite place for picnic in Notting Hill has to be Kensington Gardens.)

To end the day with a bang, I saw a simply wonderful show at Sadler’s Wells Theatre! It was a ballet show starring my absolute favorite ballerina! It was an absolute treat, of course, to see a dancer with such impeccable technique. What a show! But for me, I really enjoyed the beautiful storytelling of this performance.

What is ballet all about? I’d have to say the magic is in the movement… but the story? I was truly moved. My ultimate wish for ballet is that I’ll one day be able to bring that level of feeling to my performances and move people in that way. After all, a tutu can’t only be pretty, can it?

And now I’m home, snuggled into my little comfy haven - my one-bed flat near Derbyshire Peak District – with my fluffy bathrobe and a lovely hot cup of tea. I’ve spent all day in pink and it just makes me happy. It makes me think about how many wonderful things we can do to just add more ‘pink’ to the world – by bringing out those ‘pink-tutu’ selves, those magical, fun loving personalities we keep hidden! I mean… we all have them inside – maybe just hidden from view – just like those delicious strawberry and cream candies… wrapped up and tucked away!

The new week begins now, and my plan is to continue inspiring everyone I can to don the ‘pink’ and explore the ‘tutu-fied’ side of life – because when it’s done right … life can be just as much about sparkling as dancing …

And so, until next time, don't forget:

*(And don't forget, to find out where you can catch my next show and to pick up a ‘Pink Tutu London' blog item in the bargain bin, you can follow my journey on: *

*Instagram : @PinkTutuLondon & Twitter : @PinkTutuLondon
*

• The V&A Museum is located at Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL.

• Notting Hill is located in the West London area of the City of Westminster, London. This district is the site of the Portobello Road Market, which runs from Ladbroke Grove to Kensington Park Road

• The theatre is located on Rosebery Avenue in Clerkenwell, London

(Emma is looking forward to reading all of your comments – on the www.pink-tutu.com blog!)