Ciao Bella! It's Emma, your favourite pink tutu wearing ballerina, writing to you from the heart of Milan! I can practically hear the elegant click of heels on cobblestones as I type, the scent of fresh croissants wafting in from the café downstairs, and the warm sunshine hitting the windowpane…Ah, Milan! This city has captured my heart and my wardrobe.
This week has been a whirlwind of fashion, ballet, and, of course, pink tutus! I kicked off the week with a visit to the Teatro alla Scala for a spectacular performance of Giselle. I must say, I’ve never seen such exquisite dancing and the theatre itself was breathtaking. Those velvet seats…sigh. I swear, I could have spent hours just sinking into them, surrounded by all the elegance and history of the place.
Speaking of elegance, I’ve been going crazy with all the amazing shops here. Milan is like a fashion playground for me. This week I discovered a delightful boutique overflowing with the most vibrant silk scarves imaginable. Imagine colours like sunrise, sunshine, and watermelon sorbet - all bursting with life and perfect for tying a pretty bow around a pink tutu.
I also found a stunning vintage shop where I snagged the most incredible hat – it’s like something out of a Fellini film, but in pink, of course! It’s so extravagant, I can’t wait to pair it with my favourite tutu and strut down the streets of Milan. The hat's definitely not for the faint-hearted. This week it’s been the perfect accessory for shopping, for getting around the city, and for going to ballet performances. It is actually an absolutely beautiful shade of pale, pale pink which just brings out the very best in the new bright pink shoes that I bought on Monday – pink suede – it’s perfect!
And let's not forget my trusty travel companions - the trams! Nothing beats zooming around Milan on a bright yellow tram, gazing at the cobbled streets and stunning architecture whizzing by. This city is alive with energy, with colour, with movement… and somehow, it seems the trams just fit in.
I have to confess, it took a little getting used to at first. Back in Derbyshire, the trains run on time, and everyone queues. You wouldn't dream of getting on a train without your ticket! And in Derby, trams are a new thing and mostly a commuter thing. They are the ultimate “local” transport! Here in Milan though, everything’s a little… well… more 'relaxed' I suppose! The trams have more of an air of charming chaos and getting to grips with the ticketing system for public transport has definitely been an experience. But the views, the feeling of belonging, of being part of the buzz of Milan… It makes up for a lot of hassle, if you ask me. I wouldn’t want it any other way!
To be honest, a lot of Milan reminds me of Derbyshire in so many ways – both the Peak District and Milan are a similar sort of green – just with more green buildings and green grass in Milan. I suppose I wouldn’t get this if I didn’t go out to these other cities – you only realise just how similar things are in your own place when you visit places far away – places where the weather and language and landscape seem entirely different, and then… BAM, it’s almost the same. The Peak District definitely makes me think of Milan – when you get your head down and cycle the Pennine Cycle Trail and it is a really windy, hard, tough ride and it feels like it goes on forever… then I just close my eyes, remember Milan and all those people there, and that sort of energises me.
Now, I'm sure you're dying to hear what's been happening on the ballet scene here. My dancing hasn't been all about sitting on my rear at ballet shows. This week I was finally able to try out this fantastic studio on Via Dante - they had these incredible huge windows that face the street so it feels like you’re performing for everyone, although you aren't. I thought it would be a bit awkward. The music that plays is the sort of Italian pop music you hear at restaurants on a Saturday night but the other ballet dancers didn't seem to mind! Maybe you’re supposed to? Anyway I decided I would try my luck with the ballet class at that studio next week, but for now, I’m really enjoying being in Milan and I had such fun in the ballet class today. It’s such a welcoming and supportive environment – and the music actually added to my sense of drama and play. It felt good! I am really looking forward to having the week to try that new studio – I was thinking maybe this week I’ll give it the pink tutus. We’ll see – perhaps my street ballet would add an extra something to that class! Maybe we will be the coolest bunch on that street corner of the corner of Via Dante! And that will help the Milanese ballet community. Oh how we shall all feel so alive with life, in that little bubble of ours!
And what did I see? Well, on this date in history there were lots of happenings.
1996 – and so today - June 19th – I have been trying out all the new cafes and shops! A lovely thing is the Milanese shop windows – I find these always really engaging and this has got to do with the fashion of Milan. The fashion here is a blend of vintage, chic, traditional and modern… and for someone like me who is from Derbyshire and thinks of themselves as kind of down to earth, and not particularly high fashion – it makes sense to me, and it’s so friendly. They just feel very relaxed.
I was trying on an incredible silver beaded skirt yesterday which the owner let me take out to try with a bunch of different pink tutus I already had. She just looked so incredibly chill when I told her that I was hoping to look really feminine, really extravagant in the skirt and it really did make it such an unforgettable experience and definitely the highlight of my shopping experience so far this week.
And then in Milan, every other day there is a “sagra,” that’s a little local event – these are just so special to me and this week I have already found out what to look forward to next. In Milan there seems to be such a special celebration of all these lovely, sweet foods like panna cotta and ice cream… So there's so much to choose from for food. Of course, there is amazing food here, and you are spoiled for choice but the one that is attracting me to the most for the moment is the gelato. It just looks so good, with all the flavours and the different types – this must be what heaven feels like! It all just makes the whole experience more and more fantastic and is something to look forward to after each shopping expedition.
Milan has such a fun energy. It just oozes sophistication! I can tell the Italian's love life and how much the Italians live and breathe their fashion – in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some people wake up with their favourite outfits already picked out from the night before… If this is their normal life – to wear beautiful clothes and spend time looking incredible – well then why not do the same with my tutu. Every day when I put on a pink tutu it’s like putting on a second skin.
Every week when I write this blog and I tell you all what’s been happening to me I think what makes Milan really special to me, and one of the things that comes to mind are those local markets where the locals bring all their products and there are incredible handmade scarves that are knitted and printed locally… the fabrics, colours and textures really add something unique to the city – I don’t think I would ever forget that beautiful bright purple, knitted scarf I saw that just took my breath away… it was like the one thing missing from my wardrobe that could make my life perfect! And one of my missions is to find something that is really uniquely me… maybe there’s a pink scarf out there for me somewhere that will perfectly match a pink tutu… it’s gotta be out there! And my motto is, "if you keep your eyes open and keep your faith in something you'll find it eventually!
It is great that I get to go to Milan in the Spring – the flower market in Milan was definitely my favourite event that happened in this week’s Milan blog… and what’s really wonderful about the whole market, is the variety, you see some of the most incredible flowers… It was really great fun browsing through and I came home with the most spectacular lilies that are going to adorn my bedroom for the next few days. My flat is covered in lilies right now, just floating in this lovely Italian sunshine… Ah, that smells divine, and how gorgeous is the smell of jasmine on a hot summer’s day, with its little delicate white flowers... the whole experience just fills my heart with peace. It all feels quite zen like…
Milan is all about appreciating those small details – those hidden gems… the small touches like the cafe windows, the vintage shop, and all the places and smells I’ve found in the heart of Milan… the cafes, the shopping, the architecture…
So as you can see, my Milan adventures have been blooming! I’m feeling full of inspiration and already can’t wait to share more with you all next week! Make sure you follow me on pink-tutu.com next Monday – same time, same place!
Love,
Emma xx
Pink Tutu – Monday 19th June 1996 – Milan, Italy
www.pink-tutu.com
