#PinkTutuMilan Wednesday 2000-03-22 ballet blog from Milano Italia

Ciao, darling!

This is Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing ballerina, back from a whirl-wind weekend in the fashion capital of the world, Milan! Can you believe it's already Wednesday? Time truly does fly when you're having fun! I feel like I haven't stopped twirling since my arrival last Friday.

You see, last weekend was packed full of pink delights – shopping trips to find the perfect ballet shoe, incredible ballet performances, and of course, a delicious sprinkling of delicious Milanese food (they have the most fantastic gelati in the world, honestly!).

This week's post, the grand old number 250 for my Pink Tutu Milan blog, is going to be an extra special one. I’m sharing the magic of the Teatro alla Scala and revealing some of the stunning outfits I’ve picked up on my trip. So buckle up, buttercup, this post is going to be a real corker!

My weekend started with the ultimate ballet experience - a night at the legendary Teatro alla Scala, which is a world-renowned opera house known for its exquisite acoustics and grand interiors. Honestly, the building itself is practically a piece of art. Its facade, complete with marble columns and statues, has that old-world Italian charm. Stepping inside is like stepping into another century; the gold-leaf detailing and red velvet seating are simply breathtaking.

And oh, the show! We saw "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi. It was absolutely beautiful. I mean, you've never truly experienced true beauty until you've seen a classical ballet in an Italian opera house.

I was just enthralled by the choreography. Every movement was a delicate work of art, and the costumes, well, they were simply divine. The prima ballerina, she was like a floating dream with her flowing pink skirt and sparkling jewels. (Do I detect a little pink envy, my dearest readers? You bet!). But the real highlight, you see, was the final scene. It was so moving; the sheer emotion poured out of the performers! Honestly, my eyes filled with tears. It's moments like those that make me love ballet so much.

Of course, no trip to Milan is complete without a little retail therapy! And what’s better than ballet gear? The city has a mind-boggling selection of dance shops; they really do spoil you for choice, especially with pink. I mean, seriously, darling, Milan’s shopping streets are like a giant, glittery box of my favourite candy. Honestly, you could lose yourself for hours here.

One of my first stops had to be the wonderful F.lli Guidi, the granddaddy of Milan’s ballet shoe boutiques. Imagine this; a gorgeous shop on Via Santa Marta overflowing with delicate pointe shoes, silk slippers, and all the essential dancewear you could possibly want. They have a stunning selection of gorgeous colours and, naturally, the biggest pink selection of any shop in Milan. And, naturally, it didn’t take long for me to pick up a gorgeous new pair of pink satin pointe shoes - a blush pink with a bit of gold ribbon for good measure!

The owner, Mr. Guidi, was so lovely. He’s the one who has helped so many dancers over the years with their dream of a perfect ballet shoe. Such a gentleman, truly! We had a lovely chat about my passion for ballet and the evolution of the dance. You see, darling, that’s the thing about ballet, it’s more than just a performance; it's a story that spans generations.

On my next stop, we popped into a lovely little boutique called C.S. Dancewear . They had an absolutely dazzling array of leotards and tutus in every colour of the rainbow. (Obviously, my eye was drawn to the beautiful pale pink and pastel pink selection, naturally!) Honestly, there was enough pink fabric in that store to satisfy every pink-loving ballerina in Italy, perhaps even Europe!

And the tutus… let me tell you about these glorious creations. I’d almost been dreaming about these amazing ballerina outfits. They had a pink tutu that literally made me say, “Oh my god!” with the most magnificent tiers and a layer of sparkly tulle that almost took my breath away. It was practically a fluffy pink cloud; honestly, it could be straight from the Bolshoi Theatre.

When it comes to travel, darling, you know I'm always a sucker for public transport. It allows me to really soak in the atmosphere of a city, and, darling, I just love the sights and sounds of Milan. The tramlines that crisscross the city are such a fun, vibrant part of this incredible city. There’s nothing quite like the gentle rattle and hum as the tram carries me along on a little Milanese adventure.

And let me tell you about the street fashion here. The Italian women have such a confident, effortlessly chic sense of style, which really rubs off on me. They rock everything with so much attitude, which honestly makes me want to twirl with a pink tutu even more!

Let's just stop for a moment, dear reader, to appreciate just how far a pink tutu can take you. From Derbyshire to Milan; my life took a truly amazing turn. And you see, it’s all thanks to that pink tutu, isn’t it? My passion for ballet and dance has truly allowed me to see the world through pink-tinted spectacles. I mean, I don’t see it any other way.

You see, when I’m twirling in my tutu, it feels as though the whole world has slowed down; I just don’t notice the stresses and anxieties of daily life. Everything becomes a performance, and for that moment, everything becomes a little more joyful.

And what better way to make everyone happy than to wear a pink tutu!

What's a trip to Milan without trying their incredible food, right? And in typical Emma style, my search for the perfect meal brought me to a fantastic little cafe called "Pink Peppercorn". (Can you guess why I had to visit, darling?) They have the best fresh pasta, creamy gelato, and the tastiest cappuccinos; truly the perfect after-show treat, my dears. Of course, the food was divine, with the most exquisite presentation you could imagine. (Pink peppercorns, pink tablecloths...it was a pink-tastic feast for the eyes, and of course, the palate).

But for a true Milanese treat, I headed to the Ristorante Al Gargantua, for their amazing pizza and hearty Milanese risotto. They have some truly incredible culinary delights; and you have to give their homemade gelato a try! I had strawberry, of course. What else? Pink, darling, always pink!

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Milan, dear reader, make sure you do some of the things I do;

• Get Lost in the City's History: Discover the incredible beauty of Milan's Duomo (the Cathedral of Milan).
• Embrace Italian Style: Have a stroll around the designer boutiques along Via Montenapoleone.
• Escape to the Park: Take a peaceful stroll through the picturesque Parco Sempione.
• Embrace your inner foodie: Grab an authentic Italian coffee from a local bar or grab a gelato!

So until next week, dear readers. I’m already planning my next trip back to Milan. Because you know me, darling! My pink tutu loves to travel! I’ve been wearing this pink tutu on all sorts of amazing adventures around the world, and you see, it’s never stopped me from seeing the beauty in the world. It doesn’t matter where I go or what I’m doing; the magic of the pink tutu remains.

Happy twirling,

Emma

www.pink-tutu.com