Ciao from Milan, darlings! It's Wednesday, which means it's Pink Tutu time, and my diary is bursting at the seams with Milanese adventures. I landed here on Monday with my trusty pink suitcase and the first thing I did was head straight for the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, that magnificent glass-roofed shopping haven. You simply can’t come to Milan without immersing yourself in the fashion and the stunning architecture. And it's good for my ballet-loving soul to be amongst the statues and mosaics! I'm already scheming about how I can weave the ornate patterns into my upcoming street performance in Piccadilly Circus next week. You know, I am forever inspired, even on a day like today when it’s not ballet-related... oh, wait! Let me rewind!
The Dance of Discovery:
This week, Milan's La Scala Opera House has taken my breath away (and my pocket-book, but hey, that’s just life)! My first night here, I attended a performance of "Swan Lake". My goodness, the ballerinas are such swans - sleek, graceful, powerful, all in exquisite costumes! The music was just glorious. The orchestra really made my heart sing (in that, "I could listen to them all day, and I wouldn't even miss ballet class", way).
As for the ballerinas... chefs kiss Oh my goodness, what a performance! The precision, the power, the storytelling - all woven together so flawlessly. The story of Odette and Siegfried touched me to the core! That final scene… the lake with Odette and Prince Siegfried in their ballet form…. perfection. tears up slightly It’s definitely worth seeing if you’re in the city!
Now, every ballerina has their little quirks and preferences, and mine is for a particular "swan" ballerina to shine at the end, a delicate dancer who’s perfect at capturing that fragility in her movements. Her solo was, drum roll, utterly breathtaking. And her beautiful tutus - I simply had to know the designer! (So many ideas already for my new tutu collection)….
A Tutu for Every Occasion:
Of course, I've been exploring Milan’s other dance destinations too! The Teatro alla Scala ballet school - that’s a dream come true! You can practically smell the dedication in the air! My goodness, even the teachers have this elegance, and they were giving lessons while we were there! I nearly choked on my croissant Laughs. But seriously, their discipline was beautiful to see. I watched them do their pliés with such grace... It’s easy to understand why this school churns out so many famous dancers! I’m thinking I may try out the evening ballet classes while I'm in town... perhaps I can brush up on my Italian as well as my ballet moves! (They could do with learning some Derbyshire-English though - those ballerinas could use a little bit more “character” laughs, but I’ll let them off… their leaps were sensational!
Milan has definitely got me buzzing with excitement about ballet and my tutu creations, so watch this space - you won't believe the stunning tutus I'm imagining! It's been lovely connecting with other dancers and creatives while I’m in Milan. There is definitely an electricity in this city. The fashion is definitely inspiring, darling (Not to mention the shoe shops!), it's easy to see how it's become a mecca for style. And, oh! Did I tell you about the incredible designer stores on Via Montenapoleone? Just walking down that street makes you feel like a ballerina! (Not that it takes much to feel like one!) Smiles cheekily and bats eyelashes.
Street Style & The Tram:
Of course, no trip to Milan would be complete without experiencing the city's iconic tram system. This weekend, I went tram riding in all its grandeur. The tram lines are simply gorgeous! You can ride through Milan and feel like you're in a film from the 50s! (Except everyone has their little headphones in now! laughs) It makes you realise that Milan really is a beautiful blend of modern and old - the city has got it right. The perfect balance between chic fashion boutiques, architectural grandeur and street art. And there are endless places to see and be seen! My tutus and my style definitely turned heads at the tram stop!
Speaking of style… I have been wearing a vibrant hot pink satin tutu, with a gorgeous embroidered lace trim, which I paired with a simple black turtleneck, and my favourite high-heeled pink pumps - just the thing for exploring all the shops, cafes and ballet studios here in Milan.
I’m starting to really get my eye in! My eyes, ears and soul have been fully submerged into the fashion scene - oh my goodness! And there’s so much beauty around me – everywhere I turn there’s inspiration – maybe it’s the pink tutus… laughs But my favourite Milan spot so far is definitely this lovely piazza - just by a fabulous antique shop - it is literally buzzing with activity all day and night – and the people watching... whispers My god, there’s a whole other blog post just about that alone… and my “spotted” tutu moments…
My Mission: The World in Pink Tutus
Anyway, dear readers, I have so much to tell you – just as much to tell you about what’s next for my fashion collection (I’m thinking a series of vibrant pink tulle creations) and a brand new Tutu street show on my schedule for the week – oh, and don’t even get me started about this amazing leather tote bag I bought…. It would be perfect for holding my ballet shoes... (You’ll see when I post pictures this week – don't worry, my beloved Derbyshire friends!)
So until next Monday, stay fashionable and keep dancing in style!
Love, Emma, The Pink Tutu Blogger
