Hello my gorgeous pink tutu-loving lovelies! 💖 It's Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire ballerina blogger, and I'm writing to you from the beautiful city of Milan, Italy. As you know, I just adore this city. It’s truly got the most stunning architecture and such beautiful fashion shops!
This week is a special one – I’ve just had the most magical Christmas here in Milano! And before we get to the sparkly Christmas festivities, let's just talk about my outfit for this post. It was quite frankly perfect for the chilly winter air and the most Christmassy Christmas Day I can imagine. 🎄 Think a soft, blush-pink tulle tutu with a beautiful beaded trim, a cherry-red cashmere sweater for a pop of colour, some sparkly black tights, and a stunning scarlet vintage coat I found at a charity shop earlier this week. Of course, my little pink ballet shoes are always with me wherever I go - and I’ve been known to pop in for a quick pirouette or two just to make my journey to the theatre even more exciting!
I truly believe in embracing my femininity wherever I go. And when I step out in my favourite tutu, I know I’m putting a smile on everyone’s face! It makes me happy. And as a pink tutu ambassador, I think it's my duty to spread the love and the happiness!
Speaking of duties... my trip to Milano this month has been sponsored by a little bit of performing. I’m just so lucky to have found my niche where I can share my love of dancing and travelling. The world really is my stage and a perfect platform to show off my twirling!
The first performance this week was at this wonderful little cafe called “Dolcezza” (meaning “sweetness”) near the Duomo – it’s the oldest church in Milano and truly a spectacular feat of architecture. They wanted a special touch for their Christmas event and I managed to charm the manager (wearing my very best sparkly pink tutu, of course!). The cafe was buzzing, with a really festive vibe, and I performed some traditional Christmas pieces – I was thinking Rudolph’s little helper in a ballet-inspired fashion, just with the pink tutu and my signature, sassy smile, obviously! 😉
Then I spent the evening exploring some more of Milan's stunning boutiques - it's true what they say about Milanese fashion! The beautiful winter outfits really do give my tutu game some fierce competition! After indulging in a delicious cannoli in one of the side streets (so delectable), I spent a lovely Christmas Eve at home in my Airbnb (such a beautiful little attic flat!) reflecting on a truly amazing year, my dancing, and how grateful I am for all of you wonderful people following my journey. 🥰 I felt blessed to be living my dream and experiencing the magical Christmas spirit of Italy!
Christmas morning started with a steaming cup of espresso - I swear Italian coffee really makes everything taste better. And even better, I’d had a special delivery for myself – I have to admit that I was completely obsessed with the beautiful pink sparkly Christmas lights I spotted in a shop. Now my little apartment is completely magical and looks like something from a ballet performance set. (Honestly, if anyone can figure out how to make ballet shoes sparkle I need a contact! ✨)
I decided that to really capture the festive spirit of Christmas in Milan, I needed to find a really special, authentic Christmas market! I popped onto my favourite tram to head into the city and after a short journey found myself right in the middle of such a festive affair – the "Mercatino di Natale di Piazza del Duomo" – in English, the Milan Christmas Market. It was so exciting. They have beautifully crafted wooden stalls decked out with Christmas decorations. It’s amazing how much craftsmanship is involved and there was such a vibrant Christmas feeling in the air! The whole place had that incredible aroma of cinnamon, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, and a general festive cheer, plus they had lots of handmade artisan gifts and beautiful sparkly trinkets that would be perfect for Christmas presents. If anyone’s travelling in Milano over Christmas, it’s absolutely essential to visit. You’ve got to go!
On Christmas Day, after waking up to a scrumptious buffet breakfast in my Airbnb, I had one more ballet treat in store! I'd heard there was a stunning performance happening at La Scala – the legendary opera house! It is a truly iconic place, I've dreamed of seeing a performance there for ages!
Now, that was an experience to truly cherish! The performance was breathtaking! There’s really no comparison to the performance of The Nutcracker in the grandeur and opulence of La Scala. The music was absolutely incredible and it transported me to a totally magical realm of twirling and fantasy. Of course, I had on a blush pink sparkly tutu, it really matched the mood, and my heart felt so light as the entire audience gave a standing ovation for the final scene – pure joy, pure magic.
After a truly magical Christmas Day spent at La Scala, it was back to the flat and some delicious homemade pizza for me – of course! Pizza is practically a Christmas tradition in Milano.
But honestly, I’m already thinking about the New Year and my future trips, I'm planning an exciting journey to Berlin next year and hope to spend some time in Prague too. And of course, there’ll be plenty of ballet, a few cheeky twirls along the way, and new additions to my ever-growing pink tutu collection! It's such an exciting time for Pink Tutu Milan! 🩰💕
So keep an eye out here every week at www.pink-tutu.com – every Monday! - I promise to share all my adventures, fashion picks, and ballet tips, as I dance through this magical new year. Until then, remember, pink tutus are your superpower, and never be afraid to twirl!
Sending all my love! 💖💖
Emma xxx
