Ciao, darlings! It's Emma here, back from the most amazing trip to Milan, Italy, and I'm just bursting to tell you all about it! You know I just adore travelling, and the energy of Milan just pulled me in. This week, I'm rocking a fluffy, vintage-inspired pink tutu, just perfect for exploring this city of fashion and fabulousness.
This week has been a whirlwind, all about indulging in my passions – ballet, shopping, and exploring. Let me tell you, Milan did not disappoint!
Wednesday, 21st April, 2010 - Milan, darling Milan!
I’m actually typing this as I sip an espresso in a cafe off the Piazza Duomo. I arrived this morning on a charming red train from Venice, and even the journey was magical. My travel style – you know it! Pink tutu, obviously, with a chunky vintage cardigan in a pretty pastel blue, and a touch of sparkle with my silver ballet pumps. Everyone looked at me – they might not have been looking at me because I was beautiful (I mean, I know I’m gorgeous, don’t get me wrong), but because they were mesmerised by my wonderful ensemble!
As soon as I stepped out of the station, the atmosphere was electric. The sun was shining, and everyone looked incredibly chic. Milan, I felt, is a city for the fabulous, a place to be bold and express yourself! And honestly, I love the fact that it doesn't feel intimidated by pink!
I wandered straight to the Teatro alla Scala, which is so unbelievably beautiful, you simply must see it! It's absolutely awe-inspiring, with beautiful carvings, ornate chandeliers, and velvet seats. I stood outside, taking it all in, just imagining the wonderful ballets that have been performed there. I was almost giddy, and that's a rare feeling for me – you can see I have it under control in this picture (check out my pink tutu posing against the stunning Scala, it's perfect!).
That afternoon, I was feeling the urge for some ballet bliss, and so off to the famous Scuola di Ballo, just around the corner from the Scala. I felt like a complete beginner in this place! I had been attending classes for years, but the level of skill, and just the elegance of the dancers at this school – it was awe-inspiring. The atmosphere was electrifying – you just knew that you were in the heart of ballet.
But my Milan experience wasn't all about serious balletic pursuits, darling. No, no, I was here to discover all of the hidden delights of Milan, to fall in love with this city like only I know how. I started with an epic Italian meal. The most delicious pasta in creamy tomato sauce. Seriously, my dear readers, I still think about that pasta every time I eat anything close to pasta. Oh, it was wonderful.
Then came my exploration of the Milanese street fashion. This city is famous for fashion, you see, and the Milanese definitely have style, don’t they? It’s definitely inspired my pink tutu outfits since! You should have seen the amazing vintage boutiques, the little cafes where everyone looked as if they were walking straight off a runway, and the amazing window displays that were just exploding with colour. The best bit – every store and window seemed to understand the pink tutu, no need to explain, they were just ready to rock the look!
Speaking of stores, let me tell you, Milan has a whole other side – a world of exquisite craftsmanship. From the luxurious leather goods to the intricately hand-painted ceramics, this is where artisans come together to create works of art. This feeling really resonated with my pink tutu collection. I found a cute little store off a narrow alley – it was a little too niche, to say the least, and even though I would have been happier shopping in my pink tutu, they asked me to take it off! But I had to add this beautiful vintage clutch to my pink tutu collection.
Of course, a little Italian gelato was a must, especially for this English rose. It was divine, a delicious mixture of pistachio, hazelnut, and raspberry, so beautifully crafted – it was like a little symphony of flavour on my tongue! Oh my, I need to have a second thought to what is in my diet if it's full of this much beautiful food, and that's coming from someone who, on a regular basis, drinks just black tea!
But I knew I couldn't stay too long, darling! There are more beautiful places for me to see, more tutus to buy, more shows to witness. This is just the first of my adventures in Milan!
Until next week,
Emma
PS Don’t forget to check out my weekly pink-tutu outfit pics on Instagram! I’ll be posting every day this week with all my new Milan finds – fashion and food!
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