Ciao bella!
Well, here I am in Milan! I’ve finally made it to the fashion capital of the world and I can barely contain myself. Honestly, the moment my feet touched Italian soil I felt like I’d landed in a technicolour dream. This place is a vision in pink – think cobbled streets, creamy cafes and buildings with that warm, golden hue that makes even a grey day look radiant.
It's been quite a journey getting here, all the way from Derbyshire, my little slice of English countryside, via the magic of ballet! I’m still a little dizzy from my whirlwind performance last weekend in Edinburgh, a dazzling affair that took me from a Scottish castle stage to the cobbled streets of the old town in a flurry of pirouettes.
And the costumes – oh my! My costume was a riot of crimson and black lace, it really was an explosive dance and I felt like a whirling dervish on stage, all those layers of fabric swirling around me. As always, I received the most lovely comments after the show, lots of lovely ladies wanting to chat about tutus and tutus.
Let’s just say the ballet world has been incredibly kind to me, especially over the last few months. All my performances have been wonderfully well-received, which has given me the chance to fulfil a long-held dream of making my way across Europe with my Pink Tutu blog.
For my dear readers, you may be wondering why Milan? Well, my darlings, it is THE city for fashion, for exquisite craftsmanship, for luxurious textiles. It’s a ballerina's paradise – think exquisite fabrics, elegant lines, and colours that make you sing! I’m here to immerse myself in all things stylish, and, of course, I have my very own pink tutu planned for my trip to the Teatro alla Scala!
And, you've got to trust me, when I say that Milan's trams are fabulous. Seriously! Not only do they zoom me around the city in a way that makes travel time feel like an elegant ballet, but the Italian drivers have this amazing air of panache – it's almost like they’re directing a symphony of the road.
A day in Milan:
This morning:
After a good night's sleep, a light but delicious breakfast at the cafe next to my hotel – I really wanted something classic, and it did not disappoint! A creamy cappuccino and a fluffy croissant made me feel so delightfully Parisian. (Who would have thought I’d be getting my Parisian fix in Milan! But this is Italy, after all - they know how to live!)
The Fashion Hunt Begins:
I knew, as soon as I arrived in Milan, that a visit to the Gucci store was a must. I’m not going to lie, I adore the way their boutiques make you feel - the soft lighting, the beautiful fabrics… you practically melt away as soon as you step inside. It was almost like being on the stage, feeling the spotlight and the buzz of anticipation in the air. I almost didn’t even want to leave, but eventually, my practical side kicked in, I had to actually find my way around Milan!
Streetside Chic:
Milan is a paradise for the well-dressed! Honestly, every street corner has some fabulous new style inspiration. It’s so energising! As I meandered through the city, it was impossible to stop myself from popping into any and every store that looked tempting – I even went a little overboard at a little shop on a tiny back street full of beautiful lace dresses, delicate silk scarves, and a dazzling display of hats. Honestly, if you were to tell me that everything I saw was for the ballet, I’d wholeheartedly believe you. The fabric – it’s just gorgeous!
Dinner in Style
For dinner, I ventured to a bustling trattoria for some classic Italian dishes. It’s so nice to experience all the local delicacies - Milan really has the most delightful food scene.
And you know me - my evenings in Italy must involve some gelato, so naturally, I ended my evening with the most exquisite ice cream from a local gelateria. They had so many unusual and tempting flavours, it took me ages to decide. I went with strawberry and lemon, the perfect taste of Italy!
Ballet Tonight:
This evening is for ballet. And what a ballet. It’s the "Sleeping Beauty", which has me positively bubbling with excitement! You know what I’m going to wear – my dazzling pink tutu, of course!
So I’ll have to rush off, to change and get ready for my night at the Teatro alla Scala. But I will be back tomorrow to tell you all about it.
**Don’t forget, darlings, every Wednesday, you can find me right here in my little corner of the internet. If you have a story you’d like to share about your tutu, I would absolutely love to hear it, just drop a comment below! And if you love pink and tutus as much as I do, go on, show the world your own pink tutu style - post your pink tutu pictures to instagram and use the hashtag #PinkTutuMilan and maybe even find yourself featured in next week's blog. It’s gonna be a truly magnificent week here in Milan, full of delicious gelato, enchanting ballet and fabulously glamorous fashion.
Ciao for now!**
Emma xxx
