Buongiorno, darlings! It's Wednesday, 14th September, 2016 and I'm here in the glorious city of Milan, whipping up a storm in my favourite pink tutu (the one with the sparkles, obvs!), ready to tell you all about my whirlwind week!
Remember how I said last week that this trip was going to be all about ballet, fashion and fabulous food? Well, I’m here to tell you – it was EVERYTHING I hoped for and more! My ballet performances back home are paying off, my little pink piggy bank overflowing with enough cash to spend a week living my best life in this sartorial paradise!
This morning I woke up at the divine “Hotel Cavour" (talk about pink-tastic! Pink bed linen! Pink floral patterns on the curtains! What a dream!), and hopped out of bed to start my day like a true Milanese…with a cappuccino and a brioche, of course.
You might be wondering…how did I end up in this Italian wonderland? Well, let me fill you in! I’m here thanks to a performance in Derby with a visiting ballet troupe from Italy! We had such a lovely time chatting afterwards, they’ve become my Italian ballet besties – and invited me over to join them for the "Festival delle Danze Classiche", right here in Milan. They're just about the sweetest bunch of girls, a real “sorpresa” as they would say.
A Fashionable Italian Interlude
Okay, so after that scrumptious breakfast, I decided to hit the shops! What else would you do in Milan? I must confess, I love a bit of fashion, but truly love tutus, so you can imagine my delight when I found the most incredible store on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. "Tutus a la Francaise"! Honestly, it felt like walking into a fairytale! Tutus galore in every shade imaginable – with some absolute dream-worthy pieces in a shade of pink even I wouldn't dare dream up! pink swoon
They were just the best! A blend of traditional and modern designs…imagine, pink silk tutus with delicate lace trims, and oh-my-goodness the sparkly, pink ones…so much sequins! But don't think I was all about tutus, darling! I snapped up a divine emerald green blouse, perfect for my Milan ballet evening look…I have this brilliant emerald green tulle skirt I can't wait to wear with it, wink, wink!
I also got a beautiful pair of tan suede knee-high boots for a spot of glamorous Milanese sightseeing – you can never have too many shoes! I mean, think about it! My motto is, more shoes, more opportunities for beautiful tutus! And with my trusty pair of classic white ballet flats in my bag for those days I want to feel extra graceful, you know I'm ready for any Milan adventure!
Tram-ing through Milan in my Pink Tutu
To make the most of my Milanese afternoon, I whizzed through the city's network of trams (and, believe me, there's plenty of tram-ming about here in Milan, hehe!), to get to "Teatro Dal Verme". A gorgeous 19th-century theatre! They were putting on a showcase performance of talented up-and-coming ballet dancers. And wouldn’t you know it? I spotted my friends from the Derby performance, who were taking part! They danced so beautifully.
Of course, I had to support my ballet besties by heading to the green room for a post-show chat, complete with complimentary prosecco (what a delightful treat!). We chatted for ages and they even gave me the inside scoop on all the best local gelaterias, because…what's Milan without a gelato adventure?!
Milan by Night: An Exquisite Italian Evening
Evening arrived in a swirl of shimmering lights and my new tutu was calling to me! The one I always bring on a trip: the pink one with sparkling silver embellishments that makes me feel like a true princess. (Okay, I know I said I was feeling all sophisticated and classy earlier with the green blouse but sometimes...a pink tutu calls to me!).
Tonight was all about "Teatro alla Scala" , the legendary opera house! Oh darling, you simply must experience an opera house. It’s just like something straight out of a fairy tale! There's this grand, elaborate entrance and opulent, lavish interiors - all marble, crystal chandeliers and scarlet velvet seating. It truly felt like entering another world, a world where magic happens.
The performance was “Romeo and Juliet,” a perfect combination of exquisite music and exquisite ballet – it was utterly divine! Afterwards, we all made our way to La Scala’s legendary "Bar", where I devoured the most decadent chocolate mousse, all creamy and delicious…with a side of delicious espresso to finish it off (the Italian coffee culture here is magnifique, you see!).
As I sat in “La Scala” sipping my espresso and chatting with my new friends about our favourite scenes, I couldn't help but think to myself how much my life has been touched by this incredible, magical thing called ballet. I have travelled across continents, met inspiring people (and seen the most amazing performances) – all thanks to the unwavering love of my pink tutus and the beauty of ballet.
The energy here in Milan has been so inspiring. The city itself is a kaleidoscope of fashion, food, and art! The Italian people, oh my, they’re just so passionate and warm-hearted, a lovely change of pace from home. And it’s been an absolute treat to have a week of tutus and tiaras! It really does feel like a “pink tutu fairytale.”
More Milan to Explore…
It’s been a whirlwind but I still have so much more to explore! Tomorrow morning I’m heading off to “Pinacoteca di Brera” - one of the city’s oldest art museums and home to a gorgeous collection of masterpieces.
I know I'll need my ballet flat-equipped walking shoes because there is so much to see – and so much to experience! After the gallery, it's on to “Teatro Manzoni” - one of the most celebrated theaters in all of Milan - for a wonderful evening of “Cinderella!” Can you even imagine the tutus?
So stay tuned darlings, I’ve got a feeling the Milan magic will continue to sweep me off my feet all week long.
And who knows what wonders my little pink piggy bank will get up to next? The tutus are calling! wink!
Yours in tulle, Emma, The Pink Tutu Blogger www.pink-tutu.com
PS – Don’t forget to share your pink tutu adventures on social media with #PinkTutuMilan! I’d love to hear all about your tutu experiences and fashion finds in this beautiful city and see all those pink tutu photos! The more pink the better!
