Wednesday, 29th December 2021
Dearest Tutu-ettes!
A hearty "Ciao!" from your favourite pink-tutu clad blogger, Emma! I’ve landed back in Milan after the most glorious jaunt to Paris! But before I tell you about that whirlwind of fashion, fabulous food, and fantastic ballet, let’s get the all-important "pink tutu business" out of the way, shall we?
Firstly, it’s time to reflect on this fabulous festive period – it's been pure Pink Tutu Christmas joy. So much dancing, glittering decorations, yummy festive fare, and lots of pink tutu inspiration for next Christmas! I even bumped into some fabulous dancers in Derbyshire wearing their own pink tutus. I feel a trend building…just saying!
The Call of the Dance World:
Back in Milan, and I'm so excited. I am really feeling the pulse of this incredible city. You can practically feel the energy of the artists and performers flowing through the streets! The Milan ballet scene is truly inspiring!
I landed in Milan on a blustery winter's day but the warmth and cheer of this city just embraced me, just like the fluffy wool scarf I bought in Derbyshire! This city’s got style! My new flat is perfectly positioned to be just steps away from the Teatro alla Scala - I feel I should be a famous ballerina after just living so close!
Speaking of the Scala, I’m absolutely buzzing to see "Swan Lake" this weekend! I love that ballet – those costumes and the story just make me want to float across the stage in a cloud of tulle! I mean, seriously – when you see swans in a lake, do you not think of graceful ballerinas and white tulle tutus? It just makes you want to dance, doesn't it? It's no wonder so many girls want to dance after they see "Swan Lake". It’s also really fab that La Scala has live-streamed some of their performances - the accessibility is just wonderful. It's truly exciting that everyone can share in the joy of ballet and art!
Finding the Perfect Pink Tutu in Milan:
Milan is a city that makes you want to look fabulous – no, glorious - from head to toe! I simply love getting lost in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – it's such a chic architectural dream and it's overflowing with boutique shops with incredible vintage clothes and stunning fabrics. That’s where I found a pink tutu - it was tucked away in this delightful shop. The owner told me that this particular pink is the colour of the sunset in Lake Como - you know how I love sunsets, it just felt right for me!
There is so much talent on display here. In fact, just down the street from my flat is an exciting new concept store – "Sotto Sotto Milan. This hidden gem is a collaboration between five young creative women! Imagine a space that blends a flower shop with a fashion boutique, with incredible jewellery, textiles and beautiful artwork - all set in a vintage and cosy, atmosphere! I can't wait to go back!
Ballet-Fueled Travels on Milanese Tramways:
My favourite thing in Milan so far - the tram system! There's no other city in the world with such amazing, charming, and efficient tram network! I absolutely adore sitting at the front of the tram, listening to the sound of the bells and gazing at the elegant facades and buildings rushing by! They’re like windows into history! This journey always reminds me of some ballet shows I've done in my time travelling, I imagine I’m performing at the Teatro alla Scala, the excitement bubbling within me, as the applause rolls in – I swear I even see the flashing stage lights and feel the rumble of the stage. And yes, I do feel the urge to get up and dance at times, especially when I hear a song that makes me twirl!
Speaking of twirling - I took a street ballet class in Piazza Duomo and oh my! This square was designed to be absolutely perfect for pirouettes. The surrounding buildings made me feel like I was on a stage! The Italian locals stopped to watch and I saw one person clap when I landed my arabesque!
"Pink Tutu" and Fashion Delights:
Now, let's chat fashion, darlings! This is, after all, a Pink Tutu fashion blog. It’s a constant source of inspiration for me!
It's been great catching up with friends here and hearing their ballet stories - some of the young dancers told me how much they love going to the ballet at the Teatro Strehler which is such a fabulous and friendly place. I mean, I have a pink tutu, but they just told me all about their pink and white tutu costumes - It's like a fashion extravaganza!
Now, here’s what really made me say “Wow!" when I arrived in Milan. Imagine this: I'm getting off the train and there is this beautiful fashion store, I can't even explain it properly, with mannequins wearing these fabulous PINK TUTU SKIRTS!! What can I say - I just had to walk in, buy one and do a little dance! I'll do a fashion post about it later, I'll tell you all the details about where you can find your perfect pink tutu skirt in Milan. It was a dream! It just felt like fate had brought us together! I even saw a fantastic pink ballet performance with lots of pink and white tutu costumes and oh it made me very excited! They had beautiful dance routines, I was really amazed!
Exploring Beyond the City Lights
The best way to see Italy is by train! This weekend I took a beautiful journey along Lake Como on the scenic route! The incredible scenery had my phone snapping like mad! And you know how much I love taking photos. I had a fabulous photoshoot at the beautiful town of Bellagio. My pink tutu just popped against the background of all that turquoise water, lush gardens and mountain landscapes – so lovely! Lake Como is just a stunningly beautiful area – it's pure magic!
There is something just incredibly charming about seeing the rolling countryside and mountain ranges passing by, especially when the weather is perfect - that magical mix of blue sky, green countryside and sparkling water makes my heart dance. I truly feel like I’m a dancer in a storybook! I love taking these journeys - it helps me find so much inspiration.
More Travel and Performance Tales
One of the reasons I started blogging was to connect with all the fellow tutu-wearing lovers! This is such a fun journey, so I decided I'd post every week from wherever I am. So, follow me, you lovely people, for a wild adventure of music, fashion, art, and - most importantly, - PINK TUTU STORIES!
Next week's blog will be from a really exciting city that just makes me dance! But I’ll save that secret for next week. Just get ready to put on your pink tutu, grab your best dancing shoes and join me for an adventure you won't forget! You can join the Pink Tutu Tribe over on www.pink-tutu.com, so why not get dancing with your best mates! And let me know where your favourite ballet is in the comments below, or your fave city.
Love and sparkle!
Emma xx
