Bonjour mes amies! This week has been absolutely divine! You know how I feel about travelling, and whatâs more fabulous than a weekend jaunt to Paris? It feels like forever since I've been to the City of Lights! I absolutely love the buzz and energy. I boarded the Eurostar bright and early on Thursday morning â nothing beats a train journey, Iâm so glad I finally discovered how to have a ballet class while I travel! â and settled into a corner booth for my âEn Routeâ dance practice! Pink tutu, of course, with my custom âEmmaâ embroidery and my new cherry red âBonjourâ sparkly ballet shoes. The little French girl sitting next to me giggled the entire time at my little performance!
Shopping Spree:
You know how much I adore clothes, and Iâm definitely an advocate of matching the outfit to the city. Paris calls for sophisticated Parisian chic â but I couldnât leave the house without my trusty pink tutu and a splash of pink in my outfit. A vibrant hot pink Parisian handbag and some seriously fabulous vintage gloves did the trick! And who doesnât love a beret, eh? You see all these fashion icons rocking them in the magazines, and I just had to give them a try. After a couple of cheeky twirls in a charming boutique near the Arc de Triomphe, I purchased the most adorable bright fuchsia number and couldnât wait to rock it throughout the weekend.
Paris is a dream for finding vintage finds and vintage clothes - thereâs so much character and history in those beautiful pieces. A little black vintage dress in a Parisian shop near Notre Dame is already a firm favourite, as is the little lilac and gold brocade jacket I snagged in a sweet little shop tucked away in the Marais. Thereâs definitely something magical about Paris! It seems that every Parisian woman I see walks past in a little black dress and gorgeous red lipstick. I mean, can they ever get enough red lipstick? And who are they kidding? They are all so gorgeous! Paris certainly makes me want to try out the little black dress and some fiery red lipstick â or maybe pink! - myself!
Oh, Paris! So RomanticâŠand So Pink!:
As a ballerina, it goes without saying that my Parisian experience wouldnât be complete without a visit to the world-famous Palais Garnier opera house. Of course, the magnificent dĂ©cor of the auditorium â all velvet and gold and shimmering crystal chandeliers â took my breath away! Itâs an opera lover's paradise â and the Parisian ballet! Oh, how I just adore the grace and finesse! The performance itself â âGiselleâ - was incredible; the music, the costumes, the whole feel was just magical! The dancers twirled like flowers swaying in the wind â pure Parisian perfection! Of course, I just had to incorporate some ballet in my own adventures - and naturally, my pink tutu took pride of place â and the beautiful courtyard of the Palais Garnier was just the place for a few elegant poses! My blog followers on Instagram will see all those snaps!
On Saturday afternoon, I couldn't resist treating myself to some Parisian culture at the MusĂ©e dâOrsay â such an inspiring venue, full of vibrant paintings, sculptures and of course, the iconic âStarry Nightâ by Van Gogh â a beautiful example of colour and movement. Of course, as my followers will already know, I think a trip to Paris isnât truly Parisian without a stroll across the Seine! And I can honestly say that the experience lives up to its hype. With a gelato in hand â oh, how I love gelato! - the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the evening twilight, and the music of street musicians filling the air â a perfect little romantic scene. My beret was the finishing touch, and I had to find a nearby bridge for a few more photo ops with the Eiffel Tower behind me!
Sunday Stroll:
On Sunday, I took a little tour through the Parisian countryside â and what a delight! The beauty and simplicity of nature after a whirlwind Parisian weekend was truly refreshing. A quick change to my classic Derbyshire country-style outfit - white lace dress, black tights, pink cardigan and pink boots - of course - and then I was off! I must have snapped 20 pictures at that tiny charming little boulangerie that sat right at the side of the picturesque roadâŠoh my goodness!
I ended my trip with a beautiful stroll through Montmartre - oh, it was divine - just me and the cobblestones! I love exploring tucked away corners in Paris, places like the MusĂ©e Rodin â with those incredible sculptures, each with such poise and presence â and Montmartre is absolutely full of these secret treasures. You never know what you'll discover! It's an amazing experience every time. And don't get me started on the view of Paris from the top of the SacrĂ©-CĆur! Breathtakingly beautiful!
As the sun went down over the city, I was starting to feel just a little bit of a bittersweet feeling. Paris is a magical city and I love getting to experience its sights and its sounds every single time I come here. I hope my adventures inspire all my fellow fashionistas and ballet fans to travel and to try out the pink tutu lifestyle.
Well, darlings, I have a million pictures to post and blog entries to write â oh, the endless opportunities to share my love for the pink tutu â and lots more Paris tips to share in the coming week! If you want a great excuse to head over to Paris, why not book a trip and visit during a show? You never know, I might even see you there!
Stay twirling, Emma xxx
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