Bonjour from the City of Lights! My darlings, I am absolutely positively smitten with Paris, which is perhaps why I'm wearing my new PINK tutu as I sit at the window of my charming little hotel, watching the world go by (while attempting to write this blog post – which is harder than it looks). This trip was, quite simply, magical. The entire journey, from boarding the Eurostar (in my tutu of course – more on that in a minute!) to arriving in Gare du Nord, all wrapped up in the romance of travel by train, has been delightful.
Okay, let’s rewind! This past week was utterly glorious. As some of you know, my darling cousin, Eliza, who you all know lives in a chic flat in Notting Hill, won a fantastic competition – an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris for her and a friend. Obviously, she immediately called me. 😜 Needless to say, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I can't quite explain it, but the excitement that blooms inside me when I'm about to jet off on a trip (especially when it involves a tutu, and Paris!), is exhilarating!
Since we’ve arrived, we’ve had the most beautiful adventures, each day filled with a delightful combination of classical ballet, Parisian shopping, a spot of delicious Parisian cuisine (oh, the pain au chocolat!), and the joy of simply observing the exquisite city life unfold around us.
But let's start with the Tutu Travel. This trip has made me a huge advocate of train travel, it's just SO glamorous! In fact, I made it a challenge to wear a pink tutu the entire time we were on the train. My dear cousin, Eliza, being an excellent sport, even wore a beautiful blush-pink knitted dress for our travels! We made a striking pair, I can tell you!
Now, I'm not a complete maniac - I did not wear this Parisian pink tutu I'm wearing in my picture (you’ve got to see this darling creation! The photos will be up on the website shortly!) on the train. For travelling, I opted for a shorter, classic tutu made with layers of pink tulle (with the absolutely cutest tulle overlay I’ve ever seen – the pink just explodes off of it, I am just obsessed!). And, obviously, to keep the look consistent, I matched my trusty pair of pink ballet shoes!
I can see many of you, darling, already wondering - how could one possibly navigate the long train ride, complete with queues and a somewhat narrow space between the carriages? (Especially if one is determined to maintain the pink tutu look. And you KNOW I’d be unable to resist!) It all boils down to a bit of preparation, my lovelies.
Let’s start with a small travel case that doesn’t intrude on everyone’s personal space - a carry-on sized bag (I used a very stylish navy-blue canvas weekend bag from my gran!) with plenty of compartments. I popped the tutu itself in a zipped tulle bag. My little dancing shoes go in their usual dust bag, of course. Then the other necessities. Eliza and I like to treat ourselves when we travel (don’t judge!), so we brought a lovely, soft knitted blanket (essential for my dear Eliza, who can never quite seem to stay warm on these sorts of journeys!), and a beautiful velvet travel pillow (just like the kind your granny used, which is why I love it SO MUCH!). There is nothing worse than travelling with an uncomfortable, bulky neck pillow! Finally, we both wore a decent amount of pink – the power of colour never lets you down!
There are many fabulous aspects to train travel, of course, like the views from the window, the friendly and charming conductors, and that delicious café wagon coffee. But let me tell you about the truly amazing things we experienced in Paris…
A Classical Affair: The Ballet Opéra Garnier is the stuff of fairytales, and watching ‘Swan Lake’ (which, let’s face it, has become a yearly tradition for me – especially now that the Ballet Opéra de Paris is my absolute favourite!) within the exquisite opulence of that glorious theater, felt like a dream!
Eliza was utterly captivated, and, being a ballerina at heart herself (she has just the cutest pink tutu too – I may have just bought her one of those magnificent pink ballet shoes we saw on the Champs Élysées!), her admiration of the artistry, talent, and dedication was utterly inspiring to witness. I must show you some of her pictures. They're going straight up on the blog as soon as I get the chance, my lovelies.
It wasn’t just about the magnificent performance (although it was stunning), but the entirety of the experience: the pre-show mingling amongst the stylishly attired audience, the delicious ‘pink lemonade’ drinks we sampled (I can't deny that I took advantage of their fantastic selection of macarons – those sugary clouds are a must-have in Paris!) …all wrapped in the glamorous magic of being in that iconic theatre… It’s quite difficult to express just how perfect this evening was, so I will leave the explanation to the photographs!
And since it’s Paris, the Tutu shopping has been glorious. Just before we arrived at our hotel, Eliza surprised me by dragging me on a shopping spree down the Champs Élysées. Now, as all you lovely followers know, the best fashion comes with a sprinkle of pink, which explains why we took quite a few hours browsing! I picked up the most adorable pair of pale-pink leather gloves that complement my new pink ballerina flats (the shoes we’d seen on that trip are now living in my collection… along with a pink sequined beret, darling!). And, of course, I couldn’t have missed the gorgeous vintage clothing shops on the Rue de Rivoli (oh my! I discovered the pinkest vintage dress ever!) and the pink tulle explosion that is the Printemps department store.
Eliza and I both treated ourselves to a fabulous lunch with the most fantastic (and colourful!) pink cocktails in the garden at a café near the Grand Palais - all of those beautifully pastel pinks! It’s incredible how many varieties of pink one can find.
We have done quite a bit of walking around the city (a necessity to get the perfect pictures!), and, for all you lovers of pink, I strongly advise wearing your brightest pink ballerina shoes as you traverse the cobbles.
And now we come to my new love affair with this tutu - let me show you this incredible creation, with its beautiful floral detailing and layers and layers of tulle...It's a classic ballerina tutu with a delightfully French touch, something I wouldn’t have imagined for myself, darling! It truly reflects this whole pink and fluffy Parisian experience. It’s made from the most delicate blush pink tulle, just the kind of pink I love – soft, romantic, with a dash of boldness.
Since I can't very well travel in this majestic garment (it wouldn't have survived the journey! Especially not the cobblestone streets of Paris!), Eliza suggested I save this one for the evenings we would be out exploring the beauty of Paris after dark.
One day we saw a fascinating exhibit about ballet history at the Musée d'Orsay. It's full of those gorgeous costumes - all of the colour and texture! It had a small theatre with some old dance films, all showcasing different styles, and we enjoyed a little ballet-inspired sketching session outside the museum – oh my, it really made me feel a lot more creative. Now, I am going to try some art and dance expression exercises later this week and post those pictures up later – it will go well with the ballet and fashion pictures I’ve been accumulating.
This Pink Paradise will certainly have a permanent spot in my heart (and, as soon as the blog photos are up, I’m sure you will want this particular masterpiece for your wardrobe as well!). What’s next for Emma and Eliza in this city of love, you ask? Well, my darlings, Eliza insisted we take a break from the exquisite fashion of Paris to wander around the gorgeous Bois de Boulogne - it was so beautiful. And then to the Eiffel Tower (oh my, that glorious iron structure - just wonderful!) where, of course, we just HAD to strike a few dance poses. You must see the picture of us in our tutu skirts in front of the Tower, my darlings! And it will be the one to get all the likes. Just you wait, it will be amazing.
So, here’s my hot tip: For any of you lucky enough to venture to Paris, the best place for a picture with a stunning pink-hued sunset backdrop is… The Seine!
Next time you visit this beautiful city, be sure to bring your tutu, my loves, and join the Parisian tutu-wearing gang! Now I'm off to finish writing, and you all know this will involve lots and lots of pink! You can bet I’m already planning my next Parisian pink adventure (with some horseback riding through the beautiful countryside!). A girl needs a bit of romance after all!
Lots of love and pinks, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
