Darling, it’s December, the festive season is upon us and, quite frankly, we need to sparkle. A tutu? Absolutely! But this year, forget those tired, fluffy creations, darling! Let’s create a look that’s both whimsical and modern – think fairytale meets chic, with a touch of glamorous drama. Trust me, with a few simple additions, even your classic tutu can transform from ordinary to **Oh My God, you are fabulous!**.
**For this December’s creation, you’ll need:**
- Your trusty old tulle tutu – the fuller, the better, darlings.
- A roll of delicate silver ribbon. I favour 'Crystal Fabric', a firm favourite in the West End's backstage. Don’t scrimp! ( Available online from Fabric Land)
- A shimmering metallic fabric - a gold or champagne colour. Think “Liquid Gold’ by 'Millinery Supplies' ( available online from Sew Me Happy) A good piece, the size of a napkin will do, for an exciting burst of colour, and to add extra 'wow!'
- Sparkly gold thread ( available online from The Sewing Machine Shop) for adding an extra touch of magic
- And finally, our secret weapon, **gold sequins**, preferably of different sizes. ( You can never go wrong with the large ones from 'A Little Stitch' they offer fabulous vintage styles online, if you prefer, but even John Lewis has some stunning pieces, depending on your taste )
Now, gather your materials, darling, put on some opera, a glass of something bubbly and let's work our magic!
**Firstly, the Silver:** This will create those lovely cascading swirls you need. Start by pinning it, all the way round your tutu, about a quarter of the way from the top ( don’t be afraid to experiment). Leave plenty of ribbon on each end, it's our secret to drama. Tie a loose knot, then thread some of the sparkle sequins through the knotted ribbons. It’s subtle, yet adds a touch of sophisticated charm. Don’t be shy with the gold thread – a simple zigzag on the seams can add magic.
**The metallic burst of color is for your Leotard:**. Choose an existing leotard, one with long sleeves for December ( those cold stages, darling!). Take your shimmery fabric and **secure a small piece onto the bodice. It’s more of a ‘just peek’ reveal, to catch the light and reflect the silver ribbons, creating the ‘sparkling princess’ effect.** Secure with strong stitching – and just to ‘cement’ our artistic vision, attach one or two sequin clusters, or, a single gold-leaf, close to the shoulder. And you’re done.
And you, my darling, are truly a vision of grace and festive wonder! Just try not to trip over those cascading ribbons... the magic’s not supposed to involve stitches in the theatre seats, darling.