Hiya darlings! It's your favourite tutu-tastic traveller, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here, signing in live from sunny Paisley! This is blog post number 2401, can you believe it?! I can't believe I've been blogging for this long. I hope you all have your pink tutus on and are ready to twirl into some serious fabulousness with me today!
As you know, I absolutely adore travelling, and Paisley has been calling my name for months! It's just so picturesque, with all those gorgeous buildings and the river winding through. And let's not forget the famous Paisley Pattern - what a truly magnificent design!
Now, how did I get to Paisley, you ask? Well, a trusty old train journey, of course! You'd never catch me hopping on a plane, my dear. The romance, the grandeur, the sheer delight of travelling by train! Plus, you can get all dolled up in your finest couture and not a single soul will bat an eyelid! Oh, to be travelling in first class, gazing at the countryside rushing past the window while sipping on a cheeky gin and tonic! Now, that's a true travelling dream!
Oh, I must tell you, I had the most glorious time picking out an outfit for this Paisley escapade. I rummaged through my wardrobe until I found this utterly divine vintage pink tulle number, a symphony of ruffles and swirls. And what would a tutu-loving diva like myself do without a little glitter? A generous scattering of holographic sequins, and boom! You've got a Pink Tutu Sparkles masterpiece!
The Ballet Inspiration:
Speaking of "boom", Paisley is teeming with ballet inspiration! The Paisley Town Hall is home to the famous Paisley Arts Centre and this week I have tickets for The Nutcracker. Imagine, my darling! Tchaikovsky, tutus, and twirling. What more could a girl ask for?
You know I can't resist popping into a local dance studio when I travel! My passion for dance is a big part of my drag, and I can't resist trying to catch a lesson here and there! There is such joy and creativity within those studios, it never ceases to amaze me!
I know I'm obsessed with the stage, but really, there are so many amazing performers outside of the theatres, too! There is this phenomenal troupe of street dancers in Paisley, I’ve been trying to find their schedule - a fusion of ballet and modern, truly innovative!
The Paisley Shopping Scene:
Oh my, this city has a truly fabulous shopping scene! From vintage stores to chic boutiques, there are a plethora of places to find treasures. You could spend days browsing! And speaking of treasures, let's talk pink! You'd be hard-pressed to find a shop in this fabulous city that doesn't carry a single shade of pink! Even the bakeries sell pink macarons!
You'll find me indulging in my ultimate obsession at the local thrift stores. Who doesn’t love a bargain, right? It is a hunt, my dears, a treasure hunt! You have to go through layers and layers of discarded clothes before you find those glorious relics from a time when pink tutus were just starting to make their way onto the stage!
You might have thought it was an unlikely career path for a scientist, this love for the world of pink and sparkly, but you'd be surprised how many fellow scientists out there are hiding their secret drag life from their families. Honestly, you'd never guess how many times I've caught a whiff of pink hairspray coming from the women’s toilets after a particularly stimulating science convention.
Back To The Pink Tutu:
Back to the main point, darling: this journey has really been an ode to my all-time favourite garment: the pink tutu! There’s this really chic restaurant near the theatre with an interior all covered in a glorious shade of hot pink. Everything in there from the furniture to the flowers - pure femininity! They even have a whole section on the menu dedicated to cocktails served with pink garnishes. You could get carried away there!
There was a local market where a stall owner even tried to persuade me to buy a pair of bright pink fluffy bunny ears! Of course, I had to snag those! They matched my gorgeous new bag perfectly! (Pink polka-dot, of course!) I felt like a human disco ball, and that, my dears, is exactly where I feel most comfortable.
I’ve told you all before about how I discovered my love for tutus when I was still a science student at university! I joined the student ballet club for a laugh. In my heart of hearts, I had this little voice whispering, “you could be a ballerina one day,” but deep down, I was scared of going against my family’s wishes for me to be an amazing, well-respected, “serious” scientist, a doctor even! The life of a professional dancer would be so insecure and unpredictable! What if I got hurt, what if the career didn't take off?!
And then came the charity fundraiser for an organisation that helps people with disabilities participate in arts and crafts! They put on this incredible show, a mini ballet performance and I was tasked with collecting donations, all the time being told how well I would fit into a tutu. That one charity gig completely changed my life and I knew I couldn't live a life without these exquisite, feminine garments!
You'd be surprised how many times people come up to me after a show, especially children, asking about my beautiful tutu, even though they look to be made by a seamstress who loves a bit of glittery fabric and tulle more than anything else. Children's natural, unadulterated delight is one of the many joys of being a performer in the drag scene. I've met people from all over the world - drag queens, theatre people, singers - a rainbow of humanity. All of us connected through a love of theatrics, colour and, you guessed it, tutus!
This is not about wearing pink tutus all day long, although if I can persuade everyone to make a little space in their wardrobes for at least one, that would make my heart soar with joy! The beauty of pink tutus is how versatile they are. You can wear them in so many different ways. You can dress them up or down, make them sassy or sweet. They really are for everyone!
The important thing, darling, is to let your unique personality shine through! My signature pink tulle outfits and a sprinkle of sequins on stage is how I express my joy and I’m spreading the word: a bit of glamour, a little magic and a sprinkle of confidence in the form of a pink tutu, goes a long way.
You can catch me at Paisley Arts Centre and I'd love to see all of you there, decked out in your favourite pink tutus! It's going to be a spectacular show!
Until next time, remember to always twirl with joy!
Love, Pink Tutu Sparkles
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