Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing drag queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here, and boy, oh boy, am I excited to share my latest adventure with you! Tottenham, you beautiful beast, you are next on my "World Domination Tour" (more like "World Tutu-nation Tour," am I right?).
Now, some of you might think "Tottenham? Isn't that a bit rough around the edges?" But trust me, darlings, there's nothing rougher than my sequined stilettos when I'm strutting down the street! Besides, there's a magic to Tottenham, a gritty charm that gets under your skin, just like my dazzling pink eyeshadow. And trust me, I've got enough of that to rival the brightest neon sign!
I arrived in style, of course. It wouldn't be a Pink Tutu Sparkles journey without a bit of drama! Now, some would argue that a journey to Tottenham warrants a good old fashioned train ride, perhaps a first-class ticket with complimentary cheese and biscuits. But I, being a queen of extravagance, decided to take things up a notch - a glorious, majestic horseback ride, a vision of pink-clad brilliance galloping through the London suburbs! Okay, okay, a touch dramatic, maybe a bit of wishful thinking. Actually, I arrived on the 167 bus, the double decker one with the extra seating on top. My friend Betty, the drag queen who’s known for her “Thelma and Louise” costumes and even better driving, came along, she sat on the top deck in case the bus got crowded, holding up a “Tutu Love” sign! My usual posse of girls didn't make it, sadly. They were off with the rest of the “Ballet Girls,” a dance troop that tours schools teaching underprivileged girls. You see, I try to promote the performing arts at every turn. But I've been thinking of starting up a “Tutu Posse” who just walk the streets to inspire people and teach kids that it’s okay to express themselves however they choose, whether that’s wearing a fabulous, glittering tutu or just a stylish polka-dot outfit!
But back to my Tottenham adventure! This time, my performances are going to be spread out over a week, giving me the chance to explore the area. Today, however, I'm performing at the iconic “The Forge,” a theatre steeped in history. And just in case you think I’m just here to strut my stuff in my sparkly, bedazzled tutu, let me tell you, I'm taking this as a chance to embrace all things Tottenham! I’ve booked ballet lessons with a local troupe, bought myself a delicious cheesy pastry, I’m even thinking of going to a Tottenham Hotspur football match - after all, football is a performance in itself, a drama of sweat, strategy and…maybe some glitter? I'm already imagining my outfit for it - a bright pink and white tutu, with footballs instead of sequins, maybe with some cute pom-poms representing each team! That might even give the Spurs some inspiration for a comeback win!
Stay tuned, my lovelies, as I’ll be bringing you all the sparkly highlights from my Tottenham trip, from my experiences at “The Forge,” my fabulous ballet classes, and yes, maybe even a little glimpse of the Spurs’ brilliance - but hopefully not on a pink tutu-inspired shirt!
Don’t forget to follow me on www.pink-tutu.com for all the updates. And remember, darlings, in the words of the great Pink Tutu Sparkles: “Never underestimate the power of a pink tutu - it can inspire, transform, and, of course, sparkle!”
Love and tutus,
Pink Tutu Sparkles (Alex) xx
*More to come, babes! *
Day 1: A Sparkling Debut at "The Forge"
Alright, let's rewind a bit to the opening act of my Tottenham escapade! "The Forge" was...well, magnificent. I was performing on their main stage, beneath the original Victorian architecture. Talk about an historical atmosphere! But to say it was intimidating, well, that’s like saying pink is a bright colour. Now, some of you may not know this, but in my day job, I’m a scientist, testing fabrics for strength and wear-ability, I know a bit about pressures, I can analyse stress in the weave of any fabric, but you know, my heart’s been racing ever since the manager invited me! It took the entire afternoon to prepare and even more of a challenge was my dress; this one had two layers - the pink base with ruffles cascading from my hip down to my knees, a layer of sparkle netting over top so it moved with every pirouette. The fabric was delicate, not made for the vigorous movement of a dancing diva and let’s just say I was about to do some heavy sweating!
When the curtains opened and those spotlights hit, well, you could have heard a pin drop in that auditorium, it was that silent, I didn't just go on stage I waltzed in! All of the nerves evaporated like magic dust on my sparkly wings and when the music started to build, I went from “Oh god, am I ready?" to "Girl, you were made to dance” within two seconds! I think I almost felt the spirit of past performers rise with me. And I swear, my sequined tutu almost came to life, swirling and shimmying with each of my moves! It felt truly magical, you could almost say the lights of “The Forge” were reflecting in my dazzling skirt, lighting up the room!
I’ve been performing a new act. Think ‘Barbie Goes Broadway,’ but instead of “All that Jazz” from Chicago it’s “The Pink Flamingo,” a fun mashup of Broadway songs about pink, tutus, dance, you know, the essentials. My act culminates with a 45-second ‘sparkling, shimmering, glorious’ spin in the final moments that always ends with the audience bursting into a joyous applause. You know the kind that rings out after a performance of “Swan Lake”! Oh darling, they gave me a standing ovation! Even after my bows, and you should have seen the smiles, I had to pause and watch the lights shine down onto the empty stage before going to say hi to everyone. Some of them wanted to dance with me. I swear some were even considering joining my “Ballet Girls.” A little girl in pink leggings asked me if I was an “Angel Ballerina,” “Honey, I don't have my halo on, but sure I am, especially tonight. I might be wearing the wings, but everyone on this planet has the power to shine in their own way” - see, you learn that with the right combination of sparkles and confidence!
I was feeling so much energy and excitement. I think I was on cloud nine until I reached the bus stop. The walk was short, maybe 15 minutes. But my energy ran out and I was spent. That dress, well, all the glamour it was hiding its little fabric secret – it was wearing me out. That extra layer, well I knew I couldn't handle dancing all night, let alone the extra glittery net and I just couldn't bear the thought of replacing it! I’m not usually one for taking off my tutu, I mean I sleep in them! Okay maybe I’m stretching the truth – I love being comfortable.
After reaching my Airbnb and kicking off those sparkly, sequined stilettos (I wore comfy socks to the Airbnb) and dropping the dress in a steaming hot bathtub (it still has that twinkle in it!) - it’s amazing, the steam is the ultimate dress cleaning solution! (Sorry, it’s a bit of a secret tip! )
It was all a magical experience. The energy, the applause, the connections I made – a fantastic start to what will hopefully be a magical week. Now, about those comfy slippers, and how much I wish I had ballet shoes!
Day 2: Finding a Love for “Tutu Tennis"Day two in Tottenham had me embracing the beauty of unexpected discovery. Yes, a dance class is important for a ballerina like me, but you know I’m all about spreading my wings, my pink sparkly wings, beyond the stage.
Remember that idea of “Tutu Football” I mentioned in my opening blog post, well it gave me inspiration to embrace all the Tottenham offerings. Now, after I had my early morning coffee (with the smallest splash of almond milk) I visited my favourite coffee shop in town - yes, “The Queen of Hearts.” You may not think they'd get my sense of style, but let me tell you, darling, I always feel at home amongst the purple polka-dot décor. It reminded me a little bit of a play about “Alice in Wonderland” I saw last month, except their white rabbit is missing a tail, (poor thing.)
I was enjoying the coffee with my friend from my dance troupe, a darling fellow ballerina, I was discussing this ‘football inspired tutu idea' but we just couldn’t think of an elegant twist. I had my hands on my chin and she suddenly screamed with joy, a gasp so strong, a scream that could shatter any glass, a voice that would easily overpower any sound of the “London Underground,” “ It's tennis! But instead of the tennis balls, it’s… oh my god, this is so perfect! We can use glitter balls!” Yes, that's right, darlings, we were already working on a new “Pink Tutu Sparkles” signature look, even a hashtag – “#PinkTutuTennis”! How delightful is that?! And the amazing part? The local “Tennis Court” (which sounds rather dull - who calls something a “tennis court” – we must come up with a better name.) invited me to play a couple of sets! Now, tennis is the closest thing I have to athletic activity, so this was exciting news. You may ask why I picked tennis and not football? My dearest, the “Tutu Tennis” outfit needs to look beautiful. You can’t exactly have tutus with footballs dangling everywhere!
As we sat down on the pristine green turf – oh, darling, don’t get me wrong – it looked pristine and had just the right smell of new cut grass. Yes, just imagine, this was it! Perfect for our first tentative photoshoot for a “Pink Tutu Tennis” design for next week’s fashion shoot! We sat down amongst the gleaming golden yellow tennis balls, we tried to imagine our outfit and our friend even suggested adding feathers on top of the glitter balls, the vision just wasn't happening. It reminded me of a little girl’s birthday party, all about glamour but I wanted this look to scream sophisticated class! So, you can see we needed more inspiration!
My day started with ballet lessons, because everyone knows ballerina are fabulous on the dance floor!
The class at The “Move Studio,” well, this was so very unexpected, a big white space in a converted Victorian garage with a wall of mirrors running the length of the room, with just a plain white bar, it wasn’t my usual luxurious pink-hued studio, yet as the warm-up started and the teacher shouted “first position” in her strong Northern accent, the whole place suddenly felt like a magnificent stage! Oh darling, I have the most vivid dreams, every ballet show has my glitter all over it. And while this was different, a completely different style, you see, ballet is about so much more than the tutu! The dancer's elegance, and graceful movements, the power she can harness just with the strength of her core, every single piece of her was flowing like water; the ballerina on my left was doing all these moves. The class had just one boy; he was just the cutest. (No, no not that way.) As my body warmed, we began the complex combination of moves that is a ballet sequence.
I need to tell you about one young lady she was all grace, all elegance – as my teacher described it she had a gift for ballet - a raw talent that was ready for professional training and I knew as the moves unfolded that my dear had this elegance just waiting for the right kind of inspiration - you know a bit of magic sparkle! We were in a world of beauty that day. After we had finished our stretch session, we talked for a little bit and, yes darling, it was a “Pink Tutu Sparkles” moment, just the little push the girl needed and suddenly we were both on cloud nine, this tiny girl ready to fly! You may laugh at me but even today at 24 years old, it was so satisfying knowing that this new generation would have me in their lives for years to come! And don’t get me wrong, I mean all the way through life! They were lucky to be on the front lines for the rise of the “Tutu Army.”
Later on, I visited “The Tottenham Tennis Club.” What can I say about the “tennis court”? I’ve just realized there isn’t really a “Tennis Court”, and my tutu look had failed, maybe it was too girly? That was the problem, It needed to scream fashion and elegant, yes definitely elegance and, of course, the sparkles need to move with the grace and the fluidity of each tennis swing.
As the day was ending I wandered around the markets, the sun was high, the smells of different cooking coming from the food stalls and as I moved my head, all those little smells made my body feel good, and they all suddenly made me think about a new perfume…I just knew it - “Tutu Market”!
My day was a roller coaster of unexpected adventures - from the unexpected ballet discovery to the glamorous "Pink Tutu Tennis" struggle to the inspirational scent of “Tutu Market."
Don’t forget, darlings, to follow my latest adventure on www.pink-tutu.com, keep your eyes peeled for “#PinkTutuTennis,” “#TutuMarket,” and #TutuArmy.” You never know where I will go next or what outfit will catch your eyes!
Love and tutus,
Pink Tutu Sparkles (Alex) xx
Day 3: Shopping for Tutus!
It's officially “Tutu day,” my loves! I’m obsessed with tutus; you know this and I’m not one to hide it. In fact, it's kind of like the colour pink. The whole world needs to be draped in it! It was time to find out how deep that well of tutus went in Tottenham. It felt a bit of an adventure this morning, heading to a shop and then having the excitement of walking back home with a beautiful box containing my new favourite piece of apparel.
I did a quick tour of the area; nothing seemed promising for a tutu, but don’t get me wrong I am the queen of pink so I had fun checking out the shops. Even visited one called "Pink Parrot,” “Oh honey, it was more orange than anything and those feathered boas – oh god, they would have a hard time taking the gloss off my glittery fabric!” I took it slow, you know my kind of shopping involves checking every window, sniffing each display of roses, that kind of exploration! Every time I saw pink – oh those blush tones! I have a soft spot for the blushing tones of my pink shades – it could just be my skin tone but that’s just how it’s going to be – I love those warm pinks! It seemed like I was being lured deeper into the heart of Tottenham each time my eyes fell on pink – “You can’t just walk away without having a look in the window!”, I muttered under my breath. It is that sort of power – the power of pink that lures you in!
My friends and I did try that "Pink Parrots" and had some nice tea and cake, which turned out to be just a “light” snack - oh darling, if you want something in Tottenham that really shines – check out “The Red Pear” (that is a fabulous shop!) – everything they make in that bakery is incredible!
We checked out a few more pink-related shops - and just in case you are interested “Pink Petals” on the corner - do not be fooled by that name; this was not a pink boutique and it had absolutely nothing to do with the colour pink, which of course caused an outburst from me that probably could be heard throughout the whole of Tottenham!
But my darling! What happened next! Oh honey! This is not an everyday kind of moment but sometimes fate has these magical events waiting in the wings. I can see how one moment I was looking at one window, and just a couple of steps later “Pink Flamingo” had taken shape – I kid you not. It was like fate. A shop. You may think shops do not have a feeling about them, and this shop, well, it didn’t seem too different from the rest but something told me to go in and to my surprise there was this wonderful world full of pink everything. Not everything I admit – not everything you would ever want from a “pink world,” – I did try to talk the owner (a wonderful sweet older lady with a pink bun) into selling more items – she seemed very happy at the idea of expanding and seemed like she would make some decent profit! Maybe next time!
You could have just felt the magical, glitterous energy as I looked around; the soft pink dresses - they had an air of elegance, even a sense of fairy tale. Then I noticed those adorable tutu’s. They had the most delicate blush of pink – that shade of pink, I told you about earlier, that just makes your soul happy. Yes! It’s that shade! The tutu’s I found were simply irresistible – with all those little delicate flowers sewn around them, it had to be mine. It felt like a true love story unfolding!
Now, how could I leave “Pink Flamingo,” I just could not, I had a long, detailed discussion about each of the tutus they sold – it’s like they had the power of a spell and before I knew it, I had 4 in my shopping bag! It is true you can’t just be reasonable! The shop even gave me a discount when I said I wanted to be their model for an advertisement; it was meant to be!
And what made it better, it made my week complete when I found the owner knew ballet. This lady! This owner of this wonderfully amazing shop knew of ballet! My loves! We ended up spending another hour talking about ballet – so many stories - such a love of the performing arts and just the sweetest lady you could meet – this kind of a meeting feels special.
When I got back to the Airbnb, I dropped my sparkly shoes into my hot, steaming bath – the shoes and my 4 new tutus and relaxed for a little while. Later, as I sipped a glass of rose wine - yes, that beautiful bottle, the “Petal of the Vine” – you need to find this wine. You see that moment - a bit of life- changing beauty. It wasn’t about me finding 4 new tutus but meeting a kindred spirit. Maybe my mission of having the world draped in pink is really a call for people to come together and embrace their dreams.
That day – you know - I could not have imagined anything better – and yes, my shopping day was so much more about pink tutus than finding a great deal, which was lovely, and my new “Tutu Army” is really becoming a movement and even more so, a new way of life! We may be dressed in pink tutus, but our mission is to shine.
More on this and everything else, come back to www.pink-tutu.com to learn more.
Love and tutus,
Pink Tutu Sparkles (Alex) xx
