Hello darlings! It's Pink Tutu Sparkles here, bringing you post number 6769, direct from the shimmering seaside of Hove! Oh, it's a real joy to be back on the south coast, you know, a change is as good as a holiday, and I haven't been this far south since last month's trip to Bournemouth! You'd think the summer sun might melt this queen's layers of pink tulle and glitter, but it just gives my pink sparkles an extra oomph!
Hove! My Heart's Desire
This lovely little town, with its grand Victorian architecture and vibrant seafront, always manages to win me over. There's something about Hove that feels so full of life and, dare I say, elegance. The gorgeous Brighton Pavilion is just a stone's throw away, but for me, it's all about Hove's laid-back charm. And what could be more charming than the Hove Park, a sprawling green paradise filled with floral delights? You can practically feel the happy whispers of childhood giggles dancing among the flower beds. And speaking of childhood, the iconic Hove Beach just takes me back to those blissful days of building sandcastles, chasing seagulls and, of course, indulging in buckets full of delicious, pink, whippy ice-cream!
Finding a Tutu Wonderland!
My visit to Hove this time was all about discovering its unique, quirky, and fashion-forward side. First on my list was a visit to the truly fabulous shop on Western Road called "Tutus and More", I knew I was in for a treat as soon as I saw the window display. I mean, come on, who needs a life when you can have an entire window full of beautiful, pink tutus? And believe me, it did not disappoint! They had everything from fluffy, traditional ballet tutus to modern, bold styles perfect for rocking on stage! It was tutu heaven!
I felt like a child again, whipping round trying on every tutu they had in the shop - that fabulous feeling of finding just the perfect garment... just wait til you see my photos - I look every bit the magical fairy princess! (See my Instagram later to see my tutu-licious pick - @PinkTutuSparkles, don't forget to follow me darlings!) I bought a stunning pink tutu with shimmering sequins - absolutely gorgeous.
On the Tracks and a Trot Around!
My journey here from Derbyshire was quite an adventure in itself, you know. I'm so in love with travelling by train, especially the long haul routes. They really give me a chance to soak up the scenery, enjoy a good book or work on my new makeup looks for the stage, but be careful with your pink tulle, it’s not ideal to catch in train doors! As you can imagine, it wouldn’t be much of a pink tutu, if there wasn't much tutu left after an awkward train encounter!
Once I arrived in Hove, the weather was perfect - so I took my new tutu, found myself a cab ( I have my very own private pink chariot - more about it in a later blog), and rode around Hove, looking for inspiration.
You see, dear readers, every new place, every new experience, sparks my creativity, It’s what makes being Pink Tutu Sparkles so much fun! And who knows, maybe one of the shops I popped in will lead to a fantastic performance at the Hove Christmas Festival... Just you wait!
From Science Lab to the Spotlight!
Now, for a little sneak peek behind the sparkly curtain: by day, I’m just Alex, a normal, everyday scientist, a little different to some others who wear white lab coats – you can't see me in my tutu on lab days - even though it would be perfect for working on the fabrics I test – they love being all flouncy. You know, I'm the kind of scientist who believes that everything is connected, including pink tutus and fashion - who doesn’t?
But by night, Alex gets ready to take centre stage as Pink Tutu Sparkles, bringing a touch of glamour to wherever I go! I've been doing drag since my university days, where, you guessed it, it all started with that magical tutu! You know the old saying, “If you don’t try something, you won’t know if you like it” - well I didn't actually go out in public wearing it, that would be terrifying - I think. My first performance was in the student union bar. It's been my life-long passion ever since to help spread the magic and the fun of pink tutus far and wide!
Sharing the Joy!
From dressing up for the university's annual ballet ball - where I felt like I was walking on air, surrounded by a sea of whirling tutus! - to joining the amazing Royal Opera House in Covent Garden’s backstage team ( that really gave me a proper appreciation for ballet costumes! ), I have always felt at home in the world of ballet and dance.
My goal is to encourage everyone to wear a pink tutu and let their inner sparkle shine through. Maybe you want to wear it to the park with your kids, or dance at your kitchen table or even rock a tutu to work ( who knows , maybe I'll be seeing some lab-appropriate pink tulle very soon, eh!).
And when I’m not twirling in a pink tutu on stage, I spend hours researching and crafting my performance wardrobe. This is when I embrace my inner fashionista, scouring vintage shops for the most incredible sparkly gems - because let’s be honest, every outfit is incomplete without a dash of sparkle, right? And a pink tutu? A complete and utter MUST, naturally!
Always More Adventures to Come!
This is just one day in the exciting, sparkling, pink tutu filled world of Pink Tutu Sparkles. There’s always a new town, a new audience to thrill, and a new adventure just waiting to be discovered! So make sure you stay tuned for more from me. Keep up to date on www.pink-tutu.com where I’ll be sharing even more dazzling posts – and maybe a little backstage gossip too. As always, darlings, it’s been a pure delight sharing it with you!
See you very soon, Pink Tutu Sparkles xxx
