Disco Tutu Tuesday 260169

Welling, Welling! Tutu Tuesday Takes the Town!
Hello, fellow twirlers! This Tuesday has been anything but ordinary in the enchanting world of Welling, thanks to #Tututuesday and the glorious wave of sparkly tulle and sequins taking over the streets. As a dedicated dancer and someone who lives for the sheer joy of a well-constructed tutu, I couldn’t resist sharing my experiences with all you fellow tutu aficionados!
The vibe here was pure disco delight. Let me tell you, nothing beats a flash of fuchsia, lilac, or shocking pink against the backdrop of a glorious Tuesday sunshine (even if it was briefly threatened by a couple of rather dramatic rain clouds). There's something wonderfully theatrical about strutting your stuff in a tulle creation - even if it is just on the way to Tesco’s.
Let's be honest, Welling wouldn't normally be top of the list for "fashion capital" - and yet here we are! From classic Romantic-era style tutus (think delicate and flowy, almost a bit Audrey Hepburn) to those glamorous, voluminous "American" ones with all those extra layers of poofy tulle (yes, I am guilty of wearing both – what can I say, variety is the spice of tutu life), there were tutus of every shape and size adorning the streets. And yes, of course there was the odd #discosnail rocking out too – those guys are really living their best life and are always up for a good party!
You might be thinking: why #tututuesday in Welling, of all places? It’s not like they’ve got a huge ballet scene. To be honest, I had the exact same thought, and it all started with a really adorable little girl wearing a bright pink, poofy, full tutu while getting her ice cream in the town square. And well, the whole street was abuzz with giggles and exclamations of joy, and suddenly, this little girl in her tulle was like a tiny ray of sunshine - completely electrifying the entire area with pure unadulterated glee. There were smiles all around, everyone seemed happier, even the dog walkers.
A group of older women had set up a makeshift 'Tutu Pop-up Shop' near the bus stop – it was just a couple of picnic blankets overflowing with all sorts of gorgeous tutus (imagine a kaleidoscope of color!). One woman said to me, "You know, tutus are like the best accessory in the world, especially when you’ve had a day that hasn’t gone exactly to plan." I just nodded my head in full agreement - sometimes, all it takes is a good, fluffy, fun, flamboyant piece of attire to shift your perspective.
I spotted the most exquisite pair of classic pink ballet slippers (they were practically brand new!). My dancer's heart did a little jig. They were nestled amongst the fabric and ribbon galore of the tutu pop-up and immediately caught my eye. The price was totally reasonable. Well, I just couldn't resist, especially after hearing the elderly lady (dressed to the nines with her trusty cane) explain to her granddaughter, "You can never have too many sparkly things in your life, love!" They're now snuggled into my personal ballet collection - the perfect memento of this utterly enchanting #Tututuesday in Welling.
Honestly, it felt like everyone was doing the 'Tutu Walk'. We had mothers pushing their little ones in strollers - some with a sassy tutu strapped around their little faces, others with adorable ballet tutus worn around their own tiny legs; groups of young girls in multi-layered pastel and shimmering tulle; even a bunch of blokes (seriously!) decked out in full-on rainbow-coloured tutus, pulling funny faces and taking photos. There were impromptu dance moves and random tutus swirls, a definite touch of silliness to be enjoyed by all! Now, I won’t lie - there were some looks from passers-by as the sheer number of tutus seemed to increase as the day went on (some more sceptical than others!), but overall, the overwhelming sentiment of the day was definitely ‘tutus-for-everyone’! Even a group of pigeon posers joined in - you've got to give them some credit for trying, and kudos for embracing a unique style! Well, this sort of joyful abandon really isn’t anything out of the ordinary. After all, Welling can be a bit of a whimsical and quirky place, but also surprisingly creative - full of heart, laughter and that irresistible charm of just being... well... Welling!
If you've been considering trying out the 'tutu life', my advice is to just go for it, but maybe not the big American-style, fluffy tutu with the 20 extra layers - unless that's your jam. In which case, I say ‘more power to you!’ but honestly, Welling might just have been the perfect playground for this experiment in tutu fashion! Maybe a tiny, simple, dainty, ‘tea party’ tutu might be more of a Welling look – more on that next Tuesday.
For now, this Tutu Tuesday will definitely remain etched in my memory! Who knows, Welling might even start seeing some tutu-loving tourists dropping in! Just keep your eyes peeled - you never know who might turn up in the town square wearing their tutu to pick up a pasty (and for that ‘sweet, sticky, pasty smile’, we can all thank #tututuesday)
As for me, I'll be dusting off my ‘disco ballerina’ attire - it's time to shine!