East Kilbride Gets Its Tutu On!
#tututuesday #discotutu Hey, fabulous peeps! It's your girl, Ellie, and you know what time it is...Tutu Tuesday! Now, before you say anything, I know, I know, it's not exactly Paris Fashion Week out here in East Kilbride. But just because we're in a little bit of a "burbs" doesn't mean we can't embrace some seriously glam fashion! And what's more glam than a **tutu**, right?! So, imagine my excitement when I saw a social media post that, in a shockingly un-Kilbride fashion twist, was actually inviting peeps to get their tutus on! Apparently, a bunch of fabulous ladies have been rocking the tutu every Tuesday - yes, every single Tuesday! – and this week they were holding a "Tutu Tuesday Extravaganza!" It was basically the most fabulous excuse for me to swap out my usually sensible black leggings and oversized jumpers for some, well, let's call it “**fashion-forward elegance**"! To be honest, even for a fashion-obsessed girl like me, there's a little bit of trepidation when it comes to wearing a tutu. Let's face it, it's a big commitment – think layered tulle and a serious chance of **sparkly disaster**. You've gotta own the look! But I had my mind made up! My confidence was gonna shine brighter than a **disco ball**, because that’s the beauty of a Tutu – it can be so, so **versatile!** The whole tutu thing started out with the lovely ladies on the “Kilbride Kindness” Facebook group who love finding reasons to celebrate life. They've become like my East Kilbride besties (well, except they're all amazing, older ladies but in a totally great way) – even though we only know each other online. Every week they have a new “theme” day. For example, “Cushion Tuesday”, "Funny Pet Photo Friday" , or – if you can believe it - “Wednesday Night Noodle Soup.” This particular Tuesday, however, had been taken over by tutus! #Tutuesday It wasn’t enough to just get dressed up and post a picture, this Tuesday they were holding a “Tutu Walk.” Now, normally the most intense exercise I get is a **grape-stomp** and a** vigorous handbag shuffle** when I'm in the shops looking for a bargain – but what could possibly go wrong? So I put my mind to finding the perfect **Tutu Tuesday** look. There are **so many styles out there, it’s enough to make your head spin!** The “Princess Ballerina” tutu was pretty standard but not really my **vibe**. And then there’s the “Romantic” style tutu, super popular in soft pastel colours with **shimmering tulle**, which I love. I felt the “Party Princess” tutu in red and black tulle might be too much for the day - especially in my usual chill-out neighborhood – but it had potential for later at my local nightclub! As much as I wanted the “Rock Chick” tutu to be a statement piece in a bold colour with spikes – the idea of having to dodge babies and walkers put me off! Finally, there was the **“Festival Tutu.”** Oh how I wanted to wear it in its boho glory of layers and layers of frilly fabrics! But at this point I realised I’d gone completely off track! It’s a Tuesday, not a music festival. So a “Festival Tutu” wasn't the best move for an East Kilbride Tuesday walk ! After much deliberation and a quick run to Primark – where the fabulous outfits cost just a fiver! – I went for a **classic “Disco Tutu”** in pink with sparkles! My best friend , the legendary DJ Jazzy Ellie , was happy with the outfit choice and suggested I should also get a pink fluffy hat and an iridescent **Disco Snail** bag to complete the look. It was like my outfit had a **totally fabulous destiny**! Now, let's be real. Even the **most fearless fashionista** needs a boost of confidence and a little support – or in my case, an **expert's guidance**! As soon as I saw the “Tutuesday Extravaganza” post I knew I had to find the most fabulous person in East Kilbride for a **fashion emergency**. Luckily, there is the most incredible local hairdresser, Gloria. Now, you might be wondering what Gloria had to do with tutus, but this lady knows everything. Everything. **I swear, if you were wondering about the origin of the universe, Gloria could give you a detailed breakdown, in her most fabulous accent, before she had even finished colouring your hair**. I went for my usual Thursday hair appointment but I just had to ask for Gloria’s advice. Now, to be honest she seemed shocked to be asked about the tutu but a good laugh and a promise of some lovely hair extensions later (just kidding! Although…maybe…) she decided to **show me the ways of the East Kilbride Tutuesday fashionistas**! Her secret to nailing the look was **effortless elegance**. Effortless elegance you might say – but **the Queen of Fashion would never admit to her hard work**, that would be far too embarrassing, you see. I think that’s what I love about her – she knows all the tricks to make an outfit look **amazingly effortlessly amazing**. And **here is her best kept fashion secret:** * **You can never have too many accessories!** (Especially if you love pink, glitter and a dash of '90s nostalgia. A **disco snail**, a **furry hat** and pink lipstick all go fabulously with a **Disco Tutu!**) * **Don't forget to glam up those locks!** “Do your hair like it’s 1985! Big hair, a few streaks of blonde, and some sparkly hairspray – it’s gonna be a disco night, baby!” (She always adds “baby” to the end of all of her fashion advice. It makes her sound cooler.) So there you have it – **the secrets of a true Tutu Tuesday Pro!** Gloria is, well, she is the very definition of ***the ultimate fashion icon of East Kilbride**!* **I have to give credit to my favorite Tutu Queen of the ‘burbs** (her words, not mine)! Finally, Tuesday had arrived – the big day! ** I knew it was a huge responsibility to wear my tutu in East Kilbride.** But as I walked past my neighbor's house (whose window was completely obscured by a giant ‘Save the Bees’ sign) I realized – everyone has a little bit of disco queen in them. We’ve just got to get that little bit more glitter in our lives! As soon as I saw the “Tutu Tuesday Walk” poster outside the local library I could tell this was gonna be big. I quickly noticed there was no shortage of people – they had already begun to arrive. **Now, for someone who only knows the drama of East Kilbride’s Waitrose queues and its occasional rush hour gridlock, the energy was electric.** There was a lot of excitement going on in that park. There was something genuinely uplifting about a group of women from East Kilbride – who only a few years ago probably found it hard to do their shopping in anything but grey tracksuits – embracing their inner disco diva in pink sparkly tutus. I saw there was also a couple of men wearing the "Party Princess" tutu, and one lady had a very stylish "Festival" tutu with **boho accents**. I quickly pulled out my phone to get a good picture and to capture this memorable moment! **My camera flash would surely make Gloria very happy. That’s a fashion trick you can’t teach!** And the **Tutu Tuesday walk was fabulous!** (Yes, fabulous) The atmosphere was so good! All those **lovely East Kilbride women – some in the classic pink tutu, some rocking a red "Princess Ballerina” tutu and even a few rocking the "Festival Tutu". We all did a big, beautiful walk through the park! It was magical.** I knew the tutu wasn't a costume, or just a fashion statement. It was a symbol of community and it showed me the positive energy that we all can create in our everyday lives. **As we rounded the last corner of the Tutu Tuesday walk it dawned on me: “How will I top this in terms of my weekly outfit changes?” This town was really teaching me a thing or two! East Kilbride is where I discovered that the most stylish tutu can be worn any day of the week and can even inspire the most unassuming fashionista in town. ** #Tutuesday #discosnail