Hello darlings!
Welcome back to my little corner of the intergalactic fashion world. I'm so excited to be back on planet Earth for this week's blog post! After a whirlwind tour of some truly spectacular cosmic dance floors, I'm just buzzing to tell you all about it.
This time around, I headed out of our solar system to a place I've been wanting to visit for ages. I just had to go, because it was on the calendar, mark it in pink marker, a must do! This place has such a vibrant energy - just pure vibrancy! I'm talking about Alpha Centauri!
Let me tell you, dear readers, there's something just absolutely magical about traveling through the cosmos. As I soared through the endless starry skies, all dressed up in my gorgeous pink, holographic sequined tutu (you've got to see it!), I felt this incredible sense of freedom. Like anything is possible when you're floating among the constellations!
But before we go diving into the excitement of Alpha Centauri, I've got to tell you about what's going on here on planet Earth! I know, you've probably already got your eye on the Strictly Come Dancing finals, but before I launch myself back into orbit, I've gotta be a true Earthling! So I thought I'd check in with the British Fashion Council to see what they've been up to. And guess what?
They are hosting London Fashion Week. Now, how fabulous! You all know how much I love fashion! My darling readers already know, I was already a total fan of the *London Fashion Week website. And now I just love it more than ever. What *a fantastic event. It's one of the hottest dates on the calendar and they even have some fantastic street style photographers who know how to capture the true beauty of London! And you know I'm always a sucker for an amazing photograph. (And if it's a great shot of someone wearing pink tutu, well I'm truly smitten!)
London Fashion Week is the real deal you know? When it's on, London is practically a catwalk. It's absolutely electric. It's all about getting those gorgeous dresses ready for spring, showcasing everything from couture gowns to innovative eco-fashion. The vibe is all about experimentation and pushing the boundaries. The kind of positive, inclusive spirit that I believe in. The real pink-tutu vibes
Now, before we jet off into the intergalactic whirl, it's really worth checking out some of these London Fashion Week *must see brands. I have been keeping up with my favorite UK designers, because we have so much world class talent.
Some designers have made a real name for themselves by just making their fashion shows completely amazing experiences. Take Paul Smith - he really is a genius when it comes to making you fall head over heels in love with his clothes. Itâs always a magical show, with everything so impeccably thought out - right down to the music. It almost takes away the fun from trying on a stunning silk scarf!
Another highlight was Molly Goddard. If you donât know who she is, dear reader, just check her out. I guarantee you'll find her work a delightful shock! Molly's creations are bold, expressive, and fun! Her gowns swirl and fly, and her colour palettes are bold and exciting. I particularly loved this one beautiful look for her spring 2023 collection which mixed delicate florals and layers of translucent fabrics, like a garden coming alive in the sun. It just makes you happy to look at!
Of course, we canât forget the other great British designers making waves: from the elegance of Victoria Beckham to the always-exquisite Erdem, London is just brimming with sartorial inspiration.
I have to admit, though, while I love all the clothes, this London Fashion Week I was especially focused on those with that magical spark of something unexpected! Something truly breathtaking, truly iconic that makes you think, âHow could I ever leave home without that? I have to get my hands on one! How much is it and where can I buy one?â Thatâs what I was looking for.
After a while, I had to drag myself away from my planet Earth must see list to get back to my Alpha Centauri adventure!
Before I left the good olâ planet Earth though, I decided to add a touch of glamour to my out of this world ensemble. A touch of magic.
You all know about ballet and tutus so you understand what true magic is.
I decided that nothing was going to set me apart from my intergalactic buddies like an awesome dance outfit from London's best dance store, Dancewear Direct. Their range of tutus, leotards, and shoes, is out of this world And it doesn't matter if youâre a pro ballerino or simply an enthusiastic enthusiast, thereâs a design out there for everyone to feel special, and absolutely gorgeously on trend, because, darling, if anyone has good taste, Dancewear Direct knows their tu-tus. They had just the pink tulle tutu with black sequined swirls to match my shoes! Perfectly divine!
You have to see these shoes too, absolutely stunning! I got mine at *Whatâs New. They know how to make my little dancing heart happy. Whatâs New really did it again. Their sparkly, cosmic inspired, pink sequined pumps, were perfect! They gave that certain cosmic elegance Iâve been looking for all my life. Honestly, what is it with my obsession with pink, you may be thinking! But darling, how can anyone say no to that fabulous color? Especially in a high fashion shoe, and for the price? Absolutely gorgeous! Youâre welcome!
The stars aligned for me at Whatâs New on Londonâs Oxford Street because they were having their Valentineâs sale just a couple of weeks ago. Oh darling, they know what I love. And of course, when you see a stunning price, like I did at Whatâs New, you simply must grab yourself a second pair! So I made a double purchase. My wallet cried, but my closet⌠squealed!
Now that Iâve gotten my Earthly fill, I'm back on my interstellar journey, headed for Alpha Centauri and an absolutely breathtaking cosmic experience. I cannot wait. Oh darling, itâs a good thing my new shoes shine like starlight, Iâll be a little bit flashy when I step off my spaceship!
Now let's get to Alpha Centauri!
I swear to you, darling, as soon as I crossed over into the Alpha Centauri system, my jaw just dropped! There were glittering dance floors built out of giant gemstones and celestial clouds that floated through the atmosphere in swirls of colour. I am never coming back home. Oh no darling!
The architecture? It was something straight out of a dream. Imagine colossal crystal formations, iridescent with blues and greens and pinks, like some fantastical frozen river.
But wait - thereâs more!
There were dancers everywhere, all clad in these iridescent tunics with matching feathered head-dresses! Honestly, I think I saw a sparkly leotard with a pink tulle tutu on one of the aliens. They look so elegant! They made the dancers in my home system look pale! This truly is the best place for dance.
Oh my god, you would not believe the talent in Alpha Centauri! I just stood in the doorway and watched. It was so incredible, I even stopped scribbling notes in my sparkly journal, to fully soak it in. (Honestly, that sparkle adds so much when youâre in the cosmic dance realm of Alpha Centauri, you know?) It wasnât just the dances, I was dazzled by the light show they put on too! A million different shades and hues in a breathtaking symphony of colours, just above the dancing surface. It felt like the whole universe had turned up just to watch.
But the real show stopper, oh darling, the real show stopper was an absolutely jaw-dropping, six hour dance epic! Now I'm not a ballet dancer! Iâm a little more comfortable in my own space! (But especially not afraid of making a fashion faux pas! ) I love seeing the performances from these intergalactic artists. These dances are such a beautiful display of movement, rhythm and creativity. But theyâre really hard. And long! Really long!
I can tell you it was more than six hours before they started bowing. Youâd have thought these aliens were made of rubber from the way they move, but their performances were absolutely magical! The dance involved some mind blowing combinations of futuristic movement with absolutely timeless, classically trained dance styles - think a bit of ballet, a bit of hip-hop and a hint of tango. If that wasnât enough, their expressions, dear reader, they truly touched the heart. Every expression, every beat - an exquisite expression of cosmic beauty. I knew instantly, darling, I have to go back!
The intergalactic audience just lapped it all up - even when there was a whole group of aliens, they just turned themselves into an amazing dancing laser-light show! How cool are those alien kids! They turned their limbs into laser beams and danced and swirled with the lights! That is one epic alien-dance vibe. I know I'm always trying to bring the cosmic and the human together, so that really hit the spot!
It turns out, you can go back in time for this special ballet performance and I am absolutely not going to miss this date! You have to get your ticket in advance. You have to fasten your seatbelt, darling because thereâs only room for four thousand people in this magnificent interstellar dance venue, and Iâm going!
When I went back to see the show again - that one cosmic date every single time - and watched the six hours of amazing artistry in those incredible costumes, I just knew what my next blog post would be. Dance, darling! Iâve always loved dance and fashion, itâs just my favorite thing to write about! So I did. I wrote all about it every week.
When it comes to dance on Planet Earth though, darling, I simply can't talk about dance without mentioning some seriously amazing British dancers: Iâm talking about people who give us absolute *inspiration and make the planet come alive.
One name immediately springs to mind - the phenomenal, the brilliant, the talented: Darcey Bussell. Now that lady! Just watching that performance! (I have watched a lot!) Darcey Bussell. My favourite British ballerina of all time! She was a ballet dancer beyond words! And of course, the incredible Dame Sylvie Guillem, with that perfect dancer's physique, made absolutely breathtaking ballet history.
Those are some serious names to drop! They were two of the most important dancers to me. There are, of course, other dancers so worthy of mention. They are all an inspiration, but for this blog post, darling, letâs just enjoy these two legends of the ballet world in all their glory. (I must mention how amazing it is when the BBC releases a new ballet! I am just smitten! And I adore how much I have learnt about the world of ballet through the BBC online! The world just gets better! )
Now let's rewind back to the history of dance. For a proper ballet historian - this would just be heaven. But for someone like me, I have just learned about so many different aspects of ballet recently. The history of tutus! You wouldnât believe what I found when I went diving through the internet archives about fashion history and how different looks from all those centuries are used in tutus! Honestly, it makes you appreciate the world even more, doesn't it? I just have to talk about how incredible some of the early ballet costumes were! When they first began! Just fascinating! It just makes you appreciate all the designers out there who are inspired by ballet, doesnât it?
But itâs not just the looks and shapes of costumes and fashion that inspires me - the dance itself is also such a huge inspiration. Those early forms of dance are so powerful. Think about what ballet and dance were like when they were first starting out. Itâs such a journey, it's truly magical.
There's something so enchanting about it! And as someone who truly loves pink tutus (who wouldâve guessed?), it feels like I've found my true cosmic calling to spread that message throughout the universe. Youâve got to be comfortable in your own skin, and when you wear a tutu it makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.
So many ballet schools now are making sure everyone knows this message. Every single school. I think itâs fabulous. So important. If you go and check out any ballet school in your neighbourhood youâll see the real pink tutu world happening right in front of you. All those kids, you see at ballet school every week. Amazing! The world is changing. Everyone is trying to promote more inclusivity!
This time of year really is so special. This week there are so many ballet performances! If youâre in Derbyshire you have so much to see! Take the Derby Festival of Dance at the Derby Theatre. Thereâs a performance of Giselle, Aliceâs Adventures in Wonderland and Swan Lake, plus all sorts of new pieces.
So, my darlings, Iâm heading out for now. It's already midnight! It's time for me to head back to Alpha Centauri to enjoy some serious intergalactic ballet! Until next Wednesday! Stay beautiful. Stay fabulous. Stay cosmic.
Your Emma.
