Hey darlings! Your favourite pink tutu wearing time traveller, Emma, back again with another slice of delicious drag history. This month weâre twirling back to 8th August 1920 - get ready for a dazzling trip down memory lane, all in the name of glorious glamour!
So, howâs the tutu-love going, lovelies? Have you found your perfect pink companion yet? Donât forget, we're on a mission to turn the world pink, one tutu at a time! And letâs be honest, after this monthâs escapades, you'll be practically begging for a pink tulle whirl yourself.
My trusty magical pink tutu whirled me away to Paris this month, a city of chic, where dreams come true - especially when it comes to a touch of drag! It was just my luck, as I found myself smack bang in the middle of one of the hottest drag venues in town - the Folies Bergère. Now, this ainât your average corner pub show, my dears - weâre talking Parisian cabaret extravagance with a sprinkle of scandal, and a dollop of Josephine Baker!
If you've got even the tiniest pinch of love for drag history, you'll be familiar with this legendary queen. Think show stopping vocals, sassy shimmying, and outfits so iconic they'd make a fashion icon faint! This night, Josephine graced the stage in her most famous routine: La Danse Sauvage. Picture this, darling: a shimmering golden costume (okay, maybe not quite a pink tutu, but close enough to a drag queenâs heart) and a head full of banana peels. Yes, bananas! Now, that's what I call a fashion statement! This wasnât just a routine, lovelies - it was a celebration of diversity and acceptance, an early rebellion against societal expectations and a giant âscrew youâ to prejudice. Honestly, my drag queen heart swelled with pride watching this icon shake her feathers and break boundaries on the grand stage!
And oh, did you know that Josephine wasnât the only drag star on the scene that night? We had the legendary Mistinguett strutting her stuff! Her name practically oozed Parisian glam. This French queen, famous for her shimmering costumes and flamboyant routines, truly was the ultimate symbol of glamour.
After soaking in the brilliance of these incredible women, I couldn't help but reflect on what drag meant in this period. Imagine: 1920. The Roaring Twenties - a time of excitement, revolution, and a whole lot of daring in the world of fashion and entertainment. And here we were, smack in the middle of it, seeing drag used as a powerful tool of artistic expression and social change.
The world of drag back then was all about pushing boundaries, challenging expectations, and embracing bold creativity. There was this palpable electricity in the air that just screamed: Weâre here, weâre queer, and weâre fabulous! It truly felt like anything was possible!
It wasn't just in Paris where drag was shaking up the world. Imagine a night out in 1920s New York: Harlemâs famous Cotton Club hosted legendary drag queens like Gladys Bentley, bringing their sass and soulful singing to the stage. Imagine that: a cabaret venue humming with the sounds of Black voices, creating magic through their performances. Imagine the thrill, the freedom, and the joy.
Even over in London, our own fair city of glitter and tea, drag was thriving. Remember "The Cabaret Girl?" Itâs believed that this 1921 film may feature one of the earliest representations of drag in cinema, showing a world where cross-dressing wasnât just a fashion statement but an artistic form of storytelling and liberation.
After such a gloriously glamorous trip through drag history, it's clear: drag, in all its fabulous forms, has always been about more than just costumes and makeup, darling! Itâs about embracing freedom, celebrating individuality, and pushing the limits of whatâs considered "acceptable." And who better to embody that than a pink tutu-clad ballerina-turned-time-traveler?
Don't just let me twirl around history, lovelies! Remember, we're all about making history ourselves, with a little dash of pink tulle and a whole lot of attitude. So go ahead, get out there, embrace the outrageous, and turn every day into a fabulous drag performance. I'll be back next month with even more enchanting stories and hopefully some extra sparkles!
Until then, keep shining bright!
Love,
Emma (The pink tutu queen)
P.S: Check out our Instagram @PinkTutuQueen for more glamorous drag adventures and fashion tips! And don't forget to check our blog www.pink-tutu.com for a full archive of our fabulous drag time-travel adventures!
