Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It's your girl Emma here, and you wouldn't believe the dazzling adventure I just had! I popped my pink tutu-wearing self into the fabulous time machine, adjusted my feathered headpiece (which is giving full-on "flapper realness"), and zoomed back to October 10th, 1920. Now, let's just say, darling, the roaring twenties weren't roaring just from the party scene – the drag scene was POPPIN'!
You see, I have a real penchant for the twenties. The dresses! The hats! The feather boas! And the scandalous short haircuts – giving "bobbed and fabulous". Now, I’ve gotta tell you, this wasn’t about glitz and glam drag. This was more about a subtle, sassy, cheeky sort of drag. It wasn't as in-your-face as we have it today, but it was every bit as daring. This was the era of hidden beauty and bold statements, and the drag queens of this era embodied both!
I landed myself right smack dab in the middle of New York City. It's absolutely breathtaking. The energy was electric, like stepping into a scene from a technicolour film – a symphony of colours and vibrancy. As I strutted through the crowded streets of Broadway in my oh-so-pink, multi-layered tutu (the feather boa is giving me 'tutu much drama' – I really must stop doing that...), it felt like the entire city was ready for a party! But hold onto your sequins, darling, because I was in for a real surprise!
My first stop was, of course, the theatre! Now, I wouldn’t say that the theatrical drag scene was as large back then, as it is now, darling, but it was, to put it delicately, quite 'interesting'. And by 'interesting', I mean, it had an incredible amount of 'spunk'! I managed to snag a ticket to see 'The Lady of the Lake', and lemme tell ya, darling, that drag queen's performance was EVERYTHING! Imagine 'Little Bo Peep' meets 'Dorian Gray' with a twist of 'The Little Mermaid', but with a very glamorous twist – I mean, just imagine! Now, while drag queens at the time couldn't openly work on the main stage like today's performers, they did exist, often in smaller venues like bars and dance halls.
However, it was the street that was really electrifying my senses! There were these fascinating street performers in every corner, wearing clothing that was quite simply extraordinary! These performers would often use elaborate costumes and exaggerated makeup, and although their performances were usually centred around acrobatics, musicality, or even juggling, they all had a certain draggy quality to them, don't you think, dearies? Imagine: a cross between the ‘Rocky Horror Show’ and 'A Chorus Line' but with more glitz and more sass. You can imagine the tutus, darlings!
I can't tell you how amazing it was to walk by and witness them – some in bright colourful costumes with full, lavish make-up and some sporting the signature ‘drag queen ‘do’ of the day – the ‘bob’! I saw all these flamboyant men performing outdoors on a public stage in their colourful and eye-catching drag outfits! These performers used their drag performances to challenge societal norms, darling! And the audacity of it all – I swear, my heart was bursting! It was the ultimate "Yassss Queen!" moment!
After that, darling, it was time to hit the shops – because a gal just cannot visit the roaring twenties without some fabulous fashion! You would not believe the fashion stores. It was all silk and sequins and feathered hats! There was something in every colour and texture, but you know what else? A pink dress! I snagged a perfect little, pink silk dress (it was quite different from my signature pink tutu - very understated!) to remember the time by – but I’ve added it to my collection. I just know this little number is going to have the rest of the Pink Tutu fashionista gang absolutely squealing with delight. It’s simply spectacular!
All the way from Derbyshire to the roaring twenties, it’s been a wonderful journey. And just as the evening’s twilight crept in, my little pink tutu magically whisked me back home! But the fun is far from over, darlings. The world of drag is bursting with history, just waiting to be discovered. We still have so much to see! If you haven’t checked out the Pink Tutu website (www.pink-tutu.com), make sure you visit and leave me your comments – let’s keep the drag history vibes flowing! Don’t forget, you can find me in the spotlight at any time in any era, showcasing the wonders of drag and my ever-so-perfect pink tutus. Until next time, stay glamorous and stay sassy. Don't forget to visit me and discover what lies ahead in my next Pink Tutu adventure. Until then, I'll catch ya on the other side!
Yours Truly, Emma Pink Tutu Queen of Time Travels
