Hello my darling darlings, and welcome to another time-traveling escapade on Pink-Tutu.com! Your girl Emma is back with another blast from the past – and this time, my pink tulle-tastic time machine has whisked me back to 1930, on a rather sweltering August 8th!
Honestly, even a seasoned time-traveling drag queen like myself struggled with the heat. It wasn’t exactly a day for layering up in tulle, darling. But you know me, a little sunshine never stopped a true drag queen! We must always make a statement, mustn't we?
My time-traveling journey this time took me to none other than the bustling heart of New York City! Oh, darling, the energy was electrifying, like a thousand neon signs dazzling through the haze of the city.
The scene at the moment was incredibly glam – think flapper dresses, short bobs, and a whirlwind of jazz! Honestly, the world had really taken a leap for the fashionable after the war, hadn't it? This era, it really was a fashion explosion, much like my pink tutus are in the world of drag today. We are so similar, don't you think, my dear darlings? We both take you back in time but simultaneously keep you feeling fashion forward, just like those incredible ladies with their cloche hats and long cigarette holders. Swoon!
Now, what's the story in the world of drag for today, you ask?
Well, darling, let's talk about the real queens who brought that extra fabulousness to the world. In 1930, drag was flourishing, and let me tell you, the girls knew how to WORK! It was still in those heady days of vaudeville – and let's face it, no act was ever quite as dazzling as the gender-bending show-stoppers in those theatres!
One queen that caught my eye, as it were, was Evelyn Nesbit, the ultimate ‘Queen of Bohemia'. Her career was so exciting, so very bold. She’d moved from being a stunning, “Girl of the Gilded Age” with the "it" look to a burlesque performer - oh the daring! And the drama? Just imagine being involved in a headline-making murder trial – and that was her life, darling. Talk about “The Trial of the Century”! And then turning that scandal into success with a stage act like "A Modern Cleopatra." How fabulous, right?! Now that's a story of resilience and true show-stopping stardom, don't you think?
But let’s face it, there weren’t just one or two drag divas flourishing in New York at the time. Drag queens were everywhere - on the stages of the vaudeville, and, of course, at those speakeasies - the places you only had to know someone special to get into - giving their signature drag performances!
I tried to get into one myself, and was so thrilled to have made some great friends in the pink, even in the 1930's! There's always something magical about those secret, dimly-lit spaces that feels like stepping into another world! And oh, the drag there was... well, a lot less pink tutus of course - and more feather boas - *always the boas! *
These fabulous Queens in the 1930s – They weren’t just entertainers; they were also trendsetters. You see, that’s how drag works, right, my dears? Drag was (and still is!) this incredible, subversive force. Back in the roaring 20s, it challenged the expectations of womanhood - it showed that style, sass, and a touch of camp were in all of us, even in the most glamorous (and, shall we say, more ‘respectable’) corners of society.
And you know what? The same is still true today! You only need to look at the runways for a drag-inspired collection and then go straight to the nearest show in town – from London, to New York to Sydney! – to know that this timeless form of expression is here to stay. *You could even find your own pink tutu at the shop after! *
Speaking of runways, don't you think that these women were pioneers for street style as well, they even influenced the fashion on the silver screen – Marlene Dietrich, you could look just as fabulous today as they did back then!
I, myself, love me some great drag queen-style looks, my darling darlings, from that great drag fashion era in the 1920s and beyond! Oh my darling, even just browsing some images of this fashion, it really does inspire you. Even today, all I need to feel ready to rock and roll, to feel a confidence from the soles of my sparkling shoes to the top of that magnificent wig, all I need to do is slip on my own pink tutu and get into character - whether on stage or in front of a computer - the ultimate time traveling fashionista! * wink, wink *
One of the amazing things about 1930 that made me truly laugh out loud - I went to an auction. The atmosphere there was something out of a Hollywood movie - with all of the drama and intrigue. It turns out that, you see, these fashion houses, well, the styles we were loving for decades were coming to the end of their era – because a brand new trend was being set into motion - and the rest of the world was watching! Oh, I can tell you a secret, my darling. There’s something special brewing for those who can catch it! And if it means time traveling in my pink tutu I’ll be on the front row, making sure I have the most breathtaking look. Squee!
What do you think we'll see, darling? What could this next era hold in fashion and in drag - what next big thing is brewing just beyond our gaze? And how can we embrace those moments of change – just like the amazing ladies from the Roaring Twenties did, in their gowns and dresses - the fashionistas, and the showgirls, who made that period a dazzling spectacle? Well, my darling, I’ll be sharing those stories here on my website, Pink-Tutu.com, and keep you on the inside of everything pink and everything fantastic. Until next month darling!
Emma xxx
