#DragQueenHistory during 1935 07 July

Post No. 187: www.pink-tutu.com

Darling, my darlings! Have I got a story for you! This month, my pink tutu time travel adventure whisked me away to a sweltering summer night in 1935! Oh, the excitement! We’re talking the Golden Age of Hollywood, with flapper dresses and champagne bubbling away like a fizzy dreamscape! Imagine the glamour, darling! The whole world was buzzing about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on the silver screen and everyone was swinging their hips like a sugarplum fairy!

It was a balmy summer evening in good old Derbyshire. You wouldn’t believe it, but the day had actually been a bit of a downer. Rain. Rain. Rain. It just goes to show that even in the Roaring Twenties, Mother Nature has a habit of chucking a spanner in the works! Luckily, for someone like me, I had a whole world of glam waiting on the other side of the magical tutu!

It was an exciting thought – my own personal time machine to whisk me away to an age of beautiful dance, amazing gowns, and legendary drag performers! But before you grab your feather boas, let's take a quick look at what the drag world was up to that year.

1935! Imagine, just a few years ago, the term "drag queen" didn't even exist! Imagine a world without RuPaul's Drag Race! Cries into a sequinned hankie

We were still firmly in the golden era of vaudeville! You’d have found all sorts of amazing characters on stage in various cities: women dressed up as men, men dressed up as women - it was a world of hilarious comedy and fantastic storytelling.

It was a period when gender roles were being pushed and blurred - and guess who loved a bit of that gender-bending chaos? This drag queen! It was exciting and adventurous, a far cry from the carefully crafted "drag family" you find today. Back then, it was a true case of "I'm here to entertain - in a flamboyant outfit" and it was gloriously fun.

The theatre and vaudeville were overflowing with personalities – women performers taking on male roles and the most amazing camp male comedians. This was also a huge time for female impersonators who would wow the crowd with a blend of music, dance, and a dash of bawdy humour! Now, wouldn’t that have been an incredible show?

Well, after a bit of an “ooh, ah” in a magical tutu whirlwind (sorry, but it has to be said!), I found myself standing in the dazzling neon lights of New York City, and oh, wasn't that exciting! Now, darling, it wasn’t a big flashy drag club like we have today, but imagine a night at the Palais Royale, a vibrant haven of entertainment - with musical revues and dance performances to delight audiences. This was a magical place for a drag queen to immerse herself in the world of music, dance, and pure spectacle.

The Palais Royale was known for having its share of transvestites on stage - although the world wasn't as aware of trans identities as it is today. The Palais presented the ultimate melting pot of musical theatre with dancing, singing, a splash of risque humour, and plenty of fabulous outfits!

As I stood there watching, I imagined the glittering lights catching on those incredible feathered headpieces and the delicate sequins glinting as the dancers swayed with a graceful flair. It was like something out of a dream - with a sprinkle of fabulous!

I couldn’t get enough of the incredible costumes on show! The glamorous outfits, with their sparkles and frills, really were the epitome of "take a chance" on a costume and embrace the power of self-expression.

It was the epitome of the era's excitement and flair. It wasn't just about performing for an audience, it was about building a world that could rival the magic of the movies! And oh darling, don't you forget - in a world without TikTok or social media, the vaudeville stage became the biggest, glitziest, and most captivating performance space.

What impressed me most about the fashions in this era was the use of the frock. Imagine – it was just as popular in men's fashion as women's! The loose and flowy look, sometimes with a dropped waist and often paired with a vest or a long-sleeved blouse - it was like they knew how to embrace a soft touch and make even a masculine silhouette feel delicate.

The style really played into the whole "look who’s dressed up" aesthetic of the stage.

Remember, drag in the '30s wasn’t as streamlined and structured as it is today - we’re talking about a very different sort of self-expression - a dash of “how much can I get away with in this fabulous outfit!"

We were talking about oversized silhouettes with flamboyant fabrics – nothing felt as fabulous as a bold color statement. Think bold and beautiful – it wasn’t about following any specific rules. The entire point of those vintage stage styles was about letting go of conventionality!

You couldn’t just show up in a drab grey skirt - no darling!

This was an era of extravagance with sparkles, a flaunt of frills, and a celebration of feminine fashion, with ruffles for days!

We weren’t talking about subtlety, we were celebrating colour - a riotous, gorgeous palette that had to be seen to be believed. Imagine, those fabulous fabrics would have danced in the spotlights of the theatre as performers strutted around the stage in a show of pure sartorial extravagance!

Think big and think pink! We're talking red lips and scarlet sequins – a celebration of color. We weren’t holding back - the more elaborate, the better, darling! It was the best way to create an electrifying spectacle for the audience - and create an aura of mystery about the character and their identity.

Imagine all the fabulous fashions and theatrical costumes. These performers, both transvestites and male comedians, really knew how to bring the theatre and musical worlds to life. It was just a dazzling display of creativity - they understood the importance of crafting something visually engaging and wonderfully spectacular.

Let's not forget the little touches of pure charm that we still see in the drag world. Those small accessories - like sparkly belts or bold bracelets - add the ultimate flourish and complete the whole "I'm ready for my close up, darling!" look. The simplicity and finesse were truly timeless - just think about the impact a single accessory could have, adding that extra "wow factor" to the entire aesthetic.

If a costume had an air of flamboyance, those subtle embellishments only brought the glam up a notch and made the entire look even more captivating! They were all about celebrating those beautiful imperfections!

Those extra embellishments brought out a more refined version of those bolder costumes. Those simple details can make such a difference, darling!

If you're ever feeling stuck for ideas on a drag look – just remember that the little details make a whole world of difference! A sparkling brooch or a daring feather boa can go a long way!

The influence of vaudeville’s glamour - the dance, the fabulous costumes and those unforgettable performances - really began to influence fashion for a wider audience and we saw more people, especially young women, looking to emulate that glitzy world.

The influence of vaudeville became one of the biggest driving forces behind a changing aesthetic - even influencing mainstream fashion and the clothing styles in the shops, with more shops focusing on embellishments, exciting details, and sequins – we’re talking about the “glam era” on a bigger scale.

It was as if the world was saying "let’s put a little glitz and glamour back into fashion!". It was almost like there was a growing desire for that exuberant femininity and confidence on the street as well as the stage. We’re talking about an exciting world of self-expression. It’s about creating those moments of true beauty – where fashion can transform people’s lives.

It’s easy to see how the spirit of drag is still resonating, even today - we still find elements of it in our fashion - the exaggeration of a ruffle or the shimmer of a bold color. The key is to wear that color and those fabulous fashions with a sprinkle of confidence, and be prepared to shine!

As my pink tutu took me home from this fantastic time travel adventure - back to my own Derbyshire with its less exciting (and very damp) world – it reminded me of just how important it is to embrace a bold fashion sense! It is the key to letting loose, feeling good, and enjoying life.

This was just one night at a Palais Royale, darling. We’ve still got decades of incredible history to explore, amazing performances to discover, and legendary drag moments that will make you shimmy and shake! I can't wait to show you the beauty and power of the past, through the eyes of this pink-tutu-loving drag queen! So, join me each month - you can find my adventures at www.pink-tutu.com

And, please remember my biggest ambition – we can't all be travelling in pink tutus just yet, but we can all join together to create a world where wearing one isn't a sign of individuality, it’s just a normal part of life!

Keep spreading the joy, and keep shining.

Yours in fabulous fashion,

Emma

xx

(Don't forget to follow me on social media @PinkTutuQueen - you know you want to! 😉)