Hello, darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling, drag-loving gal from Derbyshire. October is here, which means we're knee-deep in spooky season, but I've got something even spookier than a graveyard full of ghosts: time travel, that's what! And, as you know, I always go back in time dressed to the nines in my magnificent pink tutu – the one that happens to be enchanted and whisks me through the decades!
This month, we're twirling back to October 10th, 1936! Now, let me tell you, darlings, 1936 was a very different time for our drag sisters. Things weren't quite as open as they are now, but there were some fabulous performances happening, which is what makes this trip through time so much fun. Let me tell you all about it!
A Time Traveling Treat: 1936 - New York, New York
We land right smack dab in New York City, where the glittering lights and Broadway shows are already a big thing. There's a cabaret scene, with clubs like the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center – where a certain Madame could have been doing her drag thing. Now, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, especially for drag. New York was still a pretty conservative place for such displays of art and beauty, but the underground scene was bubbling. Remember, girls, our history is full of hidden heroes, so keep your eyes peeled!
Now, who was dancing the night away at The Rainbow Room? Maybe some glamorous dames in sparkling dresses, channeling the glitz of the silver screen. Just think, this era gave us glamorous stars like Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow! Who knows, maybe one of those dancers was inspired by these silver screen icons! Perhaps even one was a hidden drag icon!
1936 - Back in Blighty
Back across the pond, we land in London, England. 1936, was a year full of celebration and spectacle for our fair country, what with the King and Queen being crowned. That means more events, more parades, more glamorous costumes – perfect fodder for our drag sisters to shine, if you know what I mean.
Can you imagine, London buzzing with the energy of a royal coronation, a perfect backdrop for a drag ball? Maybe a grand event at a hotel like The Savoy, or a private ballroom in the Belgravia neighborhood. Imagine the dazzling gowns and daring costumes, a symphony of colours that would have sent London's gossipmongers into a frenzy! And for our fabulous queens, it was another way to express themselves, maybe even get a bit of political commentary into the mix with those costumes!
Pink Tutu Style: A Touch of Glam
Imagine this, girls! In a place like London, maybe at The Ritz or a swanky West End theater, a performer could have donned a sequined pink dress, paired with the kind of sparkling pink tutu you can only imagine. Let's be honest, it might have had a touch of "oh darling, it's divine" audacity, just enough to create a buzz. Perhaps that was how it went – a splash of colour in a grey world. A glimpse of glitter, a whisper of what could be, that's how the story of drag starts, bit by bit.
*And now, girls, for your weekly drag dose: *
Now, I know you're just dying to get your diva on, and this month, let me tell you all about my own journey! In the spirit of those pioneering queens, I'll be hosting a special "Drag through Time" event on my blog's website. It's a live, virtual, interactive show where I’ll share snippets from the drag scene of the decades, so we can all dance and have fun! I'll even teach you a few classic drag moves, just imagine the time travelling tutus in motion!
Plus, this month's giveaway is all about embracing the fabulous! I'm giving away one lucky reader a sparkling pink tutu for the most creative story about their own drag queen persona. Tell me what you'd wear, what your stage name would be, and your ultimate drag fantasy – all to be judged by this pink tutu queen herself. So get creative, get colourful, get out there and be you.
Now go forth and be fabulous, darling! And don't forget to get your tutu on, my friends. We are all queens, even when we aren't wearing the crowns!
Much love and glitter,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
