Hello darlings! It's your favourite time-travelling pink tutu queen, Emma, back with another sensational blog post! Today, we're venturing back to the fabulous 4th of April, 1937, a day absolutely bursting with flamboyant possibilities! Buckle your metaphorical sequins, because this trip's gonna be a real feather boa-ful time!
This month's adventures started, as always, with a delicious breakfast of croissants and copious amounts of tea. As you all know, dear readers, proper sustenance is crucial for a time-traveling queen. Now, I must admit, this trip started with a slight snag! My magical pink tutu seemed a bit under the weather, with a faint suspicion of cobwebs from a previous jaunt to Victorian England. However, a quick flick with a feather duster, a spritz of glitter spray and a whisper of "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" had my precious tutu good as new, ready for time travel!
And so, I hopped into my time machine (you really must come see my fabulous hot air balloon time machine, it's practically a flying feather boa!) and whoosh! we were off to the past, landing gently in the middle of a busy London street, the 4th of April 1937 in all its glory!
Honestly, the energy of London in the 30s is electrifying! I love how they embraced bold colours and dramatic silhouettes. You simply cannot talk about this period without mentioning the glorious fashion scene, absolutely dripping with sophistication and charm! Oh, the hats! The feather boas! It’s all so beautiful and inspirational! It really gave me some amazing ideas for future performances!
Now, my dear readers, while I'm known for my extravagant and flamboyant fashion choices, a time travelling queen must always stay informed about what's going on in the drag world!
On April 4th 1937, drag was definitely present and alive but wasn't quite in the mainstream limelight just yet. It was more of a cabaret and entertainment scene in smoky nightclubs and clandestine supper clubs. Picture a room full of twinkling lights, whispers of intrigue, and the laughter of well-dressed revelers enjoying the performance of talented, daring souls.
Sadly, for a queen who lives for drag performances, 1937 had its own set of social limitations, meaning certain shows could be more clandestine, even risky, in the eyes of some! But, honey, where there’s a drag queen, there’s a performance. If you can’t do it in the light, you find the shadows and you work it!
During this time, the iconic Madame Fanny, who graced many a Parisian stage in her elaborate and glamorous costumes, had a reputation as one of the world's most famous drag queens, becoming an ambassador of sorts for the art form and dazzling audiences in all of Europe. She, herself, performed regularly in cabaret theatres across Europe. That same year, 1937, the French cinema world even saw drag showcased in a film called ‘Une Femme Disparue.’
As for myself, you know how much I love to find a great theatrical production. It took some effort, darling, because 1937 didn't have internet for me to just Google it! But fear not, my sharp detective skills came in handy!
The Grand Theatre in Birmingham was hosting a production of the musical ‘Show Boat’! Oh, the musical extravagance! And they weren't just putting on ‘Show Boat’, darling, they also had the talented Elsie Carlisle performing the theme song. Just think, this legendary British singer, beloved for her husky, intimate vocals was actually the voice that carried that musical on this date. I'd love to hear a record of that! Maybe it's even in the Derbyshire museum archives, that's where I usually dig around to learn the latest fashion news about this period. It's my way of connecting my hometown to world drag history, love!
Speaking of the Derbyshire archives, one of my favourite spots to search through in Derbyshire is the local theatre's collection. Not everything survives in these little local treasures, but occasionally you get lucky! You can't find those treasures with Google, honey! Those are the pieces of drag history that you stumble upon that get you truly excited about the next drag look you'll pull together! Just wait until you see my new ‘Show Boat’ inspired look!
On a day as fascinating as this, my dear readers, a queen of my caliber just has to enjoy some of the more modern and traditional facets of this time period, a bit of glamour, a bit of glitz and glam, all mixed up with history! Of course, I just had to do a little vintage shopping in the grand department stores of London! Those lovely ladies all had an absolute flair for dressing up!
This day has certainly provided a lot of inspiration, especially for a queen who loves shopping. You simply cannot mention fashion without talking about hats, and the hat scene was simply glorious, my dears! So many creative pieces, so many unique designs, with feathered headpieces, glamorous felt and dramatic brim shapes. Oh, what an incredible time to be alive and experience it through my time-traveling pink tutu! I think I may even recreate some of those iconic looks myself! Just imagine it, a pink tutu queen with a glorious feathered headpiece from the 1930s! It's absolutely screaming glamour and theatrical chic!
You know, sometimes the simple pleasure of browsing a good antique shop, or a shop like 'Liberty's,' a store just as loved for its department store offerings, but also as one of the main hubs of fashion news, is the highlight of my trip! Especially the gorgeous antique jewellery, especially a fabulous beaded necklace with some intricate designs I saw that made my day, I absolutely loved it! Imagine a beautiful pearl necklace on a pink tutu. Honestly, it would give 'Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ a run for its money! I know what I’m aiming for next month!
And I can't leave you, darling readers, without talking about food! This is just the era for afternoon tea. It's all about creating the most stunning, delicate, and scrumptious sandwiches and cakes, a proper royal feast!
My journey through time continues next month, dear readers, so be sure to keep up with my travels and follow me on www.pink-tutu.com, as I unravel more incredible discoveries and share the fabulous stories and styles of the past! Stay sparkling, stay chic, and keep the fabulous fashion flowing!
Until then, darling!
Your time travelling pink tutu queen, Emma
x
