Hello darlings! It's your girl, Emma, and welcome to Pink-tutu.com. Today, weāre twirling back to November 11th 1940 for a fabulously fun historical fashion fiesta. Grab your fanciest pink feather boas, girls, and get ready to go time traveling in a whirlwind of glitter and tulle!
But before we start, darlings, you know what I absolutely love? You! You fabulous bunch who follow Pink-tutu.com for your regular dose of drag history, a little bit of camp, and a whole lot of tutus! You inspire me to dance my way through the timelines and to shout from the rooftops that everyone needs a pink tutu in their life! It's the ultimate expression of self, and if a ballerina queen from Derbyshire can get everyone rocking a tutu, you betcha, anyone can.
Right, letās shimmy back to November 11th, 1940, shall we? You see, this date holds a special place in my glamorous heart because it marks the very beginning of wartime rationing in the UK! Thatās right, dear readers, the government put a stop to all those delicious sugary treats we loved so much. Well, that might not seem glamorous now, but it certainly inspired an explosion of wartime fashion, and darling, we know fashion has always been dragās playground!
With limited supplies and a thirst for looking fierce, our queens really brought out their creative best! It's a time when thriftiness and practicality became majorly fashionable, and the idea of repurposing and upcycling soared. Imagine all the vintage scarves, fabrics and treasures our drag legends were finding, reimagining them as part of their looks. Can you picture, darling, a glorious black and white wartime drag show, with costumes whipped up from recycled materials, each outfit sparkling with wartime spirit and ingenuity? The perfect time to pull off that iconic "vintage glam" aesthetic, if you ask me!
Think, darlings, about the sheer drama of it! Drag in wartime was not just about the glamorous facade, but also a fantastic escape from the mundane, an exuberant celebration of self-expression during an intense, uncertain period. It was the antidote to a grim world, a way to remind people there was still laughter, beauty and fun to be had. Thatās why I find the wartime drag scene to be such a phenomenal chapter in drag history - it was a beacon of hope and a powerful statement, using creativity to fight hardship!
Now, this doesn't mean there were no drag shows, darling. While some theaters may have temporarily shut down due to wartime conditions, drag performance and its power to unite and uplift werenāt going to be deterred. There are still plenty of glimpses into how drag persisted throughout these challenging times. Remember that even if a proper stage wasn't available, the joy of performance didn't have to stop!
Imagine a community centre or an improvised stage set up, filled with the sparkle of twinkling lights and the intoxicating allure of drag queens using their talents to raise spirits! I can only dream of the stories that havenāt been recorded! These stories are worth exploring, darlings, they reveal the tenacity, resilience, and creativity of drag.
Speaking of stories, darlings, this month's fashion muse has got me gagging. I stumbled across a gorgeous vintage advertisement for the 1940 edition of "Fashion Book" from Harrods, featuring this breathtaking, draped white gown. I'm absolutely floored by its simple, yet timeless beauty, a design that embodies elegance even under strict rationing. That Harrods, the queens of all things glamorous, making an elegant statement that war could not crush the power of fashion!
As for my outfit, darlings, weāre embracing the vintage wartime vibe with a glorious pink tutu, naturally. But instead of a voluminous cloud of tulle, this time itās more understated, with a soft, almost demure skirt. Itās all about making a statement, yet still looking like weāve borrowed the finest silks from the vintage couture scene. Iāve even added some strategically placed patches to evoke that wartime āmake-do-and-mendā aesthetic, giving this vintage pink tulle a totally unexpected edge! And darling, Iām channeling all the chic of wartime era actresses with a red lip, retro hair, and my trademark pink lipstick, adding a touch of glamorous defiance to the whole look.
This post is a little different, my darlings, it's not about finding a definitive drag show on this specific date, but exploring a specific moment in history, a time that transformed the way fashion, performance, and entertainment were experienced, proving drag is the one constant in ever changing worlds. Itās about appreciating the resilient, vibrant heart of the drag community, the magic that keeps on giving no matter the circumstances, a heart filled with joy, community and fashion, a heart ready to embrace life's challenges and sparkle with vibrant hope and courage!
Keep spreading the pink tulle, darlings, and donāt forget to catch me performing every night of the week! You can follow my journey at Pink-tutu.com, join me on Instagram and follow my glamorous time-travel adventures! See you next month, darling!
Yours always,
Emma xx
