Darling dears! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing time traveller! 👋 It's a fabulous day for a blog post, don't you think?
I’m so excited to be whisking us back to November 11th, 1942 for a fabulous fashion and history escapade. As always, my trusty pink tutu has been shimmering like a disco ball through the time warp! (Although I have had a few stern words with it after it insisted on doing the jitterbug at the USO club in New York – tutus just aren't meant for jitterbugging, darlings!)
Anyway, let’s hop back to the past! Today, in the midst of World War II, fashion was a crucial way to boost morale and show off a touch of fabulous. Remember, during those difficult times, a pop of colour could brighten anyone’s day. Now, I'm sure many of you wouldn't think that drag queens would have played a huge role during that time, but believe you me, darling – our fabulous community was out there, providing laughter and light amidst the dark.
While many of the drag scene would be based around service camps for troops and military locations, drag shows would still be running in certain theatres and clubs. For those who've read my past posts, you’ll remember that these sorts of venues were usually filled with an air of defiance and were the places for expressing a different side of oneself. A perfect way to step away from the war's grip, don’t you think?
And what better way to boost morale than with a good old-fashioned Drag Bingo night? This was incredibly popular during the wartime, providing some light-hearted entertainment and much-needed funds for the war effort. (And imagine the incredible outfits they would have been wearing! Imagine a drag queen calling bingo, in a bright, glittery gown, her voice booming, "B-I-N-G-O!"... chef's kiss Now that’s what I call a bingo game!)
It’s always a bit daunting to imagine the kind of drag that might be happening on this specific date in the past, given the lack of archives, but one thing I do know for sure – the human spirit to find beauty and joy, to be expressive, to dress up and let loose was a vital aspect of the war.
Oh, and on a personal note? Today, I decided to wear a tutu in the most fabulous shade of "cherry blossom pink," adorned with delicate sequins. And just imagine – as I was walking down a street in 1942, the sound of a marching band filled the air, and their leader winked at me as if I was one of their troupe! (Not that I’d ever do a drag performance with a military marching band, I wouldn’t be caught dead doing something that camp!).
Honestly, dear friends, it just goes to show you that even amidst war, life still manages to bloom with some fabulous sparkle!
You know what, I think we've reached the end of another wonderful journey into the past, darling dears! Now, don't forget to keep an eye on www.pink-tutu.com for more fantastic adventures through time with your favourite time-travelling drag queen, darling! ✨
Until next month, don’t forget to rock those tutus! 💗💋
