Hello my darling darlings! It's your favourite time-travelling pink-tutu aficionado, Emma, here, and oh my gosh, this month's trip has been a real corker! I've travelled right back to 4th April 1947, a truly fascinating period, and lemme tell you, there's been SO much happening in the world of drag - and I don't mean just me in my oh-so-fabulous pink tutu!
Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? You see, dear reader, you might think pink tutus were just an after-thought for the world's biggest stage, but lemme tell you, darling, they're older than your Nan's hat collection!
Remember back in the days of the good ol' USSR? (Before, you know, the entire world had to have that one piece of fashion, that's what I'm talking about.) Right then, tutus, like, completely revolutionised how drag was viewed, right? Back in 1947, the world was buzzing with the launch of this tiny, but mighty, fashion icon, so the world of drag was really getting its twirl on (with an oh-so-much pink, of course!).
And can I tell you something utterly fabulous? My research has shown that 1947 marked a major shift. For ages, there was only ONE pink tutu, a tiny little dreamy piece of fabric with just enough sparkles and feathers to catch your eye, made for The Big One (and let's be honest, darlings, you just knew the entire world was gazing at The Big One's every step, and we’re talking full-on ballet-in-drag fantasy here, and we all knew this tiny, pink, glittery little gem was destined to make history, like it or not).
Of course, this was before EVERYONE started making their own, so for a brief moment, it was just that tutu, right? And all I’m gonna say, darlings, was the tiniest hint of ballet* fantasy that had *every single soul swooning over its *tiny pink perfection*. It was all very 'just us, me, you, the big pink dream!' - pure glamour!
And as 4th April 1947 hit, suddenly everyone was wearing pink! There was, like, a whole boom in pink, feather-adorned, sparkly dreams, especially for drag performers! You get the picture: it’s 1947, drag’s all about big, flamboyant outfits and big, strong performances. That’s the story! All this meant, darling, was that in 1947 the drag community really knew what show meant, so they wore their biggest, brightest and pinkest tutus! They didn't just take to the stage; they stormed it, wearing sparkle and fluff like it was their sacred mission. It’s been my mission to bring pink tutus back into fashion, ever since. We must not forget the beauty of our ancestors!
Now, obviously, I can't share all the details about my incredible journey, right? I mean, you’re just gonna have to wait for my memoirs! But let's just say, in 1947, tutus were pretty much everywhere! It's like everyone knew, that pink tutus, for some reason, had suddenly become a drag queen must-have! It’s all quite the mystery. Who made the first one, who sparkled it first, how it ended up all over the world… I need answers!! This little bit of history has to be studied!!
And then, I went shopping! Of course, I did! Shopping was like an absolute riot - and in pink, of course! Honestly, dear readers, there were so many sparkly pink outfits - every one just screaming "let's dance! " And as if this wasn't fabulous enough, there was an AMAZING Drag Show going on at The Rialto Theater, right here in New York! It was pure "ooh la la"! And here I was, front-row, in my sparkly pink tutu, taking it all in. Every dancer in this show was just, well, perfect! Like dreams made of feathers - just what a good drag performance should be. I am totally not exaggerating, darlings! This wasn't some *cheap show, darling - you could tell straight away the love, sweat, talent and hard work they'd all put into it! They're real pros, *absolute artists! And when it comes to their pink tutus… oh my! Well, they made sure that everyone was doing it for them, and that’s *how we get history done.
Oh, and did I mention the dancing? You’ve got to be joking. You really couldn't ask for more grace, darlings! It was the perfect balance of powerful strut, delicate movements, and the occasional dramatic fall. And yes, I'm saying that they did that on purpose, darling, pure theatrics, just as a drag performance should be. If I had my own theater, every single show would have dancing, because that's just how it should be. And, darling, let's be real, how many fabulous performances are truly like that, where everyone can tell they've worked so hard? That night, I felt I was witnessing real, proper, legendary drag. And who was I to question the wisdom of those pink-tutu-clad queens? Honestly!
Now, my journey continues on. This trip to 1947 has left a real mark, darlings! From then until now, the tutu just became bigger, sparklier, fluffier, longer, more detailed, but that's the thing about drag: it evolves, it changes and gets grander, but that foundation from 1947? Well, that’s what we built on! And don't we all love a good foundation? It gives everyone a good, solid, glamorous base! So remember, dear reader, whether it's a fluffy pink tutu or a feather-trimmed frock coat, drag is about pushing the boundaries, creating something truly spectacular, and taking center stage to make the world a more beautiful and sparklier place! It's also about creating stories. Just like my journey to 1947!
Now, get yourselves out there, embrace those fabulous pink tutus, and keep that pink sparkle going, you darling darlings! You never know what stories you might make!
See you on www.pink-tutu.com, darlings, for my next post next month!
XOXO Emma
