Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your one-stop shop for all things fabulous and fabulous history. It's your girl Emma, your time-travelling, tutu-tastic, drag-obsessed blogger, bringing you the juiciest bits of drag history from across the ages! Today, we're waltzing our way back to March 3rd, 1948, a date ripe with glamorous happenings and drag queens living their best lives!
Remember my trusty, magical, time-traveling pink tutu? Well, darlings, I slipped into this sparkly beauty and found myself transported back to a world on the brink of change. Post-war Britain was buzzing, full of excitement and, well, a good bit of rationing.
As a girl from Derbyshire myself, I just couldn't resist popping over to London town, where things were really humming! It's crazy to think about, but in this time, drag shows weren't commonplace in the UK - they were mostly happening in America! That being said, let me tell you, London’s Soho was the centre of all things saucy and fabulous. There were nightclubs galore, bustling with cabaret acts, dance troupes, and the ever so alluring ‘variety artists’!
Think dancing girls with feathers, men in glitzy suits performing camp songs, and of course the daring drag performances! Can you imagine? A whole nightclub of dazzling acts, packed full of thrill-seeking punters ready for a night of unadulterated, fabulous fun!
Now, I hear you asking, darling: how could drag have thrived when it wasn't yet considered mainstream? Well, dear readers, it wasn’t necessarily the biggest thing back then, but drag performers like Miss Lily and Miss Rose were turning heads! They weren’t just on stage, they were living their truth! These fierce queens were blazing a trail, rocking their glamorous wigs, perfectly-contoured faces, and slinky dresses. They were showing the world what drag was all about! The magic of illusion, the power of self-expression, and of course, the joyous sparkle of embracing every aspect of oneself.
Imagine being surrounded by all that glamour, all that excitement! Imagine having the courage to be your truest self, even if society didn't always fully understand! These trailblazers truly deserve a standing ovation!
And as for my time-travel style, well, darling, 1948 wasn't all that different from today! Pink, sequins, and glamour reigned supreme. Think tulle ballgowns, feather boas, and a healthy dose of blusher. The vintage fashions just oozed femininity, a real touch of romanticism mixed with those killer silhouettes! A girl could never go wrong in a pink, billowing skirt paired with sequined ballet flats and a touch of lipstick to boot. Talk about high fashion for a high-spirited gal!
So, the next time you're feeling a little daring, why not dip into some historical fashion for inspiration? You can channel your inner Miss Lily with a fabulous dress or even take a few pointers from Miss Rose's sassy personality! And remember, you can never go wrong in a pink tutu.
Now, darling, let’s talk a bit about me. Since you asked nicely, I must say this past month’s performance schedule has been packed! I'm juggling my day job at the local department store in Derbyshire with some incredible evening gigs at the new LGBTQ+ club that opened in nearby Derby city centre!
The vibe there is completely electrifying - lots of energetic and vibrant people, so much so, that I think I may have caught myself channeling a little bit of Miss Lily and Miss Rose, even whilst I was serving customers some pink eyeshadow and hairspray!
And, of course, darling, where would we be without those fabulous fashion shows! Just last week I stumbled across a new dress shop near Chesterfield, and lemme tell you, they're carrying the latest styles for those with a tendency towards the fabulous! Everything from daring, shimmering, silver halter neck dresses with bold jewels to soft floral pastel sundresses for those romantic dates - you name it, darling, they’ve got it!
It really got me thinking about all those fabulous fashion-forward, daring Queens throughout history! If you think that 1948’s London nightclubs were something special, just imagine all the incredible designers back then who created those bold looks! Can you imagine those bold looks walking the catwalk? A masterpiece, darling! A true reflection of how the art of fashion really can be an incredible art form!
I'm really excited to explore more of the historical fashion scene in the next month, perhaps pop back to Paris or even Vienna for some more fabulous vintage fashion finds. There is a time and place for every fashion style, and as long as we have those bold dresses, a few glittering sparkles, and a touch of red lipstick - well, darling, that’s just the kind of extra that I adore.
I have to be going, darling, my tutu’s starting to tingle – time to make my escape! But before I head back to my present-day home in Derbyshire, I leave you with this - keep your heads high, love yourself fiercely, and remember: you don’t need a time machine to live a fabulous life, you just need a bit of glitter and a whole lot of love.
Until next month, my darlings.
Love,
Emma
P.S Don't forget to check out Pink-tutu.com for all your drag history, fashion and time-travel news!
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