Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveler from the most glamorous corners of Derbyshire, England, bringing you the most fabulously pink and fluffy #DragQueenHistory for your delectation! This is post number 366 for my blog at www.pink-tutu.com and I hope you're ready for a whirlwind of a journey through time, just as spectacular and fabulous as my latest creation - a blush pink tulle confection that practically sings with each pirouette!
Today's date is a real humdinger for our time travel agenda, hunties! It's June 6th, 1950, and just as we're starting our tour, let me tell you - drag in the '50s was certainly a bit different to what we see today. Forget your flamboyant queens with their 10 foot wigs and even more daring costumes - it was an era of subtlety, secrecy, and whispered hints of the fantastical. Imagine a secret society where drag queens held performances in hidden speakeasies and clubs, their art shrouded in layers of caution and mystery.
I put on my special time travelling pink tutu and off I go, shimmering like a sparkly butterfly in a box of sweets, ready to absorb the je ne sais quoi of the period. Pfft, imagine my surprise when the whole time travelling process felt more like getting on the 6.15 from Derby to London than *whoosh into the past. Must have been an off day for the tutu*.
But before we totally swerve into 1950, let's get a bit more modern with what's on the main stage, shall we? This month is the birthday of my favourite diva, Beyoncé, and my calendar is stuffed with incredible shows, from London to LA. There's Drag Race UK on the telly, a few secret underground gigs hidden in London and Bristol, even a new exhibition dedicated to the evolution of drag. I can hardly wait!
But for now, let's hop back to June 1950, a time when the world was a very different place. Let me take you inside one of these secret speakeasies. Think of a smoky underground room, illuminated by the flickering lights of an old lamp. The air hums with whispers and giggles. Our stage? The back of the room, hidden from the street by thick, velvet curtains. The performer tonight? A gentleman dressed as a stunning blonde bombshell, in a dress shimmering with sequins, his movements silky and refined - a vision of flamboyance within this world of secret.
He might have only dared to put on a red lip and curl his lashes, but for this group, the show was magical, electrifying, the ultimate in luxury and indulgence. This was drag as resistance against a world that denied them expression. This was drag as a silent celebration, a wink, a flirt to a life that couldn't be lived out in the open. This was their pink tutu moment, a safe space where they could be them for a few hours, and where imagination could run wild.
Now, this might seem subtle compared to our dazzling modern world of drag, but there's no question - these early drag performers were trailblazers, building a path for our glorious drag scene of today. We owe them a bow, sisters, and let's give them a round of applause!
That pink tutu of mine really wanted to stay in 1950 - there was something rather romantic about it, a secret society of artists whispering against the grain. But alas, my duty to our future called. There are stories to be told, pink tutus to be worn, and most importantly, fashion to be experienced. It's time for me to leave, darlings, but keep those pink tutus spinning.
Remember, it's not just about fashion. It's about expression, rebellion, and most importantly, finding your own unique pink tutu moment. See you next time, hunties!
Oh, darling, don't forget to visit my website, www.pink-tutu.com! I'm posting once a month, sharing all my time-travelling adventures and all things pink tutu.
Stay fabulous and keep that sparkle alive!
Yours always, Emma
PS Do you have any pink tutu-worthy historical events? I want to hear all about them! Tell me everything in the comments!
