Darling Divas and fabulous fellas, it's your girl Emma here, back from another dazzling voyage through time! March 3rd, 1952! Oh honey, this date was a whirlwind of sequins, glamour, and a few shockingly stiff tea parties. It was all thanks to this glorious pink tutu I found tucked away in a vintage store last month, adorned with sequined flowers, each one shimmering with a life of its own. This tutu was a doorway to another era, a doorway to another me, another Emma, perhaps! I know, a bit dramatic, but darlings, wouldn't you feel the same way with a tutu like this in your hands?
Oh, but you are wondering how this pink tulle magic allowed me to hop into history, right? Well, it all began with a dramatic, hair-raising twirl in my favourite dressing room in Derby! Poof - the next minute I was in a room that looked like a cross between a vintage Parisian cabaret and my gran's lounge. Pink floral wallpaper, floral carpet, pink lampshades, the whole shebang!
Of course, the first thing I did was strut into the bathroom. I had to see how a drag queen back then styled herself! And oh, darlings, the ladies back then knew how to sashay! A real mix of old Hollywood glamour, Parisian chic, and just a pinch of Victorian. They loved feathers, feathers everywhere! Oh, my darling! I'm still pinching myself over those feather boas and the feather embellishments they adorned their outfits with.
After admiring myself in the pink-frosted bathroom, I took a moment to soak it all in. The calendar said it was 1952 and you know me, darling, always looking for a good show. This was a little earlier for a real "Drag" show in the traditional sense. But you wouldn't believe the fun I had with the "Women's Clubs"!
These clubs were not just a way to socialise and indulge in the finer things in life, but they were also a platform for performance! These lovely women used their talent for impersonation and entertainment! They called it "drag," you know, dressed up, and they were fantastic! It's hard to explain, darlings, but it was a form of expression that went far beyond mere fashion - it was an escape, an embrace of artistry and imagination.
Drag Before the Drag Show:
Here’s the thing – you might be surprised to learn that while the "Drag Show" we know and love was not quite ready for its time-travelling stage in 1952, there were certainly traces of its origins right before our eyes!
Think about it: you need venues for these glorious performers to show off their talents! Now imagine the biggest nightclub in the USA. Think of this place as a Drag Mother of the American Dream! That's right, we are talking about the iconic, fabulous Copa Room!
Can you picture this: A giant neon sign in dazzling blues, sparkling greens, and burning reds, advertising this gem of a nightclub! The Copa was located on the top floor of the fabulous "Hotel Sands" - which you know from its nickname - the Sands. In the year we're talking about - 1952 – they hosted legendary drag performers that changed the game of entertainment. You'd find the incredible Judy Garland dancing the night away with an audience going absolutely wild! The Copa Room truly embodied the essence of the "American Dream." And, trust me, darlings, with its amazing performers and buzzing energy, it would feel a lot like a drag show we'd go crazy for today!
Think about those old Hollywood musicals – think Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Think of Cab Calloway. Remember The Andrews Sisters, these fantastic ladies of rhythm and music? Think of all the men who had to find other means to express themselves and embody those wonderful entertainers, those “singing girls” - or “lady men” or even “drag queens"! There were many performers on stages around the world, from the most grand and prestigious to the smaller venues, putting on shows that had everything from cabaret to musical theatre and more!
Now you might be thinking, "Well Emma, that sounds a lot like theatre, what about Drag?” And to you, darling, I say - Hold your Pink Tutus, because that's exactly where we are going! Remember I told you the women were doing something like drag with a whole lot of flair in the "Women's Clubs". They'd get glammed up with their most wonderful costumes and dance to tunes that got the room roaring! Just imagine these ladies – these performers - having the confidence and the courage to stand on a stage in full regalia back then – when that wasn’t necessarily as common or acceptable, at least not in many circles. That’s the beauty of history - how drag, as we know it now, came about through these courageous women. I call those incredible ladies our “Drag Trailblazers"
I always said, you know, these Women's Clubs, these social gatherings and all the amazing places and people I met…it reminded me so much of drag events nowadays! They all celebrated creativity and freedom of expression. In a sense, it felt like I was travelling through time and landing on the same platform – only in different attire! These women who graced those clubs with their talent – their courage – to live out their truths…they were real pioneers. And it is their trailblazing legacy that I am so lucky to be a part of today!
Where to find a pink tutu today
This is your call to action! Let's take the inspiration of these glorious trailblazers and carry the flame of pink-tutu pride forward.
First of all, it’s time to think pink, right? Pink is a fabulous and versatile color, it goes with everything! And as a bonus - I want to encourage everyone to pick up a tutu.
Okay, hear me out! Maybe you don’t feel the way about ballet I do - that’s fine. What’s most important is spreading the joy! And it’s an unspoken law of nature - the act of wearing a tutu unleashes pure happiness. You just get it in you! It doesn’t even matter if you've danced a day in your life. Just wear the tutu and I’ll make sure your fabulous is felt.
Where do I find these magnificent pink tutus, you ask?
The possibilities, my dear, are truly endless! And here’s the amazing thing, these pink tutus are just as much part of history as those incredible "Women's Clubs." And let's talk vintage, shall we? I don’t know what it is, but every single vintage store just has that magical feel about it! You can get your hands on something fabulous that's just begging to be twirled and admired! It’s an exciting thing – these vintage stores – these “second-hand” places! That’s where you'll discover a forgotten treasure – a true story waiting to be told! And the pink tutus? It’s like they're living and breathing stories - just waiting for the next performer to grab them. They’re part of a shared history - the history of self-expression and beauty!
Of course, if vintage isn’t your thing - well darling, then let’s talk online shops! You’ll find stores online where they can custom make your pink tutu for you. Anything! Imagine the combinations, the feathers, the sequins – you can have a pink tutu so bright that you make even the most stunning fireworks look dull. That’s the spirit - right? The more outrageous, the more fabulous!
Darling Divas and fab fellas - I’ll be posting my next journey through time at the beginning of April. If you're in Derby and want to grab a cuppa and hear all the details about this last trip in person, I'd be delighted to have you. My performances continue as always. Find the dates on www.pink-tutu.com. Let’s meet up! Remember, you can join my pink-tutu adventure every month, as I'm posting monthly updates. Check out www.pink-tutu.com. Stay fabulous! x
