Hiya darlings! It's your favourite Derbyshire Diva, Emma, back with another fabulous time travel escapade for www.pink-tutu.com, and today, weâre dipping our toes back into history all the way to 2nd February 1959. Now, put on your dancing shoes, darlings, 'cause we're about to take a whirlwind trip to a time when fabulousness was just beginning to blossom. And I know what you're thinking: âEmma, wouldn't you want to be at a big Drag Ball?â And while I adore those, darlings, my heart also yearns to explore a time when drag was just finding its footing, when the spark of individuality was lighting up the world, and it's for these times, my lovelies, that my time travelling tutu is made.
So buckle up, girlies, and let's sashay right back to February 1959. Oh, before I go, did you know my favourite part of the day is seeing all those sparkly faces on my pink-tutu.com website after my new monthly blog goes up? Honestly, a day can go from oh so mundane to âoh darlings, this is the best day ever!â in one quick tap!
*A Touch of Tutu in 1959⌠*
The 2nd February 1959 didnât offer much drag action on a big stage, darling, but donât think for one moment that drag wasnât flourishing in hidden pockets around the world.
Oh, and you can always tell when you've landed in a great year. When you're wearing a tutu in your time travel mode, and it's still as pristine as if it was just made, you know things are looking pretty peachy! It truly was a time of blossoming creative expression, with a distinct flavour of what we call now, "retro drag," which we love today! The 1950s were a melting pot of influences - vaudeville, musical theatre, and those Hollywood stars of old. Itâs what fuels my fascination with drag, the history and the glamour that oozes from every single bit of it!
Think big, bold looks, feathers, sequins, and the very first glimmer of the drag queen as an entertainer with a strong voice. The 1950s paved the way for the legends we still adore today.
You can see the origins of all those legendary shows we enjoy so much today like Drag Race. They came from somewhere. They just did. The performers were creating, experimenting, paving the way for so much. Think about that, girlies!
But Whereâs The Drag Show?
And yes, a lot was going on, but itâs harder to find on paper, like, there was one thing that really resonated for me while I was on this trip, and it wasn't the glamorous performance but an intriguing article in a national newspaper. This headline caught my attention in all its glory - "DRAG'S RISING! (AND NO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SWEET DISH, GURL) ".
Imagine, the audacity of this title for a time when even talking about "drag" was deemed risky for the publication at the time. It was a piece talking about the evolution of "drag" beyond what we saw on stage in the bigger, established cities. And oh my goodness, darling, did it give me goosebumps. It talked about the smaller, underground drag scenes that started sprouting up in many towns across America! And the one thing that truly got my tutu swishing?
Youâre not gonna believe this⌠small towns, even towns like Derbyshire, were beginning to get in on this drag thing! Now donât get me wrong, darlies, they werenât doing runway shows just yet. I'm not sure the âgay barâ had even been invented yet, letâs be honest⌠But this is when drag culture was becoming its own thing! Iâve had many of my drag show routines inspired by stories like this. There were whispers, and I'm telling you, these âwhispersâ of creativity and defiance are what truly made history in the world of drag.
Now my lovely, thereâs one thing that just sparks joy in this part of my drag history adventure - think âtutuâ âŚthink âballroomââŚ. think "old school".
A Pink Tutu Twist
Oh, how I love the "ballroom." That's how I've been spending many of my evenings! These are my favourite days. These are days when the glitz, the glamour, and the passion in drag shines through! And, itâs never felt more real to me than in this time period.
Youâd have to be a time-travel newbie not to love ballroom, my darling! Oh, let me just tell you. From Harlem to Greenwich Village, the drag ball scenes of the 1950s were a vibrant hotbed of fabulousness and where the concept of the âBallâ began. The balls were a playground of expression and creativity, full of flamboyant style and that âno rules but your ownâ attitude we all cherish today.
And my tutus? Let me tell you darling, the tutus were even more amazing than I had imagined! You could feel the creative spark and the dedication of the drag queens who put so much care into those hand-stitched creations. You know youâve had an exciting time travel trip when even a tiny town that barely makes the news still manages to blow you away. I love seeing how the creativity was already flowing even then.
The tutus really made the ballroom for me! Oh, my darling! I met a wonderful Drag Queen called Doris Lee whoâs doing this stunning pink tutu. Imagine the sheer brilliance. Imagine how dazzling it is, darlings. And she was doing a ballroom performance to âSugar and Spiceâ, a truly charming, delightful routine, where she used the skirt of her tutu like a flowing banner! Oh my goodness!
And of course, I tried it on. Now letâs be honest, dear darlings, the 1950s weren't exactly made for my kind of pink tutus! The shades were so⌠muted⌠almost⌠beige-y beige? Oh my, donât say that. But then⌠when you have that pink on⌠everything sparkles, and the fabrics that we take for granted now were a real struggle to find back then, but Doris's creativity had her making magic with whatever she found. Weâre both really in to ârepurposingâ. We found the cutest little thrift shop in one of the local towns to find some âextraordinaryâ things! It just felt very special. So much love went into the outfits. We took lots of pictures. I canât wait to put some of these pics up on pink-tutu.com as soon as I get back to my time period, which of course, as you all know, is Derbyshire.
I learned so much from that night - about drag history, of course, but also about those small-town dreams that make this fabulous, fierce, fun thing called drag.
Back to The Future, with my Time Travelling Tutu.
So, I'm back to the now, dear, but 1959 was something else! It truly gives me an extra layer of love for this world we share, because it reminds me of the magic and beauty that still shines within all of us. I feel incredibly lucky to see it for myself, thanks to this crazy, pink, time-traveling tutu! And oh my darlings, you can get one of these too! Just keep an eye out in one of those fabulous antique stores on your next shopping spree. If you're really lucky, you might even find one tucked away! Let me know what your favorite vintage-inspired looks are. Let's re-live history together! And remember, you are all fabulous, even in the most daring or most understated of tutus! And thatâs a fact!
*Now donât go! My darlings, if you have any fabulous memories you want to share about drag history from your time periods, let me know! Please share your story! *
And always remember darlings - you have power in you, darling! Use it, wear it, show it to the world!
*Your always sparkly, Emma *
