Oh, darlings, it's Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, and this month I'm taking you back to a divine day - 5th May 1961. Yes, my lovelies, I know what you're thinking - this was just before the sixties really took off, before Twiggy and before disco, and what could possibly have been going on in the world of drag then? Well, darlings, it's not all about miniskirts and platform boots, you know.
As you may or may not know, the 5th of May in 1961 was the anniversary of the day my Nana Ethel (my mum's mum, dearies - bless her cotton socks) first saw a drag show! And do you know where? London! Isn't that exciting?! I bet she'd love it if I took her along with me to this amazing, glittery drag adventure! Well, anyway, she told my mum that the whole thing was like nothing she'd ever seen before! She said the performers wore dresses with "the most feathers" and had "big old beehives" and the place was full of "smoking, and drinking and people dressed up in strange clothes". Isn't that amazing?
And this month, darlings, I'm going to show you the exciting history of the 'before' of the 'before', and I'm not talking about a paleolithic caveman with feathers and mud! This time, darlings, I'm going full-blown 'fifties glam!
But before I jump into my fabulous time travelling pink tutu (because who's afraid of pink?!) I must say a huge "thank you" to everyone who came to my drag shows last month! You were all absolute darlings and made it the most fun night out ever. And remember, sweeties, those shows are the lifeblood of my travels! Because if I wasn't performing, I'd be stuck here, dreaming about glittery dresses and not even be able to wear my fab new rainbow sequined stilettos. I just have so many travel plans - it's been non-stop since my pink-tutu journey began! I am dreaming of going back to the 20s! The Charleston, my lovelies! Imagine, the flapper dresses and that sassy energy - a pink tutu for every flapper - oh my, what a scene that would be!
And darling, since I was last with you on my beloved pink-tutu.com, so much has happened. It’s been one whirlwind, glamour-filled trip after another - it’s just wonderful! And it's all because of YOU, darlings. You know how much I love history - the glamour, the outfits, the makeup! - and you all inspire me! Every comment, every heart emoji - every 'oooh' and every 'ahhh' keeps me going. It's the perfect mix of love for the past and inspiration for the future!
But before I tell you about the most magical of travels - back to 5th May 1961 (my Nana Ethel was just so right!) I need to introduce you to my favourite new item - it's a new tutu, and it's pink (obviously!), but it's also a tutu that changes colour with the temperature. Can you imagine?! It's pink, then red, then blue, then… gasps - a rainbow! It's totally out of control. This one I must take with me to meet my Nana Ethel!
Now, back to 1961, sweeties.
London in 1961, what was that all about? London was starting to see this 'modernisation' taking hold, darling. We're not talking about anything as wild as the seventies just yet (even though everyone was waiting impatiently for that to arrive - my Nana Ethel was definitely on the edge of her seat!) But the theatre scene, you see, it was beginning to really come alive, full of music, full of glamour! This time around it’s full of ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ glamour – it's just so fabulous! Oh, and the dancing! It wasn’t just dancing, it was twirling darlings! The rock ‘n’ roll vibe made the skirts swirl and twirl… like a tutu, darling, like a tutu.
And can I just tell you that the colours that people were wearing? Darling, just a rainbow - all so inspired! Imagine pink on a sunny day, it's so divine! They were even wearing what you would call "casual" colours on the streets! Red, blue, even yellow! And can you imagine? That whole time travelling experience… Oh my goodness… That's a post for another day. But you can imagine, darlings, the whole 'fiveties* look!
Oh my… 5th May, 1961… Can you imagine walking through the streets of London? The ‘fiveties glamour – even without a pink tutu (a little too bold for the time, my darling!), was such a sight to behold. Imagine if it had all been pink, the world, my darlings? Imagine all the smiles, the excitement. It’s just as exciting imagining it now! I need a new tutu for a whole pink, 'fifties outfit… Oh darling… it’s too much!
The shows, they were fabulous - I saw a "cabaret" show, darling! Can you believe? Right in the centre of London - oh the glamour! The place was absolutely packed. Every single seat - packed with men and women, all of them so beautifully dressed! They were there for the whole show, they loved it, every single moment. You know, there were even ladies in "pantomime" dresses with lots of petticoats… they made me want to spin and twirl! I even had to buy one in my pink-tutu colour, with big pink fluffy petticoats - like one giant, sparkly, fluffy pink tutu.
One thing you might not have guessed, dearies, was that all the performers back then wore… wait for it... feathers!! Now darling, feathers are not as common now. I adore them - they really are divine. My Nana Ethel tells me it was feathers everywhere… on the clothes, on the hats, on everything! They reminded me of a beautiful peacock's tail - feathers on a feather boa, feathers on a crown, feathers on a… tutu! And just imagine, imagine a pink boa covered in pink feathers, with a pink tutu and a crown – divine! Oh, darling. It was magic - pure magic!
The ‘cabaret' shows were like nothing I've ever seen before, my lovelies - it was full of such great music. There was something about that 1950s beat, my lovelies. The songs were fun and had such rhythms and really made the room come alive! I love a bit of swing. It's such fun, a whole evening of dancing and singing… Now imagine all those lovely, elegant ladies in the '50s swinging and dancing… and you know what… They'd all have been perfect for my pink tutu!
Oh, you have to imagine what that was like… The costumes! The songs! It was almost too much glamour! It's a shame that people who lived in those days had to wait until the sixties for all those rock ‘n’ roll fashion changes - that big fashion boom that really shook things up, darlings! It wasn't just in London, darling, it was the whole country - in every big city! It really took over.
It made me feel just a little sad, darling, knowing that back in the fifties when people were enjoying their glittery, feathered fun, the rest of the world didn't quite know about drag yet - even when all the stars were dancing! I would love to go back there in my new rainbow-changing tutu. It's just what they need! But you know I wouldn't just be there to see the shows - I'd be bringing all the magic of pink! It would have made that '50s glamour even more incredible! Oh darling! Now that's a mission. The ‘fiveties and ‘sixties needed pink - pink everywhere.
And what's more, I want you to join me in bringing the magic of the pink tutu to the world! I need every one of my readers to buy themselves a fabulous pink tutu and share your journey with the world. Go for a twirl! Post pictures! Tweet your love for pink and send a message to the world. Remember: pink is love, pink is joy, and pink is always in style. So, grab a tutu, get glammed up, and spread the pink revolution! Let's paint the world pink together!
Catch you next month, my darlings!
Love, Emma
