Hello darlings! Your fabulous, time-travelling, tutu-obsessed pal, Emma, here! I've just shimmied back from a gloriously camp trip to February 2nd, 1962, and oh my sweet, sugarplum, let me tell you, it was a hoot!
As always, I dusted off my magical, shimmering pink tutu, slipped into a pair of feather boas and grabbed my trusty, diamanté-studded handbag – gotta have some snacks for the journey, you know! Boop, beep – a swirl of shimmering light and voila! I landed smack-dab in the middle of the vibrant, swinging London scene, the city buzzing with all sorts of excitement.
Now, 1962 might not be your usual 'drag queen' year, you know, with all those famous queens rocking their way into the 80s and 90s. But let me tell you, darling, drag has been strutting its stuff long before all that, and even back in 1962, it was making waves – just in a more underground, hush-hush kind of way!
You wouldn’t believe the delicious gossip swirling through the air. From legendary performer, Danny La Rue, the 'campest of the camp' ruling the London stage to the daring, subversive shows happening at the back of pubs and basement clubs – there was a truly electrifying atmosphere in the air. Think of it like a hush-hush world where drag was a secret society, sharing a kind of magical energy with a select few, whispering its fabulous secrets under a veil of mystery.
Just like all those glittering drag performances, the fashion in '62 was absolutely shockingly fabulous! Think bold, oversized bouffants, a clashing of colour palettes – the kind of thing that could only be born from the free-spiritedness of the early 60s. Forget those stuffy, corseted looks. The fashionistas of 1962 were all about flaunting their individuality – think daring colours, swinging skirts, and that fabulous, dramatic eyeliner, baby! Oh darling, those lashes were EVERYTHING. They'd be making today's drag queens envious, I tell you!
Of course, being a proud advocate for all things pink, I had to see what fabulous fuchsia fashions were in the spotlight. Imagine a gorgeous magenta two-piece ensemble with a bright pink scarf and matching stiletto pumps! Talk about that fabulous statement piece, honey! Even the street style was positively popping, bursting with bold hues and dramatic textures that felt like a beautiful clashing symphony of colour and pattern.
It really made me consider that fashion, especially back in the day, was more than just clothes – it was about pushing boundaries, about expressing oneself in a society that sometimes tried to push you into a mould. It was a revolution, a wave of individualism sweeping across the globe, and it felt exhilarating!
Speaking of exhilarating, darling, the legendary Danny La Rue, who had been a constant star since the 50s, was having a real moment back then. A drag legend through and through, known for his glamorous gowns, perfectly sculpted wigs, and that iconic comedic style. A queen after my own heart, all that glamorous glamour, you know? She’s one of the queens that inspired me to get that time travelling pink tutu, you see? Because if a drag queen as fabulous as Danny La Rue could break boundaries and challenge social norms, then so could I!
Back in Derbyshire, the local paper had an interesting headline in February '62: 'Drag Show In Derby Town Hall – But No Alcohol For Ladies In This "Night"!' Oh honey, a show and no alcohol? What’s a gal gotta do to have a little fun?! I swear, darling, the drag world back then had some of the funniest rules! It was definitely a much more clandestine world then, where drag artists often performed at places like nightclubs or pubs, keeping their drag persona a secret from the wider world. I was smitten with this sense of mystique, with how drag, even in a more conservative era, still managed to find its space and sparkle its way into the lives of those who yearned for a little glitter.
But that's not to say it wasn't making its presence known! Even in 1962, with the conservative society it had to negotiate, drag artists were daring to challenge norms, to break the mould, to create art that was both bold and subversive. This era was so important because it paved the way for the revolution that would come decades later. I believe that what makes a queen great isn’t about following a trend, it's about breaking those norms. It’s about taking risks, and bringing your personal story to the stage. I think the queens in '62 understood that. They were the ones pushing the boundaries, taking those early steps, that laid the foundation for the beautiful world of drag that we have today.
But as the light of my pink tutu started to sparkle, I knew I had to head back to present-day Derbyshire! You know, being a queen of the present, you’ve got to balance your time travelling escapades with some glamorous obligations, darling! After all, my biggest gig yet is this Saturday night at The Red Lantern in Chesterfield!
I’m absolutely thrilled to be headlining a special fundraiser show called "A Celebration Of Drag Legends" in honour of some of the most fabulous, trailblazing queens that paved the way for today’s queens. It’s going to be an absolute banger – think glitter, feathers, and enough sparkle to light up the whole town!
And trust me, darling, I wouldn’t be back without bringing some of the flair of 1962 back with me. I'm thinking a gorgeous crimson dress, inspired by those dramatic colours of the time, a touch of bouffant hair, maybe some statement eyeliner?
But here’s a little secret, darlings, my true passion for fashion will be represented by a show-stopping fuchsia tutu! Yes, you read right! I will be paying homage to those pink-loving drag queens from the 1960s who paved the way for queens like me to spread the magic of pink to every corner of the globe! So, come down to The Red Lantern this Saturday and celebrate the glorious evolution of drag! I promise, darling, it's going to be fabulous!
Catch ya'll next time!
Emma xo
P.S. Don’t forget, my darlings, every queen deserves a pink tutu. Make sure to subscribe to my website, www.pink-tutu.com, to join our incredible community and keep up with all of my drag history time-travel escapades. We need to share this pink-tastic joy, spread the magic, and celebrate the phenomenal evolution of drag! Just remember, darlings, "if it's not pink, it's not worth your time!"
