Darling! Welcome back to my blog, Pink-Tutu.com. It's your girl, Emma, coming at you live from April 4th 1974, and I'm ready to give you all the tea!
As usual, my pink-tutu time travelling machine took me back in time (with a bit of a shimmer and a poof!) to bring you some historical drag gossip. And this month, darlings, we're headed to...the US of A!
The Land of Opportunity…And Drag!Now, this month's journey wasn't just about soaking up the Californian sunshine, darlings. It was all about seeing how drag was exploding in a nation brimming with hope and rebellion! The 70s were a truly fabulous time for drag – the first inklings of drag balls, the rise of glamorous entertainers like Divine and Holly Woodlawn, and a real sense of pushing boundaries!
But you know me, darling – it wouldn't be a real drag history journey without a spot of shopping. I was just thrilled to be in NYC – a fashion capital, even back then! I was on the hunt for some serious sparkle to add to my collection.
I had to snag myself a dazzling sequined dress, naturally. The shimmer on it was enough to knock you for six, darling. The fabric, like, a constellation of glitter, reminding me of that wonderful moment I landed in the Moulin Rouge. Now that was a trip!
I had my sights set on some serious tutus. They say the 70s were all about bell bottoms and platform shoes, but I knew there was a space for tulle, and a whole lot of it! I spotted the most divine feather boa that could easily rival one from my current collection! Think scarlet red, pure drama. I immediately added it to my trolley, along with some dazzling headbands, feather fans and a pair of outrageous boots that would be the envy of a Queen.
The only problem? My shopping spree had to be on the down-low, honey. You see, in 1974, being yourself could still get you some pretty negative looks. So, we're all about subtle sass, hiding the sequins, and taking the back route out of the shop. Don't worry darling, I managed to slip past all those curious stares in style, with a feather boa over my shoulder and a dramatic sashay. No one was any the wiser!
But wait, there's more!On April 4th, 1974, there were two incredible events happening in the world of drag. Brace yourselves, darling, because these are legends.
First, we have the absolute legend, Divine, a true drag icon who would come to inspire a generation of performers! Divine was everywhere at this point – from acting alongside John Waters in films like Pink Flamingos and Multiple Maniacs, to strutting her stuff on stage at iconic NYC drag venues.
But this night was extra special, honey, because Divine was performing live at a drag ball hosted at a popular club in NYC called The Continental. Can you imagine?! Now that's what I call a historical drag queen moment.
Can't get enough of this queen, darlings? We're in for a treat because this was also the date of Divine's very first recording, The Continental's* (a.k.a The Continental Mix), a *7-inch record. Yes, the 70s were still rocking that vinyl life, darling. This was Divine’s chance to show off her own take on disco, proving to the world that she was not just a powerhouse performer, but a music diva, too. Imagine hearing that at a disco in the 70s, all those vibrant colours and the dazzling light on the dance floor - simply fab-u-lous!
Drag for Everyone?Back in Derbyshire, I saw myself reflected in a shop window as I rushed past. I mean, I couldn't resist the vintage clothing shop as I walked past. You wouldn't believe what treasures I found in this dusty old shop, darling. There were stacks of 70s floral shirts (so much bell bottoms in the vintage racks! This shop really embraced the whole look), a glorious satin waistcoat and look at this, a stunning sparkly sequinned handbag - perfect to pop over the shoulder and get that full on fabulous look! And can you guess what? There were loads of glittery tights - so you could have been totally out and about in that amazing era, darling. This is my style, you just have to see it, feel it, understand how good it can look. It was totally amazing.
That reminds me, honey, as we move toward more modern times, I hope we can see even more space for drag. Think about how far we’ve come since the 70s, right? We have more acceptance for all, more opportunity to share our glitter and our sparkle. And remember, you can always be glamorous – regardless of what’s happening in the world or who you are!
So grab your sparkly accessories and start that glitter rain, darling. Just like I found my space in Derbyshire in a tiny village, there's a stage waiting for you. Let's keep that fabulous energy going! Let's shine brightly in every corner of the world, all while looking amazing.
Now don't forget to stop by the shop for your next fabulous pink-tutu time travelling journey, darling. The more, the merrier!
Until next month, love, Emma xx
P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest videos of my drag performances that help me to fund my travels on www.pink-tutu.com. Let's celebrate being ourselves in all our beautiful forms, and maybe one day we'll see you all sporting your very own pink tutu!
