Darlings! Hello lovelies, Emma here, your time-travelling pink-tutu-wearing drag queen blogger, ready to whisk you away on a fabulously pink adventure through the glorious history of drag! Now, this month’s journey is extra special, darlings, as we take a trip back to November 11th, 1984, a truly pivotal date for drag queens everywhere! Buckle up your sequined sashes and prepare to have your minds blown as we sashay our way back in time!
Now, I might be from Derbyshire, a charming place that does a fabulous oatcake, but there’s no denying that my true heart lies in the vibrant world of drag! And that's exactly what propelled me through the mystical time-traveling abilities of my own dazzling pink tutu. Isn't it marvelous, just think of it – with every pirouette, a leap into the past or future! And yes, lovelies, I must say I’ve been making the most of this amazing talent! Every month, I hop aboard my sequined, feather-trimmed spaceship and voyage into history – all to bring you, my lovely readers, a front row seat to the fabulous journey of drag! All this and, of course, a splash of pink sprinkled over the whole darn thing!
Now, how did I get funding for my grand time-travel extravaganzas? Why, with my fabulous drag performances of course, honey! You know I’m a pro – strutting my stuff across every stage and alleyway. I'm talking high-kick routines, hilarious patter, and more pink than you've ever dreamed of. So much pink in fact, that I often worry that when I time-travel back I'll have a touch of the blush – a dash of too much colour, you know?
Anyways, darling, November 11th 1984 is not just any old date! Why, this was a glorious day filled with drag spectaculars all over the world, so let's get down to the good bits and spill the tea, darlings!
Firstly, let's journey to the birthplace of drag itself - New York! This evening, the legendary Cockettes were kicking off their show “The Harlots of 42nd Street” at the St. Marks Theatre. I am simply aghast I couldn’t be there, darling, imagine those costumes – feather boas the size of a London bus and outrageous makeup. Just fantastic! The Cockettes, truly the epitome of drag. It's worth mentioning that these darlings started all the way back in 1966, which is an astonishing feat! They've truly seen it all. But what’s the secret to their fabulous longevity? Well, they are brave enough to embrace any and every look and, above all, they're fearless in challenging the status quo! Now that's a tip you can write down, sweeties, as we all try to leave our mark in this fabulous universe.
Next, I’ll tell you about a place a little closer to home, as we mosey over to the big smoke, the vibrant streets of London!
Imagine my excitement, darlings, on this day a little club named the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (or RVT as everyone knows it!) hosted Miss Gay UK! It’s all so glamorous and fabulous, so incredibly grand! Now, if I was to travel to the RVT in my time travelling pink tutu this day I’d be in heaven. The energy in these venues is unbelievable, darling, I just soak up the joy and the music. The crowds, they roar with excitement at every sassy wink, every fabulous step and every glorious joke! And these amazing performers, darling, well, they are simply magical, giving 100% each time and pushing boundaries all the time! A night at the RVT is an absolute drag queen must, and a fantastic night for any queer and supportive souls out there! The music is thumping, and the drinks flow as freely as the glitter – fabulous! What's more, we’re talking serious fashion statements. It's an assault on the senses - sequins, feathers, stilettos galore! You name it, darling, the RVT has it! It truly is a landmark in drag history, a bastion of inclusivity and creativity.
And while I am in London, I’ve got to mention one of the queens who became a big deal in the 80’s: Divine! Oh, she’s such a fabulous drag queen! Divine became known for being outrageous and truly pushing those fashion boundaries. Imagine a drag queen whose fashion inspiration came from anything and everything – all the better for their fierce creativity. They truly made a mark on history.
In 1984, darling, Divine and John Waters were busy promoting the new movie “Hairspray”, an all-singing and all-dancing comedy classic about a 1960s Baltimore-based dance show, full of racial tensions and prejudice! A fascinating subject to tackle and they are certainly both incredibly brave. “Hairspray” took to the big screen just a week after their promotional tour and what a triumph for both the amazing cast and crew! It’s not surprising the film received several prestigious awards, and now a timeless film classic, well done to both Divine and John Waters – well deserved!
But now it's time for another adventure. Buckle your sequins tighter darlings, because we're about to take a trip across the pond – let's journey to fabulous France, where there is an extraordinary cabaret bar called Les Folies Bergeres!
Ooh darling! This iconic theatre and bar was hosting The Grand Drag Show, an absolute spectacle of drag, a delight for all, a delight to watch. It’s true, these events are simply spellbinding. These French drag shows, darlings, are truly theatrical with the most fabulous sets and gorgeous performers! If you've ever wondered what glamorous Parisian chic and high camp are, this is where you would see it, oh so fabulous, oh so bold and brash!
Now, darlings, I do love a good show but no trip through time is complete without a spot of shopping and the latest fashions, just darling. Let's have a look and see what fabulous outfits were all the rage in 1984 – because after all, the clothes truly make the queen, darling!
First of all, the Madonna look! Well, darlings, in this iconic year, Madonna really took the world by storm! It was truly the year when her style changed the world, introducing a look that was just divine, feminine and absolutely daring. Everything was so colourful and just, well, totally fabulous! And in typical Madonna style, she just couldn't get enough of the layering. So, ladies, this meant layering your chunky jewels and big, bold, neon colour belts with high-heeled boots that were, of course, all-white! So much for the 80s, oh so bold and beautiful! Her style certainly put pink into a new light, she embraced femininity. In her case it wasn’t a tutu – it was all about high waist, voluminous skirt silhouettes. Of course, we are talking all those fantastic colours that really grabbed your attention, darling! She had an absolute knack for combining them too. And the result? Pure fashion magic.
Another fantastic icon, another true icon of style – and if we are talking big, bold and dramatic fashion we simply have to talk about Debbie Harry! She really had it all – the rock and roll cool, the sleek black leather, the glamorous red lipstick – oh so elegant, oh so sassy. You can always see what inspires these lovely women – and yes, Debbie Harry was heavily influenced by glam rock, giving us all that sassy and chic look. Now, as an aside, my tutu just wouldn’t have gone down too well with Debbie Harry’s signature punk looks, it might not be her style but, hey! Everyone has their own fabulous way of doing them!
Now let’s think of those iconic dresses from 1984, shall we? Remember the power shoulders, all that power! Now, imagine those glorious colours and the dramatic, wide, dramatic skirts. A total feast for the eyes.
But enough about the past darling, because if I have my way, everyone will be wearing pink tutus.
Right! Let's wrap up our incredible voyage, darling, It’s been so fantastic and so fabulous seeing the history of drag in 1984. There is truly a lot to inspire us – these performers are always working to make their dreams a reality and I love them for it! Let's spread the fabulous word by making drag more visible to all! Oh, and one more important tip for the new generation of queens – wear that pink!
Remember darlings, it's your time to shine and wear pink with absolute pride. Until next month!
Oh, and don’t forget, all of my pink time-traveling tales can be found at my monthly drag history blog at www.pink-tutu.com
Until next month, stay sparkly, stay fabulous!
Love, Emma.
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