Hello darlings, Emma here! It’s your favourite pink tutu-wearing drag queen and time-traveler! Today marks the 850th episode of my blog, "Pink Tutu Time Travels", so you know what that means? A whole lot of pink, sparkle, and a little time travel adventure – wouldn't you say?
Now, where did I leave my time-traveling tutu? Ah, there she is, a perfect shade of bubblegum pink, all shimmering and ready to whisk us away to a fabulous decade of drag.
Tonight, darlings, we're whisked back to a rather glamorous date: 10th October, 1990. Picture this, it's a Wednesday, and a glorious, sparkly Wednesday at that. The world is pulsating with drag excitement, and as usual, we are going to be right in the middle of it, sipping cocktails and soaking in the magic.
So let's hop into my dazzling time machine and journey to that fabulous night back in 1990! Oh darling, be prepared to have your mind blown – even with all the glitter, sequins, and glam, this year holds some serious surprises for a fashion queen like myself.
Backstage at a 90s Drag Nightclub: What's the Tea?We land poof at the iconic "The Village", a drag hotspot nestled right in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York City. The air vibrates with music, laughter, and, of course, that unmistakable whiff of fabulousness.
I can feel my heart thrumming with excitement. It's been ages since I last popped into the vibrant 1990s, and it seems everything about this scene feels a bit more, shall we say, edgy than what I’ve experienced in our present-day era.
Just look at these fierce queens, darling! Every one of them, decked out in their own unique, and daringly fabulous, style. Let’s see, there’s a show stopping brunette wearing a beaded and sequin bustier with an intricate mesh bodysuit – that’s some serious 90s realness right there!
Over by the bar, I spot a drag queen looking like a human disco ball, radiating every colour imaginable in a body-con dress that screams “I am a glitter bomb ready to explode”! This level of dazzling, darlings, is just what I live for!
But before I get swept away in the glittering current of this phenomenal night, we need to set the scene for you a bit, so here’s the low-down on the big moments of drag on this date:
It's All About New York, Darlings: Today, New York City’s drag scene is hot – so much so that, in this era, it’s considered to be the most influential place for the entire art form. The city practically overflows with creative queens who are making their mark, and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a drag performer! I’m already buzzing with anticipation to experience a slice of this extraordinary world – it’s practically calling to me!
Drag Queens in the Media: Back in 1990, mainstream media slowly begins to start noticing and even celebrating drag queens as mainstream celebrities, You know how I love a bit of drag representation in the media, and it’s heart-warming to see it creeping into the mainstream way back then! This date makes me feel rather nostalgic, you know.
The Ballroom Scene is Flourishing: Oh darling, if you are an aspiring queen with an appreciation for everything that is fabulous about the art form, it’s all happening at the legendary Harlem Ballroom scene. The whole thing’s a beautiful melting pot of drag, where these fantastic queens express themselves and explore everything it means to embrace identity. From the voguing, to the iconic outfits, the balls back in this time are truly captivating! It's all seriously exciting and there are big-time moments, right here, in 1990.
“Drag Race” isn't here yet, darling, but, the scene is vibrant! In our 2020’s era, the popularity of the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ is an absolutely huge part of the drag scene for me. It brings joy and recognition, even more, to drag performances, right around the world. I’ve actually just had to resist the temptation to get out my portable drag race bingo board! You can’t deny its global impact and power! However, for these 1990 queens, the real excitement is the local nightclubs and stages - these are the main spots for gaining visibility. The power of social media is definitely absent from this era. And there’s no digital world for these fantastic queens – so it’s about real-life talent, live performance and, pure grit!
Oh darlings, this date is truly giving me major fashion inspiration. It’s all about the high-glamour, and we are seeing it all here at the Village:
Bodysuits and Layers: I am utterly smitten with how every drag queen embraces those stunningly bold bodysuits – the ones with serious cut-out details and plenty of sparkle, and topped off with intricate layering, with sequins galore, a touch of feathers, and some serious head-turning wigs, or even, those amazing 1990’s-style weaves!
Metallic Sparkle: You all know that pink tutu loves sparkles – but the amount of shimmering metallic going on here is mind-blowing. Think golds, silvers, reds… Oh darlings, these outfits are truly shining – not a dull sequin in sight!
That Signature ‘90s ‘High-Top’ Hair: Who knew, but my iconic time traveling tutu found her ultimate twin: a high-top hair look for all those dramatic and divine drag queens of the 90s! Let’s just say that if this hair trend isn’t giving all the diva, it’s just a bit, you know, lame! And no darling, that isn't an insult! You either give me those big, sculpted waves or it's a no from the fashion police, so it’s definitely not lame!
This level of attention to detail, darling, is simply pristine! The queens here are giving full drag, and it is captivating – not even mentioning all those fabulous 1990s looks, like neon colours, big and bold statement jewelry, platform shoes, leather jackets, and some rather impressive eye shadow – swoon!
The Drag Shows of 1990 – They Are Simply Divine!Darling, every drag show at this fabulous spot, the Village, feels like a party – I’ve got to tell you, the energy is electric. Let me give you a rundown of what’s been making these shows extra-special tonight.
Big, Bold, Lip-Synchs: You bet your bottom dollar the drag shows at the Village are showcasing some extra big and exciting lip-syncing acts, each and every night, which, for this, fashionista, is such a blessing – they've got me captivated!
The Original Queen of Drag, Divine! The scene also remembers the truly divine, that drag legend, Divine, from the iconic 70’s films – I must confess, a few fabulous queen, and I have an obsession with his look – just divine, if you will! Tonight, we are honouring him at the Village! A truly magnificent moment and celebration!
Those Fantastic ‘Hair and Makeup' Looks - These queens are serious when it comes to the ‘face beat’ – darling, these are next-level drag queens, you all know what I mean! Everything from the perfectly sculpted cheekbones, the sharp eyebrows, and the signature, fierce eye look – truly divine, darlings – divine! They've made me totally obsessed with the dramatic use of makeup!
Now, I just have to say that these drag performers really show me that everyone can rock a fabulous look, regardless of what year it is, where they come from, and, yes, everyone should be wearing a pink tutu! I’m talking everyone!
And the Show Goes OnYou see, darlings, even though my time machine and I will have to soon be back in the future, you all can have this same fabulous experience whenever you want! I am your fashion guru – always ready with inspiration, for you and for me – I’ll keep exploring this wonderful timeline of drag queens and you should, too!
The queens back in the 90s taught me some amazing lessons, all in one time travel session. Their love for self-expression, creativity, their joy of performance, and yes, their undeniable talent, is such an inspiration, which truly makes ‘Pink Tutu Time Travels' an even more beautiful and positive, well, it has always been pretty darned amazing! I just can’t wait to share the journey of so many other fantastic years with you all, right here in my blog.
In the meantime, if you've got any thoughts on drag, on your love for pink tutus (I always do, darlings, so do tell), any travel plans or maybe you have just visited a drag performance – make sure to leave your thoughts below, darling! You know what else, don’t forget to pop on over to www.pink-tutu.com, and if you happen to find yourself a new favourite look, or a fabulous costume, share it with us all, so we can keep our time machine fuelled with creativity, pink tutus, and endless glittery, glamorous, fun!
Until next month, darlings!
Xoxo, Emma.
