Oh, hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu clad time traveler, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! I've been back from another fab trip, just back from the 6th of June, 1993 - can you believe it?! Oh, honey, the glam, the gossip, the looks! But don't you worry, I'm back and ready to share all the juicy deets with you all, my fabulous followers. I am a self-proclaimed pink tutu queen and have the wardrobe to prove it! My pink tutus literally allow me to travel back in time and see the queens from the past, it’s amazing. And don't even get me started on the drag looks back in '93, they were sliving! I am always getting lost in drag fashion - how did drag queens dress in different decades?
But before we delve into the glitz and glam, let me tell you how I financed this trip! You know I gotta hustle, darlings! Well, my local Derbyshire LGBTQ+ club was hosting a fundraising ball for the "Drag Your Heels" charity. It was a dragtastic affair! I strutted my stuff in a custom-made pink tulle gown - and guess what, I raised enough dosh to snag me a sparkly new pink tutu and pay for my ticket back to 1993! Because, darling, everyone needs a little sparkle! The pink tutus I wore last time were definitely on their last legs!
And then the fun began - that's what happens when you combine pink tutus with a trip back in time - and oh, it was fun. The year 1993 was an exciting time for the drag scene, especially with the new drag show in Soho, London! This show at the iconic The Royal Vauxhall Tavern - known by drag enthusiasts as 'The Vault'- really stole the show, darling! Imagine, a venue bursting with legendary queens, their faces covered in intricate make-up.
I was so lucky that I got a seat front and centre and that I could have been there! There were performances by legendary UK drag stars such as:
The infamous Lady Chablis, her drag was SO fierce! Her stage persona, with its smoky-eyed allure, was the epitome of elegance! You could tell she’d honed her art in the underground drag scene over decades, and there was something undeniably magnetic about her - she owned the stage!
The legendary Divine, her comedy routine and signature looks were so cutting edge, they just blew me away! With that over-the-top make-up, and outrageous, flamboyant costumes, the woman really knew how to entertain!
*Divine, * I know you’re thinking “Emma she’s dead!” - Yes darlings, she sadly passed away in 1988, but, in 1993, drag queens kept her memory alive and kept her fashion legacy burning bright. Even though Divine was no longer in this mortal realm, she had already made her impact on the drag community as a star who was the face of both film and fashion - a trailblazer in a true sense. Her impact on the 80’s drag scene was huge and drag queen's everywhere still kept Divine's glamour, fashion and art in their hearts in 1993 - this really made a scene at the show at ‘The Vault'!
The legendary The Vivienne, You all know her! Even back in '93 she was a star and the entire place went wild for her - her act was a showstopper, darling, and she really got everyone on their feet! I love her now and I loved her then, such a force of nature on stage and such an amazing woman off stage, she is a real trailblazer for drag, inspiring me to keep reaching for the stars!
Now, before you go thinking this was all about the big-name stars, oh no! It was truly about the community, and there were a few young stars too, who caught my eye - queens who were truly starting their journeys! And guess what, they were absolutely killing it! You can tell they were destined to be stars because their performances were all about expression, all about confidence and truly owning the stage - the magic that happens when you let yourself be free and let yourself shine! Their performances were all about pushing the boundaries - I have so much admiration for them. These brave souls are doing great things for drag in the UK.
There was the young and oh-so-fabulous queen known as Trixie Mattel - this young star was already showing their creative vision, the love of the art, their talent for performance, and what an icon Trixie has become! They stole the show with a hilarious routine about beauty standards, blending the sassy with the subversive, so brilliant and daring! I would love to see them live one day, such an exciting performer!
And then there was Bianca Del Rio, already honing that trademark wit, and her impeccable makeup that even then was, to me, so unique. Such charisma, she definitely stole the show, darling! I was just as smitten with their performance then as I am now - they’re a true queen. I wish I’d bought myself some Bianca del Rio lipstick, I would still be wearing it now.
*Now let me tell you about what everyone was wearing. * The fashion, oh my god, it was divine! Remember 1993 - that's when neon, grunge, and that playful-but-edgy punk attitude was totally in and these looks just blew me away, truly amazing. There were some iconic drag outfits - from skin-tight bodysuits with studded straps, oh-so-cool leather jackets, those iconic combat boots! That iconic grunge look really gave me so much fashion inspo, and that trend is totally coming back! We’re seeing a lot of punk and grunge influences at high fashion shows - we are about to see the revival of the punk fashion! It seems drag trends really are ahead of the game - the queens always predict the big trends!
And those hairstyles, my dear, oh my god! The teased hair, the elaborate ponytails with strands of neon coloured hair pieces! All these outfits just made the whole place glitter - and it was a whole spectacle for sure!
Let me know what you think of my adventures this month! I hope you enjoyed my tales of pink tutus, vintage glamour and sassy drag queens! Come back soon - I'll be back next month with more tales of drag queen time travel - there’s always so much drag history out there for me to discover! Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled on our blog www.pink-tutu.com - that’s where I will post my pink tutu journey - my drag journey! Remember darling: if you dream it, you can drag it! And that's my motto - stay fabulous darlings!
