Helloooo darlings! Emma here, back with another tantalisingly titillating trip through the time tunnel, this time landing us in the fabulously flamboyant October of 1995! Grab your feather boas, dust off those sequins, and settle in for a story that's as camp as a Christmas cracker filled with glitter!
This month, my oh-so-fabulous pink tutu has whisked me around the globe! It's an absolute dream come true to experience the magic of drag from different corners of the world! Buckle up buttercups, it's going to be a wild ride!
New York, New York!Firstly, let's whisk ourselves to the dazzling drag haven that is New York City. My first stop was at the iconic "The Pyramid Club." My word, the energy was electric! It felt like a hive of honeybees, buzzing with the excitement of seeing some of the most celebrated queens of the time, including Lady Bunny, the comedy queen herself, with her hilarious one-liners and cheeky attitude! She had the whole place in stitches, and I nearly choked on my popcorn!
Now, there were also some serious runway queens serving some serious fashion, think high-fashion with a side of glam-bam-thank-you-ma'am. The queens were rocking outrageous looks, feathers, sequins galore! They truly set the stage on fire. Let's just say it was a whirlwind of feathers, boas, and sassy, powerful performance!
San Francisco: The Heart of DragNext, I made my way to the magical city of San Francisco, where the drag scene was flourishing. From the historic Cockettes to the sassy queens at the Drag Queen Coffee Shop, there was a unique flavour to this side of the world!
Here, drag was all about a different kind of performance. Imagine this, darlings: street theatre meets experimental performance art. There were queens with their "real-life stories", satire woven into performance, even musical theatre! This truly opened my eyes to the wide spectrum of the drag art form, and how different areas embraced it with their own particular spin.
The creativity and passion here was inspiring. One night, I was lucky enough to catch a show by Mother (formerly Mother of All Saints). It was a mind-blowing explosion of drag and theatricality that was truly revolutionary! It reminded me that drag was never about staying within the lines. It's all about pushing boundaries and redefining what is considered "acceptable" in society!
Back to the UK: Drag at the Cutting EdgeFrom the land of the golden gate, I journeyed back to the UK. London was where I got my start, so it's always special to revisit the scene.
My dear, oh my dear! It was like stepping into a disco! Clubs like The Royal Vauxhall Tavern and Heaven were exploding with excitement and life! I loved watching the queens strut their stuff, wearing some incredible looks that would rival even the most fabulous fashion runway!
The London scene was known for pushing boundaries, challenging gender norms, and celebrating self-expression! You'd find queens sporting outrageous looks, like the magnificent Leigh Bowery (we're talking head-to-toe extravaganza!). He was pushing the boundaries of fashion, making the streets his stage! The looks were beyond anything I'd ever seen before, blending performance art with fashion, creating something utterly unique and beautiful!
My Time Traveling Tutu TakeWell, darling, I’m tired from all that glamorous traveling. It's clear that in 1995, the drag world was alive and kicking. Each city had its own unique flavour, its own way of pushing boundaries, and celebrating individuality. Drag was truly global, a diverse and vibrant art form that crossed geographical and cultural lines. And that is truly what makes it so beautiful and impactful.
Now, off I toddle, darlings, time to dust off this sparkly pink tutu and plan my next time-travelling escapade! Let me know where YOU would love to see me journey to next. And, as always, keep rocking those tutus, darling! They look fantastic on anyone!
Till next month!
Your darling Emma,
xx
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Catch my next live drag performance in Derby on October 31st at The Eagle Club, I'll be serving all the best spooky Halloween looks with a side of comedy and musical mayhem. Don't miss it!
