Hey loves! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveler, ready to take you on another thrilling voyage through the glorious world of drag! This month, my magical tutu whisked me all the way back to 11th November 1997, and let me tell you, the world of drag was sashaying!
So grab a cuppa, darling, and get ready to dip your toes in a little bit of drag history, because it's going to be a right hoot!
As the glittery dust of my time travel settled, I found myself in a little London theatre. It was buzzing with excitement â a palpable energy that only a truly dedicated drag fan could understand. A sign outside screamed âA Night with Miss Understood, featuring Lady Bunny!â.
I mean, come on! Itâs like a drag goddess bingo card got slapped onto the front of a venue. A legend in the making. Lady Bunny had, well, not exactly "rocketed" to fame yet â let's call it a slow burn to fabulous! She was making a name for herself though, that much was clear! Her performances, like, literally, made a scene. You can imagine it â her voice, like the booming opera of the drag universe, bellowing out iconic tracks as the whole audience shrieked along with the biggest, proudest smiles you've ever seen.
Speaking of smiles, Miss Understood, the host for the evening, was servingâŚwell, misunderstood? Letâs just say it was a vibe â you know, a truly âcome hither, I'm not as innocent as I lookâ vibe. A little naughty, a little daringâŚbasically the complete antithesis of the âgirlie girlâ aesthetic I normally live and breathe. Still, it was refreshing, darlings! The show, just as youâd expect, was an explosion of camp, wit, and just a pinch of naughtiness. I can still hear the audience laughing along to the punchlines that have faded into the abyss of history. The drag queens on stage? They were living their truth, channeling their inner divas and showing everyone just how fabulous they could be. They truly captured that whole "letâs paint the town pink, and glitter, darling, don't forget the glitter!" essence.
The show finished with Lady Bunny bringing down the house, and, as if she knew I'd be watching from the future, winked my way, blowing me a little kiss across the decades. Pure magic, that's what it was!
Now, before you think this is all about New York and London, my lovely, drag was thriving all over the globe back in '97! The UK, well, it's always been a bit of a drag queen hotspot. The whole London club scene was practically bubbling with drag! It wasnât just London, mind you â Glasgow, Manchester, BirminghamâŚall had vibrant drag scenes! They all were buzzing with talent, offering a stage for those who weren't afraid to live out their true selves. It's an iconic part of what makes UK drag unique, darling! The local drag scenes felt so tight-knit, like family. And as you know, my darling friends, family is EVERYTHING!
Even over in Derbyshire, my stomping ground, there was some fierce competition brewing! Think cabaret nights, small-scale gigs in local pubsâŚthe kind of stuff that ignites your passion for drag right from the beginning. The drag scene wasnât just about the stage. It was about a community, about bringing people together to laugh, love, and embrace the world's most fabulous form of self-expression.
But back to my travels, my darling. After the performance, I sashayed to the truly iconic club âHeavenâ, a haven for London's drag royalty. The energy? Bouncing off the walls, the dancing? Off the charts, and the fashions? Oh honey, they were divine! Think feathers, sparkles, corsets â the whole shebang!
The club scene wasn't just about the music, it was about the fashion! Oh, honey, the costumes! They were as unique as their drag queen wearers. One minute youâd see a glam, glittering look worthy of a disco queen, the next a gothic rock goddess channeling a true punk queen, and then there was the glamourous, sophisticated style of the ânew waveâ divas. This time in history was such a clash of styles, and I just couldn't get enough! It was, like, an inspiration to a tutu wearing blogger.
The following morning, feeling like a right mix of tired and fabulous, I decided to explore the London vintage scene. Because honestly, where else could I find the ultimate fashion gems? That's how I ended up stumbling upon this darling vintage shop nestled in the heart of Camden Market! Now, if youâre not familiar with this glorious location, it's a true kaleidoscope of colourful oddities and unique trinkets, like, you could spend an entire day there and still not see everything. It's the ultimate place to pick up a truly special, one-of-a-kind piece for your wardrobe, and for a time traveler, what else could a gal ask for?!
Now, what could possibly top a glorious drag show and a vintage shop filled with fabulous finds? A visit to a ballet! I must admit, as a pink tutu devotee, it just felt like I was meant to be there, embracing the history of this dance form, all while wearing a fab pink tutu. You wouldnât think that 1997 would have anything for a pink tutu-clad ballerina time traveler, but youâd be wrong! There I was, waltzing my way to the Royal Opera House to witness the legendary performance of the Nutcracker â the most glamorous ballet of all, naturally! Every dancerâs costumes, with their elaborate tulle, delicate ruffles, and all the sparkles! I'd be lying if I didnât confess that a tear or two welled up. They are so beautifully delicate, so captivating in their every move, their outfits so exquisitely made⌠I canât even! Youâre practically channeling royalty. You just know those ballerinas spent hours crafting and designing their magnificent garments. You canât help but think how they create the magic of every graceful, beautiful move. Every dance sequence feels so meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. Iâd definitely have to bring some of that flair back to my future, my darlings.
Now, before I go, I have to show you some of the beautiful fashion of this time in my gallery. Think bright colours, bold patterns, sparkles oh, so much glitter⌠And of course, there is just a touch of pink to tie it all together. My pink tutu is making me dream of a glorious, vintage, glitter and pink outfit, Iâll let you know if it makes it onto my catwalk, darling. I just can't wait to get back into that magical, time-traveling pink tutu and see where my next adventure will take me. So until then, remember, it's all about self-expression, and you can be anything you want in a pink tutu! đ
Gallery: * [Photos of Lady Bunny in full drag during her act] * [Photo of Miss Understood on stage with microphone, looking playfully sassy] * [Photo of Emma wearing a vintage-inspired glittery pink outfit with her pink tutu in the Camden Market] * [Photo of Emma inside the Royal Opera House wearing her pink tutu with the ballet dancers of Nutcracker in the background]
Links: * [Link to the âPink Tutuâ online shop] * [Link to the Royal Opera House webpage]
Social Media: * Follow me on Instagram @PinkTutuBlogger * Check out my Youtube channel: "Pink Tutu Time Travel"
