Oh, darlings, get ready to shimmy your sequins and dust off your feather boas, because we're about to time-travel back to the fabulous year of 1998! You're looking at Emma, your trusty Pink Tutu Time Traveller, and today, we're going to explore a time when the world was shimmering with glamour and the world of drag was about to blossom into a breathtaking bouquet of brilliance!
Iām practically pirouetting with excitement, because I must tell you all about the absolutely stunning vintage find I stumbled upon during my January 1998 travels. In a little dusty shop, nestled amongst a plethora of petticoats and parasols, I unearthed a genuine, authentic, originalā¦ well, you're just going to have to trust me, my dears. It's a dream! Think sequined bodice, layers of flowing tulle, and a colour so pink it'd make a flamingo blush! It's the perfect blend of vintage glamour and theatrical extravagance. The tutu itself was in a vintage box, adorned with a faded velvet ribbon and the most charming little note from the original owner, a former London drag queen named Penelope. Imagine, her tiny handwritten note whispering of her nights on stage, sharing laughter and joy with her devoted fans.
Naturally, this sartorial masterpiece is now proudly nestled in my personal time-travel tutu collection! As I carefully swathed this magnificent piece of history in tissue paper, I knew, deep down, this was more than just a costume, it was a portal to a different era, to a time of pure, unapologetic joy! It was my gateway back to the vibrant scene of 1998, and itās going straight onto the website as soon as I get back. A beautiful addition to the collection of one-of-a-kind tutus we already have!
Oh, my dears, it was just magic. Like a sparkly feather duster flitting through time, I landed with a twirl in a small club nestled amongst a charmingly bohemian part of downtown New York. The music was thrumming, the air crackled with anticipation, and I could feel the excitement bubbling under the surface! Now, let's face it, New York City is always buzzing, but the energy was truly electrifying tonight. My, oh my, a drag show, darlings!
The performers? They were utterly divine. Imagine an explosion of sequins and colour, sassy struts and soaring vocals ā the kind of show that leaves your soul singing long after the curtain falls. One drag queen in particular, with a bouffant bigger than Texas and an aura that could melt steel, absolutely stole the spotlight. Her name? Miss Ladylicious, and trust me, she was every bit as sensational as her moniker.
You see, my darlings, in 1998, the drag scene was experiencing a magnificent moment. There was a real sense of creative freedom and artistic expression. From the theatrical grandness of Miss Ladylicious, to the charmingly camp comedy of another performer whoās name, to be honest, I donāt remember. (It wasnāt very exciting.) She was funny though. Very funny. I do love the charm of the funny lady! Her routine had a little bit of This Is Your Life, a touch of the legendary Dame Edna Everage, a wink at the classic queens, and a dash of British wit that tickled my Derbyshire soul. This performance, let me tell you, was pure unadulterated joy. They embraced everything from the high-fashion looks of RuPaul's Drag Race, which, at that point was a fledgling success, to the playful pantomime traditions of my own beloved Derbyshire theatre scene. This was a time when drag embraced the ridiculousness, the playful, the outrageous ā in all its glory. It wasn't about the rules, darlings, it was about finding the joy, the camp, and expressing your truest, most fabulous selves.
But of course, what's a trip to 1998 without a little fashion inspiration, right? And what better way to delve into the sartorial magic of this glorious time than with a trip to one of my favorite places in the world: a vintage store! Think mountains of colourful velvet, shelves overflowing with statement earrings, and a rack of fabulous shoes just begging to be danced in.
Iām trying to tell you, there was more pink than the average flamingos! I saw everything, and I mean everything from glittery leggings to shimmering leotards. I even saw an outfit ā and youāll not believe this, darlings - with an absolutely enormous, multi-coloured feathered boa ā it must have been 3 feet long! The shop owner was delightful, and of course, as always, the staff at any vintage shop loves a fellow flamboyant dresser like me. The woman who was assisting me at this little vintage treasure trove, told me she remembers when this store first opened. She remembered how much joy and vibrancy this store offered to the local drag scene.
Back in Derbyshire, as I unpack the treasures from this time travelling experience, my mind is bursting with ideas! Oh, my dears, donāt you want a vibrant 1998 look? Or an outrageous, bold colour ensemble that will dazzle anyone in sight? Maybe even an over-the-top boa that will sweep you up into a vortex of glorious fun? I must tell you, even the little boy down the road, (I see him now, looking like the quintessential, all American schoolboy. Itās very āAmerican Graffitiā donāt you think? He must be the envy of all of the children!) will love these vibrant vintage garments, if I choose the colours wisely.
Yes, darlings, youāre not dreaming. My vintage collections have all gone up for sale on the website! Thereās a section called: āFrom My Tutus To Yoursā. Each piece of clothing on offer, comes with a detailed and wonderfully nostalgic note, about the pieceās journey, or perhaps my personal feelings on a specific period of time or moment I enjoyed wearing this item! And each piece is a testament to the beauty, creativity, and vibrant energy of a bygone era that continues to inspire us all today!
And to top it off, darling, I'm throwing a fundraising drag show this Saturday night to celebrate the spirit of 1998 and to help keep this wonderful time travel machine ā aka my fabulous pink tutu! - fuelled and fabulous. Come one, come all for a night of laughter, glamour, and an exploration of all things pink! We'll have amazing performers, dazzling costumes, and the energy of a thousand twirling tutus! All in aid of keeping our journey through time going!
My mission, darlings, has always been clear: get everyone wearing a pink tutu. 1998 proved to be a great inspiration and I hope that, one day soon, our mission of peace, love, and a dash of dazzling pink will reach the furthest corners of the globe.
Keep twirling, my loves, and remember: a world full of pink tutus is a world filled with laughter, acceptance, and, above all, pure unadulterated joy. Now, if youāll excuse me, I have an enormous, pink, feathered boa to add to the Pink Tutu website!
