Hiya, darlings! Your favourite Derbyshire, tutu-loving, pink-obsessed drag queen blogger is back with another post from the whimsical world of time travel! This month, we're twirling back to February 1998, a time of glittery grunge, sassy supermodels, and…wait for it… the Spice Girls!
Now, I know what you're thinking - "Emma, Spice Girls? How is that even relevant to drag history?". Well, my lovelies, let me tell you - the Spice Girls, with their bold, sassy style, were absolutely HUGE for drag queens! They were living proof that girl power wasn’t just about singing; it was about embracing your unique fabulousness and rocking it loud and proud.
Now, before we step onto that time-travelling catwalk, I just have to show off my latest creation – my time travelling tutu! Imagine this: the most magnificent shade of fuschia you’ve ever seen, with shimmering sequins like fallen stardust, paired with layers of tulle so fluffy they’d make a meringue blush. And to top it off? A sprinkle of rainbow fairy dust, obviously. Just picture it! This fabulous masterpiece allows me to whisk myself to any point in drag history, just a swish and a twirl. It’s positively revolutionary, darling!
Now, back to February 1998! Picture it: the world’s obsessed with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls. The Spice Girls even took the U.S. by storm, breaking through boundaries and spreading that message of feminist empowerment that every queen needs! In the drag world, queens were experimenting with playful, colorful looks. And that’s the energy I want to channel right now! We're talking holographic eyeshadow, fierce lip colours, and glitter galore – this was a drag scene where creativity was front and center!
Speaking of creativity, I absolutely had to take a little trip to NYC this month. Why? Because drag legend, Divine, had just been honoured with the prestigious GLAAD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Media! This was an extraordinary moment for our beloved drag queen, as she became the first drag performer ever to win the award. You just know she served pure iconicness on that red carpet! I mean, imagine Divine in a pink tutu? A fabulous fantasy, but it was a moment to be proud of, for sure.
My time-travelling trip to New York was nothing short of sensational, darlings! I saw shows in every little club, every hole-in-the-wall. From the legendary Pyramid Club with its theatrical grandeur, to the grit and glam of the Mother in the East Village – each one held such unique charm, showcasing diverse drag talent, with styles ranging from glittery glamour to raw punk. I was living my best life in my pink tutu, sipping on cocktails and soaking up the energy of it all. It truly is a magic elixir, that love of drag!
But I couldn’t let myself be distracted by glitter, cocktails and dancing – even in 1998! There’s a history we need to remember! This was the year of Stonewall’s 30th anniversary! Now, this momentous event holds a place of profound importance in our LGBTQ+ history and in the birth of drag as a form of art and activism. So many things have happened since that fateful summer of ‘69! So many drag queens paving the way and opening the doors for us to perform. It was a moment to reflect and be thankful!
This period saw so much growth within the drag community. Drag was no longer confined to underground clubs or dimly lit bars – it was coming out into the mainstream! This meant finding a larger audience and experiencing new opportunities. So, when I travelled to California for the month, I went a bit crazy and even hit a drag pageant in Hollywood. I can’t tell you all the details yet (spoiler alert for a future post!), but there were enough crowns, costumes, and crazy wigs to fill a stadium, let alone a club.
And you know me, my dears – wherever I go, there is shopping! So let’s take a dive into what fashion was all about in the world of drag back then!
The Drag Queen Look: Where Glamour Meets Grunge
If we could define 1998 drag style with one word, it would be "expression." It was a time of self-exploration where queens were breaking away from rigid norms and embracing individuality. We're talking bold fashion statements, a healthy dose of glitter and glamour, a rebellious edge!
Here’s what we loved about the 1998 look:
- Holographic eyeshadows and glittery eyes. Imagine a million iridescent stars sparkling on your eyelids – that's what 1998 was all about! It's a look that demanded attention, a powerful statement of "I’m here and I'm fabulous!"
- Intense Lip Colors. From ruby reds to vibrant oranges, every shade of the rainbow graced those pouty lips. The more intense the color, the better!
- Metallic fabrics, bold prints, and sequins! Forget pastels - the bolder and more eye-catching, the better. Whether it's a vibrant floral print, shimmering silver, or head-turning holographic textures, these fabrics added another layer of glamour and playfulness.
- And don’t forget the grunge edge! We’re talking fishnets, ripped stockings, ripped fabrics, denim, even Doc Martens! There was something distinctly playful about adding those ripped textures, especially over an outfit brimming with glitz.
Now, here's the secret – that "expression" we were talking about didn’t mean everyone was following the same fashion trends. It was about expressing that individual artistic freedom and celebrating diversity.
That’s why drag has always been an extraordinary creative outlet and a force of positivity for many communities – it’s about pushing boundaries and redefining what beauty means. And you know, sometimes, just sometimes, a pink tutu can be just the thing to help you embrace those playful fashion statements and celebrate individuality.
If you're still looking for a pink tutu, dear reader, don’t worry. It’s on the way! Now, as my time-travelling tutu gathers a shimmery glow around itself, and a magical rainbow portal swirls to life – it's time to take this post for a whirl! See you in the next month with another drag history adventure. And until then, darling, never forget to twirl and express yourselves - just like we did in 1998!
Emma x
