Darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of glamorous history, dazzling drag, and of course, the fabulous world of tutus! It's November 2004, the air is crisp, and the leaves are turning a glorious autumnal shade of... well, not quite pink, but almost! I'm your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, bringing you another adventure in the glorious timeline of drag.
This month, we're travelling back to November 2004. As a true fashionista, you bet your bottom dollar I had to check out the very latest in tutus that month! Did you know, the "romantic tutu" was all the rage in ballet back then? So, naturally, my sparkly, multi-layered creation was just perfect for this time-travelling mission.
But before we dive into the whirlwind of trends, let's take a quick look at the state of the drag world in November '04. It was an exciting time! Over in the States, RuPaul was making headlines with the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. You see, back then, we only got one season per year – it was a different world, darling! And the iconic Jinkx Monsoon, a true drag superstar even in those days, was just making her early forays onto the scene.
On the other side of the pond, the London scene was bustling. Legendary nights like "Gay-a-Go-Go" and "G-A-Y" were hosting incredible shows every weekend. I was absolutely living for the energy – think fabulous costumes, outrageous wigs, and electrifying lip sync battles!
But of course, my dear readers, I couldn't simply sit back and watch, no no! I needed to embrace the energy, darling!
So, I waltzed into my local gay club and… let's just say the audience loved my tutu-clad ballet routine to "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. Yes, darling! It was a fabulous performance! Everyone was going wild for my elegant pirouettes, and my sparkling tutu seemed to dazzle even the most jaded soul. The power of a good tutu is never to be underestimated. You just have to wear your pinkness loud and proud, and everyone will take notice.
Let's Talk Tutu Trend Alert
And speaking of tutus, remember I said I'd check out the hottest trend? Well, as a time traveler who also happens to be a HUGE fan of ballet, I simply HAD to get a glimpse of the famous romantic tutus! Think billowing tulle, flowing layers, and just enough sparkle to turn any drag queen into a sparkling fairy. Think more airy, dreamy, and elegant – less the strict classical silhouette and more about flow and lightness!
To give you a visual treat, darlings, think of an iconic ballerina in a white tutu performing Swan Lake. It was an absolutely mesmerizing trend and honestly? You bet I wanted a pink one to go with my sparkly shoes. But of course, as any good time traveller knows, altering the past is a risky business! I'll leave the experimenting with pink tutus in romantic style to our fabulous future selves, and for now, focus on all the pink inspiration of today.
Speaking of inspiration… let's take a walk down memory lane and discover a few of my favourite 2004 drag queens!
Queens to Look Up To: The Stars of November 2004
One queen who truly caught my eye in November '04 was Divine. It's never a surprise when someone with that kind of panache is involved in drag! The divine Miss Divine! Insert playful wink here She'd passed on, alas, in 1988, but her influence in drag is as strong now as it was back then. In November 2004, John Waters, her close friend and director of some fabulous films with Divine in them (think "Pink Flamingos" – we have SO MUCH to thank those movies for in terms of campiness, and of course, divine pink costumes, duh!), released his latest film, "A Dirty Shame." It's filled with fun, vibrant performances, and it definitely solidified Divine’s influence on a generation. It was so, SO fab. It was like a time capsule to the drag scene we love today, with Divine acting as the grand fairy godmother of the world's pinkest, most outrageous costumes.
On the Runway: My November '04 Fashion Favorites
My, my, did November 2004 know how to rock a trend! It's true, it was the season of billowing sleeves and sparkly fabrics, just waiting to be incorporated into a fab drag ensemble. Think sequined leggings, floor-length fur coats, and an abundance of jewellery to top it off! There was even a bit of a grunge comeback – but never fear, we're still embracing that fabulous, bold pink, of course! As the pink tutu enthusiast that I am, my shopping cart in November 2004 would have been filled with an arsenal of pink clothing: sequined, sheer, stretchy, with lots of flow and even some sequins. Did I say sequins?
You know me – I can't just mention an era without trying on those iconic looks myself.
So, after my “Dancing Queen” ballet routine, I spent the afternoon hunting for vintage stores that would match my vision: oversized oversized pink sequin tees, long flowing neon-pink maxi skirts with delicate fabric layers, and a dazzling pink feathered boa to finish the look. This is an outfit that's just begging to be twirled in while showing off a fierce, dazzling, fabulous runway walk!
The crowd went wild when I debuted my new ensemble – every turn and every flourish seemed to highlight the best bits of 2004 drag. Think bold, theatrical, and a touch of grunge mixed in with that pure, sparkly pink aesthetic that will never fade!
But now it's time to put my tutu back on and say goodbye for this month. Keep your eyes peeled, my lovely readers, for next month's adventure on Pink Tutu Travels. It will be more glitter, more history, and lots of lovely drag shows – but only here on www.pink-tutu.com. Until then, go forth, my lovelies, and let your inner pink tutu shine.
Yours in the sparkle, Emma
