#DragQueenHistory during 2008 05

Greetings darlings! Emma here, your resident time-traveling pink-tutu clad fashionista! As you know, every month, my magical, iridescent pink tutu whisks me through the annals of drag history, leaving me sparkling with inspiration and brimming with tales to share. This month, we're pirouetting back to May 2008!

Now, picture this, darlings: It's a blustery May day, the sun is trying its best but a mischievous cloud keeps dipping in for a dramatic reveal. I'm in Derbyshire, surrounded by rolling hills and dreaming of a day out to Manchester or even venturing further, across the Pennines, to that vibrant land they call “Yorkshire.” And as I sip my lukewarm, perfectly-brewed cuppa, I'm getting ready to travel back in time. Because, wouldn't you know it, the world of drag was bubbling with excitement back in 2008!

Hold onto your feather boas, because the trip's about to get fierce!

In 2008, drag was on the cusp of exploding into the mainstream, like a giant sequined feather boa unfurling across the globe! Shows were sizzling with fabulousness, and on the streets, a new generation of queens were daringly, gloriously, owning the stage and the sidewalk!

For example, I couldn't miss the legendary Divine Inspiration show in Manchester. Oh my dear, the gowns were simply stunning, each a masterpiece of extravagance and a testament to the sheer artistry of the drag queens involved! And the Spice Girls were still in their pop princess heyday! Honestly, seeing Geri's iconic Union Jack dress again filled me with such camp, glamorous nostalgia. I must say, though, they couldn't compete with the glamour of these Manchester drag superstars! They moved, they sang, they glittered - a true delight for the senses!

The world was captivated by RuPaul's Drag Race, and it had already graced our screens with season one. I simply had to rewind and see the incredible Jinkx Monsoon, who'd soon be crowned the Queen of Queens, captivating everyone with her witty personality and soulful performances!

This season saw Sasha Fierce slaying, Tammie Brown captivating, and the glorious, forever fabulous Akashia! Season 1 of Drag Race made an indelible mark on the landscape of drag - and the show's influence just keeps growing stronger.

As we danced through the year 2008, we witnessed the evolution of Drag Race. They were starting to use those infamous, sometimes outrageous “challenges.” Oh, darlings! Remember those hilarious runway looks? That first challenge was iconic - "Dress as a Lady" with the hilarious Chad Michaels looking so gloriously glam! Oh my darling, the drag queens truly shined, showcasing their uniqueness and humor.

So 2008 was really an important year! The world of drag was blooming. I’d almost dare to call it “the renaissance”!

In 2008, drag's influence was spilling over into fashion, like a generous splash of glitter landing on the world of haute couture!

This was a time when fashion designers were playing with colour, and the influence of Vivienne Westwood's audacious designs, with those playful pirate looks, those shocking, theatrical shapes, and even those wonderful punk-inspired outfits, were in full force.

And then there were the designs of Alexander McQueen - so dramatic, so opulent, and always leaving you in awe. You can see a lot of drag queens embodying McQueen's style, using fabrics like those delicate gauzes and those shimmering metallics, or the extravagant gowns he crafted.

And I dare you to say that his iconic 2011 “Bumster” pants - those amazing pants, cut super low and creating the iconic bum-skimming effect - were not influenced by the street-style of drag queens! They had been wearing their clothes super tight and low slung for years, giving the perfect nod to the body, the curves, the contours, and a real appreciation for those sculpted lines of a glorious hourglass shape! They truly redefined femininity!

Drag had always inspired designers - from Givenchy’s time with the amazing Audrey Hepburn - to those YSL couture designs with Bianca Jagger - and they weren’t just creating, but pushing the boundaries, and changing our perspective on fashion.

But back to 2008… We were seeing this beautiful explosion in Balmain designs, so heavily inspired by the beauty of drag. That bold shoulder! Those extravagant gold sequins! The heavy chain-linked belts! The luxurious fabrics! Those beautiful bodycon dresses and that exquisite tailoring! You couldn’t escape the influence of drag, especially with that emphasis on body, form, and structure - something that has always been such an important part of drag!

My time travelling tutu - let's call her Pinky (yes, I'm truly a woman of simple, and extremely camp, tastes) - took me through London in 2008.

Walking through the streets, I spotted a shop with a bright red sign saying “Dolly Couture!” - a real treasure trove for a drag queen in the making. This little shop offered those high-quality fabrics, with the perfect amount of sparkle - and the owner - let's call him Arthur - was an expert at sewing those dazzling, dramatic dresses, that hugged every curve.

And you know what, darling? I knew then, there and then, what Pinky was about - a tutu so radiant that it would become a fashion must-have, something that every drag queen should own, a magical piece that sparks the spirit of freedom and creativity. Pinky was the essence of femininity and fun - an invitation to be you, unapologetically, without judgment, embracing your inner drag queen, darling, a dazzling symbol that will transform your look from drab to fabulous.

I imagine you saying "But darling, tutus are so traditional, they're ballet!”

I dare you to say that those tutus weren’t created to be a testament to femininity, with that ethereal feel! Drag and ballet are a beautiful expression of beauty and movement in an explosion of color and a love of fashion! Pinky was taking inspiration from ballet's beauty and making it wearable, adaptable, modern, for our times - just like those early ballet pioneers!

As we were moving through those 2008 fashion streets - think of that daring and glamorous House of Holland - those “It-girl” pieces with a twist of sophistication! And those playful dresses in vibrant and eclectic colours. And what can I say about the bold prints of Jonathan Saunders - bringing the daring into high-street fashion! Or even the incredible Diane von Furstenberg - and that infamous “wrap dress,” with that embrace of female beauty - and the power of the feminine.

And it wasn’t just about clothes.

It was about attitude, darling, that unapologetic love for the flamboyant - something that we’ve always seen in drag - but we were seeing it reflected everywhere we went. And Alexander McQueen’s designs? They embodied it so beautifully. I mean, just take that iconic “skull scarf” - such bold and rebellious style - and then you've got those thigh-high boots, with the platform sole - an iconic trend. You couldn’t walk down the streets of London - let alone on any catwalk anywhere in the world - without seeing these amazing shoes - worn by every fashionista and a symbol of that audacious and powerful feminine! I could see how that amazing footwear was going to influence the way we strutted into 2009!

Now darling, as much as I adore a trip down memory lane - I have to return to the present, my time travelling tutu - Pinky - can't stay away for long.

But that journey into 2008 has set a few things in motion. I think that with a little bit of time travel, and the help of a magical pink tutu, we can make a world full of glitter and pink - that’s a world that I want to live in - a world with a rainbow of drag. We can celebrate the magic that comes from embracing your authentic self, from celebrating beauty, joy, and creativity - just like drag queens do!

I’m hoping, darling, that maybe by wearing Pinky and spreading this vision of a pink-tutu filled world - we can be as impactful as the fabulous drag queens of 2008 - bringing a little bit of glamour and sunshine to every corner of the world!

And while you’re waiting for your Pinky tutu, let’s catch up on the next fabulous month - the exciting journey continues. Be sure to catch me here next month! I have a special time-traveling announcement about a particular time traveling dress, but I’m not telling you where to - or when to go just yet … but be ready to join the dance! Remember, darling, it’s about wearing your inner tutu! We’re on a journey!

Don’t forget to check in next month for Post #1062 - your journey through drag history continues. Keep shining, darlings. And be fierce, just like Pinky.