Darling Divas,
How are you all? Fancy a little time travel with me today? It’s Emma here, from the land of fish and chips, rolling hills and… yes, pink tutus! Today I’m off on a glamorous trip back to… well, last month! Now I know what you’re thinking – “Emma, why go back a whole month? You have the best time machine, shouldn’t you be zipping off to Versailles or the Tudor Courts, all that fab fashion? But honestly darlings, even this queen sometimes craves a little time warp, a bit of déjà vu to feel grounded. So, come along with me, throw on a sparkly wig (pink, of course!), slip into your fabulousest tutu (also pink, duh!), and let's hop into the time-tumbling twirls of February 2014!
February 2014… Now this wasn't quite the peak of the "pink tutu" trend. Back then, drag had that awesome raw edge, that punkish, rebellious attitude, and I was here for it! Think glitter bombs, rainbow everything, and yes, plenty of pink tutus – but also some daring leather, wild costumes, and a dash of that fabulous ‘do-it-yourself’ drag spirit.
The World of Drag: February 2014 Edition
First stop? Let’s check out what the drag scene was up to back then, shall we? This is a peek at just a few happenings across the world:
- New York City: Now, NYC, you already know was, and still is, the ultimate drag metropolis. In February 2014, iconic venues like The Stonewall Inn and The Duplex were buzzing with fabulous performances. If you were lucky, you might have caught a glimpse of legends like Miss Fame or Shangela honing their talents before their massive breakthrough.
- London: Meanwhile, London, the birthplace of panto was bursting with iconic venues. From the iconic Soho scene to the glamorous West End, there was a drag show for every taste. It was probably where we saw the start of incredible performers like Kitty Glitter or Miss Peppermint making a splash in the London scene!
- San Francisco: Out west, the scene in San Francisco was vibrant. This iconic city has a rich history with drag, with underground clubs, and an eclectic mix of personalities that challenged convention, always pushing boundaries. The legendary Trannyshack was the place to be, and those early pioneers? Now those were some tutus, dearie!
- Australia: Now don’t underestimate the drag scene in Australia. Sydney was booming. They always have amazing drag balls, spectacular performances that blend theater with dance and camp - a bit of Moulin Rouge meets drag queens, if you will.
- Back in Derbyshire: Yes, my home turf! Of course, Derbyshire wasn't exactly the drag capital of the world. We did have a small but mighty scene – some fantastic pubs and clubs in Nottingham would bring in fantastic performers – but really, most of us drag kids in the area just dreamt of someday finding ourselves performing at the iconic The Ritz or Manchester's "The Monastery!"
The Glam That Makes My Tutu Spin
But here’s what really got my fashion heart pumping back then - a few iconic moments that have made it onto my personal time-travel fashion inspiration board:
- “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Season 6: Oh, the queens! Well, in the midst of my twirling through the fabric aisles at Liberty in London, the first season of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" Season 6 had just launched, and darling, it was a total hit! And guess what? A bunch of fashion queens, and of course, drag history, were made right then and there. Now I’m thinking it's about time for a whole blog post about Season 6! Watch this space, darlings.
- “Drag Race” Makeovers: Who wasn't inspired by the makeover challenges? From Cher to Liza Minnelli, it made all of us wanna run home, grab a pair of scissors and go to town. Of course, my approach was more, "Okay, what vintage lace and velvet ribbon do I have?”
- Pink Everywhere!: The year 2014 - it was the pinkest year in drag! Yes, all those neon colors and candy floss tones – it was as though every drag queen got together and decided to dip everything in rose gold glitter. I was like, "Yaaaas! My aesthetic, my life!"
Okay darlings, so I hope you've enjoyed my whirlwind tour of February 2014 – or was that our whirlwind tour, because, honestly, I always find that my time-traveling adventures are truly about being connected with you all! Remember, every drag show, every drag event, is a story waiting to be told, and with every time-traveling adventure, it becomes even clearer just how impactful and amazing drag is as an art form.
So until next time, keep your tutus fluffy, and I’ll catch you on the pink side of the time-travel portal!
XOXO, Emma
PS: Want to catch a little glimpse of what was trending in the world of pink tutus? Check out this vintage look-book for some fab inspirations:
[link to a vintage inspired fashion lookbook]
PPS: You can catch me live on [Date] at [Venue] performing [Theme]. Come for the pink tutus, stay for the time-traveling fun!
