Hello my lovelies,
Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and sparkly! Today, weāre taking a trip down memory lane, a journey back to August 2015. Oh darling, get ready for a real blast from the past, and I mean past! This month, Iām whisking you all away on my magical time-travelling pink tutu to explore the fabulous world of drag in 1985, 30 years ago, just a hop, skip, and a "Werk It!" away.
London Calling: I landed my tutu right in the heart of London, ready to catch some fabulous shows and maybe even a bit of street performance. Now, the 80s were an era bursting with iconic style and outrageous looks - big hair, neon colours, power shouldersā¦ think of Dolly Parton meets the Spice Girls, and you've got the picture! The first thing that struck me about 80s drag was the sense of freedom. These queens were owning it, smashing gender norms, and turning heads wherever they went.
Divine Inspiration: I caught a show at the legendary "The Venue," home to a young, charismatic Boy George who was making waves in the world of music. This night, however, the highlight was divine: Divine herself, was a real queen who redefined the definition of fabulous, I mean who else could bring so much beauty and chaos to the stage all at once?! She was a vision, from the big hair, the even bigger lips, the incredible makeup and costumes ā I mean the woman was larger than life and an absolute icon! She set the stage ablaze with her captivating presence. I still get chills remembering it!
Fierce Fashion Finds: London was an absolute haven for fabulous fashions in 1985. Think Vivienne Westwood, a name that still makes my heart skip a beat! I spotted a real head turner, a leather-clad queen strutting her stuff on Carnaby Street, giving off serious Vivienne vibes. This is where I bought myself a beautiful 80s style beaded bag. Imagine - a tutu-clad time traveler from Derbyshire shopping for an iconic 80s accessory, how fabulous!
The Underground Scene: Oh, the 80s in London werenāt all about glitz and glam, my darlings! I wanted to delve deeper into the heart of London's underground scene. There were underground gay bars all over the place ā think, sweaty dance floors, raucous parties, and everyone let loose without judgement! You can really feel the spirit of community in these bars. Itās inspiring to witness the sheer determination of people finding their place, their own spaces and their voice, in a world that wasn't always ready to embrace difference.
America, America! Next up: America. Let's just say, a bit of a journey on the time traveling pink tutu! From London to New York City in the blink of a sparkle ā this time, to witness the birth of a truly unique movement in drag history! 1985 was all about the Drag Mothers ā the ones who shaped, inspired and paved the way for all the drag queens to come! I'm talking RuPaul (you know the name, hun!), who at the time was only just starting to create ripples on the drag scene! Oh, but he was captivating the attention of everyone from New Yorkās finest art houses to underground balls with his fabulous personality. Imagine all of us living in the moment and watching his future self inspire the rest of the world in a TV show called RuPaulās Drag Race! The very first one aired a couple of decades later!
And What Else was Happeningā¦ Let's not forget the rest of the world! Drag was definitely finding its space everywhere ā From San Francisco to Australia and even back to our dear old Derbyshire, the queen of drag was definitely in motion and showing her fabulous spirit! There were fabulous shows popping up all over, from clubs and bars, to even churches and hospitals! (Just you wait till I tell you more about the show that took place inside a chapel!).
To End, Not With a Bang, But With a... āIāll Be Thereā: As August 2015 fades away, leaving me standing there in my sparkly tutu, feeling blessed for the amazing opportunity to have travelled through time and witnessed the drag world of the 80s! The 80s really were about taking risks, expressing yourself freely, and embracing individuality! And even more so: drag was and always will be all about inclusivity. From underground clubs to big stage shows, from big hair to bigger lips, drag gave everyone a platform for their voices. The queens of this era really inspired a whole generation to express themselves through creativity, to celebrate diversity and above all - have fun!
This month, we want to hear from you. Remember this is Pink Tutu, and our motto is "every girl needs a pink tutu" - Tell us - did your story begin back then with a little pink tutu? Do you love your own pink tutu? And if you don't, then my darlings, what are you waiting for? Go out there and be your own queen!
Don't forget to come back next month for a new post filled with drag stories from the tutu travels - remember, a little sparkle is always needed! You can keep in touch with us on our social media platforms too. You know where to find us, my dears!
And my dearies, as I always say: keep those pink tutus ready, and stay fabulous.
See ya next month! -Emma
