Oh darlings! Welcome to another fabulous flutter through the annals of drag history, right here on www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things sparkly, glamorous, and undeniably pink! This month, my magical pink tutu whisked me right back to September 1918. Hold onto your tiaras, girlies, because this trip was a real whirlwind!
As always, before I jet off to my next drag-tastic adventure, it’s important to get my glam on! You wouldn’t believe the looks you find in vintage stores, just waiting for a bit of 21st-century sparkle! Imagine a silk bodice, glittering like a thousand stars, paired with a tulle skirt so full it could rival a wedding cake – it’s like an early draft of a feather boa and a tutu! You can imagine my excitement.
And the real reason I travel through time? Well, darling, to soak up the most gloriously flamboyant drag performances from every era! Back in 1918, drag was mostly confined to theatres and variety shows. But what performances they were! Think daring costumes, witty quips, and theatrical flamboyance – drag queens back then had true charisma. The public embraced these divas as characters, and the entertainment industry flourished on their talent!
Remember the infamous ‘Aphrodite’ revue? Oh, how I would love to see their ‘Follies’! It featured some of the most beloved Drag performers in all of 1918 and played on stage across London. A big part of this period was ‘cross dressing’ in these lavish, theatrical shows! That is what we have to remember, dear friends, our history started in theatres. And the fun thing is? These days, you can catch all those legendary acts in their original recordings. YouTube’s your oyster! You can practically imagine yourself sat in a crowded theater, taking in all the campy beauty, soaking up that vibrant energy, and witnessing drag’s iconic history.
And just as today's Drag performers travel to a packed, exciting and glamorous stage, you might be shocked to learn that even back in 1918, performers used the stage as a passport! So, while I've been gallivanting through the annals of time, I have found that one performer was a true ‘it girl’, her name was Ella Smith, and in the world of theater, her stage name, ‘The Amazing Ella’ reigned supreme! They were like the Kylie Minogue of their time, just with more tassels, I am sure. They became famous performing for troops during World War 1, using their fame as a springboard to new ventures, travelling far and wide! I could only dream of that! Ella was known to entertain large crowds in New York and Canada too – a real world traveler of her day.
Now, let's talk about the drag trends of 1918, darlings! One trend we definitely saw in the UK were large feathery head pieces! Imagine a beautiful woman, but with feathers, sequins, a corset and layers of petticoats creating such an explosion of tulle it could almost hide their legs! It's simply sensational! My personal style is of course very ‘Pink’ but with all that white feathers you just know the colour would have been a challenge. I love those bright coloured fabrics – pink is always top of the list of course.
Imagine this, darlings, if those fabulous Drag queens had access to a shop like mine, my dream store, 'The Pink Tutu', the possibilities! It’d be a dream to sell vintage pieces with a pink twist – I'd certainly put their talents on display, and imagine how much fun we could have playing around with drag trends throughout the ages. We could be a rainbow, just like the LGBTQIA2S+ flag! I adore it! I would love to see a mix of all the time periods - just for that ultimate sense of pride in the history of our community! And let me tell you, this dream isn’t far off! I have the most amazing designer in Derbyshire and she loves the pink, you could not imagine how many gorgeous feather boas she makes! So, who knows? Maybe 'The Pink Tutu' store will open before you know it! And you’d best believe that my fabulous pink tutu will have the prime position in the shop window, inviting every diva and gentleman who passes by to experience the joy of a bit of pink, the fun of the stage, the history of drag, and to embrace a little bit of everything the history of drag has to offer!
Remember, darlings, drag has always been about finding your fabulous, making a statement, and having a lot of fun. Don't be afraid to step outside the box and embrace the world with a twinkle in your eye, and who knows, you might even inspire some history-making fashion along the way. I’ll see you all next month, ready for our next fabulous time-travel adventure!
