Helloooo Darlings! It's your fabulous friend, Emma, here, ready to whisk you away to another glamorous slice of drag queen history, and today’s adventure is especially exciting because... well, my darlings, today, we’re actually gonna Charleston!
Yes, my lovely, time-traveling tutu and I, are headed for September 9th, 1926. And what’s the hottest move in the world, you ask? Why, the Charleston, of course! The glorious, hip-swivelling, knee-knocking dance craze that swept the globe, and honestly, what a fabulous time for a pink tutu loving drag queen like myself!
You can imagine, as I donned my favourite pink tutu - this time with a beautiful sequin design and a feathery trim (you gotta have those feathers, you know!) - I just knew this would be an extraordinary adventure!
The Fabulous Roaring Twenties
The 1920s, darling, were a period of tremendous change and exuberance. The Great War had just ended, people were feeling free, the Jazz Age was in full swing, and that glorious, carefree energy, my dears, is all over this fabulous decade! Women were feeling their independence, fashion was more fun, with dropped waistlines, bobs, and flapper dresses that were knee-high! This was a time to show off your personality, darling, a time when anything seemed possible. And you can imagine what that did for drag, my lovelies!
Drag and the Charleston
So, imagine my delight as I find myself amidst a joyous street performance in downtown New York, 1926, and wouldn’t you know it, the crowd is going absolutely wild! The Charleston is everywhere, everyone is having a ball! The energy is electric. There's this incredible rhythm in the air. Drag was definitely thriving in the Twenties! It wasn’t always accepted of course, my dears, but it was bubbling beneath the surface in the underground world of nightclubs and cabaret.
Imagine my absolute excitement, however, as I notice two women at a cafe, one in an impeccable black dress with shimmering embellishments, the other in a bold sequined gown. The black-clad one - let’s call her Vivienne - was a real stunner! Vivienne had her makeup flawlessly done, dark eyeliner that swiped perfectly above her eyelids, a beautiful red lip - perfection. And her pal, in the dazzling gown, let’s call her Iris, was a knockout in a show-stopping sparkly number, looking like she just stepped off the stage in one of those Broadway musicals I adore! I was thrilled, darling! And you can just tell, these ladies loved the Charleston - you could almost see the excitement fizzing between them as they swung and twirled!
Now, drag in those days might not have been on Broadway just yet, but its influence was evident, from the fashionable men of the era, flaunting their daring looks, to the stylish flappers whose hairstyles were pure show-stopping art. These bold, independent souls, my darlings, embraced the Charleston with such joyful abandon that even the most staid socialite was tapping their feet and twisting their shoulders!
My Pink Tutu at The Folies-Bergère in Paris
You can bet your bottom dollar, I had to venture to Paris, too! I always loved Paris, even in the 20s - this magical city felt vibrant and alive, with an intoxicating air of creativity! You just knew you could walk down the street and see an unexpected spectacle - that’s Paris, my darlings! I can imagine this feeling is probably the same for my favorite, fabulous drag queens, even today, as they saunter down the streets of West Hollywood! You feel it in your soul, darlings!
This particular day, in my beautiful pink tutu - I added some stunning blue embellishments for this trip, with pearls and iridescent feathers for a bit of an artistic edge, and a beautiful black bow - I just adore bows - for that elegant, finishing touch, I strolled around the streets, ready to get into the swing of things, when what did I see? A glorious, gleaming sign - it said, ‘The Folies-Bergère’. It was a beautiful old theatre, in the 20s it was considered incredibly lavish and modern.
I had heard stories about it, about the legendary performers and daring acts that thrilled the Parisians - oh my darling, my imagination soared! This is a time-traveling queen’s dream! And guess what - it was a drag show! There were gorgeous, glam girls on stage. Beautiful, feather-boasted costumes and sparkling costumes! Imagine my utter glee! It was beyond amazing, you could see the crowd swooning - there was a thrill in the air - you felt it in every seat of the theatre. I danced right there in the audience - I just couldn’t resist, a fabulous, feathered pink tutu wouldn’t be caught dead sitting down! The girls on the stage were giving everything! And their charisma and flair had that special spark you find only in drag! It was all so wonderful, just divine, truly - one of the most amazing performances I have seen. It was one for the books!
And what did everyone do? You guessed it - we did the Charleston! My pink tutu, my dear, became one of the dancing stars of that unforgettable night! Everyone was thrilled and everyone was fabulous, with feathers, glamour, and the best makeup this era could create! My time in Paris was pure magic!
The Dance of The 1920s: What’s Next for My Pink Tutu?
My dears, as always, this is not the end, merely the beginning. The Charleston era had so much to offer! We have barely even begun to tap our toes and let the rhythm move our souls! We’ve danced with Parisian flair and caught the magic of New York in its vibrant Jazz Age glory.
Next month, my darling, my Pink Tutu and I are diving back into the magic of history, this time we are flying through time, and the excitement - oh the excitement! We’ll find ourselves amidst another glorious drag scene, another dance craze! Stay tuned and remember darlings, no matter how crazy or glamorous things get, never be afraid to be yourself!
As for me, I think it's time to indulge in some fabulous fashion, have a cup of tea and start planning for next month’s time travel adventure. If I am not rocking the dance floor somewhere or hitting the boutiques for some sparkly inspiration, you can find me on www.pink-tutu.com, sharing my drag queen time-traveling adventures with you - the world!
Until next time, my dears, always remember… if there's a will, there's a way, and darling, always, always, dare to dream!
