#DragQueenHistory during 1943 05 May

Hello darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing time traveller! Welcome back to the wonderful world of www.pink-tutu.com! Today's date, as you know, is the 5th of May, 1943, and boy oh boy, am I in a tizz! This week, I've decided to swap my usual vintage frock shop haunts for a slightly more sombre outing - the wartime frontline! Yep, you heard right, I'm hopping into my magical, time-traveling pink tutu and heading back to the middle of World War II! Now, before you all panic and think this camp girl's lost the plot, I have a plan. (Of course!) It involves using this incredible historical backdrop as a fashion inspiration, seeing some fabulous wartime drag, and hopefully persuading some soldiers to ditch the camouflage for a bit of fabulous pink. You've got to give a girl a go, haven't you?

First of all, let's get one thing clear - this is a drag queen's version of history, darling! For me, World War II is all about resilience, finding beauty in the midst of chaos, and of course, a bit of glam! So while the fellas in their brown uniforms might think the most 'feminine' thing on earth is a bullet-hole, I’m here to remind you there’s a whole different universe of fabulous going on.

May 1943, for the rest of you, saw major events like the Allied Invasion of Sicily, which may not seem very exciting on the face of it, but trust me - you don't want to miss the wartime drag scene in Italy! Now, Sicily might not be the first place you'd think of when considering fabulous drag, but I'm telling you, darling, this era, and that region, was alive with artists of all kinds, even amidst the turmoil of the war! Imagine, for a moment, drag shows in hidden backrooms, the clatter of soldiers’ boots against a backbeat provided by an old piano, and the air thick with the electric atmosphere of forbidden laughter and defiant celebration! Oh honey, I could just die!

Speaking of which, The American Theatre Wing is doing wonderful things! Founded in 1918, this organisation has been helping to keep spirits up during this horrible time by providing entertainment through various mediums like musical performances, radio programmes, and, you guessed it, Drag performances! This wing, if you pardon the pun, of the American theater world is a force of nature and the embodiment of drag queen's spirit of optimism and resilience.

You see, it wasn’t just drag shows, darlings. The Red Cross was also on hand providing some fabulous fundraising and entertainment events, and, you can imagine, some fabulously dressed drag queens at the forefront of those! This might seem trivial now, but you see, darling, wartime morale wasn't just about fighting a war - it was also about a sense of unity, belonging and optimism. Now, I’m not suggesting a pink tutu was all that was needed to defeat the Nazis, but it's just the tiniest, most glamorous illustration of how something seemingly simple like a little performance could have a big impact!

You'd think a wartime setting wouldn't be a breeding ground for fabulous fashion, right? WRONG! Wartime style was often about reusing and adapting, which is a drag queen’s specialty! From vintage fashion to fabulous millinery and hair-dos created from spare materials, women were expressing themselves through whatever means they had. If this wartime ingenuity hasn’t made you fall in love with vintage already, I don't know what will, darling!

I am of course a true fashion aficionado, especially when it comes to shoes. The shoes, my dears! Sighs dreamily. I don't have all the answers to what's fashionable now, but it’s clear there’s a sense of practicality and an appreciation for good craftsmanship in clothing that, while not always glamorous, is certainly very smart! Women have taken things they already have and repurposed them. And they look amazing! Remember the old adage ‘every little helps?’ Well darling, I reckon a little pink tutu certainly helped to bring the girls some glam back into their lives in these difficult times. A splash of color amidst the gray was surely a beacon of hope, reminding them there was still beauty to be found in the world, and in their wardrobes.

Well darlings, the war clock’s ticking and I’ve got a few more time jumps lined up. Next stop: Hollywood. I just adore these fabulous Golden Age pictures – the stars, the dresses, the diamonds. The extravagance, the melodrama – all so dramatic! You know I'm living for a classic film star moment right now, so let’s all get our glam on, darling!

Don't forget to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com! Let me know where you’re at, and your favourite time travel location in the comments! Don't forget to wear a pink tutu if you have one! It's the best way to spread the message, darling! Until next month!

Emma xoxo