Helloooo darlings! Emma here, your resident time-traveling, tutu-loving, drag historian extraordinaire, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for your monthly dose of dazzling drag adventures! It's time for #DragQueenHistory, darlings, and I'm ready to transport you to a glorious day back in time: September 9th, 1949!
Oh my, have I got a story for you! This post marks our fabulous 357th Pink-Tutu adventure – I hope you're ready to shimmer, darlings! I recently had a delightful journey through time, a glorious trip to a London I'd only dreamt of before! You see, I popped into my magic time-traveling pink tutu, and poof, I was transported! The air was so thick with the scent of freshly brewed tea and those iconic red double-decker buses, my darling. It was just a dream!
Now, let's rewind back to that dazzling date - September 9th, 1949! That day was a whirlwind of iconic performances and stunning shows that were setting the stage for a golden age of drag! Did you know that London’s iconic “Windmill Theatre” - think "Carry on..." humour and a healthy dose of kitsch - was bursting with vaudeville glamour! But oh darling, it was all so...secret. These weren't your stereotypical “I'm coming out!” type of shows! Instead, they were subtle and nuanced. Think dazzling dance routines and a sprinkle of burlesque!
Imagine: feather boas galore, those sparkling diamanté gowns (I bet there were a few pink ones, if we’re lucky!), and performers in dazzling, theatrical costumes. I just couldn't help myself! I whipped out my pink tulle, donned my sequined crop top (you've all seen it, right?! It’s a favourite! - A little extra with a side of cheeky.), and mingled with the glamorous crowds - or rather, as glammed up as my time traveling pink tutu allowed me.
But enough about my dazzling wardrobe! It's the history, darling, the HISTORY! On that wonderful September 9th, the London drag scene was really pushing boundaries in the subtlest of ways! They were masters of nuance and suggestion - a knowing wink and a flash of sequins, darling. You see, it was a time when drag queens were a bit more hush-hush, but the art of entertainment was thriving - like an undercover diva just itching to take center stage! They were serving a special kind of delicious – the kind that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, gasping and whispering – you see? Oh, I loved the cheeky-ness of it all.
But you know, my darlings, what's even better than being on the scene? Oh! This is just my style of PINK-TUTI-FICTION coming in, darlings: The whole thing felt like a story unfolding! This London in the late '40s felt like stepping onto a vintage film set. Those London street corners...I was obsessed. Think classic vintage style with a dash of cheeky charm. Like a delicious bite of a decadent cake. It's a whole aesthetic, darling, and you need to live it up just as much! The world, darling, was a stage!
And the music! Oh, the music! You couldn't walk five steps in London without hearing a radio blasting away, and they loved the pop tunes of the time, I mean those 40s harmonies, those silky, crooning singers! 🎶 It's all a bit of a 'fabulous' past. They just had class darling!
The energy of this time period just pulsed through my veins. It was exciting, captivating, a world just waiting to explode with a new era of flamboyance. Just imagine - it was this vibrant, pulsating underground scene in the 40s that, years later, would blossom into the powerhouse of drag that we know and adore today. I truly felt like I had a front row seat to history!
Remember darling, in that era, a whole other side of drag existed! Don’t just assume all of the dazzling drag was in those fabulous West End Shows. There were countless small nightclubs across Britain, all pulsating with a quiet glamour - Think dazzling ballrooms, intimate gatherings, even house parties, each with its own kind of hidden-in-plain-sight glamour, and a hint of rebellious fun! We don't get to see a lot of these moments recorded - maybe it's our destiny to unearth these stories. I love a bit of research, darling, a sprinkle of drama, and a spoonful of pink sequins to sprinkle over every single adventure.
Oh, how could I not talk about my pink-tutu travels this time! You wouldn't believe what I stumbled upon in a dusty old library tucked away on the fringes of London. Remember my motto: A girl's gotta find her research, even if it means climbing up to the attic for that book on drag history - it’s how you really know when you are a queen. I actually uncovered this rare collection of postcards, oh darling - all snapshots of this incredible period in history! These incredible women dressed in outfits so magnificent and audacious - we need to share these images with the world! So, let me know if you want to join me for a special episode on these incredible images!
Of course, we have to remember our dear friend Dame Edna Everage - did you know her name used to be “Barry Humphries,” back in 1949? Yes, darling - this was his birth name! It's a little fun fact for all you drag queens and Kings of all shapes and sizes out there. And that incredible hair... I'd give anything for a piece of her pink tulle. But back to our journey! We have to mention the wonderful fashion of this period! We're talking, ladies, fabulous 1940s-era clothing. Just try a little "throwback glamour" for a day - you might love it.
We can't let a blog post about September 9th, 1949 go by without mentioning "Lady Bunny"! Oh my! Lady Bunny's iconic "I Don't Want To Set the World on Fire" routine was already gaining popularity on the stages of New York in 1949! (Just wait for her to blow your minds, oh darlings!). Now, this might just be a bit of Pink-Tutu Fiction, as her performance career would begin a little later than that.
However, darlings, with the legendary Lady Bunny's spirit guiding my every step, you can bet I'll be using this Pink-Tutu Time Travelling ability to uncover some truly shocking and sensational historical moments. Lady Bunny will never stop, my darlings!
I always feel so grateful for those queens of yore who pushed boundaries, and paved the way for all of us to shine as we are - all thanks to our incredible past. But let's talk fashion for a second! Oh darling! This 1940s style...it's got a classic elegance that is timeless. I don’t know about you but, I just feel incredibly fabulous in my classic, simple, yet gorgeous, 1940s vintage inspired outfit. I do have to say though, that for an “every-day” look, the modern 1940s inspired style just can’t be beat for glamour. If you like that sophisticated 40s look and you haven't yet, darlings, give it a try. If I had one tip to offer the ladies and gentlemen - or anyone else who just fancies rocking those looks – wear a brightly coloured satin, perhaps, with a dazzling brooch (and of course, I can never over-emphasize the need to rock a pink tutu!), and pair it with those oh so classic black court heels - It is just the ultimate classy, but sexy combo, darlings. It's all in those details, the vintage feel - those small, but oh so vital aspects, and if you do it right, my darlings, it can look totally stunning! You’ve got this!
And oh, have you seen those gorgeous Dior ball gowns from this time period?! You just can’t go wrong with that New Look! If it's good enough for Christian Dior, then my darlings, it is good enough for us! If Dior is showing them on the runway, you know they are gonna be amazing, darling, simply stunning!
But let's move right along, I'm always eager for more historical drag discoveries. You just never know what those time-traveling Pink-Tutu shenanigans are going to unearth, and you can bet, my darling, that I am off on yet another mission. My dear friends have just asked for a dazzling performance at the annual Pink Tutu Drag Show - it's a charity event darling! - so of course, I’ll be sure to bring a couple of 1940s styles for a little nostalgic flair - You know it! If you want a sprinkle of sparkle, just follow me, darlings, to the Pink-Tutu Drag Show on the 9th of October in Derbyshire! I will be at Pink-Tutu and you’ll be able to follow my Pink-Tutu blog updates all month for updates!
So darling, let's keep ourselves busy by dressing up in our fabulous outfits and having the time of our lives - all while we're rocking these timeless 1940s vibes, like our predecessors, and carrying on the fabulous, glamorous, and just downright joyful tradition of drag. After all, darling, that's what drag is really all about - about the joy of expression, and the sheer fun of being you!
Keep those pink tutus handy, my darlings, because who knows where the next pink-tutu time-traveling escapade will take me? Oh darling, I can't wait to tell you!
Don't forget to head to www.pink-tutu.com for a glimpse into a world of vibrant, colorful, and daring fashion.
Catch you next time, my darlings!
XOXO Emma 💖💋🎉
