Hiya darlings! Emma here, your resident time-travelling, pink-tutu-clad drag queen blogger, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! This month, we're going right back to the glorious disco era, with a dash of glam and a whole lotta glitz, to 9th September, 1973.
Now, imagine this, kittens: a London stage alight with shimmering sequins, the smell of cigarette smoke and cheap perfume hanging heavy in the air, and a chorus of high-heeled, glitter-covered dancers.
Ah, the heady days of The 70s, the golden age of drag! A time of vibrant characters and even more vibrant eyeshadow. I'm absolutely loving this era for its boundless creative energy. It’s a perfect reflection of my love for theatrical and over-the-top expressions of style. And trust me, my darling readers, you're gonna love this one, especially if you're all about a show-stopping pink tutu (as I always am)!
London Calling: The Scene & The Shows
I popped over to London on this fabulous Friday, and oh darling, was it buzzing! This being September, I knew I was gonna get some seriously inspiring fashion inspiration. It was the month of The London Fashion Week, where designers like Vivienne Westwood were showcasing the bold and audacious clothes of the season. My darling, this decade had some truly groundbreaking looks, from those iconic platform shoes to the wide-leg bell-bottoms that I absolutely adore, and with it all – a whole heap of glorious androgynous style. Just perfect for a drag queen, don’t you think?
The West End was all a-flutter with incredible theatrical shows, from "Jesus Christ Superstar" to the revolutionary "Hair," that had just opened a few weeks prior. Imagine, darling, an audience full of rock 'n' roll glamour and a theatre buzzing with the electric energy of an unconventional play with music. Now that's what I call theatre magic!
Speaking of theatre magic, the highlight of this trip, I swear to god, had to be my night out at the infamous 'The Royal Vauxhall Tavern', London's iconic drag club. Imagine a stage overflowing with camp energy, complete with fabulous performers in platform boots, feather boas, and – you guessed it! – the most breathtaking array of pink tutus I've ever seen! There was a show-stopping queen dressed as a pink feather boa!
The vibe in the tavern was just incredible – it was a riotous blend of cabaret, music, and pure unadulterated entertainment. This was the place to be if you wanted to see the stars of London's burgeoning drag scene. We’re talking the legendary Danny La Rue, a drag performer with a national profile who had recently had a television show, Danny La Rue's At Home! A fabulous gentleman! Then there were the real stars – The Cockettes, a group of trans women and drag queens who'd recently formed an improvisational theatre company.
These queens were not afraid to push boundaries, my darlings! Their acts were theatrical, political, and completely uninhibited. This energy really spoke to my artistic soul, inspiring me to always try and push my boundaries and think beyond the standard theatrical fashion we were seeing in the late 60s. And you know I’ve always been about challenging norms, especially in a beautiful, vibrant pink tutu!
American Hustle: The Story of Divine
Of course, my little time-travelling tutu couldn’t possibly make a trip to this fabulous decade without checking in on my fellow American drag queens.
So I skipped across the pond to Baltimore, where the legend Divine, the one and only Divine, was about to film John Waters' notorious flick Pink Flamingos! I mean, this queen was an icon in her own right – absolutely larger than life! Her outrageous style and penchant for shocking, oh darling, just resonated with my flamboyant spirit.
I'll tell you a secret: John Waters has said the Divine character was heavily influenced by the legendary drag queens of The Cockettes! You’ll find the most fabulous connection between the two with both exploring an extravagant sense of humour with theatrical fashion! And how about this, my darling readers: that very night, I found myself watching this fabulous creature on set in the midst of an absolute mayhem of filming. She was sporting the most divine (get it? Divine!) magenta lipstick, and my dear, that shade of lipstick was definitely something to write home about. I still dream about that shade of magenta! Divine – what a name, what a talent!
Back to Reality: Drag in My Derbyshire Hometown
Returning home from my time-traveling adventures is always a bit of a shock, even if it is only to the glorious green hills of Derbyshire, England. But oh darling, as soon as I took one step onto stage, everything felt familiar again. You wouldn't believe the buzz about The Royal Vauxhall Tavern spreading across the country. We're even having a cabaret-inspired performance at the local theatre, my darling. My new tutu will be making its stage debut, I just know it will be a hit!
My, I can't believe that this time travelling business was all the inspiration I needed to write a fabulous new show for the town’s community theatre. My latest number, "Glitter and Glam," pays tribute to this era of glam and glamour, and it is guaranteed to get your spirits soaring!
This was just a tiny snippet of the phenomenal events that unfolded on this fabulous day. There is simply so much more to share about 1973 – and believe me, darling, the story is only just beginning. So make sure to check in next month, and I’ll bring you up to speed with even more drag-tastic news. Until next time, darlings – wear those tutus proudly!
XOXO
Emma, Your Pink-Tutu Time Traveller
You can also catch Emma performing live every Friday night at her favourite pub in Derbyshire, The 'Glitter Bomb'. Be sure to give her a shout, she loves making new friends (especially in tutus!). Find out more about her drag shows on her website: www.emmapink.co.uk and for all your pink-tutu inspiration and drag-queen history fix, be sure to check out her weekly blog on www.pink-tutu.com.
