Amidst all the chaos and impending doom that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought us over the past few weeks, here at Shady Gifts we thought everyone could do with a bit of a pick-me-up distraction in the form of a blog post. Instead of panic buying loo roll, building yourself a loo roll princess castle, and then sitting in the princess castle paralysed with fear.., why not channel your inner drag queen and self-isolate in style. We’ve put together our top five tips on how to do this.
1. Perfect those makeup skills
Every aspiring drag queen knows that her makeup needs to be on point (okurrr!) but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Self-isolation is the perfect time for you to werk on beating your face for the gods (in a controlled and clean manner of course). With the help of many (clean and sanitized) brushes, some fantastic eyeshadow palettes (including this sickening Alyssa Edwards one), foundation for days, a ton of bronzer and a heap of YouTube videos, you’ll be well on your way to nailing your look. Plus, if you’re in need for somewhere to store your makeup, (which you should be, no one likes a messy queen!) why not grab one of our sickening makeup bags right here at Shady Gifts. It’s also a great opportunity to have a virtual makeup sesh with your squirrel friends, as well as a bit of a kiki. And remember kids, don’t share your makeup! (No seriously you dirty animals, just don’t).
2. Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race
Obviously this one goes without saying. It’s a (not so) guilty pleasure for most of us. Whether you’re gay, straight, bi or something in between, there’s something on this show for everyone! Also if you’re looking for the most up to date trends in dragqueendom, RuPaul’s Drag Race is the place to be. With all of the seasons now available on Netflix (weekly episodes of the new series currently airing), Drag Race UK AND Allstars, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Whether you’re a super fan and have watched each season at least 30 times, or a newbie drag lover, head on over to Netflix to see what Mama Ru has to say.
3. Do some online shopping
No self-isolation would be complete without some online shopping. What else is there to do really? Here at Shady Gifts, we’ve got you covered with some awesome drag related gifts (amongst other things). “But I need to watch my spending,” I hear you say, don’t worry! There’s a 20% off sale to help you spend less and still have all the glittery things. Just use the code “YAYSALE” at the checkout, and wait for that box to land on your doorstep, while the postman backs away to a safe distance like he’s just asked Michelle Visage for a plastic surgeon recommendation. We’ve got all sorts to keep you occupied from sarcastic mugs to sissy that walk bags and even some slightly rude but ready to serve jewellery including boob stud earrings. You may also have noticed our brand new “Lady Garden” necklace from our Instagram posts. Keep your fabulous eyes peeled because this will be available to purchase soon! (once we get our act together and take some pictures of it, self-isolation is a serious cause for procrastination, okay).
4. Watch the Trixie and Katya show
If you have furiously binge-watched all that Mama Ru has to offer and now you’re looking for your next drag fix, why not watch the infamous queens known as Trixie Mattel and Katya in their own series on Viceland. Sharing their views on pretty much all things drag and just general everyday woes. Whether you’re looking to find out about life as a drag queen or just can’t get enough of Trixie and Katya (of course you can’t, who can!), you’ll love the show!
5. Have a virtual lip-sync for your life
One of the most important parts of self-isolation is to stay active. What better way to do this than to have a virtual lip-sync with a friend (we’re going to get banned from going outside soon anyway). There are plenty of apps you can use to do this, my favourite (along with the rest of the world it seems) is Zoom. You can have up to 100 participants on the free version, that’s an epic lip-sync battle in the making right there.
Make sure you have plenty of space though, if we have learnt anything from the RPDR lip sync battles it’s that queens need space to bust a move (werk it girl!). Why not bring in another queen (cheeky three-way) to judge and determine which of you should ‘shantay you stay’ or ‘sashay away’. If lyp-syncing isn’t your thing (idk why it wouldn’t be but whatever) then you could have a dance off with your bestie, or learn a Lady Gaga routine and show it to the world like my fabulous friend did here.
So, there you have it, a few tips on how to ride out self-isolation like the fabulous queen you are. In all seriousness, stay safe and wash yo’ damn hands!