I have always loved fashion even as a little girl. I have to admit fashion was an escape. My family didn’t have a lot of money, they both worked hard. Even though I didn’t come from a rich family, I was always drawn to clothing with bright colors, fun patterns, different textures, shine, and glitter. I especially loved mixing patterns. I remember instead of playing in the dirt (ew!) I hung out with the adults in my family. During the summers, I was hanging out with my grandmother Maxine (she was a super classy lady who always wore red lipstick) she would take me to garage sales to show me how to get a good bargain. I loved that she wasn’t just the typical homemaker- she was social, fashionable, and she kept everyone connected. It was hard when she passed away. As an adult, there is a small part of me that wishes I would have played in the dirt, but I digress! Flash forward to the early ’90s, when I was about 10 or 11, I was reading high fashion magazines. One of my favorite magazines was Harper’s Bazaar.
I was always trying to recreate high fashion looks. Below is one of my pulled together fashion looks.
Okay, the shirt is iffy but remember folks, I grew up in a very conservative river town in western IL. I think I was pretty fashion forward for the region. Anyway, I don’t know if anyone remembers this, but for a short while in the ’90s, it was reported that bell bottoms were back IN! I know some of you are like: “What bell bottoms?!” In the small town I grew up in the latest fashion trends took a while to arrive. Anyway, I found these really cool black bell bottom leggings on the clearance rack at Bergner’s the local fashion inspiration go to spot! I paired it with a light denim chambray shirt tied up in the front, which screamed the ’90s.
My point is to use what you’ve got and flaunt it.
All my best,
~Ruth
P.S. Please share your fashion beginnings down below, don’t be shy!
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