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.

Fashionista in Training!

Fashionista in training.

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!

Don’t forget to follow me on my social media: I’m ThatRetroRuth on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Pinup and Rainbow Glam Inspired Makeup by Miss Mouse!

Such a fun and colorful collaboration. I updated this post and made sure the products were current. Enjoy!

That Retro Ruth

Hello, Lovelies!

Today I am featuring a makeup artist from Texas that I found on Instagram, Mayra aka Miss Mouse. Check her out here. She has an amazing eye for makeup and I love that she is into the retro glam look that is in style right now. I asked her to do a retro inspired rainbow eye look ; a few of my favorite things. 🙂 Below is how to get her complete pinup glam look.

Miss Mouse’s #retromodern rainbow pinup look.

First you start off with a simple smokey eye look. Click herefor a 3-minute brown smokey eye tutorial! For a simple brown smokey eye, use Too FacedChocolate Bareyeshadow palette.
Next, add black eyeliner. I used NYX’s gel eyeliner in Jet Black.I don’t know if you’re like me but I Google everything! Check out wikihow’s…

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Hello Fashionistas!

I’m so excited to be writing this post about the ’80s theme I saw when researching #retromodern looks at the in-progress Paris Fashion Week.  I don’t know about you but I love following @evachen from Instagram to keep me updated with the latest fashion trends. She is a lot of fun to connect with and I love that she is down-to-earth and isn’t disingenuous.

1980s Vibe for Paris Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2018-2019

Big hair don’t care! This photo is from a vintage Cosmopolitan magazine from the ’80s. Credit: tiffany terry on flickr.

I found on Vogue Paris three looks that were totally a throwback to the 1980s.  I love it when fashion designers take what was done in the past and put a fresh spin on it. The first look was a strapless short black dress with a puffed sleeve that was paired with blue thigh-high fringe boots. The second look was a white satin shirt with pink, orange, and black accents as well as big shoulder pads (oh la la!) paired with black satin pants.  The final look was a black cold shoulder leather dress with metal grommets and a puffed sleeve. To see all three looks check out the link here.

I’m excited to see more #retromodern fashion looks for Paris Fashion Week.

Let me know which look was your favorite!

Cheers,

That Retro Ruth

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on social: Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. 🙂

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day♥ spending it with your special someone or with friends or family. I got to enjoy a long weekend with my family. 🙂 Today’s post is going to be featuring fashion of the 1930s and we’ll be focusing on dresses. I love dresses especially ones that I can wear with leggings!
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Hello Beauties,

Happy Friday!  So glad, it’s the weekend. 🙂  Anyway, I did a makeup look awhile back that I think would work great as a makeup look for Valentine’s Day.  Feel free to recreate this fun and sparkly look.

Recreate this look:

Eyes: First off, I started with a neutral brown color in e.l.f’s brightening quad eyeshadow ($1), all over the lid.  Second, I used Profusion’s Absolute Eyes Palette and used the dusty rose color at the corner of my eyes with e.l.f’s contouring brush. Next, I used NYX‘s Primal eyeshadow in Hot Pink for $5 (a steal!)  Again, I used a contouring brush and swept the hot pink shadow above my crease, I also took this color and lined my lower lashes with a damp angled brush. Make sure to blend the hot pink in the crease with an eyeshadow brush, to blend out the color.  Finally, I used a gel liner and winged out my eyeliner! *Tip: I like to use an angled brush to apply gel eyeliner.  Oh and don’t forget to curl your lashes and use your favorite mascara.

Face: First, I primed my face with NYC‘s Perfecting Primer (I like that it has a shimmer to it).  I found it at Walmart for just under $4.

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I’m not a fan of heavy foundation so I opted for a BB Cream.  I used Covergirl’s Tinted Moisturizer in fair to light. I also sometimes wear concealer, go ahead choose your favorite one.  I personally like e.l.f.’s Cover Everything concealer.  Don’t forget to powder your face with a big fluffy brush, I used e.l.f.’s  flawless face powder in Ivory.  Next, I used a pink blush, I chose what I had which is Mary Kay’s duo cheek color in Juicy Guava.  *Tip: I like to use the neutral shade as a highlighter above my blush, under my nose, on the chin, and by the hairline.

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Lips: For the lips, I used products from Sally’s Beauty Supply.  The quality of these products wasn’t the best, but it was some of the makeup I had left over from my Jem and the Holograms look from Halloween.  

JemandtheHologramsCostumes

Truly, Truly Outrageous!

First, I used Beautique’s Jumbo Lip Crayon in Shocking all over my lips.  Next, I put on Sally girl mini mood lipstick in Magic Pink.  Finally, I put on Sally Girl’s Sparkle Effects loose glitter in Princess Pink all over my lips with my finger.

There you have it, a fun and flirty Retro Inspired Valentine’s Day makeup look!  Let me know if you recreate this look and tag me on my social media with the hashtag #retromodern so I can see your look. 🙂

Cheers,

~Ruth

P.S. Make sure to subscribe to keep updated on my latest posts! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

 

1920s Fashion: Dresses.

Hello Fashionistas,
How is everyone doing this lovely Monday? Well, actually almost Tuesday!
Today, we’re going to dive into some of the1920s fashion and I wanted to focus on one type of clothing. I thought dresses of this decade would be fun to look back at.

The 1920s was a memorable decade for fashion since there was more freedom in women’s fashion (especially after the war) and the clothes definitely reflected that.   A notable designer of this era was the fabulous Coco Chanel.  I know if you’re like me, you think of her perfume.

Chanel_N°5_Elixir_sensuel

Sensual Elixir.

During this time, Coco Chanel also designed a two-piece dress out of stretchy jersey fabric that flowed against the body.  Below is the actress Gloria Swanson, a silent movie star rocking Coco’s design.

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By Bain New Service, via Wikimedia Commons.

Another popular dress in the 1920s was the signature flapper style dress.  Shown below.

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A traditional flapper outfit.

Below is another popular dress style, a dress with a dropped waist.  This style of dress was more of an everyday dress.

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In the early in the 1920s, formal wear dresses were extremely elaborate and some even had intricate beading.

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Silent movie actress Norma Talmadge.

In 1926, there was the classic straight dress, one of my favorite type of dresses of this decade!

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Actress Alice Joyce in a sheer beaded straight dress.

There you have it, a quick look at the history of the 1920s dresses worn during this fun decade!  I hope you enjoyed it.  Next Monday, there will be more fashion history.  Let me know which decade you would like to see next or a particular piece of clothing you would like me to feature.

Cheers,

~Ruth

P.S. Stay fabulous. 🙂

P.P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!