Feature; Ruth Walsh

We sat down with blogger and Instagrammer Ruth Walsh (aka Ruthy Ruby) for our second feature of Fresher’s Week. From her dreamy yet effortless Instagram feed, to her articulate blog posts, Ruthy Ruby’s unapologetic, free approach to life pervades all she does. We caught up with the Cork native this month, picking her brain on all things personal style, metropolitan living and building unabashed confidence.

Ella: Tell us about yourself!

It all started when I moved to New York. At the end of the day, it was a completely soulful experience for me. I’m a very free-spirited person, and I felt like I didn’t really fit into certain things until I moved there, because when I got there I was just immersed in so many different types of cultures and people, the art and music scene, it all just made sense to me and I felt like I could really express myself over there.

Before that, I was in Dublin interning for L'Oreal, doing PR, and I looked at my life and thought, “God, I don’t really want to be a kind of 9 to 5, going into Zara to buy my flowery dresses for my 5 day week job”. It didn’t really sit right with me, and I don’t like to follow what everyone else is doing. It freaks me out.

When I got there, I was like, this is it, I’m going to stay forever, but it gets so exhausting so the year was fine! I was working in a bar, I was a nanny, I then got a job in a PR agency which I hated and only stayed there for three months which was so funny because I went there so I could have New York on my resume. They work you really hard over there and I had to evaluate what I wanted my year out to be; did I want to run myself into the ground, or experience New York the proper way? So I quit that job after three months. I got a job in a sports bar for men, and I actually learned a lot about myself. The way they treat women working in bars over there is really bad. I knew I was only there for a short time so I tried to make the most of it.

The rest of the time was the best time of my life. Myself and Tar Marz would literally just get up, meet for coffee, text each other the night before about an outfit we had to shoot, and we just did that for like 8 months.

Ella: Do you think your personal style developed during that time?

I think it was definitely there beforehand; I was raised in such a way that I was left to explore myself. I’m not from a conservative family, I was never told no when I wanted to wear something. I think that parenting style is really progressive. I had it from the get-go. I was a teenager in the Juicy tracksuit and Uggs! Fifth and sixth year were crazy blocky platforms that you’d almost slip in and break your ankle, and bodycon dresses. Then I chopped all my hair off and had a really short bob, very 20s style.

But the whole time, looking back, I kept my wardrobe staples. I’ve always had the high-waisted jean, the crop top, I’ve always been in a pair of Converse, the leather mini, the turtleneck or blouse. I feel like though my look has changed I’ve kept the same pieces. New York was when I was like, “Right, I can wear what I want, I can wear a bra and jeans if I want, I can do no makeup or full face”.

Isabel: Is Dublin a different atmosphere in terms of confidence about style?

It kind of kills me sometimes. I don’t know about you, but I love when I see someone that’s holding themselves so well, they’re happy in what they’re wearing, they’re experimenting with something different. That really gets me going. It’s few and far in between when I see someone like that. Those kinds of people inspire me.

Sometimes on a night out for example you could see loads of people in the same type of thing, it could be lads in those ribbed jackets. There’s just a mass of them. Or girls with the same fake tan and dresses. I mean, everyone wants to look good when they’re going out, it’s objective. Wear a pair of jeans if you want, but balance it out with a sexy top, vary the materials, focus on either glossy skin or eye makeup. I just love when people stand out a bit.

I would love to see individuality, that’s something I really miss. With the lockdown and everything, I’ve realised that for me to be happy I have to live closer to my really creative friends, that Dublin scene.

Ella: I get that; if you’re in a metropolis like New York you’re going out, seeing different styles. It’s a lot easier to fall into a rut if you’re seeing the same thing all the time. Leading from that, how would you describe your personal style?

I think the main thing is being eclectic, like today I’m in a cute French inspired sundress, and tomorrow I could be in my baggy 90s denim jeans with a crop top. It totally varies. Sometimes I can look like I’m on the way to ballet class, but on a motorbike!

Ella: You have such a fab clear-cut aesthetic; would you say your online presence is reflective of your style?

In the beginning I tried to do the whole minimalist theme; I tried to slot myself into that. Largely you’ll find it doesn’t take a lot of creativity to do the same thing all the time, use the same colorway and themes. I don’t do that at all, I just share what I see and if I want to share something it doesn’t matter where it is, it just happens to slot in. I think that’s why people follow my style, because it’s straight off the iPhone, here I am, here’s my outfit.

It’s so nice to find someone who’s just like, I feel good, here I am, rather than streamlined content.

Isabel: In Dublin, I feel like a lot of influencers, using that term loosely, can’t venture outside their comfort zone. How have you come to this place where you don’t need to curate what you upload or wear?

That’s the thing, because I’d probably grow a lot faster and reach more people if I started doing samey-samey things like other people. That’s a no-brainer, I’ve thought a lot about that. It’s due to the fact that I don’t have the usual grid that I’m not growing as fast, not that I want to, but over lockdown some bloggers have just shot up in followers. They think about it a lot more. But I don’t want to all of a sudden change my online strategy and become grabby or attention seeking.

I don’t want to be something online that I truly am not in person. I’m such an eccentric person, and I don’t want to ever curb that and become clear-cut in what you can expect from me. I share what I like about beauty, fashion, art and music.

Ella: Where do you draw inspiration from? Eras, art periods, music genres?

I’ll start with music. In the last year and a half, music has just transformed how I dress myself. I’m listening to a lot of psychedelic rock at the moment. Something about it makes me want to dress myself in a floaty, sexy way, as if I could go from work to a night out and transition what I’m wearing that way. I just love that easy, simple, not-fussy way. I barely wear heels, if I do it’s just like an espadrille.

I’m very inspired by icons of the past. In particular a huge French inspiration lately, I cut my bangs and whenever I don’t know what to wear I look back on Jane Birkin or Sofia Loren. I love that strong female energy that movie stars of the past have.

Ella: Ever since Isabel and I met, we’ve been going on about cutting our bangs and we haven't done it yet!

Guys, do it if you’re on the edge!

Ella: You’ve lived in a few cities; Dublin, New York, Cork; do you find yourself to be a bit of a sponge in terms of absorbing the energy of a place and transitioning your style?

You can’t deny your fashion tempo. There’s nothing worse than being in a situation where you’re dressed completely wrong; I love being comfortable. Saying that, I’ve stayed at the same pace and have the same pieces for the last two and a half years. I’ve just gotten into Levi jeans, I wear the rib cage. They’re life-changing, I just ordered another pair last night.

I just love finding something that fits right, that you feel really attractive, sexy and confident in. I’ll just buy it in like three colours.

Ella: I always think that’s the French way, they find what suits them and wear it ‘til they die.

Exactly!

Isabel: On your blog you mention working in a judgement-free environment. Would you have any advice for someone new to college looking to develop their own style who may be afraid of judgement?

That’s such a tough question, I’ve been there, I’ve worked in a big multinational company where some of the women have queen bee syndrome. It's almost like they don’t want new younger women in the office to look better than them. It’s a weird undercurrent.

I would just say stick to your guns, consistency is key in everything you do in life. If you want to commit to owning your style or arriving at work or college in a certain look, commit to it.

Don’t let people’s judgement curb that. That’ll seep into everything else in your life. That’s my motto, “When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you can tackle anything”. So whatever way you want to look good, make it happen, stick to it, be consistent. You forget as well, most people who judge you, it’s coming from a place of insecurity. It’s not your problem at all. It’s theirs. If ever I feel judged, I just keep thinking that. I need to stay true to who I am, because I know who I am.

Ella: You have such an eclectic mix of clothing pieces. What are your shopping habits?

Just like my style, I shop quite eclectically. I shop a lot on Asos. I buy something there once or twice a month. It’s gone from stupid small purchases to bigger purchases. As I’m getting older, I’m seeing the value in stuff I feel good in and I’m investing in them. I love a good chazza shop - maybe three times a year I’ll find something in a charity shop. My last purchase was a leather blazer by Principles (your Moms would probably know, it’s a 90s brand). Obviously New York was the mecca for clothing, but I don’t like shopping for sh*t anymore. I have so much stuff already. I love to get little pieces and just multiply them.

Ella: Over the last few years, sustainability is cropping up over and over. Do you find now you buy less, are you more aware than you might’ve been in the last couple of years?

Definitely. I’ve never been a Pretty Little Thing, Missguided hun or whatever, it just never sat with me. But you can say that about Asos, you can say you’re supporting it. You can’t escape what’s happening, it’s everywhere. I try my best to not do Primark or any of the crappy, obvious ones. I try my best.

Ella: What are your go-to staples, what should everyone have?

I’m blue in the face from screaming this! Everyone needs a pair of ribcage Levi’s. They’re incredible. Size down, they pull you in, they’re divine. A gorgeous oatmeal cropped cardigan. A really good slip skirt, a pair of doc’s. Those staples will get you through.

Ella: Is there anyone in the industry you admire or resonate with?

It’s a tough question. I don’t aspire to be anyone else. I have a select few bloggers I look to and admire. I don’t die for certain people or want to be anyone else.

Quick Fire Round:

New York or Dublin?

Dublin just for politics, feck it.

Dublin or Cork:

Dublin.

Describe your personal style in just three words:

Eclectic, feminine, chic.

Online shopping or bricks and mortar:

Bricks and mortar.

Vintage or new?

You can get more substance from vintage but new is more accessible. I’d have to say vintage.

Dresses or trousers? I’m in between all of these! Jeans.

Heels or flats? Flats.

Visit Ruthy Ruby’s blog https://ruthyrubynyc.wordpress.com/ for further insight into her world of travel, beauty and culture.

For some gorge visuals, check out her Instagram @ruthyruby!