Modern society is obsessed with progress and novelty. But have you ever wondered if the best things and times are behind us, not ahead of us? And even if not, the acceleration of progress can be nauseating. But one couple found an answer and a cure for these modern problems. Ruth Shelley and Robert Oestmann decided to throw it back a little and wind down their lifestyles back into the 1930s, otherwise known as the Depression era. But this lifestyle change doesn’t depress them, it’s the opposite – the newly engaged couple find many perks and advantages in going retro.

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Breaking news: though the article is written in a way where their engagement is mentioned as a matter-of-fact, the couple confirmed that they’ve just got engaged! It’s very exciting, though not that surprising, considering the level of chemistry that Ruth and Robb have with each other. Let’s wish them a jolly marriage! Let it age like vintage wine!

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Bored Panda asked both Ruth and Robb the same set of questions, and they came up with their own answers, so without further ado, let’s get into it. Let’s start with Robb and how he discovered his lifestyle: “My mother used to collect a lot of antiques, so I think an appreciation for them came from her. I also love old movies, and would watch them with my grandmother. These days, I visit museums and heritage railways to learn about history. I find it feels right when in historical clothes.”

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Ruth, however, was motivated by other things, and it was more of a journey of self-discovery. “I was a tomboy, or mostly, until I was 16. I thought I just wasn’t really into clothes or makeup, and that was totally fine. But then I tried 1940s makeup at an event on a whim and I discovered that I really liked how it looked on me, it drew me in a way that nothing I’d really tried before had! And everything went from there, the makeup, then the clothes and hair a few years later, and I’d say by the time I was 20 or 21 I was very much on the fashion track I’ve stayed on since!”

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Robb talked about how he gets his clothes. “I find my clothes wherever I can get them! It can be difficult sometimes to find the right sizes. I visit vintage clothing shops when I can, and sometimes various events will have the odd stall or seller. Occasionally, they’ll have something that fits!” Ruth added “My answer here is quite similar to Robb’s. There are stores, online and brick-and-mortar, that specialize in selling both original and reproduction vintage fashion, so we shop at those, and then sometimes you find something wonderful at a charity shop or even get given it by someone who inherited it and has no use for it! I got one of my favorite pieces of vintage jewelry when I was given it by a lovely lady who inherited it from her mother.”

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Without a doubt, the couple’s style attracts attention, and they shared their experiences concerning people’s reactions. Ruth said: “People usually enjoy seeing us dress the way we do! You often get stares but they are usually positive. People sometimes stop us to ask for pictures, especially when we are out together. When I’m going to parties I very occasionally get children in the street or on the bus asking me if I am going to a ball, which is adorable… I sometimes say yes just to watch their excited little faces!”

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Robb added: “Overall, it’s been positive. Sometimes you meet people who just don’t understand, or perhaps don’t want to understand. They can be aggressive, but it’s very rare. Most people seem to think it’s all rather smart and ‘trendy.’ I’ve also had people think I’m trying to be a ‘Peaky Blinder,’ which I’m certainly not! I’m just being myself, or at least, trying to represent a generation-long past.”