Over the past few weeks, we’ve been showing you our fall inspiration – chilly nights, the falling leaves…and we’re interested to know what moves you!

Post a picture of your fall inspiration featuring your favorite ModCloth item in the Fan Photos section of our Facebook profile, and we’ll choose our favorite to be featured in the blog! The winner will receive a handful of goodies from our fall favorites and the satisfaction of a style well done. The deadline for entries is Sunday, Oct. 12th (and please, no more than two entries per person), and we’ll announce the winner on Oct. 15th. We can’t wait to see what you see!

The Paris Tote
The Wanderlust Bracelet
The Joy of Painting Pin
The Beat Poet Beret (in Navy)
The Tartan Scarf

Each Monday morning, offices across America are buzzing about what happened on Sunday night’s Mad Men episode.  At ModCloth, our discussions usually turn to our favorite fashions and home decor. So when we learned that one of our former models, Hannah Jacobs, works in the Emmy-winning drama’s costume department, we just had to reconnect.

Hannah was one of ModCloth’s first models. She was a Costume Design major at Carnegie Mellon University before graduating and becoming a Costume Production Assistant in LA, her hometown. Here’s what she had to say about costume design and the fashions of Mad Men.

-Hannah was interviewed by ModCloth Writer, Crystal Smith.

Hannah posing at one of ModCloth’s earliest photo shoots.

The Show:

MC: We heard that Mad Men is meticulous with their costume design. Can you tell us about that?

Hannah: Attention to detail is extremely important in the world of Mad Men. As with many period shows, there is a lot of energy spent in researching the time period to really understand what people actually wore.  Since the fit of the clothes is especially important in our period, every single character, both principals and background, have individual fittings and each piece is tailored to fit perfectly!

MC: What is the process of creating the looks for Mad Men?

Hannah: Costume Design is really storytelling through creating characters.  It begins with a good script and concept, then with a lot of research and character development, we begin pulling closets for the characters. Then it’s lots of fittings, alterations, and final accessorizing! There are also meetings with the producer, director, and other designers to collaborate and create the world of Mad Men.

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It’s no secret that scarves are an essential for any well-rounded autumn wardrobe. They’re an easy way to add color while looking put-together and overall fabulous. Finding the perfect scarf to compliment an outfit is easy – styling it to achieve its (and your outfit’s) full potential is no simple task.

Last week, we brought you our take on the pashmina. Thank you all for the comments and compliments; we’re glad it was helpful! This week in the series Scarves 101, we bring you the long, rectangular, thin scarf. So many of us have a drawer of these somewhere. They’ve been handed down by grandmothers, acquired at thrift stores, or impulsively bought at estate sales (not to mention, we have quite a few wonderful examples right here at ModCloth!), and though they look simple enough, styling them in a demure way is easier imagined than done.

For this demonstration, we enlist the help of the Mr Blue Sky Scarf in blue.

Step #1: Tie each corresponding end together.
Step #2: Starting with the middle of the scarf in front of you, pull the knots over your head, twist, and pull the knots back around to the front.
Step #3: Pull the middle of the scarf through the hole created between the two knots.
Step #4: Adjust!

If you want something a bit simpler, our best advice is borrowed from last week’s installment. The tie is the same, and the results are just as fabulous.

Step #1: Grab opposite ends of the scarf.
Step #2: Starting with the middle in front of you, pull both corners around, behind your head.
Step #3: Pull the corners back around to the front, tie a knot slightly to one side.
Step #4: Adjust!

I hope this was helpful for all you scarf-lovers out there. We’ll be back next week with the newest chapter of Scarves, 101. Happy shopping!

If you’re anything like me, most events are an excuse to dress up. Be it an art opening or a cocktail party, looking good can always lead to feeling good and making the most of an open bar! Pretty dresses and glamorous accessories never go out of style – so this week, I delve into the always beautiful world of party wear.

The Golden Girl Party Dress stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on it. The intricate embroidery and an unusual buttoned front made this frock unlike any I had seen. But how to accessorize such a unique dress without taking away from it’s luster? Enter the Taupical Dot Tights (coming soon!). Not only do they match perfectly, but the subtle polka dots add a touch of quirky charm that I love oh-so-much. Add a pair of classic black pumps (the Belvederes Black Party Pumps, to be exact), and a simple necklace and enjoy the evening’s festivities? That would be the obvious answer, but I wanted more! The Tea For Two Gloves added a dainty touch of 20’s charm that’s classically pretty. For the final touch, The Blair Feathered Headband was provided for an extra touch of glitz , much like a bow on a well accessorized present. Voila! Step out in a unique style that very well may fetch you a missed connection or two. What is your essential party garb? Let me know! I’m always interested in new and fun outfit ideas. Have a great week, and as always, happy shopping!

Local fashion designers. A wonderful nonprofit. A whole lotta cupcakes. It all sounded perfect to us and the 4th Annual Local Motion Fashion Show did not disappoint. Presented by All About Youth and Pittsburgh City Paper, this year’s show, held on September 18th, was a jam-packed celebration of local designers, models, and stylists. There were drinks, great music by Pittsburgh’s own DJ Nugget, a great raffle (featuring some ModCloth goodies), and lots and lots of food (Dozen, one of our favorite bake shops, was a food sponsor and ensured that we stumbled upon a cupcake cache every several feet in the James Center: circulating on trays, organized in elaborate towers, and waiting for us on our seats…yum!).

ModCloth Writer Maggie Glover asks “waaa??” at this cupcake castle.

I've never been to a fashion show and I have to admit that I was expecting a continuous stream of stoic models with pursed lips and an air of dissatisfaction, stonily avoiding the people and camera flashes around them. Instead, most of the designers seemed to make a priority of entertaining the crowd just as they wanted to highlight their collections. Some presentations were prefaced with a dancer and all were set to great music. The "runway" lived up to its name with the opening act, Caution Crew: a breakdancing team who impressively bounded, jumped, and spun on their heads down the length of the narrow catwalk.

Local Motion says their "aspiration is for Pittsburgh to be placed on the map as a hub for fashion," and judging by the collections we saw, it seems they are well on their way. And speaking of the collections...

"The Happiness of Carnival" definitely wins top prize for, well, happiness. The first model buoyantly sashayed down the runway, adroitly balancing a massive headdress, while simultaneously dancing and twirling the ends of her draping floral dress. The rest of the models followed suit, sporting an array of floral and bird prints in vibrant colors and wooing the crowd with their exuberance. Lana Neumeyer, Brazilian architect and fashion designer, says she designs clothes to "bring happiness into people's lives"and her 10-minute show definitely lived up to its aim. Everybody in the audience was dancing and clapping to the Brazilian beats.

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Well, hello out there (and Happy Autumn!) from the newest writer on the ModBlog Team! Thanks for stopping by. If I could pour all of you a glass of virtual lemonade,  I surely would. My name is Alicia and like all of us here at ModCloth, I fill a variety of roles. I’m a Description Writer, occasional Photoshoot Stylist, and the Blog Coordinator. So, if there’s something you want to see us write about or a particular feature that you enjoy and want to see more of, let me know. My email is alicia@modcloth.com and I’m always open to suggestions, comments, praise, and even the occasional tirade.

I’m a book nerd to the core, so if you find product descriptions sprinkled with literary references, they’re probably my doing.  I’m also devoted to trying new restaurants and recipes and I’m constantly forcing those around me to go out to eat or to sample my wacky food experiments.

I grew up north of Pittsburgh in a rural area devoid of any heavy fashion influence, although I do have to say I saw my fair share of wide belt buckles and rugged knee-high boots way before they became on-trend. I always looked up to my older sister’s style, so my personal style falls somewhere between the influence of her elegant-with-a-touch-of-boho look and my weekend habit of scrounging through yard sale boxes and scouring Goodwill racks for the perfect funny tee. Despite the maturation of my personal style, I still believe it’s nearly impossible to go through your day unhappy when Lionel Ritchie is gracing the front of your shirt. I also really like over-sized eyeglasses.

I look forward to keeping you all briefed on the latest at ModCloth and relevant happenings in the greater ModWorld. Enjoy the first few days of Autumn and keep reading!

Spotted at the Vice Magazine/Agenda trade show after party in San Diego, we approached this young woman intrigued by her uniquely awesome outfit.  She told us this crochet piece once belonged to her grandmother in her youth. What a stylish lady she must have been!

We love feather anything and we can’t get enough of socks and heels either!

This young lady’s vintage-looking purse and hat caught our attention at a Pittsburgh fashion show, Local Motion.

It’s no secret that scarves are an essential for any well-rounded autumn wardrobe. They’re an easy way to add color while looking put-together and overall fabulous. Finding the perfect scarf to compliment an outfit is easy – styling it to achieve its (and your outfit’s) full potential is no simple task.

Like so many fashion staples, scarves come in many different shapes and sizes – each holding the power to turn your outfit into a look. In our series, Scarf Tying 101, we’ll teach you tips and tricks from our crack team of super-tyers. We start with the pashmina (namely, our Street Market Pashmina). Pashminas are larger, rectangular, and generally made of a silky fabric that shares its name. Here’s how we get the look that graces the pages ModCloth.com:

Check out our step by step video!

Step #1: Grab the pashmina at opposite corners.
Step #2: Starting with the middle of the scarf in front of you, pull each corner around, behind your head.
Step #3: Pull each corner back around to the front. Tie a knot slightly to one side. This will add shape!
Step #4: Adjust as needed.

If you don’t get it the first time, don’t worry! Re-draping a pashmina is simple.

Step #1: Take the scarf off without untying the knot.
Step #2: Starting with the middle of the scarf in front of you, pull the knot behind your head.
Step #3: Twist the scarf, and pull the knot back over your head.
Step #4: Rest the knot to one side; adjust as needed.

Here’s another great way to wear a pashmina without the trials and tribulations of knot tying:

Step #1: Hold the pashmina in the middle, with the scarf folded in half.
Step #2: Wrap the scarf around, behind your head.
Step #3: Pull the loose ends of the scarf (on one side) through the loop (on the other side)
Step #4: Adjust as needed.

We hope this was helpful! We’ll be back next week with the next installment of Scarves 101; and as always, happy shopping!

Lately, I’ve been drawn to the combination of black and white, more specifically white tops paired with dark bottoms. For my outfit this week, I thought I’d create my own black and white ensemble with some of my ModCloth favorites. The Belle of the Ball Skirt (part dirndl skirt, part ball gown) is one of my all-time favorite ModCloth pieces. It’s great paired with a tee and heels for a night out dancing or for a more sophisticated look paired with a blouse, like the The Angela Blouse which I’ve done here. The Gold Medal Pumps are a nice play on the classic black pump and the Speckled Thrush Earrings add something a bit unexpected to the outfit!

It’s that time of year that makes us wish we lived closer to New York City. Fashion Week in NYC has come and gone, and although we didn’t actually get to the shows, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the catwalks (thanks to our friends at Fashionista and Style.com)! This season, we saw plenty of neutrals (mostly grays and beiges) interspersed with bold color and sequins, deconstructed silhouettes, and even a slouchy hat or two.  From Charlotte Ronson’s fabulously messy cake party to “the return of the crop top,” there’s plenty of fashion week fare we could rattle on and on about, but we’ve managed to pare down our long list of favorites to the following standout looks from some of Fashion Week’s featured designers!

(And no need to worry about Project Runway spoilers here: our lips are sealed!)

• Zac Posen’s collection flowed effortlessly from light to dark, featuring animal prints, bandage-style dresses, and breezy skirts.

• Due to her frequent use of vintage for inspiration, Anna Sui is one of ModCloth’s favorite designers. We loved the printed patterns and beading of this season’s collection.

• Three cheers for feminine masculinity! Smooth, slouchy trousers and shimmer characterized Richard Chai’s collection.  We really liked the cuffed just-past-the-knee pants and zippered boots!

• Brian Reyses’ collection is “inspired by the geologically extreme landscapes of Death Valley, Arizona, and Ethiopia,” but we thought it stood out because of its wearability. Not only do we want many of his sleek and chic looks, but we actually feel like we could get away with wearing them this spring!

• “I wanted to go back to the beginning of my career…a culmination of my years as a designer, but with new elements,” Ben Cho said about his ready-to-wear collection. We’re not sure what surprised us more–the extemely-fitted silhouettes or the golden key fringe.

• Vena Cava’s “Egyptomania” collection presented itself in broad necks and shoulder pads reminiscent of King Tut, as well as hieroglylphic-like zodiac symbols on shirts and collars.

• Speaking of royalty, the reigning king of ready-to-wear style, Marc Jacobs, was all stripes this season in his Marc by Marc Jacobs line. Slouchy trousers, belted waists, muted florals, and lace-ups graced his runway, as well as his must-have dresses. (Oh yeah, and in case you haven’t heard already, he walked the runway in one of his own kilt-like skirts.)

• The Proenza Schouler buzzword this week was “leather”–paired with plenty of fitted silhouettes and sheer fabrics, it was quite a risky collection!

• Diane von Furstenberg called her show “Rock Goddess” and we soon discovered that the inspiration was more Stevie Nicks than Debbie Harry. Flowing hemlines (and hair), sheer printed fabrics, and bright colors ranging from fierce orange to sky blue made this collection memorable. We particularly loved the colors of the final piece.

• Betsey Johnson is known for pushing the limit and featuring styles that are funky and flamboyant. This season’s collection was particularly unexpected and exciting, especially since ModCloth will be carrying a line of her hosiery and shoes in the near future!

• As the grand finale, may we present to you (drumroll, please) Rodarte’s magnificently deconstructed ensembles, featuring flowing fabric, bold colors, and patchwork leggings!

Have some thoughts on what you saw during Fashion Week? We’d love to hear from you!