While we at ModCloth certainly still love dressing up for Halloween, we also get nostalgic for a simpler time in costumes–those Halloweens of yore when our costumes leaned towards the cute or gory rather than the ironic or glamorous. Instead of attending parties, Halloween meant one thing–trick or treating. While we  still enjoy a fun-size chocolate (or ten) during the holiday, we still miss the moment of exultation that comes with spilling out multiple bags of assorted candy, standing back, and surveying them with the knowledge they are YOURS: the fruits of your long, cold trek from door to door holding up your animal tail or princess dress for hours to keep it from dragging on the ground.

According to the History Channel’s website, the tradition of trick or treating “probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day Parade in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called ’soul cakes’ in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives”: a practice known as ‘going a-souling.’ As for dressing up, that has its roots in both European and Celtic culture. It was believed that on Halloween the souls of the dead would return to the Earth. Afraid of being harassed by these eerie spirits, people would wear masks and dress as the dead themselves to escape recognition.  They would also place bowls of food outside their home as an offering to keep the spirits away.

But from these somewhat dark origins evolved a holiday that gave us some of our greatest childhood memories. So in homage to those simpler times, here are some of our cutest costumes from many years ago!

Lacey says she isn’t even sure if this was a Halloween costume.  She just really liked this look. Note the pantaloons!

Rachel is the new Executive Assistant to the Marketing Director. But in a former life, she was the cute bunny in the center of this picture.

Marne is the king of the jungle and her brother looks like a pretty easygoing lioness.

Sari is a baby joey with her marsupial mom!

Maggie as a Cyndi Lauper with some serious attitude.

What’s your costume this Halloween? Have some great memories or awesome costumes you want to share? As always, we’d love to hear about it! And from everybody at ModCloth, Happy Halloween!!

As I’ve been decorating my new apartment, I realize that I am forever stuck somewhere between 1967 and 1975. My favorite wardrobe pieces, as it would turn out, are no different. It was a great period for design in both clothing and furniture. So with holiday party season quickly approaching, I wanted an outfit that accurately reflects my personal style (and its retro leanings). Enter the Haight-Ashbury Party Dress. I remember the moment I laid eyes on it at the trade show; a flash of color called to me from across the booth -and the rest is history! But how to make it shine…

First, I needed to make it functional. It’s no secret that tights season is quickly approaching – it snowed in Pittsburgh yesterday! I reached lovingly for our Black Sheep Wool Tights (coming soon!). They’re warm, cozy, and the perfect companion for those of us who like to step out in style without compromising our dress-loving ways. Next – the shoes! Irregular Choice was my first, great shoe love. They’re the reason I lust after shoes the way I do today (and also the reason I had to pack up three large boxes of shoes this week – not to mention what I left behind). The Toasted Almond Heels feature an almost perfectly matching shade of tan, ultra soft leather, and they manage to stay quirky without taking away from the dress. The Dynasty Purse was a given; it eloquently matches heels while adding extra gold for a cocktail-party-ready feel. Finally (my favorite part), the accoutrements! The Ostentatious Owl brooch has always held a place in my heart – it’s an adorable way to break up the black so it doesn’t overpower the look. Next I added the Open Sea Clip-Ons. They have a great antique feel that adds a touch of vintage to the outfit (even if they did get lost in my hair…trust me, I’m wearing them). To stay in line with my hippie vibe, the Bourgeois Boheme Headband in purple came next. I plan to own this in every shade…it helps keep my otherwise messy mane at bay while adding an unexpected splash of color. And last, I added the Golden Savannah Bracelet. Its subtle, but can keep its own in an otherwise bright outfit – even if I throw on a cardigan. We all have have leanings in our personal style. What is yours? How will you represent it this holiday season? Thanks for reading, and as always, happy shopping!

For the last installment of our Project Runway series, we chatted with Kara Janx from Season 2. Kara has been quite busy balancing her business and a new baby since her PR days.

Photo copyright of Bravotv.com

ModCloth: What have you been doing since Project Runway?

Kara: Well, I had my business prior to the show. So I’ve just kind of really expanded on it and built up a really phenomenal business; and it just keeps growing.

MC: What is your line called?

Kara: My line is under my namesake- Kara Janx. I started it two years before the show.

MC: What was the most important thing you learned from Project Runway?

Kara: I learned that design is a process, as with everything- it’s such a learning experience. There was such a learning curve. And with that comes patience, dedication, and a lot of hard work.

MC: Were there any funny or crazy behind-the-scenes moments that didn’t air in your season’s final cut?

Kara: There were so many, but we’re not at liberty to elaborate on them- other than what you’ve seen. Sorry about that though. I’d love to expose everything, but I’d probably be shot.

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This season has brought on a serious case of avian fever! Here at ModCloth, all of our bird-inspired fare has garnered attention, but one order seems to have the most die-hard devotees : The Owls.    

                 (Picture Courtesy of Cute Overload. com)

These observant loners seem unlikely candidates for popularity; their feathers pale in comparison to the bright plumage of the peacock and they lack the romantic symbolism of the dove or eagle. Yet, we are drawn to them. Perhaps it is their sense of solitude and mystery that attracts us– a beauty that isn’t flashy, but still hauntingly memorable. Perhaps we admire how comfortable they are in their own feathers, no matter how different they may be from the other birds.

There are, of course, many sayings and myths associated with owls:  the highly-educated, spectacle-wearing “Wise Owl” and the rebellious, over-caffeinated “Night Owl” are common owl characters, but where did these concepts originate?

(Picture courtesy of Cute Overload.com)

One possible origin of the wise old owl myth may be its association with the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. She is often depicted with an owl companion in paintings and sculpture. Athena’s owl has even been found inscribed on coins:

(Picture courtesy of Strongbrains.com)

The magic and mystery associated with owls may be the result of their nighttime liveliness. Most owls are nocturnal birds of prey, which explains why you hear their hoots only in the evenings (by the way, that infamous hooting has to do with courting tactics). Their incredible night vision also accounts for their association with intelligence and clarity, as they can literally see things that diurnal (or, daytime) animals cannot!

Fun Owl Facts:

• owls inhabit the majority of the Earth’s regions
• a baby owl is  known as an “owlet” or “fledgling”
• a group of owls is a “parliament”
• a group of snow owls is sometimes called a “blizzard” (!)

Haven’t had a chance to check out all of our awesome owl-inspired accessories? Here’s just a few that can be found right now at ModCloth.com!

Retro Roosting Tee

All My Owls Messenger Bag

Owl Parliament Earrings

Owl Pal Glasses Holder

PsychOwlDelic Wallet

Mr. Owl Scarf

Have some owl facts or stories of your own? I’d love to hear them!

This week, we’re visiting a designer from Project Runway’s Season 3. Alison Kelly is a young soul with a beautiful, mature, vintage-inspired aesthetic. Here’s what she had to say about life lessons learned and her newest projects.

Alison is wearing a dress she designed for Bravo’s A-List Awards, which is also available on her site. Photo courtesy of dahlbyalisonkelly.com.

ModCloth: What have you been doing since the finale?

Alison: I launched my wholesale line, Dahl by Alison Kelly, in September 2006 with an exclusive for Shopbop.com. During production, a factory I was using in Manhattan’s garment district skipped town, having been six months behind on rent, taking with them many of my patterns, fabrics, samples, and production. I lost a lot of money. I was able to ship the collection on time, thanks to my loved ones, and it was okay in the end. Thus, I proceeded to have a nervous breakdown. (I am smiling about it now. I was able to recover, and learned a “valuable lesson,” I’ve been told. Whether it was about trust or simply fate, I still do not know.)

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Hi people. I’m Crystal, another voice of the ModCloth blog. So far, I’ve been working on the Project Runway interview posts, which have been very fun. Project Runway is actually what piqued my interest in fashion in the first place. I know it’s a little cheesy to say that a reality show impacted your life, but hear me out.

Growing up, I attended a private school where making a fashion statement meant untucking your plain, boring shirt until someone caught you. Then, there was my anti-fashion stage. I went at least a year…maybe two…without purchasing any new apparel or shoes. This was less of a conscious effort than you might think. It was more of a period in every college student’s life when she’s too poor and busy to buy much of anything. But either way, I was conveniently rocking my own preppy, boho-esque look for a while. (a.k.a. whatever was clean and unwrinkled)

Enter: Project Runway, Season 3. From the first time I saw Jeffrey and Laura’s pieces walk down the same runway, I realized there was more to fashion than I had ever known. A whole new world of art-in which everyone participates every day-was revealed to me. From then on, I began experimenting with fashion. I wore heels with my jeans, and scoured the Internet for the world’s best gaucho pants, even if they were a trend.

So here I am today. My wardrobe is still a bit plain compared to some of my co-workers and their hardcore love for thrift stores and vintage, but when I wrap my favorite scarf just right and look in the mirror, everything is good. I can express so much with my wardrobe, and love showing the world who I am day-by-day.

Oh, and p.s. If you enjoy reading the Project Runway posts as much as I enjoyed writing them, or have some other suggestions, let me know!

Thx.

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.

In blog posts passed, we’ve brought you our take on the pashmina, the ever-tricky long, thin scarf, large square scarves, and the tips and tricks that make them shine. This week, as the nights get cooler and our outfits get warmer, we tie the large winter scarf to bring out its full potential in both fashion and function. In this video, we use the bright and beautiful Oxbridge Scarf.

Step #1: As usual, we grab opposite ends of the scarf.
Step #2: Drape one corner over your shoulder.
Step #3: Pull the rest of the scarf around, behind your head, and back around to the front.
Step #4: Take the other corner, bring it to the opposite side of your neck, and pull it up through, and underneath the rest of the scarf.
Step #5: Pull it through, and throw it over your other shoulder.
Step #6: Adjust!

By this time, we’re sure you know that we never leave you with just one way to achieve sassy style with your scarf collection. Another pretty yet warm way to tie the scarf is as follows:

Step #1: Bunch the scarf in the middle, and rest it behind your head.
Step #2: Grab two corners (any corners will do), and pull them (to opposite sides) around to the back of your head.
Step #3: Tie a knot, and adjust!

Simple yet stunning!

Congratulations! You’ve graduated from our series Scarves 101. Let us know what you think! Post pictures of your own unique scarf style – we’re always looking for new and exciting ways to decorate our models! I hope this was helpful. As always, thank you for reading, and happy shopping!

Are the days seeming spookier to you? Halloween is fast approaching and we’re getting in the spirit here at ModCloth. Last week, we dressed as Audrey Hepburn, a first lady, and a flapper. This week we yet again scoured the ModCloth warehouse in search of inspiration for crafting our costumes. We hope you’ll like what we came up with!

If you’re still completely clueless about what you want to be, check out one of our favorite fashion blogs, Daddy Likey. They’re having a “best costume story” contest and ModCloth is sponsoring with a $100 gift certificate for the winner!

Marne as a French Girl

“How do you build a costume around your love of stripes? I just looked to our French-speaking friends for inspiration! No, I’m not talking about Maxime Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury; I mean the cutest Parisian girls! Perhaps it’s a stereotype, but I love the black and white combo with some splashes of bright red.  Topped off with a gold pin and an umbrella (featuring the Eiffel Tower) and all that I’m missing is a baguette! Say ‘oui’!”

Marne is wearing:

Scarlet Starlet Coat

Joy of Painting Pin

Wanderlust Bracelet

Spring in Paris Umbrella

Belvederes Black Party Pumps

Essential Emo Jumper

Lindsay as Amelia Earhart

“I wear dresses most of the year, so Halloween is my chance to adorn myself with boots and bombers. Amelia Earhart was a way to achieve, if only in style, my dream of becoming a pilot! I love the Pan Am Flight Bag and the Bunny Hill Coat will keep me warm, even though I’m a bit old to go house to house. And you can’t tell in this picture, but I couldn’t get these pants buttoned. Maybe I should lay off the candy!”

Lindsay is wearing:

The Risque Black Boot

The Bunny Hill Jacket

Pan Am Cabin Bag

Windy City Scarf

Classic Aviators

Aaron as Max Fischer in Rushmore

“Herman Blume: What’s the secret, Max?

Max Fischer: The secret?

Herman Blume: Yeah, you seem to have it pretty figured out.

Max Fischer: The secret, I don’t…I guess you’ve just gotta find something you love to do and then…do it for the rest of your life. For me, it’s ModCloth.”

Aaron is wearing:

Beat Poet Beret

The Rushmore Blazer

It’s not every day we get a fan letter, let alone one that’s quite so special as the one we got from Paige. Paige is trying to complete 50 goals before June 1, 2009 and she’s chronicling their completion in a series of You Tube videos. One of her goals was to write a fan letter and we were honored that she chose to write to us!

The vintage-lovers in us adored that the note was written on an electric typewriter (!) and on such cute stationary. Here’s the letter hanging on our cork board in the warehouse, serving as an inspiration to ship each and every package with love and care! Thanks, Paige!

The warehouse inspiration board, with Paige’s letter pegged to the left of ‘My Left Foot.’

It was a perfect autumn day in Wexford, PA. When we first pulled into the parking lot, it was clear that we weren’t the only ones inspired by the blue skies and sunshine to visit Soergel Orchards. Although it’s known for delicious apples and other locally-grown produce and baked goods, Soergel’s is particularly popular at this time of year because of its incredible pumpkin patch. A trip to Soergel’s to fetch the family pumpkin is an autumn tradition for many families in the Pittsburgh area and I have memories (as many of you might) of school field trips where we’d pile into a tractor-pulled wagon for a festive hay ride.

As I walked past the greenhouse, I hoped that I would be able to find the perfect pumpkin at Soergel’s as I had so many years before…

but our first stop was the apple press for a live demonstration of how apples become cider!

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