(Image Above: Faux-Pas Image from www.dailymail.co.uk)

So first of all, a disclaimer: I don’t think Naomi Campbell picked this outfit out! She wore it in a cameo on Ugly Betty while playing softball. But still, I thought it would be a good (bad) example of the wrong way to wear tights with shorts. Wearing tights with shorts can be a great way to transition your summer clothes into fall and early winter. But if you’re someone who falls into the camp of being scared of looking like Naomi in this faux-pas pic, try wearing neutrals so your tights don’t look too flashy and make you feel uncomfortable. I started with the adorable, Zooe- Deschanel-evoking Santorini Shorts, with subtle pleats and cute button details. The high waist is perfect for tucking in a classic top like the Hepburn Blouse. I chose the Dots and Daisies Tights in Brown, because they have a pattern, but don’t overpower the look. And I adore the Edie Wedgewick Shoes, so I had to incorporate them into the look. Wedges will make your legs look long, but are comfy for a day at work or school. Playing off of the green in the shoes, I chose the Charter School Cardigan in British Literature, and matched it with the Stylin’ Stag Ring. To finish off the look, I added the delicate Tempus Fugit Necklace and the Star of the Rodeo Bag.

What do you think about wearing shorts with tights? Is it a do or a don’t?

(Image Above: These are just a few of the Be the Buyer items that have been picked!)

Well, you’ve all been diligently making your Be the Buyer picks, and voting on which potential designs you’d like to see for sale on ModCloth. And, drumroll please, the results are in for the first batch!!! Check the Be the Buyer category page to see which items made the cut. Simply look under the product image, and you’ll see either “You Picked It!” or “You Skipped It.” The “you” refers to the collective virtual buying team. If any of your favorite items didn’t get picked, make sure to spread the word next time you vote by using one of the sharing options on the product category page (i.e., email, facebook , twitter) to get your friends voting. To be the first to know when an item is actually available for purchase, sign up on the item’s category page for notification. If you already “picked” the item, you’ll automatically be notified via email. We’re having these items made, and will have them up on our site and available for sale as quickly as we can!

Psst, there are still a couple items left to vote on, so start picking now!

If you’ve taken a gander at our recent, menswear-inspired lookbook – or have just glanced at the guys in your life these past couple of weeks – you may have noticed  a bounty of bristly faces. “What’s with all this precisely preened plumage poking around the upper perimeter of these Modsters’ mouths?” you may have asked yourself. Well, there’s no reason to keep a stiff upper lip about it anymore – we’re highlighting Movember!

Okay, I know what you’re going to ask next – “What’s Movember?” Well, the word itself is a playful portmanteau of ‘moustache’ and ‘November,’ but the concept behind this term is much more meaningful. The fact is, males all over the world, during the month of November, are growing this form of facial hair to bring awareness to men’s health issues, particularly prostate and testicular cancers.

From its humble beginnings as a concept kicked around by a few friends in an Adelaide, Australia pub back in 2003 to bring back the popularity of moustaches, Movember has since grown into an annual, global celebration of this tufted face trimming in order to raise money for cancer research. Men start November cleanly shaven, then simply let their stubble grow into the form of a ’stache for the next month, all the while acquiring donations from supportive sponsors. The moustache, then, has become a symbol of awareness, much like the pink ribbon has for breast cancer.

If you’d like give a shout out to your brothers, fathers, male friends, and others, but aren’t ’scruff enuff’ to grow your own, why not highlight men’s health issues with a handlebar moustache on your bag? On Monday, November 23rd, if your ModCloth order hits $100 or more, excluding the purchase of gift cards, you will receive for free with your shipment the handsome tote shown above!

In the meantime, discover more ways that you can help the cause by visiting the official Movember website.

(Photo courtesy: www.jezebel.com)

• If I had any money to bet you, dear reader, I’d say at least three of your friends have something related to the new Twilight movie posted within their Facebook status right now, (unless of course, you’re the guilty party!). Since vampires have existed (at least that’s how long it seems), Twilight fever has been sweeping the nation, and with the movie’s second installment New Moon out today, you can’t turn a corner without being forced to choose between Team Edward and Team Jacob. Twilight product mania is also bursting – from Pringle’s limited-edition ‘Salt and Vampire’ flavored chips, to the hand-painted Converses seen above, to The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook, which claims to “satisfy even the pickiest, puritan ‘vegetarian’ vampires.”
• If any of the previous products have trouble selling, perhaps their creators should look into hiring one of these advertising companies. Check out some of the craziest 3D billboards seen around the world.
• And since the season of overeating is upon us, why not top off this post with a rumination on the glory of cake?

So, ModLovers – fess up. What Twilight attire do you own?

Here at the ModCloth Headquarters, the holiday season is approaching faster than you can say “mistletoe.” We’ve spent the past few weeks poring over the many new garments, accessories, and decor items just waiting to be labeled with love. However, as visions of sugarplums dance through our heads more and more frequently (and with an alarming amount of distraction), we need your help to give a few special items the perfect names. The gift-giving spirit is simply contagious, so we’ve decided to present to you, our clever customers, with twelve chances to win in our beloved Name It and Win It Contest!

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 23, we’ll post the first nameless ModCloth item in desperate need of a tantalizing title! Submit your merriest monikers for the item as a comment to that blog post for your chance to win. We’ll pick a few favorites, then it’s up to YOU to choose a winner in a poll on Tuesday, November 24. The polls will be up and running from noon the day voting for that item begins until noon the following day. In the first item’s case, you’re eligible to vote from noon on Tuesday, November 24 until noon on Wednesday, November 25. If you miss your chance to submit names or vote in the poll, fear not! We’ll be launching eleven other items on ModLife every other day in the same manner until December 16. This gives you several chances to win ModCloth items and many opportunities to vote for your favorite names!

Starting Monday, November 30, the winners will be announced at the beginning of each week on both ModLife and in our newsletter. If you’re not already receiving our newsletter, sign up on our homepage – the field to enter your email is on the left side of the screen!

So put on your thinking caps this weekend, and get ready to spread the cheer of your amusing aliases on Monday!

Read ‘Official Contest Rules’ here.

‘Tis the season to spread holiday cheer, and that’s just what we’re doing. We proudly present the When You Wish Upon a List Contest!

All your fashion dreams could come true, if you just follow these easy steps:

• Create your very own wonderful wishlist on ModCloth.com, filled to the brim with all your favorite fabulous frocks, stylish shoes, posh pants, sparkly skirts, bold bags, and amazing accessories!

• Share your lovely list with whenyouwishuponalist@modcloth.com by noon on December 4th, and be sure to include your email address in the message. Only 1 wishlist per customer will be counted by our happy helpers!

• One propitious person will be randomly chosen to win a fantastic $50 ModCloth gift card, and the golden opportunity to create their very own gift guide, which will be featured on ModLife!

For full ModCloth contest rules, click here.

Update: Just to clarify, you can actually email us your wishlist right from the site, without copying and pasting into a new email. Just go to the “My Account” tab at the top of the page. From there, you should see all of your wishlists, and next to those, you should see “email” as an option. Please send us whichever wishlist you’d like to share using this “email” option in order to be eligible. You can also “share” your wishlists on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, and Kaboodle!

(Image Above: Speedbump on Chictopia)

There’s something about this outfit that I just love, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. The combination is totally unexpected but (in my opinion) still works and feels effortlessly cool. What do you think?

(Image Above: Battalion Jacket in Black, Laser Light Show Dress, Chic Chevron Tights, Nefertiti Heels, Snake, Rattle, and Roll Bag, Compact Cassette Ring, and Calla Lovely Earrings)

It was sheer gluttony, pure indulgence, unabashed self ingratiation. Yes! Well, perhaps I exaggerate, but that’s beside the point. You see, when us writers choose an outfit of the week, we generally have an inspiration in mind. Sometimes, we try out a new style, something out of our comfort zone. Other times, we build an outfit around a theme, say, Western wear. For my outfit of the week, however, I decided to throw all that to the wind. Ah yes, there it goes now, little flecks of well-conceived thought borne away on the currents of my desires. Why? For my outfit of the week, I decided to do nothing more than seize the occasion as an opportunity to get decked out in some of my favorite ModCloth items. No seamlessly calculated plan. No invisible thread weaving the outfit together. Just a gleeful avidness for wearing clothes I admired. The result was a visual cacophony of color, pattern, and shape. The curved frogging of the Battalion Jacket in Black contrasted with the jagged, angular shapes on the Laser Light Show Dress. The delicate organic loops of the Calla Lovely Earrings played opposites with the bold geometric design on the Nefertiti Heels. Then, for good measure, a few accessories – the Compact Cassette Ring, the Chic Chevron Tights, and the Snake, Rattle, and Roll Bag. Some may say the whole is a bit overboard, but I can’t help but love it.

What do you think?

And, what’s your favorite ModCloth item?

Harbor Tour Dress

I had such a hard time picking a favorite new item this week: there are just too many! After much debate I finally settled on this dress. It’s wonderful texture, flattering shape, and cute collar are sure to make it my new go-to piece when I’m being indecisive… kind of like right now.

What’s your favorite new item this week?

(Fun in the Sun)

Artist: Sarah D.

Inspiration: The main reason for my art is trying to capture moments in my life that I never want to forget. I have a portfolio site, Dottidee that has my drawings and photographs, and I recently started a new blog, The Antique Pearl, about my obssesion with retail therapy.

What do you think of her snapshot? Its unique sepia look makes me think I should invest in a Lomography, Holga, or Golden Half camera!