Stay chic and sheer in these lovely tops: Of An Era Top (top left), Cordially Invited Top, Purely Pleasant Top, Art of Coffee Top, Freshly Spun Top, and Manor Estate Dress.

Does the prospect of styling a sheer blouse leave you feeling a bit exposed? We asked the ModStylists for a few tips on how to wear this transparent trend without revealing too much! They picked some of their favorite styles and offered up a few tricks of the trade:

• Layer on the sheer! Wear multiple sheer tops layered over each other.
• Try a bold colored tank or bandeau under a sheer lacy top.
• Belt a sheer button up over a dress.
• Try layering a sheer top under a sleeveless dress or vest.

Need more style advice? The ModStylists are on call, ready to rescue you from your fashion emergencies!

Psst! Hey, do you follow @ModCloth on Twitter? If so, then you’ll want to click here to find out about a special surprise we have in store for you. We’ll give you a couple of hints: It involves international designer styles and a percentage!

You’ll have to act quickly, though — this event only lasts from from 6 p.m. ET on 3/31/11 to 6 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET* on 4/1/11!

* Due to the overwhelming response, we’ve decided to extend the event an extra hour!

In continued hope of giving a much deserved shout out to all of you out there making Be the Buyer effulge with your votes and support, we have an extra special ‘meet ‘n’ greet with a virtual buyer post, this time featuring fashionable twins Sarita and Sunita!

We interviewed them via e-mail to find out who they are, what they do, and, of course, their top Be the Buyer picks.

Where are you from?
SARITA: [We] were born in Detroit, but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.

What do you do? Are you student? Astronaut? Barista? Acrobat?
SUNITA: I’m a professor at a local community college. I teach English composition and Women’s Studies.
SARITA: I am a Ph.D. candidate in Art History. I study South Asian women artists.

Read the rest of this entry »

Shoe from Alexander McQueen S/S ’11 via Mode Avenue, Paris.

Coffee is a great morning pick-me-up and all, but nothing gets our heart rates going like the sight of shoes. We’re getting a major energy kick from these stunning heels from this month’s Harper’s Bazaar, as photographed by still life master Darryl Patterson and scanned by Mode Avenue, Paris.

Read the rest of this entry »

Slug Toothpaste. Acrylic on panel, 9″x 20″.

I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me want to brush my teeth more than a slug on the bristles of my toothbrush. Just looking at it — yeah, I really want to brush my teeth. Preferably with some toothpaste, please! Objects take upon a fantastical new form when they come into the hands of sculptor and artist (and friend!), Will Schlough, creator of said slug toothpaste painting. Whether spatial, flat, public, or useful, Will’s art is “his way of communicating the way he interprets the world around him.”

Throw Floor. Salvaged red oak flooring, 1″x 25″x 53″.

If you just happen to be in the Pittsburgh area, mark your calendar to check out his show, “For(est) Sale,” from April 1 – 2 at the opening of new technology and art space, Assemble! The theme of Will’s show is “to imaginatively investigate society’s strange and ever-changing relationship with the environment, particularly the growing separation that humans have created between themselves and nature. The result is work that cleverly encourages the pursuit of simple joys.”

For part two of our spring break packing series, we asked Ashley, a Merchandising Manager here at ModCloth, to tell us just how she plans to pack for a seaside excursion!

In this video: For Richer or Porcini Bag, Painting Shells Sandal, Bathing Beauty One-Piece in Red, Fluid Dynamics Dress in Aero, and Fun In the Sun Hat.

If you’re saying to yourself, “Wait, how did I miss this contest?!” then you’ve got to sign up for ModMobile! Once upon a March, we texted our celly subscribers to ask if: 1) They were savvy enough wordsmiths to invent us a new word, and, 2) If they wanted a chance to win one of four $25 gift certificates. The word got out, and soon enough we were knee-deep in over 500 submissions from ModLovers! As an added bonus, the four winning terms will be featured as a ModWord of the Week, our weekly text series that uncovers and defines fun, oftentimes obscure words.

See the word above? “Fashioneer” was one of our fan-submitted faves! And while we really want to tell you the rest of the winning words, we’d be spoiling the surprise for the rest of our regular subscribers! So you’ll just have to sign up for ModWord of the Week to discover the other three winning terms. Join the literary love now by texting “modword” to 30364!

Wanna make sure you’re notified of SMS contests so you can win sweet prizes in the future? To receive text messages from the coolest people in the world, simply sign up for ModMobile! As a subscriber of ModMobile, you’ll also receive exclusive updates, notifications, and even more contest opportunities!

Images via Team Peter Stigter.

Stripes never really go out of fashion, but I’m still blaming Prada for the latest splash of stripes seen all over the street style sites. Whether you go with a classic Breton stripe or a cozy blanket stripe, this easy pattern is the perfect way to mix things up.

Read the rest of this entry »

Family Affairs designer and daughter Nina Elgi, at work in her studio.

Ever wanted to know the story behind some of the stunning dresses you see on our site? I was struck by the recently launched Crystalline Sky Dress, with its pretty flutter cap sleeves and vintage glass buttons, and wanted to learn more about its designer, mother-daughter design duo Family Affairs.

I caught up with the daughter, Nina Egli, to ask her about the inspiration behind the Crystalline Sky Dress, and how Family Affairs got started.

How did you get into fashion? Is it something you have always been interested in?
My mum had a successful career in fashion, so it was always part of our family life. Expression through fashion was encouraged. When I had my punk phase and dyed my hair all sorts of colors, my mum thought it was an interesting fashion statement! I didn’t plan to get into fashion as a career, though. I was studying acting in New York, and, [to] make some money on the side, started making charm bracelets with a friend. I did jewelry and acting at the same time for a while, then decided to devote more time and energy into fashion. That is when the idea for Family Affairs became more clear; it was always lingering at the back of my head to do something with my mum. Suddenly, we had a brand, a seasonal collection, and I haven’t looked back since!

You live in Brooklyn and your mom lives in Zurich. How do you keep in touch and collaborate on collections?
E-mail and Skype! My mum and I share movies we’ve watched; we connect a lot through movies and wardrobes in movies. My inspiration sensors are always on, and if I see something, I mentally put it in my inspiration folder. I usually collect images on my computer that I file into different subject folders, which I send to my mum, and she sends me drawings. So, when I visit Switzerland every couple of months, we have already covered a lot of the shapes and themes.

We love your Crystalline Sky Dress (above) in our shop. Can you tell us more about it?
It’s a very flirty, fun dress referencing the ’50s. It’s inspired by the John Waters movie Cry-Baby… I like the ’50s with a little rebel edge. The buttons are really special. I found them in the basement of one of my suppliers, and they are vintage glass buttons made in prewar New York!

Read the rest of this entry »

The Post Punk Kitchen’s Pumpkin French Toast, Barley Salad with Garlic and Parsley from The Vegan Project, and The Messy Vegetarian Cook’s Savory Seitan with Brown Rice.

What’s on today’s menu? Animal-free dishes from awesome vegan blogs, that’s what! If you love eating vegan or just want to try something new, here’s three yummy ways to do so. Start off with a filling breakfast (Pumpkin French Toast) , a pick-me-up lunch (Barley Salad), then end the day with a satisfying dinner (Seitan and Brown Rice) — all vegan!

Veganism isn’t as inaccessible as some may think, and it’s a delicious way to expand your culinary knowledge.

What are your favorite vegan recipes?