Okay, so, I’ll chalk it up to big misunderstanding, but when Emily said she could get us into the Ronny Stash & the Good Deeds concert for free, I assumed that meant she had tickets for the show.

We agreed to meet at the venue, and I stood at the Flack Street entrance for a time, trying to look as cool in my leather jacket and motorcycle boots as I listened to the muted sounds of guitars and drums emanating from the opening band’s set inside. After scrutinizing my Don’t Metal with Me Watch for a  little over an hour — and after a series of suspicious looks from the hulking bouncer at the door —   Emily finally showed up.

I was mildly miffed not only at her apparent lack of respect for punctuality, but by the fact that she was wearing the same watch. But I have to admit that I thought it showed a lot of insight on her part to accent the tranquil Clairvoyant Dress with the punky edge of the unisex Don’t Metal with Me Watch.

“Where’ve you been?” I interrogated.  “I’ve been waiting for you for over an hour now!”

“Where have I been? I could ask the same of you!” Emily responded as she stood there in her Pistachio Sundae Heels, brandishing a bewildered look.  “I’ve been waiting for you where I told you I’d be — the back, secret entrance!”

“Oh! Sorry, I thought you said the Flack Street entrance!”

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, Richard.” At that moment, Emily reached into her Take the Wheel Purse and withdrew two laminated badges attached to lengths of cord. “I got the backstage passes from my cousin who’s the guitar tech for Ronny Stash. I met him round back at the band’s entrance. He’s still back there holding the door, waiting for us.”

“Are you serious?! Wow, okay. Let’s go then!” I exclaimed. We hung the passes from our necks, and then I followed Emily back to the correct entryway in disbelief that I was about to meet one of my musical heroes!

What about you, ModReaders? What would you wear to a performance of your favorite band? Have you ever met one of your favorite musicians?

Making musical discoveries is just about my favorite thing on earth. I get quite a thrill digging up rare gems on YouTube, such as this video from Aussie band, the Sacred Cowboys, whom I found buried deep down in the ‘Related Videos’ column while viewing another 80’s Australian band’s promo.

The Sacred Cowboys are what happen when you take the clap-your-hands-say-yeehaw sound of a country hoedown, add some synthy, new wave flourishes, and then deliver this composite with a punk attitude. It’s ‘utter-ly’ odd and wonderful!

Unfortunately, after some research, this video and a brief entry in Wikipedia is all I’ve been able to turn up for this band. If any of you ModReaders have more information, please let us know.

Also, we’d love to hear about any underground bands that you’ve recently uncovered!

Sarah and I were recently invited to speak to a group of aspiring fashionistas about the subject of style! We happily accepted, and since it was a co-ed crowd, we decided to deliver an oration about the utility of unisex garments. Are you and your boyfriend or roommate on a tight budget? Instead of turning down the thermostat to chilly temperatures, why not save cash by sharing accessories suitable for both sexes? To drive home our point, Sarah and I made an example of the epicene Keynote Necklace. Want to unlock the formula for pulling off a Unisex-y look with this piece of jewelry? Then simply abide by these three steps.

Step one: Confidence is key

Dare to be dazzling, and it’ll pay off with many compliments and much admiration! Beneath the brassy gleam of her Keynote Necklace, which is mirrored in the gilded trim of her Veronica Heels, Sarah looks absolutely glamorous in the vibrantly emerald Grecian Green Dress. The subdued black hues of her Cosmopolitan Cape and dainty Dark Shadows Gloves belie their superb sophistication, and fewer things are finer than a floral headpiece such as the Elegance in Bloom Headband.

Step two: Take note of trends

Skeleton key necklaces currently are one of the ‘it’ accessories. An iconic symbol of access, the Keynote Necklace will open up many new doors for your wardrobe!

Step three: Make it your own

The fact that the Keynote Necklace is available for purchase on a women’s clothing website didn’t stop me from accenting my outfit with it. I made it appropriately masculine by letting the brilliance of this neckpiece speak for itself against a subtle outfit of a black button-up, black trousers, and a grey cardigan. Then I punctuated this statement with a brazen, butterscotch-colored, crocodile-print pair of loafers.

What about you, ModReaders — do you find yourselves adhering to any fundamentals of fashion?

Not long after we started working together, Angela and I discovered that we share very similar musical interests. Generally, we both appreciate the envelope-pushing elements of post-punk and the folksy, down-home delivery of traditional country. But, especially, we adore that dark, little, smoky corner of the rock and roll arena where these two genres collide in a pleasantly peculiar mishmash of musical styles. Since they often are hiding out in the underground, these types of bands aren’t always so easy to uncover. Grab your DIY Music to Check Out Journal and get together with a fellow fanatic, though, and digging up new discoveries couldn’t have been made any easier!

And that’s exactly what Angela and I did one night after work to pass some time before heading out to an indie show we had our sights on. We both brought stacks of LP’s and 45’s for the other to leaf through and examined each other’s DIY Music to Check Out Journal to compare notes and favorite playlists. I was so enthralled by her collection of vinyl, and mesmerized by the musty smell of vintage cardboard record sleeves, that I lost track of time.

“Hey, Richard! Don’t forget: The She-Riffs are set to hit the stage at 9:00, then the Kinky Bangs go on after,” Angela pointed out as she smoothed her unique Darling Deetz Dress, which she so daringly donned over the brazen Ultraviolet Tights.  “Can you believe that they’re both opening up for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang? This is amazing. We gotta get going!”

So Angela jammed her journal into her Head Out on the Highway Bag and set foot out the door on the soles of her iconoclastic New York, 1976 Heels, whose heavy metal hardware reverberated in the Chain Mail Bangle. I tucked my journal into the inner pocket of my jean jacket then followed after in my cowboy boots and ensemble of black that I accessorized with a bolo tie styled as a necklace.

After a quick jaunt, we arrived at the joint just in time to catch the electrifying licks of the She-Riffs show-opening ode to country cuisine, “Staked Out in the Steakhouse.” We stood there in awe of their sizzling set and then listened enthusiastically to the Kinky Bangs bang out out their frenzied series of songs. But the real highlight of the night was when the lead singer of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang caught sight of Angela’s Haute Handlebar Ring and stopped the band mid-song to sing praises over her choice of accessories. What a night we had!

How about you, ModReaders? What bands would we find in your DIY Music to Check Out Journal?

Oh, those shoes! Those beautiful, red shoes! My reverence for their old west gambler style, the vague motorcyle boot influence of the harness, and their gender-neutrality – not to mention their respelendent pop of color! – had me considering making them the main attraction for my next Unisex-y blog. But, alas, the largest size we carry is just one size too small. Hrmph. No matter, though. I figure if I can’t have the Get Outta My Dreams Shoes, the least someone could let me do is  let me dress them up in these luscious low cuts. It turns out that Ashley, ModCloth’s Product Coordinator, was willing to trust my styling and step in front of the camera wearing an entire outfit of my choosing.

Need some clues about how I styled these shoes? Continue reading.

We’re getting to an awkward point in the year where many of us are eager to witness the egress of the bulky sweaters and coats required by winter weather and welcome the freshness of garments constructed with lighter materials in hopes that Mother Nature might expedite the arrival of Spring. But though we like to think of warmer conditions as being just around the corner, stepping through our front doors tells us that it’s still pretty chilly outside. So, straddling the fuzzy line between the two seasons was the initial inspiration behind my creation of this outfit.

In the beginning of my assembly process, something about the shoes reminded me of what a matador might wear. Maybe it was the flamy hue that mimiced, in my mind, the crimson muleta that bullfighter uses to enrage the bull. This, along with my wish to make sure Ashley had something warm to wrap around her torso, and my fondness for neutrals,  influenced me to choose the wooly, black and white checked Wool You Be Mine Bolero.

At this point, I began noticing a theme: items named after songs! Billy “Our Favorite” Ocean wrote the tune that lent its namesake to the shoes, and Pittsburgh hometown hero Mr. Rogers composed the piece of music that inspired the title of the bolero. So, I rolled with this theme by using as the foundation to the whole ensemble the Eyelet Love In Dress, which took its name from one of my favorite Nick Cave ballads. After that, the rest just fell in place. I wanted to accent Ashley’s waist with the Can You Sparrow Some Change Belt, whose swooping swallows clasp is reminiscent of traditional tattoos that many of our favorite rock and rollers sport. Then, to continue the fine feathered friend motif, I decided to adorn Ashley’s hair with the Old World Elegance Hair Clip. Instead of thick knit tights that we’ve been seeing a lot of this winter, I opted for the Betsey Johnson These Socks are Your Oyster since  not only do they still give some coverage to the leg, but they are absolutely adorable and accordingly neutral in tone. The Lasso the Moon Bag, appropriately grey in color, was the final touch.

How about you, ModReaders? How do you plan to make some stylish updates to your wardrobe for the late winter season?

How Unisex-y are birthdays! Whether you’re a woman or a man, you’ve got one.  And as it turns out, ModCloth’s Newsletter Coordinator, Crystal, and I share ours tomorrow. So to celebrate, and to keep in line with the binary nature of the occasion, we threw a party utilizing two items that know no boundaries when it comes to gender!

To chip away at the frosty winter chill here in the Pittsburgh, we partied in tropical style by sipping coconut-y concoctions from our cocktail umbrella-capped Quest for the Holy Tumblers and by blowing out the candles on the cupcakes set atop a pedestal of Forbidden Island Tiki Stools. Prior to this, when I asked Crystal what she would wear if she could create her dream birthday outfit from ModCloth merchandise, her response was, “Ruffles!” To accommodate this request, then, I set up an outfit for her using the bright and bubbly (and, yes, ruffly!) Caribbean Queen Dress as the basis for a wistful-for-warm-weather look that was complemented by the Stephanie Leggings in Navy. The ruffles run rampant again around the ankle of her Unicorn Princess Heels in Pewter, and the cute Cosette Rosette Headband adorns her hair adorably as a final touch.

And for myself? Well, I just wanted to look dapper as Dan as I revel in the anniversary of another year lived by wearing a snazzy, checked blazer over a baby blue button-up with black pants, black cowboy boots, and a black ribbon tie.

Happy birthday, Crystal. I raise my Quest for the Holy Tumbler in hopes of many happy returns!

Depending on your source, the official colors of the upcoming holiday are anything from austere black and silver to cheery red or yellow. But if you ask me, the color that makes most sense for ringing in a new year is the light shade of blue composing this dress worn by the stylish woman behind calivintage. Light blue reminds me of newborn babies, and what is New Year’s if not a celebration of renewal and getting a fresh start – a rebirth, if you will? That’s why I think this adorable outfit, composed of a baby blue cocktail dress and  baby’s-breath-like stockings, would be perfectly appropriate for a New Year’s Eve party. She’s wearing flats in this photo, but you can easily glam up a similar look with a pair of cream-colored heels like the Lovely Lady Pumps in Fergie.

What’s more inspiring for the New Year than a message of peace? This stylish woman behind the fashion blog One More Dress wears not one, but two  peace symbol medallions to accessorize her sleek and chic outfit, which is almost as equally influential  as her statement necklaces.  If you’ve got plans to attend a swanky party on New Year’s Eve and cocktail dresses just aren’t your thing, then take a haute hint from her draping, satiny, black top that she’s combined with a slinky, subtle snakeskin-print skirt, iridescent tights, and black heeled booties. And, perhaps what I love most about this outfit is that she’s added a little punch of punk attitude to her otherwise elegant ensemble with a studded belt and fiery hair. This’ll be the look “ev’rybody’s talkin’ about” the next day.

This season of spirited celebrations is a busy time for all of us. Cookies need to be baked, shopping needs to done, gifts need to be wrapped, cards need to be mailed, grandmas need to be called, and people need to be delivered safely to their loved ones via various modes of transportation. Just recently, Molly, her dashing dachshund Keith Richards, and I all hopped aboard ModAir to head back to Pennsylvania for some homemade pumpkin pie. And though the holiday traveling was hectic, we’re evidence that you don’t have to look like you’ve been run over by a reindeer when you arrive home.  We both packed up our presents to friends and family in a handsome Baggage Claim Tote carry-on, then flew for mile after mile in Unisex-y style.

Things got started with what I thought would be a hitch to our happy journey, but it was no disappointment to Molly, who was bundled up like a pretty package in BB Dakota’s Bahnhof Coat and the In the Loop Scarf in Midnight, when I pointed out on the arrival/departure screen that our plane to Pittsburgh had been delayed.  “I don’t mind the wait,” she said. “This way, even more people in the airport can compliment me on how lovely I look in my Loch Lomond Dress, and how I did such a jolly job of pairing it with the Forget Me Knot Heels. Oh, and how adorable my dog is, too, in his little sweater. It’ll be funsies!”

“Well that’s one way to look at it!” I remarked, in an attempt to make the merriest of the situation as I stood there in my blue twill trousers, blue checked shirt, grey knit sweater, and brown mesh scarf. “I’m just really anxious to empty out my Baggage Claim Tote of goodies into the arms of my darling dears.”

“Oh, Richard! We’ll be decking their halls with boughs of holly in no time! Meanwhile, let’s go a-wassailing through the terminal as we wait!”

So, I joined Molly in a rousing round of caroling with our fellow wayfarers, and in what seemed like no time at all, we boarded the plane. Then just a few hours later, we were snug in our beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads!

Happy Holidays, Unisex-y readers!

For holiday party apparel, you can’t beat ModCloth, sweet ModCloth! And for polishing up your outfit in a pinch, you can’t beat the Suit Yourself Necklace. Considering that this accessory is constructed from actual vintage blazers, and is totally on-trend with their menswear inspiration, I thought that it would make a perfect feature item for this installment of Unisex-y.

‘Tis the season for getting sauced on holiday spirit at family or workplace gatherings, where people tend to wear formal attire as a matter of course. But perhaps you forgot that you RSVP’ed to your office party that’s happening tonight, and you haven’t got a stitch to wear? Don’t fret! You can dress up a T-shirt – no sweat! – with the Suit Yourself Necklace (that you keep tucked away in your desk drawer for times like this, of course!)

Hearts will be glowing when you show up to the shindig, like Lindsay has, with this lovely lapel draped over the angelic, bow-printed Cherub Rock Tee in White that you’ve combined with the intoxicating-ly cute Da Vinci Skirt in Wine, cream-colored sweater tights, the very versatile Well-Heeled Heels in Navy, and finished with a series of golden Clash Bracelets, and the In Hot Purse-uit Bag (great for sneaking goodies home with you).

Men can make this same accessory masculine, as I’ve done, by simply wearing it over a grey T-shirt, matching the color with a pair of navy slacks, and completing the ensemble with a pair of caramel-colored loafers.

No matter who are, there’ll be much misteltoeing when you look this marvelous!