This week’s question came in via email from Sarah. She asks, “I love thrift store shopping and I’m thinking of starting to sell some of my finds online, but I’m not really sure where to start. Do you have any advice or suggestions to other young girls looking to start their own business?”

First off, thanks for the great question, Sarah. I really encourage you to go for it – running your own business is certainly no easy task, but it is so rewarding to work hard and see something you love flourish and grow.  I have a few pieces of advice to anyone who’s just starting out.

Make sure to do your research first! Go out into the market and check out what’s selling and who’s selling it. For vintage clothing, two great places to start are eBay and Etsy. Try to learn as much as you can about your potential customers: why would they want to buy your products? What unique need are you filling in the marketplace? What will make your shop special – why would your customers choose you instead of the competition? The answers to these questions will inevitably change once your business is up and running and you (hopefully) find your niche, but it’s very important to have a clear direction when you’re starting out.

My next piece of advice is to hang in there. Things will inevitably be slow at first, and you need to be willing to persevere. Years ago, ModCloth only had a handful of orders per month, and you have to keep the big picture in mind to see those times through. Since we first launched in 2002, I’ve had plenty of encouragement – but I have also heard plenty of doubt. Be prepared for the naysayers – a confident attitude is a must!

I hope this helps you, Sarah (and any other budding entrepreneurs out there). As always, leave your questions right here in the comments or email asksusan@modcloth.com. Till next time!

PS. Congratulations to Julie, who was randomly selected for a $50 gift certificate from the last installment of Ask Susan!

I’ve received lots of questions about that incredibly exciting yet stylistically challenging teenage rite of passage: the prom!

Prom is a great opportunity to go all out and show off your fashion sense – especially if you have to wear a uniform on regular school days. A great prom look should be a reflection of your unique tastes.  It’s such a personal thing that it would be impossible for me to say exactly what anyone should wear, but I can give a few tips on how to develop a look that’s all yours (and a chance to win $50!)…

A little inspiration courtesy of boston.com.

Tip 1: Start shopping early. You don’t necessarily have to know what you’re looking for, but keep an eye out for pieces that really speak to you. Like Grandma always says, “A watched pot never boils“… which basically means that you’ll probably find that perfect piece when you least expect it.

Tip 2: If possible, buy vintage. You’ll rest easy knowing that no one else will show up in the exact same thing. Thrift stores and eBay can produce some incredible finds that won’t break the bank. Of course, I wouldn’t be a very good business woman if I didn’t recommend my own store… but seriously, keep an eye on our One of a Kind vintage section. We’ve been finding a lot of incredible dresses that will be going up for sale over the next few months, and one of them just might be perfect for you.

Tip 2 and a Half: If you buy vintage, don’t be afraid to pay a little extra for a professional tailor – a perfect fit can make all the difference in the world.

Tip 3: Make an inspiration board. Use something like Polyvore to create a collection of everything that inspires you. Anything from runway photos to street style snap shots to pictures of your favorite bands will help create the mood of your look. If I were going to prom next month, here’s what my inspiration board would look like…

Fashion illustration by Garance Dore, Luella Spring 09, vintage deer figurine, Agyness Deyn on the Marc Jacobs Spring 09 runway, peacock hair clip, Gwen Stefani, girl from cover of vintage dress pattern.

But what I love doesn’t really matter – the important thing is what you love! Pull together all the things that make you happy and make an inspiration board. I swear, it’s a lot of fun! And if you post a link to it here in the comments, I’ll even choose one at random to receive a $50 gift certificate. I can’t wait to see what’s inspiring you!

Till next time, keep the questions coming to asksusan@modcloth.com.

Wow, thanks for all the great questions & kind words! It was very hard to choose which ones to answer, and please don’t be discouraged if I don’t get to yours this time. There’s always next week!

Our first question is from Annelise. She asks, “Being a redhead, I’m often told not to wear red. Is it true that redheads can’t wear ANY red?”

Our second question is from Ashley. She asks, “I’m super pale, and every time I wear anything that’s white or cream it COMPLETELY washes me out- anyway to prevent this?”

Keep reading to find out the answers!

Annelise, I’m going to have to agree with commenter Chelsea K: redheads can definitely wear red! There aren’t many fashion rules that I adhere to (I mean, I wore this on Monday), and this is not one of them. So Annelise, I urge you to go for it. And you’ll be in very good company…

Julianne Moore

Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge

Jenny Lewis breaking the rules on her album cover

British model Lily Cole

One of my favorite redheads, Tori Amos

Ashley, there are a few tricks that can help pale girls wear white (and look incredible doing it!) A great example is ModCloth fav Dita Von Teese…

This famously pale icon makes great use of dramatic make-up to keep her features from fading into the background. But you don’t have to go to these extremes! A strong eyebrow that’s just a shade or two darker than your natural hue will make worlds of difference, and lipstick in any saturated color will help too. Also, don’t be afraid to accessorize. A cute vintage hat or a big, colorful necklace can provide enough contrast to keep the focus of the outfit on you (as it should be!) Of course, the best accessory for any outfit is a confident attitude. So don’t rule white out of your life – take these tips and some creativity and play around in front of the mirror. Try on lots of different looks until you find one that you absolutely LOVE, then wear it! No color can wash out that feeling.

Coming up next week: “What should I wear to prom?” and more! As always, leave your questions here in the comments, or email asksusan@modcloth.com.

Every once in a while, our customer service department gets a tough question such as “Which ModCloth dress should I wear to my prom?” or “Is it really taboo to wear white after Labor Day?” (The answer to the latter being ‘No!) Because I want to have a place to publicly answer these fashion and style queries that are sent to us from around the world, I’m introducing to you our latest style-centric feature, “Ask Susan.”

I started this company when I was 17 years old, and since then I’ve quickly learned so much about what it’s like to start your own business, and of course, I’ve also learned a lot about style and fashion. Any questions you have relating to these areas is totally game (Sorry, I can’t say I’m much of an expert on how to deal with parents or boys.) Please post all your queries here, or send them to asksusan@modcloth.com, and I’ll try to answer several a week right here on the ModLife Blog. I can’t wait to chat fashion with you!