The best things in life are free — like the fabulous Gentle Fawn tote above!

We are super excited to announce this very special giveaway: with the purchase of any of the five Gentle Fawn items above, you’ll receive a free and fantastic Gentle Fawn tote!

Act fast, because there are only 50 free bags, and we’ll be giving out 1 tote per eligible Gentle Fawn item purchased. So, fill your shopping bag up with those gorgeous Gentle Fawn goodies, and grab one of these terrific totes before they’re all gone!

UPDATE (3/8/10): The totes are sold out!

Photos: Mike Lin, Molly Nix, Tom Strong, Vasil Tsarev (ModCloth)

MC rocking the runway? You bet! On February 20th, ModCloth “roared” in the year of the tiger at Carnegie Mellon University’s 14th annual Lunar Gala, a student-run fashion show held in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

This year’s show, entitled “20-Tension,” featured designs by CMU students, along with fashions from a handful of professional boutiques, including ModCloth. All designs were modeled by CMU students, and according to executive producer Hannah Pileggi, the student models were thrilled with their ModCloth looks (and also pretty psyched about the shoes they got to keep).

See more lovely Lunar looks after the jump!

Photos: Mike Lin, Molly Nix, Tom Strong, Vasil Tsarev (ModCloth)

The shindig went down in Wiegand Gym, which looked breathtaking, transformed by black curtains, a long runway, and lanterns that changed color throughout the show. The event opened with traditional Chinese dances, and runway walks were interspersed with dance numbers, original music, and even delicious dumplings at intermission!

Photos: Mike Lin, Molly Nix, Tom Strong, Vasil Tsarev (ModCloth)

What, exactly, does putting together a show like this entail? In addition to 8 board members, 60 models and 20 designers, it requires loads of effort and a lot of planning. Hannah says, “We begin in the summer with a theme, have weekly meetings in the fall, hold auditions in October, and have biweekly practices from then until the show.” Phew! The hard work pays off, though; this year, the show received rave reviews and a lot of attention from campus and community.

Feel like you missed out? Listen to Hannah and two student designers talk more about the process here, read about it in d’Arte Magazine, CMU’s stunning fashion and photography periodical, or watch the highlights below:

What about you, ModLovers? Do you aspire to design your own clothing? Which designs inspire/appeal to you more: the conceptual “couture” pieces, or the more “wearer-friendly,” everyday designs?

If you’re reading this right now, you’re obviously super cool, so you probably already know about our Be the Buyer program. But just in case you missed it, here’s the scoop: we present a selection of garments to you, the most stylish and savvy bunch on the web, to vote on. You can discuss the fashion, fit, and fabric of each posh piece on the comment boards, then make a final decision. When an item garners enough of your favor (aka votes), it’s put into production and sold exclusively on ModCloth!

Because we love getting feedback from ModLovers, and appreciate the amazing amount of participation in Be the Buyer thus far, we wanted to give you a chance to get to know one of your fellow Virtual Buyers! Say hello to Brianna Berggren…

Brianna was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, where she still resides today (pictured above with her adorable boyfriend of 6 1/2 years!). After coming across a ModCloth ad on PerezHilton.com, Brianna took one click and hasn’t looked back since!

As a receptionist, Brie said that sometimes she doesn’t get the fashion love like other professions, “For who can really see what we’re wearing while sitting behind a desk?” she asked. “That’s why I think outside the box when dressing myself. I don’t like to look like every other girl I see.”

When Brie was asked what she does in her free time, her immediate response was, “I shop!” She documents daily outfits on her Flickr account and is a fashion magazine fanatic — “I keep a fashion notebook of my favorite looks [that I] cut out of  magazines, so I have glossy half-pages on the floor everywhere!”

Brie was ecstatic when not one, but two of the dazzling dresses she voted for were chosen, so she snapped them up as soon as they hit the site. Wondering which two fortunate frocks she helped bring to fashion fruition? “The Terraced Crown Dress, which I’ve worn with my Diamanda Tights, black ankle boots, and a gold cardigan, and the Surakarta Dress, which will be worn with knee high black boots to dollar margarita night tonight!” she laughed. Sounds like Brie is a stylist extraordinaire!

Now, it’s Brie’s chance to convince you to vote for samples 195, 193, and187, which are all high on her most-loved list. Here’s why:

“Sample 195 looks very classic and dressy, and I love the knot — it’s just the right amount of detail. I’m also really liking 193 —  such a great piece to pair with skirts, or maybe slacks, and a bright blazer. 187 is also one of my favorites. Something about those colors just makes my shopping heart stop!”

It’s hard to argue with such lovely logic! If you’re like Brie, then you revel in the chance to have a hand in choosing what’s chic, and that’s what Be the Buyer is about, after all! So, to all you Virtual Buyers out there — you hold the power to select, shape, and shift what’s stylish, so keep on voting for what you think is visionary. Maybe you’ll be featured next!

Panelists (and celebrity bloggers) at the IFB Conference

While at New York Fashion Week, we couldn’t get enough of the fashion blogging conversation! At the Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB)’s Evolving Influence Conference, we were treated to an in-depth exploration of the business, ethics, and future of this fascinating phenomenon. We got to hear Tavi of Style Rookie talk about her controversial hat, Susie of Style Bubble discuss the transient nature of blogger celebrity, and Gina Garrubbo of BlogHer and Clark Hoyt of the New York Times debate codes of journalistic conduct.  It was like we went to fashion blogger heaven! We were amazingly proud to sponsor such a revolutionary event, and we can’t wait for the next one!

It goes without saying that the crowd at the IFB conference was fashionable, but we just have to say that we complete impressed with all the colorful prints like Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky’s adorable floral dress, and statement accessories like Gala Darling’s hot pink, sparkly heart necklace!

Elizabeth, Jessica, Erin, Rebecca, and Gala

We also spotted ModCloth on some of our favorite bloggers. Check out Rebecca from The Clothes Horse in her Grecian Green Dress and New York, 1976 Heels, Erin from Cali Vintage in her Almond Torte Top, and Jessica of What I Wore in her Merryweather Dress! Gala Darling was also clad in ModCloth, sporting the ever-chic, oh-so-twinkly Shine After Shine Dress! Thanks, ladies, for making ModCloth part of your IFB ensemble!

Above: Jennifer Wexler, Susan Koger, and Naomi Nevitt; Below: Rebecca Stice and Judy Aldridge

ModCloth kicked off New York Fashion Week the right way – by attending the Chictopia 10 Social Influence Summit! Held at the adorably chic Allegra Laviola Gallery in the Lower East Side, the Chictopia Summit brought together some of the most influential and fashionable bloggers from around the globe. Our very own Susan Gregg Koger was a panelist and discussed individual style (and was quoted in Women’s Wear Daily!),  Rebecca Stice of The Clothes Horse talked about PR agencies and brand marketers, and Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon contemplated the trend of fashion blogging. We also spotted some bloggers wearing ModCloth, like Tieka from Selective Potential who was sporting our tights! Chictopia 10 was the first of hopefully many fashion blogging summits of its kind, and ModCloth was proud to be a sponsor!

For more on our amazing time at Chictopia, keep reading!

Lunch at the Spice Market

The summit not only included a full day of inspiring, thoughtful discussions, a late-evening dinner at the chic Greenwich 41, and an after-party at the trendy Tribeca Grand, but also a ModCloth-hosted luncheon at the impressive Spice Market! There, we got to know some of our favorite bloggers better over banana leaf sticky rice and pure ginger ale.

Bloggers and brunch!

We spent time with Keiko from Keiko Lynn (who was wearing the Take a Bow Gloves), Jennie from Going West, Taghrid from Taghrid.cc,  and many other fantastic bloggers! Our thanks go out to Helen Zhu, CEO of Chictopia, for a lovely time we won’t soon forget.

Oh, one more fun thing! In honor of this monumental occasion, we named a dress after the Chictopia Summit. We’ve asked the bloggers to style this frock anyway they like, and show us their results! We can’t wait to see how they look. How would you style the Chictopia Dress?

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A shift in seasons is about to occur,  so metamorphose your wardrobe from woolly, wintry looks into sprightly, spring expressions with the crisp contours found in our new stylebook!  Boasting a bouquet of invigorating colors, ambrosial florals, and stunning statement pieces, these ensembles will be instrumental in your style awakening. So go on, nip your cravings for verdant clothing in the bud by taking a gander at what we’ve put together, then feel the fever!

As Valentine’s Day looms just over the horizon, our vintage-lovin’ hearts feel that the best way to celebrate is with a very special one of a kind collection! Adding intrigue to iconic style, the new one of a kind stylebook, which launches tomorrow, was shot at Pennsylvania’s largest history museum — the Senator John Heinz History Center.

After the jump, take a look behind the scenes of our sentimental new shoot…

The six floor, 275,000 square foot History Center features both long-term and changing exhibit space and covers over 250 years of Pittsburgh history, from pre-Revolutionary War battles to legendary Steelers match-ups. In addition, there’s a museum-within-a-museum — the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum — and the Library & Archives section, which is a scholarly resource documenting over 250 years of history in Western Pennsylvania.

For our shoot, the stage was set to capture the ambiance of an old-time train station with our lovely leading lady setting off to meet her long distance paramour for a romantic rendezvous.  Once our model’s hair was set in Veronica Lake-esque waves and her lips were stained a stunning shade of scarlet, the stylists set to work perfecting the vintage and retro-inspired wardrobe.

The elegant ensembles contained pieces from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, as well as a mix of new items. By pairing circa 1960’s dresses with ModCloth’s own retro accessories, such as the Lovely Lady Pumps in Fergie, or Victorian-inspired, but new frocks, like the Cameo Appearance Dress, with vintage accents, such as chic cream gloves, our stylists created superb samples that showcase how to mix and match the new with the old for style that’s as one of a kind as you!

An abundance of vintage props were used, as well, including various luggage and a classic glass Coca-Cola bottle, which added an air of authenticity to the “olden day train station” set.

This photo shoot was one of ModCloth’s longest, clocking in at around 8 hours, but once every picture was perfected, the photo team packed up their equipment, and headed back to the office. From there, the photos are edited by our talented  designers, and co-Fashion Writer Annie begins the process of creating copy, such as titles for outfits, for the always lovely stylebook that you can check out tomorrow!

If you happen to have your eye on an ultra romantic one of a kind item that’s featured in the Long Distance Love stylebook, be sure to keep an eye on our vintage section February 3rd – 10th. Your sassy selection should arrive just in time to be your Valentine!

Remember getting cutesy Valentines in elementary school? Receiving a Valentine, even when we’re grown up, can make us feel good. Why not give back by helping a child feel special and giving a Valentine to Project Angel Hugs for Childhood Cancer? From its website, “Project Angel Hugs is a non-profit organization that tries to add a spark of laughter and fun to the life of children and their families touched by cancer.”

This February, Project Angel Hugs will distribute your donated handmade, computer generated, or store bought Valentines to children enrolled in Hugs’ programs. These children will no doubt have smiles on their faces when receiving a kind and festive reminder that they are each being thought of.  Above are examples that we will be contributing, made by two ModCloth employees.

Further guidelines for the Angel Hugs Valentines campaign -

• Please sign the greeting
• If the greetings are in envelopes, do not seal the envelopes
• Do not send Valentines with candy
• Address the greeting to “Someone Special” or “A Special Someone,” not to a specific child

Project Angel Hugs would like to receive these donations by January 29th. If you mail your contributions by early next week, Hugs should receive them on time. Mail to: Project Angel Hugs, 406 East Mill Street, Plymouth, WI 53073.

Making Valentines for Hugs could be a meaningful and fun project to do with a few friends this weekend. You can also join the cause on Facebook and find more information about the organization on their homepage.

Are there any charities that you are involved with that could use some love this Valentines Day?

Have you been cooped up all winter with a dull wardrobe? Are you anxious to update your outfits and itching to revitalize your look? We prescribe our 70% off Cabin Fever Sale !

Starting Wednesday, January 20th (today!), select items will go on sale for 70% off ! This sale is for a limited time only, so hurry and grab your ModCloth favorites before they are gone FOREVER! If you’re sick of your old style, then catch the fever fast, and get shopping while supplies last!

In the prior edition of Behind the Scenes, I mentioned that ModCloth models are often not professional models at all, but regular gals that we’ve sussed out on the streets of Pittsburgh. Since so many of you were pleasantly surprised, excited, and inspired by that tidbit of information, I thought it would be fabulous to focus on one gorgeous gal’s fashion fairytale and take you behind the scenes of what it’s like to actually be a ModModel!

Read More…

Hannah was strolling down Walnut Street, a popular shopping district in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, when she was approached by a ModCloth stylist. He inquired as to whether she’d ever modeled before. When she said she hadn’t, he asked if she’d be interested in doing so for ModCloth. Hannah (and her mother, who was accompanying her on the shopping trip) was understandably skeptic, for it’s not  every day that a stranger asks you to model! However, after some research and a look at our site, she decided to give it a shot!

ModCloth’s “Back to School ‘09″ shoot was Hannah’s first foray into the world of modeling. She said, “I was apprehensive at first, because when you watch shows like ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ the fashion world seems kind of scary. I didn’t want to be treated like a commodity.” However, she was pleasantly surprised to find that a ModCloth photoshoot felt much  more like play than work!

A few of Hannah’s favorite aspects of Mod modeling are the easygoing environment, incredible indie soundtracks on set (this shoot included Yelle, Interpol, The Knife, Annie Lennox, Phoenix, Little Boots, Ladyhawke, and more), and last, but certainly not least, our resident ModDogs. “It’s fun working with the other models here. We’re comfortable with each other. I was worried they’d be  experienced and I’d feel awkward, but it’s not like that at all. Plus, the music is pretty much what would be on in my own room. And then there’s the dogs – I love the dogs!” she said.

It was clear that Hannah and Samantha were enjoying their afternoon shoot, chitchatting between takes, dancing to the fun beats, and indulging in some of the homemade baklava Hannah’s mom brought! The super cool black and white, larger-than-life polka dot and striped set, and the colorful and cool ensembles also added to the energetic vibe on set.

Hannah used to be the kind of gal that stuck to the basics when it came to fashion. However, I’m happy to report that modeling for ModCloth has pushed her style boundaries! She confessed, “I have fun trying out different looks at shoots. It’s like playing dress-up!” She now finds herself drawn to wild, whimsical accessories and extra touches of fantastical flair. Her favorite pieces from the new stylebook? “I have to go with the Trousseau Top and Never Waist a Rose Belt!” Terrific taste, if I do say so, myself.

Since her first shoot, she’s now done five others and signed with an agency. Despite the fact that modeling was not her previous ambition, Hannah has now decided to pursue it full-time to see where it may lead!

This is just one girl’s ModCloth modeling fairtytale, as well as a peek at the personality behind one of the pretty faces you see on our site! As for the next Behind the Scenes, what would you like to find out more about, ModLovers? Your wish is my command (and next BTS post).