March is National Women’s History month, and here at ModCloth, we are celebrating strong women of the past, present, and future with an exciting new blog series! This month, we will feature four brilliant, aspirational women who are making history right now. Be sure to check back next Monday for our first inspiring interview!

Image Above: Inthe80s.com

If you ever wanted to be a fashion designer when you grew up, maybe you had one of these Fashion Plates sets by Tomy Toys.

With these totally awesome plates featuring raised outlines of outfit pieces, you could create a closet full of looks by combining different plates, placing a blank sheet of paper over top, and bring the unique image to life by running with crayons or colored pencils. You could spend a whole afternoon pretending to be Diane Von Furstenberg or even a designer for Tommy Hilfiger cranking out the hottest designs with everyday, childhood tools. The world of fashion seemed to be at the tip of your crayon…

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Image Above: littlelondonobservationist.wordpress.com

This Sunday is Valentine’s Day, yes, but it is also V-Day, a global movement devoted to ending violence against women and girls.

This movement was pioneered by playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler. Ensler has spent the last decade working with local organizations to start movements, open shelters, and build anti-violence networks in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, sponsor annual workshops and three national campaigns in Afghanistan, and so much more. Today, the V-Day movement is working tirelessly to build anti-violence networks in countries such as Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon.

Locally, on each February 14, creative events such as The Vagina Monologues are performed by volunteers, college students, and grassroots organizations. Last year alone, over 4,200 V-Day benefit events took place! I cannot encourage you enough to find and attend an event in your area, or, if you are unable, to watch Until the Violence Stops, a paradigm-shifting film that documents how Eve Ensler’s play, The Vagina Monologues, grew into an international grassroots movement to stop violence against women and girls.

Want to organize a V-Day event of your own? Find out how to get involved with V-Day! Currently living on or near a college campus? Find out how to participate in the V-Day & Safer Campus Accountability Project.

V-Day changes lives, and needs women like you to help!

Not a day goes by that I don’t miss the awesomeness that was ABC’s TGIF.  From the genius that was Urkel to the family love on Step by Step, how was I to choose something for Stuff We Miss, when I am missing so much great stuff all the time? In the end, Dinosaurs, the  sitcom about a regular family just trying to make it in the year 60,000,003 B.C., won out.

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Last week, we left you with a furtive plea to help us find Winston’s mystery treat sender. Thanks to the powers of the internet, we found his enigmatic gift giver and managed to get in contact with her. So thanks, Valerie, for the lovely gift!

Valerie also sent us this hilarious photo of her dogs, Dixie and Cooper! Winston wants to know, is there room for a pug in the backseat?

Still searching for your fantasy formal dress? Or the perfect pair of shoes? We’ve got you covered. Check out our new spring formal attire section for accessories, shoes, and dresses galore!

Goodness! How you all spoil Winston! As if his new skateboard wasn’t enough, we received word that some lovely customer had sent him a tasty little treat with their shopping return! Unfortunately, the gift and the return box got separated too early for our distribution center folks to jot down a name, so all we have to go by is this milk bone and note! So, kind giver of snacks and owner of Dixie and Cooper, please let us know who you are!

Winston extends his heartiest of thanks, and commends Dixie and Cooper for their excellent taste in doggie treats! It was so yummy, in fact, that our lazy little pug even did a few tricks for more! Don’t believe us? Click on for more!

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[Image above: albinjackson.com]

Welcome to the latest ModLife category, in which we share fond memories of days gone by and the Stuff We Miss. This week we’re taking a look at the comedy that I used to love watching every single day after high school — The Kids in the Hall.

Cross-dressing secretaries? Keep reading! Read the rest of this entry »

[Image Above: Yinzerparty.com]

We came. We danced. We conquered. And, we did a whole galaxy of other fun things in between! If you missed out on the ModCloth Post Holiday Party and Benefit, here’s a recap for you!

As evidenced in the photo above, our January 9th fiesta was a knock-out success, full of smiling people and beautiful boogie-ing. The nippy winter cold melted into oblivion as riled-up revelers streamed through the doors of Pittsburgh’s Shadow Lounge, ready to help us celebrate a carnival of a year. Before you could say “Winston,” the place was packed. Some hit the dance floor with their gift of groove, other relaxed on couches with a tasty drink in hand, and many a ModCloth employee wowed the crowd with their spirited karaoke talents. Savvy ModCloth enthusiasts such as yourself would have spotted seas of gals decked out in clothes straight from our site, and let us tell you – everyone looked fantastic! The cherry (and chocolate shavings) on top? We managed to raise over $1,000 for the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh!

Thanks to everyone who attended our shindig; it wouldn’t have been any fun without you!

We can’t wait to see all of you next year!

And, if you haven’t seen enough, check out a few more pictures below! Read the rest of this entry »

[Image Above: haiti.org]

Recovery from last week’s earthquake in Haiti is only in its very beginning stages, and we at ModCloth want to continue getting the word out about what everyone can do to contribute to the recovery and rebuilding efforts after this horrific tragedy. Unfortunately, oftentimes when tragedy strikes, corruption also follows. So, no matter how you contribute – whether with your prayers or your money – make sure you know for what your check is being used. Here are a few recognized and legitimate places you may want to consider donating to:

• If you haven’t already heard, customers of participating wireless carriers can text the word “HAITI” to 90999. A $10 donation to support the American Red Cross Haiti relief efforts will automatically be billed to your account or debited from a prepaid balance. If your phone is across the room however, you can just hop on over to the Red Cross website to donate.

• Jamie and Ali McMutrie, two sisters from the Pittsburgh-area, work and live most of the year at the BRESMA Orphanage in Port-au-Prince. The orphanage houses 150 orphans and the women are charged with caring for about thirty of BRESMA’s youngest and/or sickest kids. The earthquake left their building crumbling, and the group is forced to stay in the exposure of orphanage’s yard. With very little food and water, the children are in dire need of security, supplies, and assistance. To learn more about their mission and how to donate, click here.

• This Friday, January 22, stations across the country will air a commercial-free, global telethon “Hope for Haiti.” Tune in at 8 P.M. to ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, the CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 or CMT.

• Partners in Health, an organization on the ground in Haiti, believes everyone – no matter their means – deserves the utmost in medical treatment. Using a community-based model to reach members of often remote and rural areas, they have been working in Haiti for over twenty years. They need help now more than ever. Learn more about donating here.

Ok, the holidays are now officially behind us. Those last-minute gifts have stopped trickling in, and it’s time to step back and assess our options for the perfect post-holiday look. Maybe you got some awesome ModCloth stuff this year, or maybe you were awash in a sea of ugly sweaters your Grandma sourced from deepest dredges of the “Misses” department. Either way, now it’s time to stock up on those key pieces that are sure to spark a fashion frenzy in the new decade. Here are a few choice goodies from our own wishlists that somehow failed to make it under the tree.

1. Classic Philosophy Coat – Classic, indeed! You can just picture Claudette Colbert wearing this in this 1930s classic It Happened One Night.
2. Lovely Lady Pumps in Fergie—Vegan-friendly pumps with undeniable vintage flair! Pair these with your favorite party dress.
3. Garden Gams Leggings—There’s simply no better way to perk up an otherwise monochrome ensemble.
4. English Breakfast Dress—You’ll be ready to down some fried tomatoes in style with this casual, yet surprisingly sophisticated garm!
5. Aqueduct Necklace—A bold statement piece of pleasing architectural shapes, bound to add interest to any outfit.

Did you get anything awesome from ModCloth this holiday season? What items are you gonna splurge on with your ModCloth holiday gift card?

(Image Above: Kiva.org entrepreneurs Reina De La Paz Group, Ricardo Ortiz Herrera, Marie, Ahofeto Group)

It’s the new year, and instead of giving something up, have you thought about possibly giving something back? Or even taking the New Year concept a step further, by committing to temporarily lending your funds to those who seek to make a positive impact in their lives and communities? The risk of loaning your money is low, but the benefit for both yourself and those around the world are priceless!

Over the course of five years, Kiva has created the opportunity for individuals around the world to devote their time by volunteering, or by donating funds through lending to those in need. More specifically,  Kiva.org allows internet users to lend to entrepreneurs in developing countries – empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.

Listed below are some quick facts about Kiva and where they stand today!

• Launched in October 2005 with just seven loans on the site
• In November 2008, just over three years time, Kiva passed 50 million in total loans
• Kiva is now used by 390,000 lenders and borrowers in 42 different countries
• Kiva uses a network of microfinance institutions to administer their loans. Choosing good field partners from all over the world is vital as they select potential borrowers

To find out more more about one of the entrepreneurs above, and how you can contribute, keep reading!

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One last hurrah for these designers, (and many others whom I couldn’t fit into this blog post) from the past decade. Yesterday, Annie covered two extraordinary designer lines per year from the year 2000 to 2005. And, in this post I will be covering a few of my favorites from the end of the decade.  Hope you enjoy!

2006

Eley Kishimoto Spring/Summer RTW

The duo consisting of Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto consider themselves “Surface Decorators” who strive to make the world a prettier place. I chose them, because personally they are one of my favorite designers, and this was one of the first lines of theirs that caught my eye when I was a design student attending the Kent Fashion School. Their lines often exhibit interesting cuts, adventurous contrasting prints, and exude a fresh kitschy feel. I’m always inspired by the duo’s creations and make a point to view their newest lines as they show!

Rodarte Spring RTW

This is the year that sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy at the ages of 26 and 24 debuted their line with prices that ranged from $3,000 to $11,000 per piece. Much has abounded in just four years for these two, whose signature styles can currently be found at Target in a much affordable price range, and who also fabricated as much hype with their ties to young blogger, Tavi of Style Rookie.

Keep reading to check out the rest of my favorites from 2007 to the present day…

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New Year’s Eve is quickly approaching, so I thought a fun way to commemorate a decade of fabulous fashion would be with a roundup of my favorite runway shows from the early 2000s. Tomorrow, Julie will offer her top picks!

2001

Viktor & Rolf Fall RTW

In 2001, Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf delivered a visually striking collection inspired by cosmic black holes. Colossal collars and billowing sleeves complemented asymmetrical dresses, cropped jackets, and sophisticated separates to tailored perfection. Viktor & Rolf’s classic equation of one part performance art plus one part immaculate styling divided by wearable, truly innovative clothing shows why I chose to highlight their work today: creative, calculated risks make for a timeless runway show and collection.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall RTW

The second Marc by Marc Jacobs collection was replete with separates which I consider to be quintessentially Marc Jacobs, solidifying Jacobs’ preppy-meets-edgy signature style while simultaneously marking the origin of every fashionista’s love affair with all things Marc. Faded military coats and graffiti-printed tees intermixed with flirty ruffled skirts, a floral peplum dress, and sophisticated double-breasted wool coats to create one of my favorite collections of the decade.

Keep reading to check out the rest of my favorites from 2002 and on… Read the rest of this entry »

For our final gift guide in the series, we asked our When You Wish Upon a List Contest Winner, Lily, to make suggestions! Here are her great ideas:

The Father, Distinguished and Christmas-Sweater-Free: Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe, 12 Months of Color Daily Planner, and I Am Not a Paper Cup – “Stuff he can use!”

The Oldest Son, Shocking Girlfriend with Holiday Fashion Sense: Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, Roadside Diner Plates, and Roboclock Alarm – “For his apartment!”

The Son’s Girlfriend, Brainy & Beautiful: Edward Steichen – “Make her glad to be joining your family.”

Read on to see the rest of Lily’s picks!

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