Happy Bonfire Night! In the UK (and also New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and parts of the British Caribbean), November 5th marks the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Also known as Guy Fawkes Day, this annual celebration commemorates when Catholic co-conspirators, in protest over Parliament’s treatment, failed in their attempt to blow up the House of Parliament (with King James I and the royal family inside). The plot went awry when their legendary leader, Guy Fawkes, was captured and tortured. Before he could be executed, he leapt from the gallows and broke his neck.

Today, Fawkes stands as a symbol of anarchist resistance, and his violent quest for accountability is simultaneously mocked and championed. Whatever your political stance, it’s hard not to love the festivities that take place on this night, which include fantastic fireworks displays and bonfires in which, traditionally, effigies of Guy Fawkes (appropriately called “guys”) are burnt. Since no celebration is complete without food, traditional tasty treats like bonfire toffee or treacle toffee (a hard, brittle molasses confection), parkin (a soft cake traditionally made with oatmeal and molasses), toffee apples (a.k.a. candy apples), and jacket potatoes (baked potatoes) are consumed. Yum!

Even if you won’t be able to join in any public festivities this year, never fear! You can still celebrate by cooking up some delicious Bonfire Night goodies, or even send out an e-card! You can also learn more about the event’s history and tradition here.

What about you, ModReaders? Do you celebrate Bonfire Night? If so, how?

From all of your friendly virtual neighbors at ModCloth, we hope you had a lovely Sweater Day and First Day of Spring this Friday!

(And a special thank you to those of you who sent pictures!  Feel free to post pictures of you or your friends in your best ‘Mr. Rogers sweaters’ here as well!)

For everybody who grew up watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, tomorrow is a very special day! It’s “Wont You Be My Neighbor Day” in honor of Fred Rogers’ birthday, who would have been 81 years old tomorrow.

Put on your sweater and keep reading to find out how you can be the best neighbor you can be tomorrow!

We found out about “Wont You Be My Neighbor Day” when we met Mr. Rogers’ trusty postman, Mr. McFeely, last week while Susan was filming a segment for WXPI, a local news station.

[Speedy delivery! Alicia and Susan pose with Mr. McFeely]

Mr. Rogers was born in Latrobe, a town about forty miles south of Pittsburgh, but he lived in Pittsburgh and was beloved by the city. Many museums and establishments around town are offering free admission and hosting sweater drives in honor of the day. However, you can celebrate tomorrow no matter where you live by wearing your favorite sweater and practicing this advice from Mr. Rogers himself:

“Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like, if each one of us offered as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person..one kind word has a wonderful way of turning into many.”

Plan on celebrating “Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day??” Send pictures of you and your friends in your favorite sweaters to alicia@modcloth.com and you just might make it to our wrap-up post next week!

[Alison shows off her Prim and Proper Gloves!]

Each time we hold a contest (especially the Name-It-And-Wins), we are reminded that we have the most talented and witty customers in the world. This week, we decided to get to know one of our customers a little bit better: gifted writer and teacher, Alison Stine.

Alison Stine was born in Indiana in a blizzard, and has lived in 15 cities, including San Francisco and Washington D.C..  Her first book, Ohio Violence, winner of the Vassar Miller Prize, was published in February 2009.  She is also the author of the chapbook Lot of My Sister.  Her poems, stories, and essays have appeared in “The Paris Review,” “The Kenyon Review,” “Tin House,” and others.  A former child actress, her plays and musicals have been produced at such theaters as The Cleveland Playhouse, La Habra Depot Theatre, and Off-Broadway for Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Inc.  She lives in New York City and Ohio, where she teaches high school writers at the Denison University Reynolds Young Writers’ Workshop.

To read our interview with Alison Stine, writer and ModCloth fan, keep reading!

[Ali models her Peacock Feather Tights, Chasing Feathers Bangle and Swooping Swallow Necklace]

How would you describe your personal style? Do you have a style icon?

I was a hippie chick in high school and there’s still a little of that gypsy girl in me.  I’m still drawn to deep vibrant colors, red and purple and blue, but now I wear clothes that are more fitted.  Tori Amos was a big influence on me when I was a kid–her music of course, but also her style, where she takes just as many risks.  She was the first girl I saw wear dresses over jeans–that’s a huge part of my style now.  She also repositions clothes, wearing vintage swimsuits for shirts and tying wide satin ribbons around her waist for belts.    I’m drawn to empire-waist dresses and baby doll tops and shrugs and headbands, but also, comfortable boyfriend sweaters and jeans.  I like to look girly, but a little mussed: like Alice in Wonderland in the city.  I lived in San Francisco for a while and that really changed how I think about clothes. People looked put-together but also alive, like they could get dirty, play in the park and it wouldn’t hurt their shoes.  You need to be able to  fly a kite or catch fireflies or chase after a puppy and still look good.

What are you reading/listening to/watching right now?

I’m a huge fan of the Inkheart books by Cornelia Funke, about a girl named Meggie whose mother is gone and whose father never reads to her for a very scary reason.  Check them out!  They will keep you up late, huddled under the covers, turning pages.  I’ve been reading a lot of magic realism–which is basically a story set in real life as we know it…and then something weird happens, like a horse lives to be a hundred years or snow falls on orange trees, like, “did that really happen?”  That pretty much sums up the world for me.  Boring bits with everyday sparks of imagination, and weirdness, and beautiful hope.  It’s teaching me to pay attention…

Why do you shop at ModCloth?

One of the things I love about ModCloth is how you encourage mixing and matching, pairing vintage with new.  That’s what fashion is about for me, not the latest expensive fad, but taking one small new piece and blending it, seeing how you can stretch and expand your style while still holding onto YOU.  It’s like borrowing things from your sister’s closet.  I love how ModCloth encourages their fans to be creative, through how fans dress, but also, through art and writing with the Name It and Win It contest, and the Valentine contest, and the ModCloth blog…I have a small sign taped to the inside of my closet, “Life is beautiful.  Dress Accordingly.”  Every day is a new chance to be someone else.

Do you have a favorite ModCloth Product?

The tights! I love the Peacock Feather Tights.  People stop you on the street when you wear those….The Suzy Cute Knee Highs are a new favorite too: perfect for the stormy weather right before spring, when I want to wear skirts without tights but it’s not quite warm enough.  I’m a big accessory girl, in case you can’t tell! [...] I’ve had my eye on The Moondance Dress for awhile now. I’m a sucker for party dresses, and it looks like, in that dress, something magic could happen in your story.

Tell us a little bit about your new book.

Ohio Violence is about a girl in a small town with a big secret.  Things happen in the town, as they always do, and people don’t talk about them, but she will or wants to.  A girl disappears up the road from her parents’ house and she knows something about it.  She falls in love with a guy she’s not supposed to, and he wants her to keep that quiet too.  The title makes some people scratch their heads (like my parents)!  But I grew up in a small town in Ohio.  I know what lies beneath those towns, behind screen doors, behind the high school–it’s love and passion and secrets.  Small towns burn with secrets, and I think it’s time for us to tell our stories.

What’s your next writing project?

I think girls should have creative projects going at all times. I think it keeps me busy and active and having fun.  I’m always writing poems and essays and letters to my friends, of course–I’m a big fan of old-fashioned real letters–but I’ve been working on my first novel for several years and I’m really excited about it.  It’s still growing and changing, but I hope it’s the next thing you see in print from me.  All I can tell you is that it’s about a girl and a boy, trying to get it down, trying to make sense of it all, trying to be believed.

What inspires you?

My friends, my family, the rural countryside, the mountains in the distance where I live.  And right now, spring! I love the blending of seasons.  I love the hope that spring brings (and the cute dresses).  I love wearing my leopard-print rain boots and sloshing through puddles. And I love being a teacher because my students really inspire me. They make me laugh.  They challenge me every day.  I write for them, for the girl that I was.

Want to know more about Miss Stine and her work? Check out her website!

Inspired by our newest music-themed “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” Lookbook, us ModCloth Bloggers decided to make a mix of songs that drive us wild (the songs we just want to play over and over; the ones that make us want to get out of our seat and dance!) Keep an eye out for next weeks installment and our Mixtape Contest!

(Image above: Writing is Awesome! taken from Blog.ModernMechanix.com)

Last week, I attended the AWP writer’s conference in Chicago. Not only did I get to see some amazing lecture and readings, but I also went to fantastic restaurants and saw some Chicago sights! Thanks to you all for suggesting cool places to visit…I wish I had more time to try them all!

Read all about my trip here…

(Images above clockwise from top left: Me at the Bookfair, Chicago Diner, Artist’s Cafe, Valentine’s Day Heart at Grant Park)

Thursday, we decided to start things off right with a breakfast burrito at Angela’s Burrito Style in Lincoln Park. Although we were the only ones there for breakfast, we were assured that the lunch crowd gets intense, and with the amount of chilies they were grilling, I believed them! The featured item? Chilaquiles Ultimate Hangover Cure – refried beans (vegetarian), fried eggs, pico de gallo, rice, sour cream and gauc resting on a bed of crisp corn tortillas, smothered in cheese. Wow.

After our burritos (honestly, the best I have ever had), we got a coffee at Lincoln Perk and headed to the conference. I had planned to see a few panel discussions, but got completely consumed by the Bookfair – over 800 book sellers, journals, and independent and university presses all in one place. It was overwhelming, but I got to talk with some really interesting people from all over the country. A few of my favorites include Bat City Review from Austin, TX and Fringe Magazine, whose editor is a fashionista with a very distinct look – think Janeane Garofalo in Reality Bites with shocking red lipstick! I ended the day with a tote full of books, no cash, and tons of bumperstickers, pins and bookmarks. It was great.

Friday, I spent the day in panels covering topics like ‘promoting your work’ and ‘the duty of writers.’ I heard a few poets who I’m now obsessed with – Jeff McDaniel, Josh Bell, and Nancy Krygowski top the list. I had lunch with Pittsburgh poet Michelle Stoner at The Artist’s Cafe, went to more readings, and ended the evening at a Mucca Pazza show. For those of you unfamiliar, Mucca Pazza call themselves a ‘circus punk marching band,’ and they do not disappoint. It was like a high school pep rally on steroids – funky cheerleaders doing back flips, tuba players running through the crowd, and a full drumline! It made me sad I stopped playing the clarinet.

Saturday was Valentine’s Day, so I met my hubbie for brunch at the Chicago Diner in Boys Town. I’ve never had a better Bloody Mary or seitan Ruban sandwich! Later that afternoon, I meandered through a snow sculpture exhibit in Grant Park, and I got to hear my favorite poet, D.A. Powell, read. Dinner was at the quaint Bourgeois Pig, a European-style bistro in Lincoln Park. We tried to get into Second City for some comedy, but is was sold out, so we tried another comedy troupe called Chemically Imbalanced Comedy. Avant garde, quirky, creative improv in an intimate space – the perfect end to a great V-day!

We hit the road Sunday morning, vowing to visit the Windy City again soon…when it’s a bit warmer!

Tonight, thousands of writers will descend on Chicago for the annual Association for Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference. Held in a different cities all over North America, the AWP Conference is massive collection of the world’s best writers, editors, writing teachers, small presses, and independent book sellers. For three days each year, these folks get together for countless panels, lectures, readings, book signings, and networking (ie. cocktail parties with free appetizers!). The whole city gets involved, and coffee shops, music clubs, and local bars offer writing-themed events to entice the influx of literati. For writers, this is basically our version of the Super Bowl. A nerdy Super Bowl with tote bags instead of helmets, and book fairs instead of Bruce Springsteen, but nonetheless, a very impressive gig.

[Images clockwise from upper right: Valzhyna Mort, Paul Muldoon, Carolyn Forche, ZZ Packer, and Art Spiegelman from AWPwriter.org]

This year’s keynote address will be given by Pulitzer-prize-winning graphic artist Art Spiegelman, and featured readers include poet Carolyn Forche, Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort, Irish Pulitzer-prize-winner Paul Muldoon, and fiction writer ZZ Packer.

So, this evening, I’m off to Chicago to join the scribbling masses. I am beyond excited, and I can’t wait to share my experiences with all of you from the conference! I’ll be scoping the halls of the Hilton and the streets of downtown for some fashionable ‘Seen Style‘ candidates, so wear your ModCloth or vintage finest. If you know Chicago, maybe you could suggest some cool places for me to visit? Restaurants I shouldn’t miss? The Chicago Diner is on my list, but I’m open to any advice!

Also, if you’ll be in the Chicago area on Thursday night, check out this reading at the Hopleaf Bar. One of the off-site AWP conference readings, the ‘Three on Thursday’ event features Pittsburgh native Adam Atkinson of Open Thread, a Pittsburgh regional arts organization. I’m looking forward to seeing Pittsburgh poets represent in the Windy City!

I’ll keep you posted on the AWP…hope to see you there!

Keep reading to see more party pictures!

 One of the night’s highlights was playing Rock Band. This is Joe singing his 98% slam dunk rendition of “Sabotage.”

Some of the ModCloth girls posing in their party dresses.

Thanks again to everyone who came. We can’t wait for next year’s party!

Made by UGOBE Life Forms this Pleo Dino (as named by UGOBE) is capable of adaptive learning and can be taught to sit, sing, and even become a watchdog. To be honest, it kind of gives us the heebie jeebies how attached to it we’ve become; every time it roars or wags its tail, we rush to pick it up and comfort it, and then we remember IT’S A ROBOT! Despite confusing our understanding of appropriate emotional attachments to inanimate toys, it does some pretty cool stuff.  UGOBE  offers a variety of downloads to turn it into everything from a Godzilla-like monster to a festive holiday dinosaur that sings holiday carols.

The problem? We have no idea what to name him (or her)!

Help us name our new baby dinosaur and you could win a ModCloth gift certificate worth $25 AND a Dino Prize Pack, including the Allosaurus Earrings  and Fold-Up Dinosaur Bag. Leave your name suggestions right here on the blog before this Wednesday at midnight and we’ll announce the lucky winner this Friday.

Hey Hey! I’m Danielle, the photographer here at ModCloth (that’s me with my Popple of choice, Party Popple).  I take care of all the photography for the site, from the cute products and clothes to the lookbooks and homepage images, and anything else that pops up ( i.e. Winston in a Santa hat, Winston in a bee costume, Winston in a scarf) – all with my trusty Jack Russell, Rad, by my side.My early days of photography began with me chasing the family cat and dog around the house and terrorizing them with the camera, which, I admit, I still do on occasion.  I’m excited to be introducing two new weekly blog posts: “Photo of the Week”  and “Dani’s Photo School.”  So get your cameras ready, because there will be assignments.  If you have anything specific you want me to write about, send me a note or leave a comment. Outside of photography, I am a karaoke fiend, love to travel, and I’m obsessed with Sharks.  Seriously, I wanted to be a shark trainer when I was 4.