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.

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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.

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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?

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!

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!

Since arriving at ModCloth in June, I’ve been hopelessly devoted to featuring products we sell that are fit for a woman or a man. And now that those summer nights are fading in our memories, school is back in full swing for many of us, and we’re getting chills that are multiplyin’, I felt it appropriate to highlight the versatile Varsity Vogue Jackets. As we prove in this post, it doesn’t matter who you are – prep, jock, nerd, punk, dweeb, freak, metalhead, goth, greaser, or geek – you can letter in Unisex-y style whenever your outfit goes together like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong with one of these jackets that comes in two different versions to suit your own alma mater, or just your mood on any particular day.

If you’re feeling bright and perky one morning, for example, and you’d like to reflect your vibrant personality with your clothing, the Varsity Vogue Jacket in Livermore High may be the one that you want. On Jenn, we’ve teamed this yellow and green version with the bright blue luster of the Dancehall Blues Pants to create a luminous look that’s sure to make her the envy of her peers. To keep it from getting gaudy, though, we’ve countered the peppy colors with the neutral greys of her loyal Best Friend Tank in Grey Day, Coming Full Circle Scarf, Epee Peep Toes, and, finally, the Unhinged by Fringe Bag that totes her notebooks.

I, on the other hand, chose to take an edgier, more dramatic approach to my look. With the Varsity Jacket in Scottsdale High combined with slim, black trousers and a plain white V-neck tee, I’ve created an outfit as slick as greased lighting. Finishing the ensemble are a pair of sleek, grey, sharkskin loafers that tie together the stark contrasts of the white and black garments, a class ring, and a rebelliously big-buckled belt.

Which one of these unisex jackets suits your style or clique?

Honestly, Diane, I didn’t know what my inspiration for this week’s Unisex-y post was going to be. All I knew is that I wanted to feature the Shaman Necklace, a piece of neckwear that I own, adore, and already personally wrote about in its description.  On the day of the shoot, though,  someone suggested that we take the photo outside, which is something I’ve never done with this series.  When I viewed the resulting photo, it looked very woodsy and saturated with warm colors. Then, like the code of a dream being broken, it hit me that Sarah and I, with our folksy ensembles and our beaded, Native American-inspired necklaces, look like we could be denizens of the fictional town in the mystical, early-1990s television show, Twin Peaks! Much like David Lynch (the creator of the show) does in his work,  I must have collaborated with my subconscious to create an installment of Unisex-y that simultaneously taps into the shared eeriness of the impending Halloween holiday and the TV series, and into my love for this particular filmmaker’s work.

After firewalking with me over to this small, sylvan patch in our office’s parking lot (is that a Douglas fir behind us?), Sarah struck a darn good pose in the outfit we put together for her. With the Shaman Necklace being our foundation, we laid first lumber with the snuggly, faux fur-lined, hooded, and taupe grey Polar Bear Hug Dress, then put her in some sturdy new shoes, the Zeitgeist Booties, which feature a treaded sole perfect for a walk under the sycamore trees. Her legs were kept warm in the cool, damp air by the Tights for Every Occasion in Ski Lodge (any relation to the White Lodge?), and our picnic of cherry pie and strong coffee was packed in her Amy Bag, which marvelously mimics, like a mynah bird, the various colors of beads in the necklace. For the finale, we tied the twisted Per-suede-sion Headband around her tresses.

For myself, I put together – what is now apparent to me  – my best Ed Hurley meets Tommy “Hawk” Hill outfit with my Shaman Necklace combined with my grey, pinstriped, button-up shirt, a black vest, slim blue trousers, and cowboy boots.

In closing, Diane, the owls may not always be what they seem when it comes to fashion, if you catch my meaning. That is to say, some ModCloth items that are meant for a woman can also be worn by a man. If  any further evidence comes in, please leave a comment below.

I’d like to start off this installment of Unisex-y by posing a question: Is there really anything more unisex than rock and roll (I mean, heck, there’s even this little rock band from Australia  you may have heard of, called AC/DC)? Proving particularly pivotal to this posit is 80’s glam metal. With the way the male artists of this genre crossed gender lines by teasing their long hair, lining their lips and lids with make-up, and sporting wildly-colored spandex pants, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with a competitor in epicene style. I thought, then, that the suitably titled Kickstart My Heart Jacket in Crue would make for a great feature item this time around, considering that you can fashion it for girls, girls, girls or for smokin’ style in the boys’ room.

We weren’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time when we styled Jen, so we decided to take a little trip to the wild side with her ensemble. Her Kickstart My Heart Jacket in Crue performs as the leader of this grouping, but it’s backed up harmoniously by the chic, black Street Art Tee with its crisscrossing, white slash designs. The metallic-looking Arular Leggings shine in the spotlight with their flashy riffs, and her Full Throttle Heels in Lucy really kick out the jams. Finally, we added a pyrotechnic pop of color to this otherwise neutral palette with the purple Twisted Sister Scarf, then shaded her eyes from the paparazzi’s cameras with the snakeskin-printed Wild Wayfarers.

For myself, I decided to play the Kickstart My Heart Jacket in Crue down a notch to power ballad level to show how one might create a more subdued look with this piece of outerwear. When rushing out of home sweet home to get to band practice in a pair of black trousers and cowboy boots, it’s far from the same ol’ style situation when you throw on this grey bomber over a plain white tee. Wrap a scarf around your neck and accessorize your eyes with a pair of aviators, and you’ve got a simple, yet savvy, outfit you can feel good about!

Come on, all you rock and rollers, let us know what you think! Do you have any thoughts on the Unisex-y series that you’d like to share? Got any unisex styles you’d like to send our way? Without you, there’s no change!

Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. I’d like to welcome you all aboard and thank you for choosing ModAir. We’ll be ascending to a high altitude of Unisex-y style today with this officially-licensed, retro Pan Am Cabin Bag. The perfect size for stowing away your personal items beneath your seat or in an overhead compartment, and the perfect color and shape to accommodate nearly any outfit whether you’re male or female, this carryall will help you keep your cool – and keep you looking cool – under all that cabin pressure as you jaunt from one exotic locale to another.

When flying first-class, it’s important to look your finest. With that in mind, we’ve decided to soar the stylish skies looking like a couple of snappy sophisticates! I’ve draped my Pan Am Cabin Bag over the shoulder of my charcoal-colored, pinstripe suit jacket, underneath which I’ve buttoned up a hazy grey, collared shirt.  A pair of sharp, heather-grey slacks and black loafers finish the ensemble, while the silky, splitsream grey ascot protects my neck from the chill of the air jets,  and the aviator sunglasses safeguard my eyes from the beams of sunlight bouncing off the billowy clouds as I relax in my window seat.

After sliding gracefully through security like a celebrity socialite in her elegant and versatile Every-wear Coat, Natalie tips her Modern Jackie Sunglasses to the attendants and clutches her Pan Am Cabin Bag in her dainty White Poise Gloves as she boards the plane like a first lady of fashion.  Later, while mingling over martinis, all the other polished passengers marvel at the modern angles of her Shifting Perspectives Dress and praise the pop of vivacious color provided by her Utlraviolet Tights. As she tell tales of  her prior travels, the twinkle of Natalie’s shiny Oceanic Hoops transfixes everyone’s attention on her radiant demeanor during the entire trans-Atlantic flight.

As we make our final descent before landing, I’d like to thank you all again for choosing ModAir and ask that you share your opinions on the quality of our Unisex-y service!

Welcome back to the Unisex-y serial, where we are screening yet another blockbuster item that can be worn by both a male and a female.  Today we give our double digit seal of approval to the printed, grey heather  Two Thumbs Up Tee, which we think will bring box office success to the outfit of whoever wears it!

As we all know, movie theaters are typically quite frigid, making them great for cuddling up with your date but uncomfortable for the casual movie-goer. That’s why I’ve decided to wear a vintage denim jacket, which provides just the right amount of warmth over my Two Thumbs Up Tee.  I then kept the narrative of my outfit linear by wearing matching navy blue trousers over my recurring-role cowboy boots.

Cast as my leading lady today is Annie,  who looks like a starlet in her ensemble cast of ModCloth items. To fight the chill while watching a feature-length film, we’ve dressed her arms in the Charter School Cardigan in Biology and her legs in the Betsey Johnson Lonely Hearts Tights. Her Fashion in Motion Skirt receives critical acclaim with its cinematic, multi-colored stripes, and her Wood You Cry for Me Necklace is a real tear-jerker. Finally, we’ve edited her look by adding to her wrist the Archimedes Cuff with its golden glitziness that resembles an Academy Award, and the red-carpet-worthy Sienna Sandals in Goldenrod that act as a cue to the buttery colored “POP CORN” text on the Two Thumbs Up Tee.

And that’s a wrap! Go ahead and grab yourself a soda and some snacks, then let us know what you think abuot the Unisex-y series. Do you have any scripted ideas about what ModCloth items could be considered unisex?

It’s back-to-school time, and college campuses and city streets are bustling with crowds of people. What better way to earn a little extra money for textbooks or trips to the coffee shop and simultaneously show off your musical chops than by busking? And what better way to look cool and keep warm when you play long into the nippy night than with a circle scarf? We think that both a woman and a man could totally kill the chill in the air by rocking the black, fringed Mascara Scarf! And guys, there’s no need to sing the blues over wearing something named after make-up. Just remember that Elvis wore mascara (and shadowed his lids and dyed his hair black, too).

What’s busking, you ask? Busking, as you may surmise from the photo above, is the practice of performing along a sidewalk, or other public place, for tips and gratuities. Julie and I busted out a lap steel guitar, harmonica, and tambourine – with myself singing bass, and Julie singing tenor – to play a little ditty for you and the rest of the people within earshot of the photo studio. But, this time, you get the tip…on how to style this AC-DC scarf on a man and woman for a day of shakin’, rattlin’, and rollin’.

For my composition of clothing, I decided to take an approach reminiscent of Bob Dylan. I wrapped the Mascara Scarf over my neck to rest against the pianissimo blue background of a  button-up shirt, creating a harmonic combination of my two favorite colors. Then I  accompanied these with a muted pair of grey jeans and boots, a straw hat of a flaxen timbre, and Wayfarer sunglasses to serenade passersby on the street.

For Julie, it was no ‘treble’ at all creating a stylish, autumn-appropriate look with a choir of cute items. To take a romper or jumpsuit into the cooler weather, simply layer–which is what she did by wearing the Hocuspocus Tights that sparkle magically beneath the appropriately named Busker Jumpsuit, then adding some  ‘calore’  for her neck with the Mascara Scarf (which could also be worn like a shrug over the shoulders!). She kept a sweet beat by stomping the sidewalk with her Ice Cream Twist Wedges and kept the flash of her fans’ cameras out of her eyes with the Modern Jackie Sunglasses.

Do you have any street peforming experiences? We’d like to hear about them. Also, let us know if you have any thoughts about which ModCloth items could be utilized in a Unisex-y blog post!

For this installment of Unisex-y, I’d like to skip the formalities and informally introduce you to the formally informal Formal-i-Tee by designer Dainty June! With its sturdy yet soft cotton construction, epicene shape, and golden print of a ruffled bib reminiscent of 1970s secretary blouses and tuxedo shirts, this piece can easily be styled for women and men alike.

Continue reading to find out how we styled the Formal-i-tee for both a man and a woman.

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Tower, this is Unisex-y requesting a second flyby to bring you fashion fit for any sky-soaring sartorialist, regardless of gender. This week’s featured ModCloth item is the Maverick Sunglasses. Roger that!

Continue reading to find out how we styled these sunglasses for a both a man and a woman.

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Working with so many beautiful garments on a daily basis, it has been difficult  for me not to get jealous of my female co-workers who get to wear these marvelous ModCloth pieces  in and out of the office. But considering the recent menswear trend in women’s fashion, I began to wonder if maybe I just needed to be more open minded to the possibility of some of our pieces working for a guy, too. Hence, I have invented the Unisex-y blog! For this series, I will comb our catalog and then feature an item that’s PH balanced for a woman but may appeal to a man as well!

This week’s featured article of clothing is the Best Dressed in the West Vest.

Continue reading to find out how we styled this vest for a man and a woman.

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