I seriously feel sort of strange about shopping for NEW clothes. Not new to me (I can buy thrift every day of the week), but spanking new. I had been contemplating a purchase at a very popular (ahem, ModCloth) website for a while and I finally just broke down and did it. Below is a letter I feel like my conscience should write:
Dear ModCloth,
I have seen you around. I have to admit, I think you are really cute. Everyone talks about you all the time, I mean you are so popular. The thing is, I usually avoid the popular crowd, but you seem. . . different. To be honest I have watched you quietly for months. You probably don't even know I exist. That's okay. I would rather stay quiet and adore you from afar. If you ever came to me and said hi, I think I would turn into a complete dork and lose it anyway. I follow you on twitter and try to ignore your Music Monday Samples (great) or your quirky updates on what you are up to, but find myself creepy peeping on you anyway. OH!! Your darn daily item updates and peep toe pumps and vintage gems!!! I think I am worried that this will turn into a full on obsession and I will end up giving you everything I earn, and my thrift stores will feel so ashamed of me for giving it up for retail all of the time and having nothing left for them. I just had to tell you though, I think I like you. Actually, I have a super big crush on you. Please don't tell anyone.
Sincerely,
C. @Second Skin
Seriously, I felt like I had to hide a dirty secret when I bought this dress, then when it arrived, I tried to find flaws with it. I couldn't. Its great. The fabric, print, cut. DANGIT!! Why do you have to be so Effing Cool???!!!!
Off to Vegas now! Hope to get some cool casino shots while I am there!
Dress: ModCloth Tangram Frock
Shoes: Old Navy
Belt, necklace: Vintage thrifted
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44 comments:
you look gorgeous! there is no need to be ashamed. the thrift stores know you'll be back :)
Uhhh now I want lilac nail polish. That is all I have to say! Oh and have fun in Vegas :)
Ha, you're funny. Well the dress looks gorgeous on you so don't feel bad :) - those shoes are also awesome!
Love the shoes!!!!
XXX
http://laslolicasdesiempre.blogspot.com/
Glad you bit the bullet. That frock is FAB!
Hi! I read your blog everyday...and very rarely comment (too shy!). But today I felt I had to. I also peruse the modcloth website, and have bought several items from them in the past. But I have totally stopped buying from them. I find a lot of their clothes overpriced and the quality sometimes rather poor (shoes that broke the first time I wore, a dress not even worth half the price I paid). I'm glad you found something that you like though. Heaven forbid if you ever have to return it! They keep a portion of the price of the item as a "restocking fee", so you feel like a complete idiot for buying it in the first place since you're also out on postage fees. And one more complaint about them..they take forever to ship the item. I placed an order on a Thursday and they didn't ship until Monday. Then UPS took like 4 days to get to me. It was really too much time to wait for something I wanted NOW. So I just look but don't buy. Instead I do all my shopping at shopruche.com (no - I don't work for them - I'm just a HUGE fan). They're SO much cheaper (I've even seen the same item on modcloth - maybe different color though and ruche has been as much as $10 cheaper), their inventory is high-quality (silks, cotton and linens), and their shipping is so fast (like I have the stuff within 3-4 of placing the order!! - how awesome!). I tell all my friends about this site, and since I secretly wish you were my friend (dorky I know) - I'm sharing it with you. :D
All the best - your shy friend in Massachusetts - Monique
I LOVE the dress! You look smokin' hot and those shoes are to die forrrrr <3
Melanie@Unravelled Threads
I know how you feel about buying brand new clothes! I also feel like the thrill of a really amazing find at the thrift store just isn't there when you buy new, but your dress is darling!
I am wondering if those Old Navy shoes are comfortable? Because I find them to be totally awesome...
i think you made a wise choice :)
love the shoes - old navy!?!
have a great tim in vegas!!
http://workyourcloset.blogspot.com
that dress looks amazing!
good luck in vegas!
underthosenenonlights.blogspot.com
that dress is really cute! I've never bought anything from modcloth but I may take a look around today.
i agree with you completely about modcloth... simply adorable. i love that dress on you... and the belt goes so well. is it blue/white or black/white belt? either way, you look fantastic!
I love modcloth and checking their site is part of my daily routine. Sometimes the quality is lacking for the price, but their style is super cute. They have free returns now (although I never experienced any kind of 'restocking fee' before) and shipping has always been expedient. Recently I bought a super cute dress that had a hole in the shoulder and unraveling threads. I got an apology from them and a coupon for 10% off on my next purchase. Great customer service to me!
I can't believe those shoes are Old Navy...super cute! Have fun in Vegas!
LOL the letter to ModCloth is exactly what I would write, now I just need to find that perfect item that will work as well for me as this one does for you. Adorable.
lol ur letter is so funny and cute!
loving the toe polish! xx
http://rainbowsandfairydust.blogspot.com/
I THOUGHT those might be Old Navy wedges. I would have never guessed they had such great shoes, but I've bought several pairs of wedges/sandals from there and loved them all... they last so much longer than I would expect them to!
This dress is fabulous, so I don't think you should feel any guilt over it :-)
love the colors in that dress
Such a cute dress! And like everyone else, I can't believe those wedges are from Old Navy! I've actually heard bad things about the quality of modcloth, but I'm glad you had a successful first purchase!
http://shoesfordessert.blogspot.com/
Oh I feel the same way about Modcloth, but I don't have an extra $50 to throw down on a dress, or two or three. I have a couple just sitting in my cart right now, wishing I had the nerve to buy now pay later. But your dress is awesome!!! You styled it so pretty!
You're adorable! I'm scared of Modcloth too, even though it has super cute clothing. I think you made the right choice--the dress is adorable on you!
xo Jenny
Haha that letter made me laugh uncontrollably! You're adorable (the dress too!) have fun in Vegas!
vegas!! have funnnn
and yaaa, modcloth can do no wrong
I really love this dress too! Great pick for your New Item!!
Great outfit but I have to say I especially LOVE the composition of the photos with the sky, clouds, pathway etc... fantastic job!
HA! That's so funny, you should slip that note into Mod Cloth's locker between periods, but make sure it doesn't see you.
http://daswhatshesaid.blogspot.com/
I love the dress. You will be back to the thrift stores again--they know you still love them :)
And the ON shoes are cute, are they comfy?
http://the-not-so-secret-loves-of-bri.blogspot.com/
love this dress. i love modcloth too, although i agree with what others have said; sometimes the quality isn't that great. but, anyways, i really love this dress, the pattern reminds me of my uncle's hot air balloon ha ha!
The dress is great!! You should be proud of your purchase :)
This dress is BEAUTIFUL on you. The fit is perfect. And I love the sky in your pics. The last pic is esp totally amazing awesome. Love it.
Oh, and your letter? Brilliant. You are just too perfect. This is why I visit: your letter, your cute pics, your adorable you. YOU: you're great.
So, would it make you feel better or worse to hear that the dress is AMAZING and looks awesome on you?
You pick. I'll tell you whatever you want to hear.
(But it IS a great dress and you DO look fantastic!)
You look great, love your colourful dress.
Very sweet letter. I’ve been in the same contemplation mode with them for a while and now they have these pea pod salt and pepper shakers and I think I gotta go for it….. we shall see, I am the supreme hesitator. If you use google reader, did you know you can subscribe to their product feed? It’s awesome.
The dress looks amazing with that belt! Don't feel bad. We all get influenced by ModCloth's siren song at some point(s).
Everything you find thrifted had to start new sometime. It helps to balance it all out, someday, somewhere that dress will be someone's favorite thrift shop find- thanks to you. Good job and good deed.
Hehe. Love this post. The letter is great!
I just made my first ModCloth purchase, too and my heart list is swelling over 50 items. Eep. I try to play the I-Spy Thursday game on Twitter so I can spend their money on their clothes instead of my money. :)
Hello, ever since I've learned of your blog, I've been an avid reader since. Every time I visit, I'm always amazed at how you put things together. It's like, "What will she think of next?" Or sometimes, when I'm shopping or looking for outfit ideas or when I'm stuck on how to put together something, you know what crosses my mind? "How would she wear this?" Seriously. I know, right.
I really admire your style and look forward to visiting your blog for inspiration. I'm a firm believer that you don't have to spend a lot of money to look good. Nor does it have to be a designer name. Many will comment on how "cute" your shoes are or how they "love" your dress. But what many don't realize is that It's How You Put It All Together that makes it look good. A person could have the best-looking shoes in the whole world, but if she doesn't know how to wear it, it becomes just a pair of shoes.
The last note that I wanted to let you know is that please don't become another ModCloth robot like many bloggers out there have become. Their prices are high up there for a reason even though these same items are found elsewhere at lower prices: they spend $55,000 a month on advertising, that's $1800 a day. I'm not sure if this is only on pay-per-click through search engines like Google or their advertising as a whole, but that's a hefty sum that they of course pass on to customers.
Your creativity shines through in all your outfits regardless of where you get them.
xoxo
This is your shy friend from Mass. again. I have to echo "xoxo"'s comment. I didn't want to say it, but my heart actually SUNK when I saw your posting of a modcloth dress. PLEASE don't become another advertiser for them! I only follow a handful of fashion bloggers, and you are the ONLY one who hasn't fallen victim to them. I'll give you a pass because you actually BOUGHT the dress, rather than having it "GIFTED" as the bloggers like to describe it. I like you because you're "real", you're a mother like me, you're great looking (like me - ha!), you work hard like me, you're creative (ok -- not like me), but you get the idea. Stay true to yourself.
Hugs...
- Monique
You look beautiful! Love everything about this outfit (and all the rest!)
I am going to Las Vegas in a couple weeks, can't wait to see what you post. Maybe you can give some tips or fun hot-spots!
@Monique - I think you need to revisit Modcloth and pay attention to the changes they have made over the last 6 months. There is no "restocking fee", you simply aren't refunded for shipping - like any other company. There has never been a restocking fee, so I think you just didn't read the fine print. Returns are now free. Also, every time I mentioned that something broke or ripped, or if I returned it, they sent me a coupon for 10% off, plus fully refunded my order. So whatever issue you may have had with them in the past, you may want to research their new policies before you start bashing them.
great dress. i would have thought you found that fabric at the fabric store. I think it was a good choice to purchase - not inately modcloth, just stylish
this post really elucidates why i just love your blog - your "letter to modcloth" could have been my own secret letter. i have such a love/hate relationship with the store. on the one hand, they do have very cute clothing. however, many of their clothes i can find at forever 21 for cheaper and be instantly gratified rather than wait for the ups man to grace my doorstep. [note on forever 21: everyone rallies around the flag that their clothes are cheap and don't last long, but i've NEVER had that experience! of course their clothes are cheap, but i've never had items tear on me... okay, that was a long caveat, haha!]
this dress however looks like it was created for you - the colors are so radiant and the cut highlights everything positive! all in all, you made a fantastic choice!
xo.
princesspolitico.blogspot.com
your look is so cute love it
This dress looks SO adorable on you! I especially love all the colors!
www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com
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