Who: Renae of Dress Me Polly

What: Vintage dress and belt

Where: Oh Henry Vintage in Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia

How Much: $35 AUD for the dress, $25 for the belt

When I Use It: ”This was the first time I wore this dress. My friend and I felt inspired to dress nautical for a day of vintage shopping. This dress is lined and quite warm, so it’s perfect for spring or autumn.”

Shopping Tips: “If it’s a great quality, good condition find, don’t be scared if it’s a bit pricey (you’d pay the same for a new item, probably), but if it requires some mending or work, think twice on the price.”

HEY, READERS! We know you’re the cleverest vintage hunters around, which is why we want to hear the story of your Fave Find! E-mail favefinds@modcloth.com with a picture of you with your favorite vintage find (a rare record, a perfect pair of boots, or any other treasure), and answer the following: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips!

From Patrick Swayze buttons to hairpins boasting psychedelic prints, designer Molly Gaines of Vivi Dot crafts her handmade goodies in a home studio as quirky as her retro-inspired line of accessories. This Seattle resident named her company after her grandmothers — Vivi and Dot — whom she credits for her creative moxie and sense of humor. Between crafting and creating, she invited us in for a virtual tour of her stylish space!

“My house and my line of accessories are all about pattern and color,” Molly says. “I love to brighten up a room with a vibrant table or bold wallpaper just like I love to add pops of color and pattern to an outfit with a bright, eye-catching necklace.”

“I love using color and statement pieces throughout my house, but I try to balance that out so no one place is overwhelmed with stuff. I allow myself to break that rule in my office. It’s filled with a combination of tools and items I need to run my business and items that inspire me to create — quirky, colorful things I’ve picked up over the years at vintage shops and craft fairs.”

“This work table is where most of the Vivi Dot production occurs. I’ve got all of the supplies I need at an arm’s length. I also have my collection of tiny, fashionable outfits from Japan on display.”

“When I lived in San Francisco I’d pick up these little fashion outfits at various stores that carried Japanese products. They come in a box that doesn’t say which outfit it is, so you just have to hope it’s one you don’t already own. The little light on the dresser even turns on!”

“SF really was the perfect place to start Vivi Dot and get my feet wet in the thriving local craft scene. Now, I live in Seattle in a neighborhood called Ballard. I love the combination of being able to walk to boutiques and restaurants while living on a quiet block with a chicken coop in my backyard. The seasons and all the change in color associated with them is my biggest source of inspiration these days.”

“I just hired my first employee, Lily, so I reworked this space to add in a desk for her. I organize my findings in that awesome, mustard yellow metal container that I bought at The Apartment in San Francisco.”

“These drawers are just perfect for storing all of my inventory and packaging needs.”

“These are all of the solid colors I use in my collection, usually as accents to patterns or to cover in lace.”

“The hand-painted 500 Club tin is from a friend. It’s where my husband and I met! Our whole bathroom is another remodeling project that we’ll take care of in the next few years. In the meantime, I covered up the floral tile pattern with some bright fabric dots. It’s much more ‘us.’”

Thanks for the tour, Molly!

Have any questions for Molly? Drop her a line, and she’ll answer back!

Music is like love. Sometimes, you hear an album 100 times before you realize, “Hey, I kinda like you.” Other times, you’re instantly hurricaned off your feet in a bout of adoration, which is exactly what happened to me with singer-songwriter Meiko’s “Stuck On You.”

A heart-tickling mix of the ethereal dreaminess of Edward Sharp, the upbeat catchiness of Vampire Weekend, and the complex, heady vocals of Gillian Welch, “Stuck On You” had me enamored the first time I heard its retro-infused notes, and with one listen to the rest of the album The Bright Side (which debuts today!), I was thoroughly charmed.

This adorable native of a miniscule Georgia town pulls together hugely pleasing music. I wish I had that in my bag of tricks, but lucky for you, I presently have something a lot more exciting to share — five copies of Meiko’s The Bright Side!

We’re giving away five copies of this fantastic CD to randomly chosen commenters who respond to the question, “What brightens your life?” Even if you don’t win, don’t worry — you can listen to the love-inducing “Stuck On You” below.

We spotted this retro-inspired gal while browsing the booths at the Alameda Pointe Antiques Faire and were smitten with her aqua frock and contrasting canary-hued specs!

What would you wear for a day of foraging at a flea market?

Take a gander at the looks below, and be sure to stop by “ModStylist Monday” on Tumblr for more work-ready looks and styling suggestions from the ModStylists!

On Kate: Un-Twill We Meet Again Dress, The Ins and Outside Coat, Bow to Stern Scarf in Sand Dots, Dew Drop By Earrings, Bling It On Ring, Haute du Creme Bag, Be My Lady Heel.

On Sarah: Pencil We Meet Again Skirt, Scholastically Sweet Top, Wishing and Taupe-ing Heels, Graphic Diner Laptop Bag, Kaleidoscopic Style Ring.

On Jeanette: Neapolitan of Your Dreams Dress, Crochet by Me Flat, Through the Wire Headband in Dottie, Exclaim to Fame Ring, In Good Highlight Jacket in Blue, I Bike It Like That Necklace.

Have a styling question of your own? Drop the ModStylists a line at askamodstylist@modcloth.com or make a date with one today, and soon you’ll be rocking your work wardrobe like a boss!

Oh yes, we can do it! Do you often get pumped about an inspiring female lead? Does this woman manage the office or call the shots? This doesn’t happen nearly enough in popular entertainment. Our current stylebook, Nine to Fine, celebrates the women who take charge at work and pave the way for future leaders both on and off the screen. Here’s a very brief historical overview of depictions of women in TV and film. So, if you yearn for more empowering women in the workforce in the media, keep on reading!

Rosie the Riveter, the iconic image that reminds us of the American women who held jobs previously owned by men in WWII supply factories, represents our gal pal ancestors who rolled up their sleeves and got down to business as leaders.

However, what happened after there was no longer a need for the war effort? Women were expected to go home and live out their traditional domestic roles. Many households now had a television, which aired shows that reflected the blissful and dutiful side of being a homemaker, and rarely the negative sides of the role. One ’60s incarnation of this was the Dick Van Dyke Show, in which Mary Tyler Moore played a prim and proper wife and mother.

Luckily for Moore, the ’70s came along, and with it, the Mary Tyler Moore Show. In the below clip, her future boss humorously interviews the main character, Mary Richards. The lack of conduct in his questions allows us to consider Mary’s unique situation for the times. The situation Mary finds herself in isn’t necessarily new, just one that was formerly ignored or shunned. Rather than settling for a traditional path, Mary rejects guilt and societal pressures in favor of living life as she pleases. That’s worth a beret toss!

In the 80′s comedy 9 to 5, a trio of secretaries scheme to overthrow their sexist boss. While hijinks ensue, the movie is actually based on the demeaning treatment of whom we now call “administrative assistants.” Watch this clip in which Violet, played by Lily Tomlin, questions a recent promotion that went to a less qualified man. Her boss’ reason for passing her up is that he “needed a man in this position.” What does that say about perceptions in office structure?

Murphy Brown image (left) via Stuck in the 80′s and Working Girl image (right) via IMDB. 

Though Working Girl is dubbed a romantic comedy, I would argue that it’s really about the relationship that Tess, played by Melanie Griffith, has with the business world. While a secretary for executive Katherine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), Tess takes advantage of a chance to impersonate her boss. While her method isn’t completely legit, Tess’s motive is sincere — she just wants to lift herself up to a better place in life. Working Girl not only depicts gender differences in the workplace, but it brings up competitiveness among women and the divide between socioeconomic classes.

Murphy Brown, an 80′s sitcom about a plucky and tough investigative TV journalist, takes Mary Tyler Moore to the next level. By 1992, Murphy had become a single mother, a roll that wasn’t necessarily new in society, but wasn’t widely appreciated either. It made such an impact, politician Dan Quayle publicly criticized the fictional character’s dual role as mother and career woman. There are tons of successful working single mothers in reality, so why is it so shocking to see them on TV?

Image via The Grindstone.

You know we can’t talk about Vintage Sexism in the workplace without getting into Mad Men! No matter how much we swoon over the vintage garb, our scorn over how its female stars are treated never wanes. In my job as a copywriter at ModCloth, I can easily say that I will never have a conversation like Peggy and Joan do in this clip.

Why do we react the way we do to the arresting sexism in Mad Men? We may say, “I would have never let my boss talk to me like that!” or “I can’t believe women put up with that back then!” Well for one, there are laws that protect employees against such treatment.  Also, in light of the decades of women like Rosie, Mary, Murphy, and so on, we know that there’s little reason to live like ‘Mad Women’ do. How much better is it really?

Image via Rolling Stone.

Many of us may fancy ourselves a 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon, played by her creator Tina Fey. The socially awkward showrunner is often teased and put down in ways that refer to her gender, among other traits. Her foil, Jenna, does not have as much authority or responsibility, but she too gets poked at. Still she’s the “girlie” to Lemon’s “bossypants.” How do you think traditional femininity and “girlieness” play into women’s respect in the workplace?

Image via FanPop

What commonalities do you see in all of these examples? For one, they are all main characters in comedies. Perhaps finding humor in workplace inequality helps us consider the severity of it.

There’s also a lack of diversity in these examples. On one hand, TV and movies have progressed since the original Mad Men era and even the Mary Tyler Moore days. But on the other, the lack of non-white women in leadership roles or even non-stereotype roles could use a little oomph.

Mindy Kaling, a.k.a. Kelly Kapoor on The Office, is currently one of few female and non-white writers and producers in mainstream entertainment. If you ever feel frustrated by the lack of decent female characters in major films and TV today, statistics like these and information like this could explain why.

Us gals got to stick together, and rolling up our sleeves like Rosie the Riveter and tackling the unbalanced world of entertainment is a way to promote a more equal society.

Clearly, this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the subject of women in the workplace as seen on TV and films. What favorites did I miss? What are your thoughts on how women are depicted on the screen?

Last week, ModCloth teamed up with our local chapter of Girl Geek Dinners to host an evening of tech-savvy talks, networking, and, of course, fun! We’ve long loved the Girl Geek Dinners cause, which, its website explains, started in 2005 as a result of “one girl geek who got frustrated about being one of the only females attending technical events and being asked to justify why she was there by her male counterparts.”

Our sold out event featured lightning talks by five of our own girl geeks, who spoke to an audience of professionals and students on topics ranging from user testing tips to advice on launching your own startup.

The night started off with our co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Susan, telling the story of how she started ModCloth in her college dorm room and what it’s like trying to democratize the fashion industry. Afterwards, our Head of PR discussed brand engagement and how to spread the word about your startup to young business phenoms-to-be. User Experience Researcher Laura gave a rundown on user research, and Project Manager Ashley shared her expertise on  project management principles. The talks closed with Product Manager Fiona, who offered advice to job-seekers on how to decide what type of startup to join.

Check out some snaps from the event, and let us know if you’d like to see us in your area!

Who needs vases when you have space helmets?

Beep beep boo beep! Guests got to cast their vote in a special live version of Be the Buyer.

Speech preparation.

Susan speaking and answering questions onstage.

As you all proved in our latest Name It & Win It, you are truly masters in all matters of fashion and wordplay. After filing through thousands of A+ entries, we’re pleased to reveal the five names that will join the official roster of ModCloth names!

The winners are…

Blog – Fine Hearts Student Dress by Alexa K.

Twitter – Lost in Austin Dress by @giantspatula

Facebook – Live, Love, Lavender Dress by Erin C.

Instagram – La Di Dots Dress by @goldblerg

Tumblr – Get Up and Gossamer Dress by Faesaurus

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you all so much for playing!

Since this was our first time trying multiple platforms, we’d love to know –- what did you think?

Starting on 5/10 at 11 a.m. PT, we’re launching a dreamier-than-ever contest on Pinterest. Do you aspire to be a veterinarian, a fashion columnist, or something really creative like a pancake astronaut? Then, share your most marvelous vocational aspirations with us in a cohesive board that captures the essence of your dream job, and you could win a $100 gift certificate!

To enter, create a board, title it “ModCloth’s Make It Work Contest,” then add a description of your aesthetic to your board. Make sure your board contains each of the 20 pins listed above, in no particular order. In each pin’s caption, include the number and name that the pin corresponds to, along with the hashtags #modcloth and #makeitwork. Feel free to elaborate or add fun copy to each pin’s description — we’d love to know why you’re passionate about the images and inspirations you chose. Then, when your board is perfect, share it with us by posting it as a link in a comment on the original contest announcement pin, located in our “Follow Your Dreams” board.

Before you get to work, make sure to check the details below.

• You must follow @ModCloth on Pinterest to enter.
• Contest begins 5/10 at 11 a.m. PT, and ends 5/17 at 4 p.m. PT.
• Each pin must include a caption listing the number and name that the pin corresponds to.
• Each pin must include the hashtags #modcloth and #makeitwork.
• Only one entry board per person.
• Boards will be judged based on uniqueness, creativity, ModCloth spirit, and adherence to the guidelines.
• The winner will be announced 5/24 at 7 a.m. PT on the ModCloth Blog.
• Pinterest is invite only. You can request an invite from Pinterest. If you don’t recieve your invite within 24 hours, please e-mail socialnetworks@modcloth.com to obtain an invite.
• Need more information? Check out our Official Contest Rules.

We’re amped to see your stylish, aspirational boards! Need some help finding fashions you could wear to the office? Check out our work appropriate styles!

Ever wish you’d inherited some natural talent or trait that belongs to none other than your mother? Maybe her eyes, her green thumb, or her knack for throwing together a magnificent meal in minutes? For me, it’s my mom’s artistic flair. Take a look at some of these truly fabulous fashion sketches she made when she was studying art in the 1960s.

When I first unearthed these sketches, I knew just where my everlasting love of vintage fashion and design had come from. I adore so many of the details, like the realistic shine of a handbag, the patterns on a dress, and the bouncy bobs and elegant updos. They’ve decorated many an apartment wall of mine throughout the years, and naturally, they’re some of my most-prized possessions.

Girdles, furs, and pocketbooks — these are just a few 60s fashion basics, and according to my mom, that’s what they all wore. While looking through the rest of her sketches, she snickered when she noted the pointy bras, too. So many of the retro styles, silhouettes, and looks us ModGirls love so much were captured here, back when they were current. So cool!

What’s one of the traits or talents you wish your mother had passed on to you?