Modcloth Stylish Surprise Review (Warning: No Dissertation Talk Whatsoever!)

I need to blog more.  Seriously.  I may not have much of a reading public, but I know that I am (1) happier when I write and (2) better able to tackle the "hardness" of my dissertation after just venting about whatever I want to vent about!  So today's fabulously intellectual blog entry is all about ..... the Modcloth Stylish Surprise!

First, you might need some background (and I am warning you that there is nothing even slightly intellectual that is about to follow!).  As some folks know, I am addicted to Modcloth when I am searching out new clothes (or even when I am not and am just browsing).  This website is my absolute fav without a doubt (OK, maybe that sounded a little teenagerly!)  Why you ask?  I don't think I am an attention hog but I have to admit that I love it when folks say something about the quirkiness of something that I am wearing.  And that is what I adore about Modcloth -- I like the blend of classical and off-beat styles.  What?  You say you have never heard about Modlcoth?  Here is a sample of previous purchases:

These shoes are currently my favorite (I also have them in a different color):

Or these dresses (and skirts) that I have purchased at Modcloth that I adore and wear on a regular basis:

Well, you get the idea.  I love Modcloth.  Guilty as charged.  A little quirky I know but I love that I am getting to be known as the teacher who wears the strange dresses!  :D

Back to the Stylish Surprise (or the SS)!  Every now and then (maybe 2-3 times a year), Modcloth advertises a sale which usually is sold out fairly quickly -- the SS.  Here is how it works -- you pick your size under a category like "Apparel" or "Shoes" and Modcloth sends you a mystery item for $15 (There is also an "Accessory" and "Apartment" category).  My guess is that Modcloth is clearing our their clearance bins.  But you gotta move fast.  Since you could score something in the hundreds of dollars, folks move on this mystery sale pretty fast.  I have done the SS before but I haven't been too successful.  Last time I got three dresses and swapped or sold them instead (which isn't terrible since I either got a swapped clothing item in return or at least got my $15 back).   This time the announcement was done via Modcloth's new mobile apps and .... I happened to be sitting in my doc's office waiting for an appointment.  I ended up ordering as many as you were able (limit 4) and a shoe item to boot!  Since I had issues with size last time (and these items are non-returnable), I went up a size. (and thankfully, I wasn't called back for my appointment as I was hastily using some coupons codes and credits that I already had making my "splurge" pretty cheap (about $50 total).  This time, Modcloth's shipping was phenomenal -- I got my items yesterday (Friday) after ordering on Tuesday.  

Wanna know what I got?!

I had a feeling it was going to be great when I eyed the box - the biggest Modcloth box I have ever received!

And then I opened it!  And look what I found!

Right away, I liked the patterns I saw!  Since the box was so big, I thought that perhaps I got a nice coat (and there are some gorgeous ones on the web site!)  But no coat -- however, I recognized one item right away.  The black print was a Bettie Page skirt -- and I adore Bettie Page (the martini dress above is one of her designs!).  And how sad is that I knew that pattern without even looking at the label?

First, I had a quick peek of the shoes.

Kinda Mad Men-ish -- not exactly my style but definitely a great quality shoe (heavy).  I found a Modcloth link and they were about $60 originally.

So, of course, I HAD to try on the skirt first and went ahead and added the shoes too since they matched the skirt:

Not the best of pictures but here is the skirt with the blue heels.  I ADORE the skirt (which retailed for $110 -- currently on the Bettie Page website on sale for half that since this is last season).  You can't see in the picture but it has built in crinoline and makes this skirt so much fun to wear (and the fabric is heavy as well with gold and silver threads throughout -- beautiful fabric).  It also turned out that the shoes are quite comfy!  I like them.  But ... they are a wee bit too large, fitting more like a 9 1/2 (I am usually a pretty solid 9).  I will either have to swap or sell them.

Next up -- this lovely, chiffon-y dress!  Gorgeous!  Fits fabulously!  I was never really into this whole color-block thing so I would have never tried this dress on (much less purchased it!).  I couldn't find a link for this dress but it looks to be in the $50-$60 range when I compare it to other dresses on the web site.  I am just a little sad that I will have to wait until the summer to wear it (it's super light):

Update:  A fabulous reader found the link to the dress: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/sash-decision-dress  (and I still love, love, love, love this dress!  It will be great in the humid weather of St Louis!)

 There was one dress that was a "dud."  It is a lovely dress (about $60 I think) but my boobs do not fill this top part at all (and this might be where going up a size bit me in the butt).  Here is a picture of me in it (the top is about to fall down!) with the pic on the web site on the right side:

I am not sure yet if I love it enough to spend the money to get it tailored.  I like the color (the bow is starting to grow on me) and it would be great for a summer wedding.

Last item -- an adorable tank top!  It is a little big but I think I can work with that:

The link I found online (the pic on the right) is not exactly the same shirt but it is super close (again, about $50).  My terrible picture does not show the intricate overlay lace pattern on the top portion of the tank (mine is an every so slightly different pattern than the one on the web site).  Absolutely gorgeous!  I wish it were a size smaller but I think it would be a good layering piece.

So that was my haul!  For about $50 I think I did pretty decently (.  I am not sure if I will do the next SS because I don't think my luck will hold out.  However, Modcloth is having some great sales right now (50% off 5 different items everyday through Thanksgiving and who knows what they might do for Black Friday).  If you are interested in trying these guys out (and I have personally returned many items with absolutely no problems -- they have fantastic customer service!), click on this link:  http://sharethelove.modcloth.com/a/clk/4qfY6N  (You get a discount, I get a discount -- it is all great!)

So what do you guys think?  Over $300 for five items that I paid around $50 after coupons and a credit I already had -- not bad, I think!