ModCloth, an online boutique specializing in women's apparel, accessories, and decor from independent designers, has ventured into uncharted territories for a retailer—they've launched an online fashion-focused literary anthology, "The Written Wardrobe: Where Style and Story Collide." "The Written Wardrobe," launched on February 2, 2011, features style and fashion writing in the form of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. It celebrates a diverse range of aesthetics, from an experimental poem to an illustrated children's book, which appear alongside more traditional short stories, essays, and poems.
The collection includes both first-time and previously published authors. Kyoko Mori is the author of three novels and three nonfiction books. Her most recent book,"Yarn: Remembering the Way Home," is a memoir that also traces the history of knitting. Marion Winik is the "Answer Lady" for "Ladies' Home Journal" and the author of "The Glen Rock Book of the Dead," "First Comes Love," and other books. Lynne Barrett is the author of the story collections "The Sec women's coats ret Names of Women" and "The Land of Go." Her third collection, "Magpies," will be released in Fall 2011.
"'The Written Wardrobe' is interested in writing that explores the ways in which fashion influences our lives, not only in relation to clothing, shoes, and accessories, but also in the various interpretations of the larger topic of style," says Molly Prosser, Creative Director at ModCloth and Editor-in-Chief of the anthology.
The journal is celebrating its launch with a reading and party in Washington, DC in conjunction with The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, at which ModCloth is moderating a panel. The panel, which will explore the emerging genre of fashion writing, includes speakers from Jezebel, New York University's School of Fashion, Fashion Pulse Daily, and Zappos. ModCloth is also sponsoring a Literary Death Match event, as a way to expose "The Written Wardrobe" to a new audience and show their support of writers.
ModCloth's mission is to democratize fashion, and provide features and programs that support their customers' lifestyle, and not just their look. Site features such as Be the Buyer? have encouraged a fun and unique social shopping community that empowers both independent designers and customers, but few know that ModCloth also aims to inspire and empower the writing community. "The Written Wardrobe" was the brainchild of ModCloth's talented fashion writing team, which generates content for the ModCloth Blog, crafts creative product descriptions, and engages customers with contests like Name It and Win It, where participants are invited to compete to name a product for the chance to win it. ModCloth believes fashion writing is an important genre and one that will continue to grow as those designated "fashion influencers" continues to change. Because of this, ModCloth has made it a priority to collaborate with independent style bloggers, who are newcomers to the industry, but who have a unique vision and perspective that is often expressed through their writing about—or inspired by—fashion.
Submission guidelines for the second issue of "The Written Wardrobe" can be found here.
About ModCloth.com:
ModCloth.com is an e-retailer that sells affordable independent designer women's fashion. They've attracted a large, devoted following through their unique selection of indie clothing and engaging promotions on the ModCloth Blog and social networks. The company is founded by husband and wife team Eric Koger and Susan Gregg Koger.
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