Once upon a time, I dared to dream of looking like a 1950s housewife who maybe ran away with a jazz musician and opened a cat café. You know, aspirational stuff. Enter ModCloth, the online destination for vintage-inspired clothing that screams, “I collect vinyl and ironic teacups,” even if you’re just crying into your third iced coffee of the day.
I first stumbled upon ModCloth while searching for something that said, “I’m quirky and unique,” without having to say anything, because the absolute dream is to let your blouse do the socializing. And ModCloth understood the assignment, as the youths would say. Their selection spans from XS to 4X, because gasp—not everyone is a size two with an allergy to carbohydrates. It’s honestly refreshing, if not mildly shocking, in an industry still stuck in the “Only If You Can Share Jeans With Your Tween Niece” phase.
I decided to test ModCloth’s sincerity by trying two of their more popular offerings. First up: the Retro Radiance Puff Shoulder Sweater. When I hear “puff shoulder,” I immediately picture Anne of Green Gables begging for puffed sleeves as if her social life depended on it. And while I didn’t quite achieve fictional orphan levels of drama, I’ll admit—this sweater has flair. It’s pink, flirtatious, and makes you look like the human equivalent of a strawberry milkshake with confidence issues, in a good way.
The fabric is soft—as in “I’m going to keep touching my own arms during meetings” soft—and the buttons are functional, which, frankly, I do not take for granted anymore. Pair it with high-waisted jeans, and you’ll feel like you’re on your way to a pie contest that you will absolutely win—even if you bought your entry at Whole Foods and put it in your own dish. It’s that powerful.
Next, I slipped into the Memory Lane Fit & Flare Dress, which sounds like something you’d wear to your ex’s wedding to prove you’ve emotionally evolved. It’s black, sleek, and has just the right amount of vintage sass to suggest you may own a mysterious diary and also a killer eyeliner flick. The zipper glides like a dream (again, not guaranteed in today’s world of fast fashion), and the silhouette made me consider twirling in public, which should speak volumes.
And while yes, everything is designed in-house with charming, hand-drawn prints, it’s the fact that they bother to make sure all their sizes are available that made me suspicious. Where’s the catch? Where’s the “Sorry, not in your size, but here’s a scarf”? But no—ModCloth seems to get it. Clothes should fit you, not the other way around. Radical, I know.
Plus, they donate to organizations like the Trans Wellness Center and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. So you can buy a dress and feel like a better person while still being extremely smug about your puff sleeves—a win-win.
Of course, ModCloth isn’t without flaws. Some designs do toe the line between “adorably nostalgic” and “accidentally cosplaying your grandmother’s bridge club.” And the prices might make you double-take, mainly if you’re used to other online retailers’ $9.99 polyester roulette. But for once, you might get what you paid for—and not have to pray to the sizing gods.
So yes, ModCloth is where you can find a flamingo-pink top that whispers “romantic picnic,” a twirl-ready dress that demands dramatic entrances, and an overall aesthetic that says “I’m vintage, but make it trauma-informed.” And really, what more could you ask for?
If you need me, I’ll be browsing ModCloth for a third outfit I don’t need but will justify purchasing with the words “charitable cause” and “emotional support dress.”