With the afternoon sun shining in the store, I remember how great February has been the last few years.  I thought it was a fluke, but after the last week I have decided...  February is in the running with September for the best month of the year.  And unlike September, which is sun-filled and warm, but lit with that golden, autumn glow, February comes after three months of rain. 

Late January I was starting to wonder how I would make it to June... Now I remember - February!

While most of the Northeast is covered in snow - we in the Northwest are enjoying spring-like weather.  And, even though we love the snow, warm sunshine in February ain't bad at all...

It means we can wear things like this Charles Nolan dress. 

 Wait - I still can!

You know how we at The Modo have an obsession with Tavi, the child-like fashionista?  The other day we were reading her blog and she mentioned this article in the Guardian by Tanya Gold about why she hates fashion.  Without the risk of getting it wrong, the gist was that Tanya thinks fashion makes women insecure, waste money to impress men, and is uncomfortable and often ugly.

Obviously Tavi, the 13 year-old wonder of the fashion community, disagrees - to her, fashion is art. It isn't frivolous, it is the way she expresses herself regardless of what other people think about her.

This discussion made me think about how I view fashion.  I have never been one of those girls who waits for the next issue of Vogue to come out.  Most fashion shows seem a bit over the top for my taste, although a few will move me. What I do know, is how good I feel when I wear certain things.  The way a silk dress feels against the skin, high heels make me feel powerful, or how my favorite pair of jeans instantly make me comfortable.

I have a motto: The worse I feel, the better I dress.  When I know I am going to have a crappy day (some mornings you can just tell, right?), I purposefully try to find something to wear that makes me happy.  I like dresses, because they make me feel put together and girly without requiring much effort or lack of comfort.  Does it change whatever momentary terrible thing that happened to me? No.  But, every time I walk by the mirror, I think, "Well, at least I look good." A tiny smile escapes and for a brief moment I forget what was making me feel bad and get to feel good.

Does that use of fashion make me more shallow than a Tanya Gold who doesn't use clothes to make her feel better? Or is it self-empowering to be able to do something so simple as wear a dress to improve your outlook.

If you there thinking of doing a little shopping this weekend - and needed somewhere to go besides Modo ;) - you have to go to the PDX Collective Sale at the Cleaners in the Ace Hotel.

PDX Collective Sale - January  23-24, 2010 from 11-5

Ace Hotel

1022 SW Stark St.
Portland, OR 97205

503.228.2277