An Interview With The Mad Mod

Tessa (AKA The Mad Mod) is one of my most FAVORITE bloggers EVER. I'm pretty sure she has time traveled back from London, 1966 to the present day. I dreeeeam that someday I can be as groovy as she is! Not only does she wear the most rad clothes, but she also has a fantastic room, AMAZING taste in music/books/movies, and she let me interview her! DON'T YOU ALREADY LOVE HER?!
Read the interview below to find out more about this up-and-coming blogging babe!

What's your name? How old are you? TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF!

Tessa, 16. I consider myself an eccentric mod who is addicted to many things, including thrift shopping, retro fashion, good music, glitter, collages, pop art, etc. 

Why did you start your blog?

For a long time people kept telling me to start a blog, because of my fashion. At first I was like, "Nah, that sounds boring," but it turns out that it's really a joy in my life! And I feel like my blog has expanded from a fashion blog to sort of an everything blog (movies, music, etc.)

From a photo shoot done by her friend Cass

What got you into style and fashion?

When I was a freshman in high school I was trying to find myself. I started going to Goodwill and I'd buy oversized sweaters and plaid pants. During Spring Break I discovered The Who and became infatuated with all the members- especially Keith Moon (still am~). He wore turtle necks with mod targets, arrows, and basically any other simple shape that made a big impact. My music taste had started to expand (Queen, The Beatles, The Stones, you name it I found out about them) and I observed all the clothing that the gorgeous men wore. At this time I really liked tom-boyish fashion instead of girly things. Sophomore year I had started getting into "prettier" things. The first girly thing I bought was a pair of go-go boots from the Halloween store. I basically wore them with EVERYTHING and it got me into a lot of bullying situations, but it was no big deal because I was happy finding myself. 

How did you get into vintage/retro fashion?

Well once again, vintage rock 'n' roll got me into vintage/retro fashion, but so did a lot of films. ESPECIALLY John Waters films and those cheesy beach movies with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. I started doing my hair in beehives and bouffant and straightening my hair (before then I had a frizzy lion's maine). I didn't necessarily do it to "feel pretty" I did it to be happy. It ended up that I started feeling prettier with vintage clothing, because I felt like the pieces fit so much better than department store clothing. My mom actually helped me get into vintage fashion because she used to dress up all the time. She gave me some of her clothing from the 80's and she encouraged my new love, because she always stresses that being yourself is the most important thing (besides happiness).

From another photo shoot by her friend, Cass

Who are your favorite bloggers?

There are so many of them honestly. I have a lengthy list on my blog (under "cool cats") but my current favorites are Mermaidens, Birdie Wears A Tie, Odyssey and Oracle, Style Rookie, Turn on, Tune In, Drop Out, and of course Psychedelic Daisy.

Who are your top 3 style icons?

OH GOSH, this question is so difficult...I would have to say: Francoise Hardy, The Ronnettes, and Phoebe Buffay (from F.R.I.E.N.D.S)

What are some of your favorite books, movies, and bands/artists?

My favorite books are The Virgin Suicides, Full Moon: The Amazing Rock & Roll Like of Keith Moon late of The Who, late of The Earth, and To Kill A Mockingbird. As for movies, I really love Singin' in the Rain, Rushmore, Bye Bye Birdie, Quadrophenia, Bunny and the Bull, Submarine, The Royal Tenenbaums, Tommy, Heathers, and that's just to name a few... Bands/artists: The Beach Boys and the Who will always be my favorite bands. I also love The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Hole, Lana Del Rey, Francoise Hardy, Dead Man's Bones, Santo & Johnny, Gnarls Barkley, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Bleached, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Cramps, The White Stripes, The Zombies, and a whole lot more!

Taken by her friend L.M. Strange 

How would you describe your style in 5 words?

Loud, nostalgic, serendipitous, delightful, whimsical

Do you have a lot of friends that are interested in vintage clothing?

I know a lot of people online, but in real life I know about five people who are interesting in vintage clothing. Most people/friends I know think it's "gross" or "shameful" to shop at a thrift store.

Do you ever get made fun of because of how you dress?

I used to A LOT. Almost everyday at school people would call me "Lady Gaga" (?) or "weird" or something stupid. I live in the country so I knew it was inevitable, so I prepared myself for the worst and took it in stride. Like Oscar Wilde once said, "The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about."  Nowadays I feel like people at my school are used to me so most of them leave me alone. When I go out shopping or whatnot I never really notice anyone looking at me differently, but I normally don't pay attention unless I'm people watching.

Taken by L.M. Strange

Are there any people who wear more "modern day" style clothes that inspire you?

Absolutely! Noel Fielding, Lana Del Rey, Paloma Faith, Miss Li, Wes Anderson, Tavi Gevinson, Emma Stone, the sisters in the band Bleached, Winona Ryder, and there's probably a lot more I'm leaving out.

What do you do, aside from blogging?

A lot of things really...I suffer in high school, but I get by by acting in the plays, I sew, I draw, I play my ukelele and my drums and write music (and attempt to record it),I listen to records, and I write a lot. I've recently been getting into screenwriting, so I've been writing scripts lately.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

There is no such thing as one celebrity crush, and we all know it. Currently I've been really digging Ryan Gosling, Mick Jagger, Keith Moon, and did I mention Ryan Gosling? And of course I have a girl crush on Joan Jett, but hey, who doesn't?

Tessa's femme version of Duckie

Has blogging changed your life at all?

You know, it really has. I've never realized it, but now that you ask it's definitely changed my life. Thanks to the blog-world I've been exposed to a lot of new things (fashion, music, advice, etc.). I couldn't give one particular instance, but this blog helps me in many ways.

Thank you so much, I had a joyous time answering these questions!! <3

Taken by L.M. Strange

ISN'T SHE WAY PERFECT?! Thanks 4EVER to Tessa for being such a babe and letting me interview her! Remember to check out her blog, The Mad Mod (or her equally gorgeous Tumblr), and to follow this QUEEN OF THE BLOGOSPHERE! 

Hope y'all enjoyed, and look out for future interviews with more babely bloggers!

xoxo

Psychedelic Daisy