Daddy Likey

Blogging Break/ Badass Book Giveaway!

2010-08-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

(Nothing to do with anything, really--I just love this picture)

As you've probably noticed, I haven't had much time to post recently. I really hate not being able to update regularly because I feel bad leaving my readers hanging and I miss writing and my mom calls me every day and says, "Didn't you used to have a blog or something? Didn't it used to brighten my days? BECAUSE NOW I HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR." She's so subtle.

Anyway, I'm currently working on some new projects which are really exciting but also really time-consuming, so for the next few weeks posting will continue to be sporadic. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not dead or trapped under something heavy, and to thank you for your patience!

I'll still be updating my Tumblr with pretty pictures and funny quotes, and my Twitter with blog updates and really important observations so please feel free to follow those, if you'd like.

Now, the good news: To make up for my radio silence, I'm super excited to be giving away a free copy of The Wanderlust Workbook, a life-changing ebook by the amazing Sarah Von Bargen, who is about to embark on an 8-month globe-trotting adventure.

I have a copy of this book, have read it approximately 40 times, and cannot emphasize enough how helpful and inspiring it is in making your travel goals a reality. In fact, I think one of the reasons Sarah decided to write it was because I kept emailing her and saying, "OK, so I want to spend 3 months tending to baby goats on a farm in the south of France. Where do I start?!"

This book answers every question that I ever asked her about trip planning and financing, and many more, things like how to take a leave of absence from your job, how to fund a big trip, how to decide on an itinerary, and how to deal with the smack in the face that is real life upon returning from an epic adventure.

For a chance to win a copy, just leave a comment on this post telling me a little about your dream trip--where would you like to wander and why? I'll choose a winner at random next Friday. Good luck! And check back soon for Daddy Likey updates!

p.s. For the next three days, Sarah is having a sale on The Wanderlust Workbook, knocking the price down to just 9 bucks. That price also includes a one-hour podcast and a step-by-step outline of what you need to do to prepare for a big trip. Snap one up for you or a friend or everyone you know, and thanks so much for supporting badass bloggers like Sarah VB!

When Horses Fly.

2010-08-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

Pegasus Vintage Book Page Print, $8.50

This weekend I went to the Oregon Air Show with my dad and two of my brothers. While we were walking around the grounds trying to score as many free stickers and FAA Junior Agent badges as possible, my little brother Bob turned to me and said, "I'm going to buy a horse and a plane."

"Cool!" I said. "Are you going to learn to jump from your plane onto your horse like The Phantom? That's a classic move. The ladies love it."

Bob sighed at my stupidity. "No. I'm gonna teach the horse to be a pilot. Then I'm gonna ride the horse while it flies the plane."

"Oh," I said. "Well I guess that's even better."

Martin Feels Threatened.

2010-08-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today's post comes courtesy of Daddy Likey's resident racoon fashion blogger, Martin Sheen. Take it away, Martin:

So, a fashion designer in Louisiana is making hats and purses out of the pelts of the nutria, a large invasive rodent.

Martin no likey.

xoxo,
Martin

p.s. A huge thanks to the lovely Angelina for the heads up!

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-08-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday and welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this week's installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha! For those of you who are just joining the party here at Daddy Likey, DSYC is a recurring feature in which readers send in examples of the not-wearing-pants-when-they-are-clearly-necessary trend.

Please feel free to click here to read the humble beginnings of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha, or just read on and you'll surely get the gist of it.

Like, look at this:

Get it? (Thanks Gabrielle!)

Lovely reader Niovi sent this one in:

She explains: Sienna definitely shouldn't wash her dress too often, now it's torn, shrunk and chocha-lyptic.

To continue with the British chocha theme, here's the always-subtle Cheryl Cole:

Says Sarah: And to think of that she danced in that, oh the horror!

Here's a classic "For the love of God, hold down that hem!" moment:

Kimberly submitted a few not-so-ready-to-wear looks from Versace's Ready-to-Wear collection:

See-through shower curtain skirt...why even wear one?

Wouldn't you love a dress with these wonderful little triangle "chocha windows"?

Zoe found the perfect dress for your next purity ball:

Dub it "Key to my chocha."

Well, this is upsetting:

Says Winifred: Apparently your local toystore can provide some chocharifficness!

Tessa found the next few gems at every chocha hunter's favorite online store, Shopbop:

Sitting down: overrated and unnecessary.

So, wouldn't you guess this dress was from, like, sluttyclubwear.com?

Reader Becky delivers the bad news: The worst part is that this is A. from SEARS, and B. In the JUNIOR'S department.

Here's a confusing peacock/chocha combo from Amena:

Ummm, yeah.

Next up:

Says Natalie: This is not only an ugly dress, it's a risky, possible chocha-showing dress.

And finally, Anya sent in a series of chocha images (plus commentary) that I kind of want to turn into a flip book:

Exhibit A: The model is wearing sunglasses AND looking away, she clearly does not want to be recognized. I like the way she is touching the hem with one finger, as if to reassure herself that it didn't ride up and reveal her lady bits.

Exhibit B: She looks less than pleased about not having the sunglasses on anymore. I guess if she didn't have them to retain some dignity it was time to put her legs together and pull the dress down.

Exhibit C: A serious case of bitchface, and full-out leg clenching.

Amazing.

Giant Jewelry

2010-08-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

This double-finger ring is the equivalent of brass knuckles for stylish geologists. Amazing.

Raw Stones Purple Double Finger Agate Slice Ring, $34.

Oh Deer!

2010-08-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from Montana, and did not get eaten by a bear! I did, however, get spit on by a deer, a fact which seems to have elicited the most interest and bewilderment.

So here's the story.

On the second day of our trip we headed to Glacier National Park, which was obviously gorgeous, all craggy cliff faces and green forests and majestic waterfalls and bouncing mountain goats.

One problem: we accidentally visited on the 100th anniversary of the park, so we were basically stuck in a traffic jam for the entirety of our visit. We wanted to get off the road and explore, but every parking space was full and every shoulder was populated with construction equipment. At times it felt less like a natural wonderland and more like the parking lot of a suburban mall during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. And I mean, yeah, I love the Anniversary Sale, but that's not why I came to Montana.

So finally, after two hours of driving, we spotted a trailhead and my mom just sort of stopped the car. We got out, stretched our legs, and then I saw a sign that said, "CAUTION: GRIZZLY BEARS" and I started crying and got back in the car. I'd been nervous about bears for the whole trip, mostly because my brother Tona kept saying things like, "When a grizzly bear kills you, it's personal" and when we stopped to get water at Walgreens that morning my brother Devin pointed to a newspaper that said, "Grizzly Bear Eats Man."

Upon entering the park a ranger gave us a pamphlet with grizzly bear safety tips, which included making a lot of noise on the trails, especially around blind corners, so you don't surprise them. And that was pretty much it, because if a grizzly bear wants to eat you, it's going to.

My family finally coaxed/bribed me out of the car and I nervously made my way toward the trail entrance, where we came upon another sign that said, "Missing Hiker: Please Look For Body Parts."

Tona grabbed my shoulder and said, "The worst thing to do if you see a bear is to scream and run."

"Tona," I said, grabbing his shoulder, "if I see a bear I am going to scream and run."

Five minutes later we rounded the first blind corner and I saw a large brown animal in the bushes. I screamed and ran.

Turns out it was a deer. My family shook their heads at my stupidity and walked past it without incident. "Come on!" they all said. "It's just a deer!"

But my adrenaline was pumping. My life had flashed before my eyes. So had a VHS tape that my brothers and I watched on repeat when we were kids, called Dangerous Encounters. It was a collection of clips of wild animals mauling and killing people. It included a segment of a deer ramming some guy in a field until all his bones were broken.

Now Marty Stouffer's voice was on loop in my head, saying, "Deer kill hundreds of people every year."

The deer was staring at me, daring me to proceed. My family was staring at me, begging me to hurry up.

"Deer kill hundreds of people every year!" I yelled.

"That's not even true," Tona said. "Marty Stouffer doctored the statistics. That number is from deer causing car accidents."

"Marty Stouffer would never lie!"

"He did."

"Fine, I'm coming," I said, and started to shuffle toward the deer. Its front feet were blocking the trail, and when I got within a couple feet it reared up, made a hissing sound and stuck out its tongue at me. Seriously. Look:

I ran back to a safe distance and pleaded with it. "Deer, dude, you've gotta work with me here!"

It ignored me and resumed snacking on leaves.

"Nona, just do it," Tona said. "It's distracted and it's a female, it's not going to hurt you."

The rest of my family had resumed their hike and were disappearing around the next corner. I counted to three, covered my face and neck, and marched down the trail. That's when the deer stomped its feet and spit on me. I felt a mist of deer saliva. I yelled a series of expletives and charged forward. The deer made a sound that I can only describe as the ungulate version of "Harumph!" and bounded across the trail into the forest.

We never saw a grizzly bear.

p.s. Fashion-related posts coming soon!

Big Sky Blogging

2010-08-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts lately!

I'm actually in Montana with my mom, brothers, and boyfriend right now. I packed my laptop in a Betsey Johnson floral totebag (just like Jack Kerouac, right?) so I'd be able to post updates from the road, but then I found out there is no internet in Montana.

Besides the lack of wifi though, I'm loving this beautiful state. Here is a list of notable events/experiences so far:

-Swam in a mountain lake
-Got spit on by a deer
-Saw a black bear
-Saw Professor Keenbean from Richie Rich
-Got an awkward back rub from a waiter at a Mexican restaurant
-Acted out some key scenes from Harry Potter
-Saw a mountain goat and a baby mountain goat
-Had to hide from a couple of Skeksis from The Dark Crystal
-Got in trouble for laughing too loud on a train

At one point on a hike in Glacier National Park, I was overcome by the natural setting and sat down by a raging river to sing "Mother Nature's Son" and whittle a spear from a birch branch. Photo evidence:

I'll be back to blogging ASAP, but for now I'll be whittling and trying not to get eaten by a grizzly bear. Hope you guys have a great week!

Stuff I Love: Golden Globe Necklace

2010-07-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

"World Links" necklace, $60

In this case I would happily carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.

p.s. I would also happily carry the weight of a gold saltine on my shoulders.

Black Holes and Broken Sunglasses

2010-07-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend my top favorite sunglasses broke.

They broke while I was drumming, which could have made for a really cool story, like maybe I had just finished a perfect rendition of "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse and did a massive headbang to celebrate and my sunglasses flew off and hit Dom Howard (the drummer from Muse) in the chest because he happened to be standing in the doorway and then he started a slow clap and said "You're bloody talented" and when I jumped up to hug him I stepped on my sunglasses and they broke and Dom was like, "Don't worry about it, I'll buy you some new ones IN LONDON because you are going to come on tour with us and fill in for me whenever I need a wee nap. Cheers!"

In reality I was sitting completely still while my little brother (who is a way better drummer than I am) tried to explain to me the concept of a paradiddle, and my $12 sunglasses just fell off my head onto the floor and broke. And I seriously almost cried.

I was able to find a replacement pair (in blue plaid) on ebay the same night for less than 10 bucks, which was awesome, but in my state of grief I also bought two other vintage pairs from Etsy and saved about a thousand more in my favorites folder, including these:

70s Rainbow Sunglasses, $9.99

Now I'm sort of hoping someone else buys these before I do, because I need to stop spending all my money on sunglasses, and I'll need to pack light when I go on tour.

p.s. I just bought tickets to see Muse in Minneapolis in October. Might need to buy a new pair of sunglasses to celebrate.

High Fashion Haiku: Broccoli Bag

2010-07-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

If you put your mouth
where your money is, at least
you'll get some fiber.

p.s. Thanks so much to Catherine and Julienne for emailing me about this!

Impossible Pants

2010-07-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

I saw Inception yesterday, and then today my friend Paul emailed me this picture:

Isn't this like the pants version of Penrose's Impossible Staircase? Where do the shoes end and the pants begin? Or am I just stuck in the third layer of a four layer dream about two layer shoe-pants?

God I have a headache.

Khaki Confusion

2010-07-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

Every magazine I've opened in the past few months has included an editorial screaming "Khaki is back! And it's sassy and stylish! Throw out all your denim! Wear full khaki outfits! GO BUY KHAKI."

When I worked at Starbucks I bought a pair of khaki shorts to augment my summer work wardrobe. The dress code there required black or khaki bottoms and I found a pair for 10 bucks at Nordstrom Rack and when I tried them on in the dressing room I shrugged and thought, "Well, they're not the worst shorts in the world."

Then I brought them home and realized I was wrong. They were the worst shorts in the world. They had a high waist and a bunchy crotch and the hem hit right above my knee and they made my ass look like a pancake battling severe depression.

Even my boyfriend, who is normally exceedingly supportive of every outfit, took one look at these shorts and said, "Really though?"

For awhile I wore them anyway because I always forgot to wash my work clothes. But eventually the weather got cooler and I quit Starbucks and I hung the Worst Shorts In The World in the back of my closet and forgot about them.

Cut to a few days ago. With visions of chic khaki editorial spreads dancing in my head, I took out the Worst Shorts In The World, hacked about 6 inches off the legs and cuffed 'em. Paired with a sparkly black tanktop and blue hoodie they were perfect for a long city walk with a friend and I felt like I had conquered the khaki trend on my own terms. I got a few compliments on my new look. I was pretty proud.

(Not me. But similar shorts.)

Later that night I went over to my brother's house to learn some new songs on his drum set. I was feeling really cool about mastering The Kink's "You Really Got Me" until I looked down and saw that my sassy khaki shorts had stretched out over the course of the day into saggy soccer mom culottes. Rockstar moment ruined.

This whole debacle got me thinking: Why must khaki always swing so violently from one end of the style spectrum to the other? Is there no middle ground between sassy chic and saggy soccer mom? How do you guys feel about the khaki trend, and khaki in general?

P.S. And how in god's name does one wear khaki in the summer and avoid mustard stains?

On Anne of Green Gables and Eggplant Parmigiana

2010-07-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled when the lovely Annie of Poetic & Chic invited me to help kick off her new interview series, the P&C Questionnaire. Her thought-provoking questions had me waxing poetic (and chic) on everything from Anne of Green Gables to hipster haircuts and eggplant parmigiana. Please click here to check it out.

#1 Life Inspiration

A huge thanks to Annie for the awesome opportunity!

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-07-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday and welcome to this week's installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha! For those of you who are just joining the party here at Daddy Likey, DSYC is a recurring feature in which readers send in examples of the not-wearing-pants-when-they-are-clearly-necessary trend.

Please feel free to click here to read the humble beginnings of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha, or just read on and you'll surely get the gist of it.

Let's kick things off with the most elegant and classy brand in all of fashion, Ed Hardy:

Reader Chrisanthi explains: Notice the blonde girl trying to hold down the brunette's chocha-skimming "dress" from being blown away... the girl with the hairdryer must be trying to drawn the attention away from her complete box shot.

Speaking of class and elegance:

Says Courtney: Though this particular choch-offense isn't especially short, the placement of the design gives me great concern.

Here's an elegant space age DSYC moment:

Says Brooke: This gal is just looking for trouble!

Love this one from reader Flavia:

You might call this a "tour de chocha."

Minona (oh my god, best name ever) sent in this fairly cute, really short dress from Asos:

This would be a perfectly fine chocha submission on its own, but as Minona said, "you have to go to the website and view the catwalk video, if you dare." Watching the model try to spin around glamorously while tugging her dress down to cover her butt is both stressful and delightful.

Here's a priceless chocha trifecta from Emma:

I found this picture of an ad campaign for Alexander Wang disturbing. The model's body language pretty much speaks for itself!

Here's a near sent in by lovely reader Bojana:

Entertainment Weekly captioned this dress as a 'youthful Rafael Cennamo mini.' Youthful here meaning 'chocha-licious.'

Here's a great Glee chocha (glocha?) from Jessica:

While I do love Glee, I think we can agree that Lea Michele is not super thrilled to have to appear in Elle in such a chocha-tastic ensemble.

Some of my favorite DSYC submissions are the ones that are clearly labeled as "dresses" while showing the model's entire crotch:

As Anna says: You can legitimately see her crotch. See. Her. Crotch. Oh jeez.

My other favorite DSYC submissions are the ones that are clearly labeled "nun's habit" while showing the model's entire crotch:

A huge thanks to reader Alex for spotting this one.

Aaaannnnd I think we should end with the slutty nun. Yep, definitely.

Spot a chocha? Send it in! daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

Stuff I Love: Happy Day Dress

2010-07-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

I just really love clothes that make it seem hard to have a bad day.

DVF dress, on sale for $138 (size 8 only--Crap! now I'm having a bad day)

Five Men's Fashion First Impressions!

2010-07-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

Good lord it's been a long time since the Five Men made an appearance, hasn't it? This is mostly because rounding up all the men often feels like trying to control a herd of diva sheep with ADD. No offense, guys.

Anyway, if you're new to Daddy Likey (welcome!), here's how Five Men's Fashion First Impressions works: I show my group of men (brothers, dad, boyfriend) an avant-garde fashion item and record their immediate reactions, which usually include at least one reference to Con Air. Here is the introductory FMFFI post, if you're curious. And here is today's fashion item, submitted by the lovely Ashley:

The skeletal heel from Dsquared2. My opinion? Awesome.

And now, without further ado, the men...

Brother, age 15: First of all, it's not logical. The spinal column is bowed out too much. Second of all, it seems like it's gonna burst open and an alien is gonna pop out.

Brother, age 20: The only two explanations I can think of for this are if your bone is actually protruding from your foot or you are Dr. Grant from Jurassic Park.

Father: (Cocks head. Squints) So that's the caudal portion of the spinal cord. (Looks closer) Wow! It's even got intercostals in there! It's really quite a good representation. It must be life-modeled. I mean, it's butt ugly, but it's quite eye-catching. I like the bones. I don't like the shoe.

Boyfriend: That's the creepy robot from Transformers that tries to kill Tyrese Gibson!

Brother, age 23: Looks like a sand shrimp claw.
Me: So do you like it?
Brother, age 23: No, I hate sand shrimp.

So, there you go.

p.s. The Five Men take requests! If you find something you'd like their sometimes disturbing but always brutally honest opinion on, send it my way: daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-07-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

Oregon is currently experiencing a heat wave. We hit 101 today. Anytime the temperature climbs above 90 I'm convinced my second floor apartment is not actually an apartment but a human oven closely observed by alien chefs. It's terrifying. And sweaty.

Vintage slip, $8

Today I fled to the beach to escape the heat. Tomorrow I plan to wear nothing but a vintage slip to work, then crawl over to the air-conditioned grocery store across the street, lay down in the freezer section, and try not to get arrested for indecent exposure.

p.s. For all you sweaty, stylish Portland folks, also happening tomorrow: The Up in the Air Summer Affair Rooftop Party and Fashion Show. I'm hoping to peel myself off the grocery store floor, put on a bra (hopefully), and go check it out. Should be a really good time! See you there?

Top 5 Neon Pink Sneakers for the "Neon Pink Sneakers Girl"

2010-07-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

My sophomore year of college I was really into Converse sneakers. I wanted to be known as "Converse Girl" so I wore my pink high tops and purple tie-dye low tops every day and said things like, "Look everybody! I'm wearing my Converse again. Might as well call me Converse Girl!" really loud and often. I was well on my way to mediocre fame and maybe a sponsorship when my foot started to hurt. I went to the doctor, he did an x-ray, and said, "Your foot is broken."

"Umm, how did I break my foot without noticing?"

He frowned at my beloved Converse sitting at the corner. "Do you ever wear different shoes?"

"No," I said. "I'm kind of known as the Converse Girl."

He explained that the lack of support from my beat-up sneakers combined with constant walking and my habit of excitable jumping had given me a stress fracture.

I stormed out of his office with a walking cast, later switched to even less supportive ballet flats to spite him, and I haven't really worn sneakers since.

Cut to the other day at Starbucks: I saw a girl waiting in line wearing the most amazing neon pink Keds. I gasped and said to my friend, "Look at the neon pink Keds girl!" and I felt a pang of jealousy and nostalgia in my heart. My obsession had returned.

Here are a few of my favorite options a frantic search for "neon pink sneakers" turned up:

Vans Neon Authentic, $42

Converse Big Star, $50

Keds Champion Dip Dye, $40

Vans Slip-Ons, $42

Roxy "Harbor," $39

What about you guys? Do you have a particular shoe obsession?

Advanced Fashion Quiz!

2010-07-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

One of the shoes below is from the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring 2010 collection. The other is a jester shoe from fantasyshoe.com. Can you guess which is which?

(Click on the photos to see their origins)

p.s. Thanks so much to Kate for alerting me to the existence of these shoes in an email titled, "WTF Marc Jacobs?!"

p.p.s.s. Doesn't it kind of look like top shoe exploded? It makes me a little sad when I look at it.

LashBlast vs. DiorShow: Mascara Showdown

2010-06-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before (here and here)that I love DiorShow mascara . I love the volumizing formula, the rosewater fragrance, the pretty tube, the giant brush. What I don't love is the exorbitant price. For $24 I could buy a one-way plane ticket to Boise, Idaho. Or a round of antibiotics. Or a ham.

MAC Fibre Riche is usually my favorite affordable alternative (it's about 10 bucks), but lately my trusty backup seemed flaky and unenthusiastic, which are two of my least favorite qualities in people and mascara. It was time to try something new.

On a recent trip to Walgreens, I noticed Covergirl LashBlast was on sale for 5 bucks, so I decided to try it out. Here's my review, in an awkward sentence fragment format:

Looks: like a sex toy. The tube is large. And orange. I will probably hide it when my grandma comes over.

Feels: great. My lashes stay soft and full throughout the day.

Smells: OK, I guess. A little chemical-y, sure, but for $20 less per tube than the lovely rosewater-scented DiorShow, I'm not going to complain.

Tastes: like chicken. JK, you guys, I didn't taste it (yet). But wouldn't that be upsetting if it actually tasted like chicken?

Goes on: thick. It's easy to overdo it, but just one coat adds a ton of volume and definition.

Here I am in one coat of LashBlast plus a shmidge of eyeliner:

Verdict: For 5 bucks, my lashes are happy and I'm happy and as soon as I hide the tube my grandma will be happy.

Now I'm off to buy a ham.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week

2010-06-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

Print, $12

I keep trying to think of something witty to say about this, but basically I just think it's adorable.

Guest Post: The Sisyphean Struggle Against Bro Shorts

2010-06-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Last week at a science fair party my dear friend Henry started telling me about his long and tragic quest to find a non-douchey pair of shorts. I stopped him mid-sentence and said, "Henry, who knows how many men are facing the same challenges in silence and isolation? You need to blog about this." He was about to embark on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, so he agreed to file a guest post from the road, Jack Kerouac-style. This is his story.

Readers of Daddy Likey may not know it, but millions of men every year are burdened with the task of properly ventilating their legs. Sure, toughing it out and wearing pants during the summer months is an option, but when the raging inferno of an out-of-control barbecue backdrafts into an already sweltering August heat, the practicality of pants goes up in smoke. Which leaves us with the unenviable task of picking out shorts - and if you’re a man of discerning taste, that means shorts that don’t make you look like a bro.

Bros, for the unfamiliar, are so common you probably don’t even realize what a distinct group they are. But it is their numbers that have forced clothing manufacturers to cater to the poor tastes of every Chad, Kyle and Tre in the ultimate frisbee league. Though their interests may range from Jagermeister to hemp, and hackey sack to Playstation, their commitment to baggy, canvas shorts with non-standard pocket configurations is their common banner. So in a stand against this tyranny of the majority, I attempted to find shorts that broke free of the bro mold. The following three trials were taken on a road trip through the Southwest with my future in-laws and rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being maximum bro-ness.

Exhibit A

A descriptor: A pair of cargo shorts from REI, except they weren’t real cargo shorts. Yeah they had the pockets on the sides, and zippers in places that weren’t my crotch, but they were made out of a blend of nylon, polyester and some other fibrous abomination devised by man, rather than a just and all-knowing God. They do, however, appear to be spill resistant. Regular fit. Knee length. Are they bro-ish? Well sure, but more the kind of bros that drink wheatgrass cleansing smoothies and are really into parkour.

Performance: These held up surprisingly well. Granted, I didn’t put them through the rigors that millions of dollars worth of textile science at REI-HQ designed them for, but they did repel crumbs from most of the salted-snacks consumed. And the toothpaste I accidentally smeared into the pocket will come right out in the wash. Extra points given for their innovative material, which on long car trips went a long way toward mitigating ass-sweat.

Bro-factor: 8.1

Exhibit B

A descriptor: Do you know how hard it is to find a pair of loose-fitting, khaki knee-length shorts if you’re a semi-professional man between the ages of 25-30? Because I sure as hell didn’t. I am in the uncanny valley of casual men’s summer wear. I’m not quite ready to take the plunge into pleated, cuffed old man shorts, but I also want to differentiate myself from the neighbor kids who keep me up at night with their goddamn skateboarding. Out of options at the big box retail operations, I made a defeated trek to the Vans store in the Lloyd Center Mall in search of some tan Dickies. Result was plain khaki Red Hat (some Dickies equivalent) shorts that sit right below the kneecap. No extra pockets. No awful screen printed designs.

Performance: These get an “incomplete” for the trip. Yeah they fit really well when I tried them on in the store, but after three days of driving for 8 hours per day and eating In-n-Out burger, not so much. Canvas work shorts just don’t have the ‘give’ that an indulgent life on the road requires. Not what I would expect from a company tasked with outfitting countless Warped Tour performers lo these many years.

Bro-factor: 8.9

Exhibit C

A descriptor: Fuck it. These are used, camo-print, button-fly cargo shorts purchased from Buffalo Exchange for $12. Their pockets can hold 6 cans of Milwaukee’s Best Ice (“Beast”). We’re through the looking glass, people.

Performance: Wow these are comfortable! When combined with a pair of flip-flop sandals and a baseball shirt, these may, in fact, be the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn. I can keep everything in these pockets too. Digital camera, wallet, keys, phone, other shorts, whatever. There’s also psychological comfort in just giving in and embracing the bro shorts. I now have a new appreciation for people in muumuus or the crazy guy on my way to work who wears a down comforter as a cape (I call him The King). They’re doing what feels good, society be damned.

Bro-factor: vast and immeasurable

High Fashion Haiku: A Versatile Nude Romper

2010-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

I can think of so
many places to wear this,
like...umm...nevermind.

Erin Wasson x RVCA "Here Comes the Flash" romper, $90 on sale.

My (Fake) Future's So Bright...

2010-06-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my boyfriend and my little brother and I were checking out some music stores in the neighborhood. My boyfriend was looking for an electric guitar, my brother was looking for a pair of Pro-Mark drumsticks, and I was looking for the dramatic fantasies music stores so easily conjure within me ("I think I'm going to move to Nashville and start a folk rock band called Winona and the Corn Huskers! Serious! I just need to buy a van and learn to play an instrument.")

I came dangerously close to impulse-buying a banjo and a $900 drum kit before spotting these plaid sunglasses near the counter:

I tried them on, shrieked with delight, and slammed my debit card on the counter. "I'll take 'em," I said, "as long as they cost less than $900."

They were 12 bucks.

I love them so much I've been wearing them inside the house. And oh man are they gonna look great on stage in Nashville.

Stuff I Love: The Perfect Head-to-Bow Ratio

2010-06-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

I love giant accessories. I also love math equations. So this 11-inch bow necklace makes me really excited.

p.s.Thanks so much to Amy for alerting me to its existence!

p.p.s.s. I keep glancing at that photo and thinking the model is me and being really impressed with the condition of my hair, then I'm like, "Oh wait, that's totally not me. And my actual hair is tied in a knot on top of my head with a rubber band I found on the floor at my office. Damn."

Don't Show-cha Your Chorcha: Celine Dion Edition

2010-06-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, we'll call him Elyk, loves Celine Dion. He knows the words to all of her songs and does a pretty killer impression of her unique accent and intonation, which he claims is actually a new language called "Celinion."

He recently bought her latest concert DVD (using the self-checkout line in order to maintain his masculine street cred), then he brought it to my house and we watched it while making pizzagna (a deadly pizza-lasagna hybrid) and trying to replicate her seizure-like dance movies. At one point I wore a cape. It was awesome. Even more awesome? Her chocha-rific stage outfits.

Elyk and I thought it was about time to dedicate an installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha entirely to Celine. This is my 50th Don't Show-cha Your Chocha post, and what better way to celebrate such an epic occasion than to feature the most epic singer of all time? So now, behold: a world tour of Celine's best chorcha* moments:

Remember in 1997 when you first saw Celine Dion's chorcha?

How could you not remember this?

Ten years later, Celine's chorcha is back for revenge on the second-highest-grossing tour ever for a solo artist: the Taking Chances World Tour (1,265,385 chorcha viewers in Australia and U.S. ALONE).

Here she is singing her hit song "Chorcha Deep, Mountain High." (Enlarge photo at your own risk.)

"The Power of Chorcha"

"This is a Man's World, and her Mummy Chorcha Says Just This"

Here's some vagazzled chorcha (Even with pants on she can't keep it contained)

"This Chorcha Was Made for Showing, and That's Just What She'll Do."

*Elyk insists this is how you pronounce "chocha" in Celinion.

Raccoon Rumpus

2010-06-15T03:06:00.000-07:00

You guys. Anthropologie is selling a frilly blouse with a sassy raccoon print. It's called the "Raccoon Rumpus Blouse," and it's by far the best thing I've ever seen:

Yes. Those are little raccoons.

I had to know what Martin Sheen, raccoon fashion blogger extraoirdinaire, thought of this unique piece:

This is by far the best thing I've ever seen.

xoxo,
Martin

p.s. Thanks so much to Sara for alerting me to this awesomeness!

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week: Back From Florida Edition

2010-06-14T02:47:00.000-07:00

Vintage Florida Love Mug, $9

I'm back from Florida, miraculously alive and in one piece (I did lose approximately 3 quarts of blood to the Everglades mosquitoes, but hey, I'm sure they needed it more than I did). Crazy snake-hunting/alligator-stalking/Jon Voight-impersonating adventure stories and photo evidence are forthcoming as soon as I get my thoughts in order and my brother figures out how to burn me a photo CD (the kid has many other skills).

I promise to make it worth the wait.

As a preview, here is a picture of me petting a water moccasin that my dad caught in a swamp:

Not shown: me wetting myself.

I'll be back to a normal blogging schedule this week so stay tuned for haiku, chochas, and lots of other fun stuff!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

2010-06-02T01:40:00.001-07:00

Well my lovelies, in a couple hours I'm off to Miami to ~~lay out in the sun and relax~~ tromp through the everglades and try not to get eaten by an alligator. Posting will be sporadic/nonexistent for the next week or so but I'll try to update if I can.

I hope you have a lovely week and I'm sure I'll have some entertaining stories to report when I return, so come back soon, ya hear?

p.s. If you'd like to read about my last trip down south, click here.

Photo by Peter Chinman

Enthusiastic Adjectives: Mooi Vintage

2010-05-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to welcome a new sponsor to the Daddy Likey sidebar: Mooi Vintage! This stylish and well-stocked Etsy boutique is based out of Amsterdam and full of unique vintage accessories.

After taking a look around this shop, it's not uncommon to sit down with your current jewelry collection and say, "You know, I've realized you're sort of boring, and I've found someone else. Actually I've found quite a few someone elses. And they're Dutch. Jealous?"

Here are a few of the many beautiful pieces that have me longing to cheat on my jewelry, along with carefully chosen adjectives to describe them:

Fox belt buckles (set of 2) by Mimi di N: Foxy!

Trifari black stone earrings: Mysterious!

Trifari lucite button necklace: Whimsical!

Lucite butterfly wing earrings: Aerodynamic!

Three-toned wood bracelet: Wood-tastic!

Please show this awesome shop some love, and thanks as always for supporting Daddy Likey sponsors!

P.S. I have sponsorship spots available for June, July, and beyond. My rates are super affordable and I love to partner with independent shop owners, artists, and bloggers. Please send me an email for more information! daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

"Look at these cute floral hair accessories!"

2010-05-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

I know I should probably just go ahead and change the name of my blog to "Look at these cute floral hair accessories!" but, ummm, look at these cute floral hair accessories:

I was visiting my parents last week, wearing my yellow rose bobby pins (featured here) because I wear them everyday, when my mom grabbed me by the shoulders and said, "I need to get in on this cute hair clip thing. Teach me the ways!"

We spent the next hour or so browsing Etsy, cooing and shrieking over thousands of adorable clips and headbands. My mom ended up buying a couple different colors of these pansy clips from Lucy Goosey. She generously gave me a few, and I love them.

They look striking in my mom's black hair and my blond hair, and I'm hoping they're cute enough to distract her from wanting grandchildren. At least for a week or so.

Thanks, mom!

Five Things I Bought at the Gap This Weekend That Made Me Love the Gap Even Though I Usually Hate the Gap

2010-05-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

I hate the Gap. There, I said it. I can never find anything there and their jeans make my butt look like a moose face (don't ask for clarification, just trust me on that, OK?). Every time I have actually bought something at the Gap it has disintegrated in a matter of days, in the most dramatic way possible, like while I'm doing a book reading and my Gap cardigan suddenly implodes into a little pile of ash, leaving me in my bra in front of a large crowd, mumbling about how important it is to invest in high quality pieces.

Yet, despite all this, I walked into the Gap this weekend. I was desperate for some new basics, had exhausted all my other shopping options, and couldn't help but be drawn in by a giant red sign in the window screaming, "Buy any top get one free!"

I walked out with these five new things and I love them all and only one of them is starting to disintegrate:

Lace-Trimmed Cami: Few things get me as excited as a towering stack of colorful tanktops with white lace trim. Add in the buy-one-get-one-free thing, and I was definitely crying joyous tears in my dressing room, slapping myself in the face and whispering, "Keep it together, Winona, for the love of god!"

Boyfriend Banker Shirt: This breezy button-up is flattering, perfect for work, on mega sale, and also a little Debra Morgan-ish, no? (Yes, I'm obsessed.)

Favorite Ribbed Tank: Completely necessary for summer.

Boyfriend Sweater: I think out of everything I bought, this is gonna be the piece that I regret. I wore it today to a Celine Dion pizza dance party (again, please don't ask for clarification, just trust me), and it's already looking awkwardly stretched out. Curse you, Gap! Curse you to hell! Actually, JK about that, because I really like this next thing I got:

Cropped Utility Anorak: I've been looking for a lightweight spring jacket for what seems like an eternity (and in the meantime, donning my bulky North Face down coat to ward off even the slightest breeze or sprinkle of rain). As soon as I saw this sassy little number, before I even tried it on, I knew it was The One, and I've worn it pretty much constantly ever since: rain or shine, day or night, inside or outside.

Monday Night Martin!

2010-05-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

Every so often Martin Sheen, raccoon fashion blogger extraordinaire, stops by to review shiny and/or furry fashion items. When lovely reader Laura sent me this interesting specimen, I knew just who to call.

Take it away, Marty....

This reminds me of my days on the rave scene, all technicolor fur and candy necklaces and ecstasy pills. In fact, I think I danced to trance music with this purse at a charming little warehouse party once upon a time.

I wonder if she remembers me. Most likely not. I had a goatee at the time.

xoxo
Martin

Deer Tail Bandolier Bag, $75

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-05-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Vintage(ish) Band Medals, $9

I had my first drum lesson last week. I walked in with big dreams of becoming the next Meg White or Dominic Howard, but then I was so nervous I forgot my own phone number and told my teacher I was going to vomit. My greatest achievement in my first half-hour as a drummer was banging out four 8th notes in a row and not puking in the trashcan.

Hardcore, right?

This week's lesson went much better. I successfully drummed a rock beat and wept with pride (I've only known my poor teacher for a cumulative hour and he has already seen my entire range of emotion). Now I want everyone to know I'm a drummer. Carrying my drumsticks around in my purse and accidentally dropping them at parties is a good first step, but I think clipping a few old school band medals to my favorite black blazer would be even better.

I have to go practice headbanging.

Advanced Fashion Quiz

2010-05-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

Which of the following items is more effective at treating depression?

A. Prozac

B. This rainbow unicorn maxi dress:

The answer is B.

P.S. Huge thanks to Beth for alerting me to the glory of this dress!

Top 5 Most Important Things I'm Packing for my Florida Vacation and Why

2010-05-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

In a couple weeks my dad is taking two of my brothers and me on a trip to visit his homeland of southern Florida. The main goals of this trip are eating key lime pie, hunting invasive Burmese pythons, and "bush busting," which, from what I've gathered, means parking your car on the side of the road, then walking out into the everglades and trying not to die.

I'm starting to formulate my packing list, and I wanted to share my top five suitcase priorities:

1. Debra Morgan Shirt
I'm obsessed with the show Dexter. Obsessed. Like, sometimes I sit at my desk at work and daydream about what it would be like if I were friends with the cast, and I laugh quietly to myself about our silly antics and witty repartee. One of my favorite characters is Debra, Dexter's sassy sister (I'm constantly trying to get my brothers to compare me to Debra but they insist I'm more like Vince Masuka. Hmm...). Anyway, since the show is set in Miami, Debra is always wearing these simple linen button-up blouses with the sleeves rolled up, and she looks so cool, in both senses of the word.

This style of shirt looks really, really bad on me, but that didn't stop me from buying a $14.99 version at Marshalls yesterday, and it won't stop me from wearing it everyday in Florida and swearing like a sailor.

2. Bush-Busting Boots

Hopefully these will help me achieve that "not dying" goal.

3. A Small and Sensible Pocket Knife

When I told my friend Katie about my upcoming vacation and our snake stalking plans, she immediately replied, "When I was a kid this missionary came to our church and told us that if you're ever being eaten by a python you should let it swallow you up to your chest, then use the pocket knife you have stashed in your pocket to slice up the side of its belly and escape."

So I said, "What if it eats you head first?"

"They didn't mention that."

"Oh."

In summary, I need to bring a knife. Preferably in a Tomb Raider style thigh holster. And I need to practice crawling into a snake's mouth feet first. And if TSA agents stop me at the airport and are all, "Umm, ma'am, you can't take a 3 foot gold-plated dagger on the plane," I will tell them the story Katie told me, and they will be like, "Godspeed, brave traveler, godspeed."

Alternate plan: wear this gorgeous Wendy Brandes sword necklace and let the snake eat me up to my neck before exacting my revenge.

4. Vintage sunglasses

Because I treasure any excuse to buy another pair of vintage sunglasses.

5. My Esther Williams swimsuit

For taking a refreshing dip in the ~~ocean~~ oil slick.

Any other ideas, tips, or suggestions? What's the weirdest vacation you've ever taken?

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-05-17T00:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Don't Show-cha Your Chocha Monday! Please take a moment away from your important work duties to peruse these lovely examples of hemlines gone up, up, and away. If you're new 'round these parts and would like to read the very first installment of this feature, click her e.

And if you're ready to jump right in, let's kick things off with this quintessential DSYC moment submitted by reader Elizabeth:

She says: Uh oh, looks like Brittany from America's Next Top Model Cycle 14 is having trouble keeping her chocha in check...

Next up, one from Alex:

I love her explanation: I was contemplating on buying this dress, and was looking for the cute belt to match using the zoom feature. Instead of finding the belt, I realized I had found a chocha!

Here's a chocha and a "joe-cha," if you will:

Says Claire: Saw this photo and thought, 'Don't Show-cha Your Chocha double whammy.'

Speaking of Joe-cha:

Martha puts it simply and politely: Oh dear.

Reader E submitted the following dramatic chocha shot and hilarious caption:

Don't know 'bout you, but personally I always like to get fully dressed, yet forget my pants entirely. Then hang around the docks in my granny undies, introducing people to my chocha. Just like this lady.

Anna sent me an email titled, "Chocha-flashers can be animal lovers too:"

She says: Despite a somewhat risible and half-hearted attempt at the knee-clench, this model is flashing her white knickers through her short'n'sheer dress. Shocking. Even more so because it was from the Saturday suppliment of The Guardian (a supposedly medium-to-high-brow British paper).

An unconventional submission from reader Becky:

She says: An upcoming trip to San Diego made me desire a new bathing suit, something basic and nice, American Apparel! OH MY GOD what a mistake.

I got a few emails about this one:

Cal asks: What's better than a velour Don't Show-cha Your Chocha?

And Elise says: The description says it 'hits above the knee.' Above knee? I don't think that approaching chocha = above knee.

I think someone needs to cross out "dresses" here and write "long-ish shirts:"

Says Kay: This clearly shows a very miserable and uncomfortable girl contorting herself into a position so that when her momma looks at the picture she doesnt see her chocha.

This one is just so, so awesome:

That is an impressive clench, right there.

And finally, here's a classic cupcake chocha:

Says reader Katharine: The model looks so awkward! The poses on the designer's Etsy are even better. I'm very very glad it's not everyday wear!

Thanks so much to all my diligent chocha-spotters around the world! I always welcome DSYC submissions (email me at daddylikeyblog@gmail.com) but I'm currently working through quite an impressive backlog, so don't be alarmed if it takes awhile for your chocha to get its turn in the spotlight, ummm, if you know what I mean.

Platypurse

2010-05-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited that this metallic leather platypus clutch exists, and that somehow, even with those little webbed feet, it's sort of elegant.

Handmade platypus purse available at this awesome etsy shop.
(Shop found via Sara Zucker)

Ecosystem Accessory

2010-05-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

I normally hate rings (one of my greatest fears, besides tsunami and sarlacci, is getting a ring stuck on my finger), but when I saw this monster peeking out of a sale bin on a Mother's Day road trip this weekend, I forgot about my phobia:

I mean, first of all, just look at the thing. I could stare at it for days and still not fully comprehend everything that's going on. This ring has a more complex storyline than Avatar.

Secondly, the band is stretchy, so when I slipped it on there was none of the hyperventilating, crying, and phantom finger swelling that usually occurs when I put on a ring. Besides the fact that it weighs approximately eight pounds, it's quite comfy and accommodating.

I walked over to my mom to ask her opinion. She grabbed my hand and shrieked, "That ring features two pollinators! Your father would be so proud!"

So I bought it. Duh. Plus it was only ten bucks.

When I dropped my mom off at home that afternoon I asked my dad what he thought of my new purchase.

"Good god," he said.

Good enough.

P.S. I don't see a brand name, but I found it at my favorite jewelry store in the whole world: Accessory Appeal (520 Northeast 3rd Street in McMinnville). Seriously guys, if you ever find yourself in Yamhill County, Oregon, have a glass of pinot noir and then go to Accessory Appeal. I love everything in the store, including the adorable owner, Hollyanne.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

My mom taught chimpanzees sign language and she taught me how to shop and she taught my brothers the importance of a good bra. To say she is amazing would be an understatement.

I love you, mom!

And a very happy mother's day to all the other mothers out there. I hope you never forget how strong and beautiful you are.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Vanilla Lavender Goat's Milk Soap, $5

Every year for my birthday and Christmas I ask for a baby goat. And every year, like my pleas for a Mighty Ducks DVD gift pack, this request is ignored by my family and friends, who insist that I couldn't fit a goat in my apartment (I could) and that I don't really view Coach Bombay as a father figure (I do).

Last night, at my birthday dinner with my family, one of my wishes kinda sorta came true.

When I opened my little brother Bob's gift, which was artfully wrapped in a stained brown paper bag and sealed with 15 hidden thumb tacks (thanks, kid), I found a framed "Certificate of Goat Milking Prowess," good for a lesson in basic goat care at a local farm.

At first I laughed nervously, thinking this was payback for Bob's 12th birthday, when the entire family pretended we had pooled our money to buy him 6 months of beekeeping lessons instead of the video game he so dearly desired. But then I looked around the table. No one was yelling, "Gotcha!" My brother Tona wasn't doubled over in hysterical laughter like he was for the beekeeping incident. My mom was beaming with excitement.

Finally Bob said, "I got it at the high school auction. Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

I laughed and clutched the frame to my chest. "Yes, Bob, it's exactly what I wanted."

p.s. Currently planning my perfect goat-milking outfit. Any suggestions?

Brief Birthday Blog Break--BRB

2010-05-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the light posting schedule these past few days--Sunday was my 25th birthday and I've been drawing the celebrations out over a full week so there's not too much pressure on any one event.

To that end, I've been busy with tea parties, beach trips, racquetball, carousel rides, facials (more on that later), and whatever my brothers have in store for me today.

Playing dress up at the beach to showcase my newfound maturity and wisdom.

I'll be back to blogging regularly ASAP (hopefully/possibly tomorrow)!

Lots of love,

Winona

Blogback Mountain

2010-04-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

My BFF Rachel just started a blog called Stuff I Make, Stuff I Love, and it is funny and clever and cute and creative and inspiring, just like her! All together now: Awwwww! Seriously though, you're gonna love her blog. Go there.

In other warm and fuzzy friend news, would you be a dear and give some gold stars to my friend Lexie's Glee audition? Thanks so much!!

BREAKING: Nauticals are so hot right now. As are Sears catalogs. (I love you, Thomas.)

Also in right now? Giant nerd glasses. I remember in fourth grade I really wanted to get glasses because I thought they were so stylish, but my friend Becky, who wore real glasses, took me aside and said sternly, "You will never understand the pain of having to wear glasses. If you get fake glasses you will be dishonoring my people." Sarah VB shares her thoughts on the matter.

Hardy Boys and Paper Dolls

Apocalypstick says black eyeshadow makes her look like a "tired old whore." I recently realized it can have the same effect on me, especially if I haven't gotten enough sleep. Light brown and teal blue from now on!

Loving Queen Michelle's head-to-toe looks!

Sometimes I think of what heaven would be like, and I usually decide it would be levitating above a Lady Gaga concert for all eternity. Therefore, Fashion Hayley has experienced heaven.

Great advice: How to receive a compliment.

Sal's outfit posts are always great. But a springy outfit post that includes a bunny? Even better!

Sassy 4ever!

Joanna Goddard is trying to predict what her baby might look like. I'm gonna go ahead and guess: painfully adorable.

And finally, I'm obsessed with the neck-breaking pearls Susie Bubble featured in this post, and also yearning to ask the Five Men what they think. Stay tuned...

High Fashion Haiku

2010-04-28T02:25:00.000-07:00

I'd like to wear this
on a date, braid the whole mane
and then be like, "What?"

Mika Organic "Horse Dress," $275--Huge thanks to Rebecca for sending it my way!

Totes.

2010-04-27T01:55:00.000-07:00

How do guys you feel about using the word "totes" instead of "totally"? I used to hate it, then I started saying it in a jokey way to annoy my friends, then it crept into my everyday vocabulary (irony creeper!), then last week I found myself saying it quite earnestly in the middle of an important work meeting and realized my life is in shambles.

My feelings about canvas tote bags have evolved in a similar fashion: first I thought they were stupid, then I started carrying this random one sort of as a joke, and now I want to buy a new one everyday.

I love tote bags because they provide a simple canvas for a multitude of designs and styles. There are simple designs and zany ones and some that feature Nietzsche quotes and some that are just like, "Dude, pizza is so good!" There's something for everybody.

Here are the top 5 canvas tote bags I'm totes coveting at the moment:

I wish! $16

"T-Rex doesn't want to be fed. He wants to hunt." $10

Love this in t-shirt form. Love it in tote form, too. $14

This toast tote is totes awesome (say that 5 times fast). $17

An important message. $18

p.s. A local movie theater manager recently asked my brother Devin if he would be interested in dressing up as Edward Cullen and entertaining the crowds when the new Twilight movie opens. I think this is the funniest thing that's ever happened, and now I really want to buy him this sweet Robert Pattinson tote.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-04-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

"Lovely Rita" Print, $6

So, speaking of blush, how gorgeous is this print? It makes me want to paint my cheeks pink and dye my hair black and pluck my eyebrows and change my name to Rita and lure two live butterflies to perch on my head wherever I go.

Reasonable goals. Reasonable goals.

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-04-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

And now it's time for this week's installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha! If you're just joining Daddy Likey, here's the scoop on DSYC: my ever-vigilant and always-clever readers send in examples of high hemlines gone awry, or shirts worn as dresses, or hats worn as dresses--get the picture? If you don't, no worries, this post is full of actual pictures, and I think by the end you'll have a good grasp of the concept. And on the bottom of your skirt. Like, seriously, hold that skirt down.

Or shirt, in this case:

Says Siobhan: I found this online tonight and immediately thought of your site. The model isn't even trying to hide it!

The amazing Ashley found some High School Musical chocha incidents:

She says: Vanessa Hudgens displays her disdain for pants in the ever popular tunic look.

And: I think Zac Efron is giving Vanessa advice like "Make sure you keep your handbag in place when we start walking again- it's a little windy today."

A few readers sent in the following Blake Lively ensemble:

Says Anya: She's practically just wearing underwear with lace draped over it. It's more like a bathing suit wrap than a dress for a premier.

Says Liane: Taking fashion advice from co-star and repeat chocha-baring offender Taylor Momsen, are we, Blake?

Says Penelope: Um. Yeah.

Thomas W. found an inevitable DSYC moment from Lindsay Lohan's catwalk collaboration:

I remember her saying her main inspiration for the collection was, "Not being able to sit down without facing indecent exposure charges," so bravo, Lindsay, bravo!

Caitlin sent me an email titled, "Quirky Australian Chocha," which totally made my day:

She says: Readers of a travel websites were asked to send in some of their quirky vacation photos. I’m not sure why they’re jumping around in the Nullarbor, but here it is… Thank God for underwear huh?

Not soon after, lovely reader Catherine passed along this picture she took on a recent Australian vacation:

She says: The brave miss in this photo was modeling a dress made from pre-paid phone cards; she is clearly working for a larger conspiratorial movement around Aussie chocha (insert "Down Under" quip here).

From Jenna:

Saw this one on Go Fug Yourself, and I liked their caption: "Uggs with Minis: Are you cold, or not? MAKE UP YOUR MIND."

Fergie brings us a chocha moment from the future:

Says Sarah: Everyone in the crowd can see her chocha!

Carley sent in a couple great ones:

She says: I guess crossing legs and keeping knees together is getting a bit old for this model, so she's trying a new technique: Keeping the knee angled ever so slightly makes the hemline look a little longer.

And: I'd be uncomfortable too if I was forced to wear something that is a) frumpy, b) has an ugly print, and c) dangerously short. Luckily for her, the itty bitty bottom is actually classified as a pair of shorts. That explains the confused look and the lack of leg-crossing/hem-pulling...

This meta chocha moment cracked me up:

Reader Rose explains: While browsing on your blog today I saw this picture. I felt like it was very ironic. Chocha-baring ads right next to a Don't Show-cha Your Chocha post!

Ah, Google, your random ad placements are always relevant and entertaining.

And finally, the greatest DSYC picture in the history of the world:

Says Sarah: I don't know if this qualifies or not. The photo is from a menswear sewing pattern from the '70s. But it gave me pause.

Yes. Let's all pause, shall we?

Back-from-the-Dead Blush

2010-04-22T23:57:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of blogging is getting random packages from PR companies. The key word here would be "random." For example, last week I found a giant FedEx box crammed under my doormat. Inside was an eyelash curler, hand soap, blush, and approximately 40 pounds of gourmet popcorn.

As soon as I'd determined the package didn't come from a confused terrorist, I ate a bunch of popcorn and smeared a bunch of blush on my cheeks, and you know what? Both were kind of awesome. Since this is a fashion blog and not a specialty popcorn review site, let's focus on the blush.

The product I received was Ramy Beauty Therapy Juicy Cheeks in "Maya Papaya." It's a sheer cream blush that goes on bright pink, but then you smear it around and it fades to a subtle glow. See?

Sometimes I stay up all night writing and start to resemble one of the bloodless bodies from season one of Dexter, which is really upsetting. I love this blush because I can rub it on my cheeks and lips in the morning and suddenly I'm a vibrant young professional. (As opposed to a corpse.)

Here's the thing though: as you can see, the stuff is subtle. Super subtle. Which I guess is good, because it looks natural, but it's also expensive. Super expensive. Like, $24 a pop. And while one could argue that since it works well on cheeks and lips, you're basically getting two products for $12 each, that's still a lot of money for a subtle glow.

So, would I pay $24 for it? Probably not at the moment, because I have approximately $25 in my bank account and I need to save up for a ticket to see The Expendables in August*, but if I won the lottery, maybe I would. I mean, any product that can bring my face back from the dead is worth a bit of an investment, right?

*My boyfriend informed me that I woke up in absolute hysterics this morning because I had a dream that Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, and Jet Li had all drowned in the ocean while promoting this movie.

An Imagined Conversation Between Myself and This Model

2010-04-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Me: Umm, ma'am?

Model: What?

Me: Well, it's just...

Model: I'm kind of busy here.

Me: Yeah, about that. What are you doing?

Model: I'm a model. I'm modeling this dress. Isn't it pretty?

Me: It's gorgeous, for sure. It's just...this is a Mexican restaurant. And I don't see any cameras. And you seem to be really confusing the house band.

Model: The camera guy is on his way. He's running late, I guess.

Me: Right.

Model: Oh look, there he is!

Me: That's a decorative cactus.

Model: He did seem a bit prickly.

Me: Did you have one of those giant margaritas that's wheeled up to your table in a re-purposed bathtub?

Model: No!

Me: Really?

Model: I had four.

Me: Well then, I applaud you for wearing any clothes at all.

Model: I told you, I'm a model. I'm a professional. Now, will you tell the cactus to hurry up? I can't hold this pose forever.

p.s. Huge thanks to the lovely Lydia for sending me this picture!

Giveaway: Karma Cards!

2010-04-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

My intense love for fellow blogger Sarah Von Bargen of Yes and Yes is no secret. In fact, sometimes I worry about professing it too often and becoming one of those couples on facebook whose status updates become mile-long "No, I love YOU more" contests. But I don't worry about it that much, because I just love her so much. (No, Sarah, I love YOU more!)

That being said, SVB always has something new and cool up her sleeve, and I'm super excited about her latest project: Karma Cards. These beautifully designed little cards are meant to brighten the days (or change the lives, who knows?) of strangers, acquaintances, and close friends. Slip one in a library book or a restaurant billfold, leave one on the new kid's desk at school, or send one to your best friend when she's feeling down. Sarah has a great list of ideas to get you started, but I'm sure you guys can think of some amazing people and places who could use some good karma.

A set of 15 Karma Cards costs just $6 (free postage and handling, holla!), and I'm delighted to be able to give away a set to a lucky Daddy Likey reader! For a chance to win, please leave a comment on this post telling us where you'd leave a Karma Card, or where you'd like to find one (or if you're feeling lazy, you can also just leave your first name and email address, that's OK too). I'll choose a winner at random next Monday.

Thank you so much for supporting my dear friend Sarah VB (No, I love YOU more!).

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week: Butterfly Body Art

2010-04-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

Butterfly Tattoo Knee-High Socks, $13

When I first got my driver's license, my parents would let me borrow their Volvo if I agreed to take my little brothers to school in the morning. I needed that Volvo in order to drive up and down Main Street blasting my Fatboy Slim tape, so of course every morning I dutifully drove my brothers to school.

One day I was hustling everybody out the door when I noticed my youngest brother Bob had locked himself in the bathroom.

"Get out of there, Bob, we've gotta go!" I yelled.

"Umm, I can't," he whimpered back.

I walked over and knocked on the door. "What's wrong?"

He opened the door a crack and peeked through. "I drew penises all over my hand."

He held out his hand and sure enough, the kid had had a Superbad moment and made 6 or 7 very obvious renderings of the male anatomy on his hand and forearm. With a permanent marker.

I put his hand under the faucet and tried to scrub them off, but they wouldn't budge. We were running late. I had a test. "You know what?" I said, "They're hardly noticeable! I think we should just go."

"But what will the other kids say?"

"Just tell 'em they're butterflies."

Philosophical Fashion Question

2010-04-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

Do you usually refer to this kind of shirt as a "button-up" or a "button-down"?

And in related news, do you think this cup is half empty or half full?

Please leave both your answers in the comments section. Thank you.

These Are the Plates I'm Looking For

2010-04-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

You know the feeling when something comes into your life and changes it so drastically that you can't fathom how you even LIVED before?

Early man surely felt this way about the wheel. I have previously felt this way about System of a Down's first album (high school), the eyelash curler (college), and now, these altered antique plates featuring Star Wars characters:

I did not know happiness before I knew these existed. Amazing.

About $35 each, here.

Tuesday Top 5: Gimme the Details!

2010-04-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I was reading the always-amazing Karla's Closet and came across this outfit:

So glamorous, right?

Now, the thing that makes Karla always-amazing, besides her perfectly defined jawline, is that homegirl knows how to do details: just look at the jacket, the shoes, the hat, the earrings, the sunglasses, the brooches, the nail polish, oh my! She's a beautiful girl with a killer sense of style, but it's really the details that make her outfits so memorable.

Looking at her photos, I had a profound epiphany. It went something like this: "Winona, stop wearing boring outfits. Be more like Karla! Work on the details!"

You know the old adage, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off"? Well I'm trying the opposite: "Before you leave in the morning, put one more thing on." It helps me focus on those easy-to-overlook details even when I'm rushed in the morning, and on more than one occasion it has ensured I wore pants to work. Phew.

Here are some little details I've been adding to my outfits before I leave the house:

1. Flower hair accessories. Lots of flower hair accessories.

My first order of business: head to Etsy and spend my life savings on flower-themed items for my hair. I got a giant red rose clip, a blue flower headband, and these yellow rose bobby pins that I absolutely love:

Put on a potato sack. Stick a rose clip in your hair. Feel put together and chic!

2. Watches

My boyfriend has a great watch he got as a gift in high school: it's silver with a blue face and he keeps it by the door to remind me daily of how great it would look with all my outfits, but he never wears it, and he won't let me wear it because he says I'll break it. [Editor's note: This is a completely reasonable thing to say, especially since I borrowed his ipod last week, added "Lean Like a Cholo" to his playlist, and then dropped it on the treadmill.]

Anyway, the point is: it was time for me to take charge of my own watch destiny. I love the look of men's watches, so I bought my own for $2 at an antique store. I also unearthed a couple of my great grandma's old Timex watches, and the giant, rhinestone-encrusted watch I got at a seaside giftshop a few years ago. Sometimes I wear them all at once, but I'm still late everyday, because none of them work.

3. Sunglasses

I favor vintage aviators the size of dinner plates, but round with polka dots or hot pink heart-shaped ones are good too.

My BFF Katelyn and I are happy to model some options.

4. Shiny, Happy Shoes

Life is too short to wear boring shoes. That might sound like a quote from Forrest Gump's mom, but seriously, it's so true.

When I wear my neon plaid flats instead of basic flip-flops or boring sneakers, good things always happen--I might have a good hair day or win the lottery or find a perfectly good donut on the ground. And spring is such a good time to try some bright, sunny shoes like these. Or how about these?

Definitely not boring.

5. Knee Socks

My friend Becca and I recently visited the Sock Dreams outlet in Sellwood, and it was awesome. If they had been serving mini muffins and screening Seinfeld episodes, I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

I bought a pair of cream-colored knee socks, and I've been pairing them with bright blue tights and brown boots--the combo is really pretty and surprisingly subtle. I think Karla would approve.

Are you detail-oriented when it comes to fashion? What's your favorite way to make an outfit stand out?

High Fashion Haiku

2010-04-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

This would look better
on Russell Crowe than on me,
which is upsetting.

"Glam Rock Mini Skirt" (in my mind it will always be the "Gladiator Showdown Kilt"), $103.50, shopbop.com

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week: Arch Nemesis Edition

2010-04-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

1970s Poisoning Handbook, $16

I recently acquired an arch nemesis. It's a pretty low key thing so far. Mostly we send each other ominous text messages and say, "We meet again" whenever we, well, meet again.

If I wanted to step things up though, I can think of a lot of uses for this book (which is actually a guide to known poisons and remedies, rather than the How To Poison People guide that the title implies). Here are a few of my ideas:

1. Set it on the coffee table and invite Arch Nemesis over for tea. Be sure to mark pages and write things like "Good option. Minimal foaming."

2. Run into Arch Nemesis on the street. Say "We meet again" (duh). Let book fall out of purse. Look at book, then look at Arch Nemesis. Say, "Oops."

3. Send book to Arch Nemesis's house with a note that says, "You might want to look up the antidote on page 43. Like, now."

That's all for now. I've gotta get to work on perfecting my menacing cackle.

New This Week at Stolen Peacock Vintage!

2010-04-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Stolen Peacock Vintage is jam packed with new items these days, so I thought I'd share a few of my top fave things!

"Vintage 80s Orange/Pink Iridescent Silk Pencil Skirt That Changes Color Almost As Well As A Chameleon And Requires No Feeding"

Awesome 80s Aviators. Once belonged to Burt Reynolds. Well, maybe.

How great would this little dress be for muggy summer work days? Or a safari. It would also be great for a safari.

We're really excited to announce the first official Seven/Seven Sale! Every Saturday we'll post a new item for just 7 bucks! That price will stand for 7 days, and then we rotate in something else. To kick things off, we're offering this gorgeous red maxi dress (yes, it's really only 7 bucks!):

If you love it (don't you love it?), grab it while you can!

We're adding even more new stuff over the weekend, so please check back often for updates. And thanks so much, as always, for your support!

Stuff I Love

2010-04-08T02:23:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my three worst qualities are tardiness, messiness, and insisting that Spice World is actually a really important piece of satirical cinema.

There's obviously nothing I can do about the latter two, but I remain confident that someday my doctor will diagnose me with a rare thyroid problem that causes me to be 15 minutes late for everything.

Until then, I need this shirt:

No explanations or excuses necessary. Just smile and shrug.

p.s. Once, to make up for my lateness, I drew my supervisor a silly picture inspired by this. It didn't work.

Top 5 Style Lessons I Learned at a Muse Concert

2010-04-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I drove up to Seattle to see Muse in concert. And holy god, what a concert it was. I would call it a life-changer. My friend Kyle would call it a "MUSEGASM!!!" Point is, it was good. Really good. Like, I tried to listen to Muse at home the day after the concert and all I could do was fall to the floor and weep. That good.

Since this is a fashion blog, after all, let's discuss the top 5 style lessons and insights I took away from the experience:

1. Bedazzled blazers are hot.

The lead singer, Matthew Bellamy, sang the first few songs wearing a black blazer with silver studs across the shoulders. And he looked hot. And I mean, yeah, with that voice, Matthew Bellamy could have worn one of Marilla's house dresses from Anne of Green Gables and I still would have wanted to hump his leg, but let me tell you: this blazer was quintessentially rock and roll. A perfect choice.

Hey Matthew, I like your house dress. Wanna date me?

2. Ed Hardy trucker hats are not.

The guy sitting next to us was wearing an Ed Hardy trucker hat and a pinstriped vest, and as much as I didn't want to judge a book by its cover, he ended up being exactly the kind of douchebag one would expect to be wearing an Ed Hardy trucker hat and a pinstriped vest.

After every single song, Mr. Douche would scream "Plaaaaaaaaayyyy iiiiiiiiittt!" directly into my boyfriend's ear. We found out at the end of the concert that he was referring to the song "Knights of Cydonia," because when Muse finally did plaaaaaaaayyy iiiiiiiiitttt, Mr. Douche sighed dramatically and said "About time." While I completely agreed with his sentiments (Knights of Cydonia is, like, the best song in history), I wanted to take him aside and give him a little workshop on communication skills. It would go like this:

Me: You're very demanding that Muse "Plaaaaaaaaayyyy iiiiiiiiittt!"

Doucher: Well, they should. I want to hear it!

Me: But how are they supposed to know what "it" is?

Doucher: Isn't it obvious?

Me: Not really, no. Especially when you're yelling it from the 200 section of a large stadium.

Doucher: Well what am I supposed to say?

Me: Yelling, "Knights of Cydooooooonnniiiiiaaaaaa!" is really satisfying. I do it all the time. And it's much more specific. Why don't you try that instead?

Doucher: Well, OK. Fine.

Me: And also please stop wearing that hat. You look like a douchebag.

3. I need more lasers in my life.

Throughout the show, giant, swirling, green laser beams would erupt from the stage and rotate around the arena, making the audience feel as if we were trapped inside a giant kaleidoscope with an awesome soundtrack. The day after the concert I turned off the lights at my house and put some Muse on my stereo and cried, but it just wasn't the same. What was missing? LASERS. I need to get a laser pointer necklace and a laser-themed t-shirt and a laser photo backdrop in my garage, stat!

4. Wearing this shirt would be like wearing the stage:

The set design for the show was a dark cityscape, with three big buildings rising up out of the stage. This shirt is from Topshop, which is British, like Muse. I need this shirt.

5. WWBV is the new WWJD.

One of Muse's best known songs is called "Uprising," and part of the chorus is "We will be victorious!" What a great personal motto, right? Me and my friend Kyle, copyright-holder of the term "Musegasm" (k) and proud owner of a Muse tattoo, recently decided to shorten it to WWBV and use it in place of that old favorite, WWJD, or "What Would Jesus Do?"

I find it very empowering and now I really want to a WWBV bracelet.

Plus, Jesus would totally listen to Muse.

Cool Shoes

2010-04-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

These vintage studded pumps are cool. Really cool. They're even in my size, and I would probably feel really cool wearing them. But as I just mentioned on Twitter today, whenever I start thinking that maybe I'm kind of cool, I trip on the sidewalk and fall in a puddle.

And nobody's cool when they're falling in a puddle. Not even Lil' Wayne.

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-04-05T01:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, everyone, and welcome to this week's installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

DSYC is a recurring feature in which Daddy Likey readers submit photos of people wearing their shirts as dresses, or their belts as skirts, or their tights as pants, or air as tights--get the idea? If you'd like to read the very first DSYC post, please click here, and if you feel ready to face the chocha, read on...

First up, here's a classic cross-leg pose submitted by Stephanie:

That skirt is playing a dangerous game with the breeze.

Sara sent in a few chocha-licious finds from The Sartorialist, plus commentary:

Love her outfit, but clearly if her legs had been been nicely placed that way we'd be able to see everything!

Not how low can you go, but how high can you go? At least she looks happy and carefree.

It doesn't look too short (compared to other shresses -- shirts as dresses), but all that dress needs it a small breeze and everything will be seen.

From Laura:

The accompanying email said, simply, "Uhhhh..." And I concur.

Oh, Blair Waldorf:

Says Tiffany: We love gossip girl, but that dress and those see through lace leggings don't do you justice.

From Em:

She says: Sigrid Thornton is looking mighty uncomfortable at the Australian Film Industry Awards.

Debbie found this, umm, small piece of fabric:

Love the product description, too: Party Time! Our stretch micro mini dress is perfect for a night out on the town. This ultra tiny micro mini dress is cut short and notched at the side to show off all your leg. Comes with matching G-String panty.

Lace leggings plus shirt worn as dress = chocha sighting:

Laura has four important words: Strategically placed sweater sleeves.

Maureen found these next two gems, which New York & Company call the "Velvet Tunic Dress” and the “Knit Tunic Dress:"

She adds: Obvy, "dress" was mistakenly added on to the descriptions as tunic much better represents what they are.

From Elizabeth:

I actually have this shirt. When worn with pants (as is advisable when wearing a shirt), it's quite lovely!

Reader Wendy is a prolific chocha hunter. Check out her recent finds:

Wow. Gold star for you, Wendy!

Found a chocha? Send it in! daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

Blogback Mountain: Short and Super Sweet Edition

2010-04-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

"Evolution" from Already Pretty

A few weeks ago the lovely Sal from Already Pretty asked me if I'd like to contribute to a massive guest post she was putting together to examine the evolution of fashion and body image in different phases of life. I got to write a couple hundred words about my style at age 24, which was a wonderfully fun assignment.

The post went live last week, and I'm just so impressed with how the whole thing came together, and what an inspiring read it is. An awesome group of contributors representing four different age groups have some amazing insights about fashion, figure flattery, and self-acceptance.

If you haven't read it yet, please check it out!

And a huge thanks to Sal for putting it all together. You go, girl!

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-04-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Hand-Drawn Clothes Line Egg Cup, $12

I don't really understand what you do with an egg cup--do you put an egg in it? Like, a whole egg? With a shell? MOM WHY DIDN'T YOU TEACH ME ABOUT EGG CUPS?--but I can say, with confidence, that this is the cutest egg cup in the world.

And just in time for Easter! You could totally put an Easter egg in there. Or something like that.

Top 5 Reasons I Love My New Sports Bra

2010-03-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

The other day my boyfriend and I decided to play tennis. This was a stupid decision because all of my sports bras had recently been massacred in a terrible laundry accident (I can't discuss the details yet--I'm too emotional), but I was feeling cocky and thought I could get away with wearing one of my regular lacy bras, just this once.

Again, this was a stupid decision. Because a good foundation is essential, and it's especially essential while playing sports.

At the tennis courts, I complained a lot. I tiptoed around instead of running. I moaned, "You will never know my plight!" And after I attempted to serve with my racket tucked into my armpit and both hands holding my boobs in place, my boyfriend said, "That's it. We're going to get you a new sports bra."

The closest supplier was Aries Apparel, so we sped over there, I grabbed the first employee I saw and said, "Look, I'm ready to admit it. I need help. I left a tennis game to come here. I've hit rock bottom."

The woman, who happened to be the Patron Saint of Double-D Cups, gently grabbed me by the shoulders, led me into the dressing room, and shut the curtains. "Don't come out," she said, "and don't panic. Just promise me you'll try on every bra I give you."

So I did. I was there for, like, two hours. And I found this bra:

Moving Comfort "Maia" Sports Bra, $46

Here are the top 5 reasons I'm in love with it:

Its name is "Maia."
Which makes it extra easy to anthropomorphize, as in: "Maia and me played soccer today and had so much fun! Then we got frappuccinos and watched Cool Runnings."

It's modest.
Normally I don't care that much about modesty. I mean, I try my best not to show-cha my chocha, but I love a good miniskirt or a deep v-neck. However, the combination of loose workout clothes, too-small sports bras, and contortionist poses can turn an innocent yoga class into a particularly raunchy round of strippersize, and I do have an issue with that. Maia helps me stay decent, even during downward facing dog.

It's like two bras in one.
It's got the coverage and elasticity of a regular pullover sports bra, combined with the all-important underwire and adjustable straps: the best of both worlds!

It doesn't resemble a sporty straight jacket.
One of the bras my Aries Apparel bra consultant insisted I try on might warrant its own post at some point: it had approximately 700 clasps from my belly button up to my neck, crushed my boobs into submissive pancakes, and may or may not have been made of Kevlar. Sure, it probably could have protected me from a mortar attack, but it was so ugly and uncomfortable that I was terrified to put it on, and then needed assistance from two people to take it off. No thanks. Not fun.

OMG I can run in it!
Running with an ample bosom is a complicated endeavor involving all manner of slings, pulleys, and an emergency medical team on call. Normal sports bras just don't cut it. Me and Maia, though? We could run all day. Well, realistically we could run for, like, 25 minutes, but still. It's awesome.

Have any of you large-chested readers found a sports bra you love? Please spread the Non-Bouncy Good News in the comments!

Stuff I Love: Sunny Shoes and Sunny Days

2010-03-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

These shoes are almost as happy and exciting as a sunny spring day in Portland. To understand exactly how happy and exciting that is, imagine if these shoes were surrounded by a bunch of gray, cloudy shoes. And sitting in a mud puddle.

Wanna know what else is exciting? They're only 17 bucks. Hallelujah spring is here!

The Lincoln-Jeggings Debates

2010-03-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I was in the hosiery section of Nordstrom. And they had a big shelf of jeggings there, right next to the socks and tights and pantyhose. And I felt really conflicted about it.

I mean, jeggings can be interpreted as jeans made of leggings-like fabric, or leggings made to look like jeans (or predatory seabirds, I guess). Jeggings retailers have to pick a side. Nordstrom sent a strong statement with their jeggings placement: this item is more hosiery than pants. Urban Outfitters, on the other hand, stocks their jeggings next to their normal jeans. The ramifications of this decision could be terrifying.

I think, ideally, jeggings would be stocked in some kind of a hybrids-only section along with Toyota Priuses, plucots, and the Pig Man from Seinfeld. But alas, that's just not a realistic option right now, what with the Toyota recall and all.

So, to help us this out, I've decided to present both sides of the issue in the style of a 19th century political debate. For the sake of argument, I will take the "jeggings as jeans" side, while Abraham Lincoln (obviously) will argue that jeggings are, in fact, more like leggings, and therefore well suited to the hosiery section.

Ahem:

Me: Jeggings. Such a confusing little word. Such a confusing little garment. Are they leggings or are they jeans? They are both, but also, somehow, neither. When it comes to jeggings, there is only one thing I know for sure: seeing them in the hosiery section makes me go, "Huh?" And that is unacceptable.

Abraham Lincoln: Friends and patriots, I speak to you today as a conflicted man. My personal struggle with this issue has deeply affected me and my family, but I have finally come to a conclusion… jeggings are more leggings than jeans, and should be treated accordingly.

Me: Abe, with all due respect, that is wack. If jeggings were merely leggings, then why would seeing them in the hosiery section reduce me to tearful spasms of confusion and panic?

Abraham Lincoln: I'm really not sure why that would ever happen.

Me: When I see jeggings stocked with other jeans, I just get slightly uncomfortable, but I can deal with it. Therefore, jeggings are more like jeans.

Abraham Lincoln: Deeming these modest underthings "jeans" is an outright fabrication! The only quality jeggings share with jeans is the first initial "J."

Me: As my dear friend Benjamin Franklin once said, "If it walks like a jean, and talks like a jean, it's a pair of jeans."

Abraham Lincoln: Your whole argument hinges on a fake Benjamin Franklin quote?

Me: Mostly, yes.

Abraham Lincoln: Unlike my opponent, I don't think this is a topic that should be taken lightly. Stocking jeggings alongside jeans is a bold act of rebellion. It says to the world, "Don't worry about wearing these as a bottom layer. Please, feel welcome to wear them as pants." And that, my friends, is a dangerous precedent.

Me: Dude, Abe, the latest trend is not wearing pants at all--let the people throw on a pair of jeggings!

Abraham Lincoln: I suppose in this case you could call me a separatist. Can't we just give jeggings their own section?

Me: I totally agree. We need to find the Pig Man.

So, which side are you on?

p.s. A big thanks to my amazing brother Tona for helping me generate Abraham Lincoln jeggings quotes.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-03-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

Secret Garden Hair Clip or Brooch, $12

I have a huge crush on New Zealand-based Etsy shop hunter gatherer. They sell adorable hair bows and bowties in vintage-inspired fabrics, and all their product tags say "hunter gatherer thinks you are quite lovely."

You see, I'm a sucker for flattery. Also for floral prints. Also for New Zealand accents. Help me, Jesus.

Top 5 Things I Would Say to My Wardrobe if We Were in Couples Counseling

2010-03-23T02:45:00.000-07:00

(photo via rocket_ship)

I have a very complex relationship with my wardrobe. Sometimes the contents of my closet make me feel exuberant, confident, and sassy--I'm so proud of these clothes I have collected and the way they flatter my figure and express my personality. And other times these very same clothes make me feel stifled, frumpy, and angry.

Yesterday morning was one of these "other times."

I found myself collapsing dramatically into a pile of cardigans on my bed, choking back tears and declaring, "I hate everything I own. Everything. I just hate it!" I wanted to go on a shopping spree or join a nudist colony or at the very least, hire Bruce Willis to drill a nuke into my closet and blow it up so mankind could be spared from seeing these awful clothes ever again. [New 2010 goal: less Armageddon references, more allusions to the works of Nabokov.]

Anyway, during these emotional moments in my cardigan pile, I got to thinking that this complex relationship I have with my wardrobe isn't unlike the complex relationship one might have with a boyfriend or girlfriend or sibling or parent. Sure, sometimes we treat each other terribly, but deep down, we really love each other. And the good times far outweigh the bad.

If my wardrobe and I decided to go to couples counseling to work on our relationship, here are a few things I would want to say:

Sometimes I feel like you don't support me. But maybe I'm expecting too much from you, especially that six year old bra I keep wearing instead of donating to the local historical society.

You definitely deserve better treatment, so I will try to pick you up off the floor more often. I will also try to stop yelling "I HATE YOU.

I need you to be more flexible. Mostly when I eat too much pasta.

I know I need to stop looking for a cheap thrill at TJ Maxx whenever I get bored with you, but be patient with me, OK? Old habits die hard.

Sorry I keep a Goodwill bag in the closet and throw random things in it over the course of weeks or months. That must sort of feel like being held hostage and not knowing which of your friends is going to be taken away next. Stress central.

What would you say to your wardrobe? And what would it say to you?

This Might Clear Some Things Up...

2010-03-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

The lovely and talented Jessica emailed me the transcript of a conversation she had with her mom the other day, and I couldn't resist posting it here, partly because it clears up a few common myths/misunderstandings surrounding this blog, but mostly because it totally cracked me up:

Mom: I read a blog on your website the other day! You had it linked.

Me: Oh? Which one?

Mom: Daddy Likely.

Me: Daddy Likey?

Mom: Oh, I thought it was Likely. I thought it was a saying I didn't know.

Me: Nope, Daddy Likey.

Mom: Yes, I liked what she was saying about sweaters. I buy LOTS of sweaters in the same colors. But I was a little disturbed that she is selling stolen clothes!

Me: WHAT?

Mom: Her store that she was talking about. The one with Stolen Vintage Clothes. Who does she steal them from? Does she ask?

Me: Oh my...no. The store is Stolen Peacock Vintage. She had a story about her family stealing a peacock.

Mom: Is she selling a stolen peacock?

Me: No, the store is NAMED after a stolen peacock. She didn't steal any clothes.

Mom: So she's not selling anything she stole from anybody.

Me: Right.

Mom: Oh, good. That makes me feel better. I liked her writing, and I felt bad about liking her if she was stealing things and selling them!

Me: I am SO e-mailing her about this.

Mom: Tell her I'm sorry I accused her of stealing. Oh, what's a 'Chocho?'

p.s. If anyone else is wondering, "chocha" is a term that translates to "private lady parts." Pronunciation is an entirely personal decision, mostly because I love hearing my mom and her friends (and now Jessica's mom!) come up with different versions.

p.p.s.s. I also wanted to assure you that Jessica is right--Stolen Peacock Vintage is not stocked with stolen merchandise. And I gave up the peacock-stealing business a long time ago. But I regret nothing.

Stolen Peacock Vintage Update!

2010-03-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

A big congratulations to the lovely Lauren, winner of our Stolen Peacock Vintage Grand Opening Giveaway Bonanza, and a huge thank you to everyone who entered! Your comments were sweet and insightful and hilarious, which are three of my favorite adjectives.

We updated the shop recently with lots of gorgeous new pieces, so please check it out if you have a free moment this weekend. Here are some of my current favorites:

A floaty marbled maxi dress: so perfect for summer, not to mention a beautiful way to bring a little marble rye inspiration into your wardrobe.

I mentioned on Twitter that if you buy these gorgeous 70s sunglasses, I might resent you, because I kind of want to keep them, but I will also respect you, and befriend you, and ask to borrow your sunglasses.

This dress makes me unbelievably happy. The happy flowers! The happy pockets! And it's just 22 bucks, which is way cheaper than antidepressants.

This sequin jacket was super popular in the giveaway comment section, and it's still up for grabs, so grab it!

We've also added in a couple higher end designer pieces, like a fringed Valentino top and this stunning red coat dress by Charles Cooper:

So. Freakin'. Chic.

Thanks so much again to everyone for your awesome comments and emails, Etsy favorite-ing, and help spreading the word about Stolen Peacock Vintage. We've had a blast with the shop so far, and we really appreciate your support!

Stuff I Love

2010-03-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

Today I'm delighted to debut a groundbreaking new segment here at Daddy Likey. It's called Stuff I Love. These posts will feature...wait for it...wait for it...Stuff I Love! Huge bombshell, right? But seriously, I love a lot of stuff, and I'm tired of hiding it from the world.

First up, check out this amazing "Earth" necklace from Alice and Isa:

I totally love it.

That's all.

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha, Now Featuring an Embarrassed Mannequin

2010-03-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's Don't Show-cha Your Chocha time! It's a time of deep personal reflection, spirituality, and most importantly, pictures of people who have decided wearing pants, skirts and/or underwear is totally lame.

Let's start with this artful spread (or clench, more accurately), that reader Susanne titled, "Where the Wild Chochas Grow:"

Get the picture?

Wonderful Rory submitted Mariah Carey's not-so-wonderful new album cover:

Considering what the retoucher did to her breasts, I wouldn't be surprised if she was originally wearing pants but they were edited out.

This one cracks me up:

Says Thomas W.: All that pixelation isn't going to save us from her chocha.

Oh look, it's another pretend-dress from our old friends at Forever 21:

Emma says: It would make a great sweater. Not dress. Sweater.

From Julienne:

Seems to me that, even if she's attempting to channel the ghost of Laurence of Arabia, she could bother with the bottom half of her Abayah. Who wants to ride a camel in that state anyway?

From Diana:

She says: It's Asian Taylor Swift chocha-ing around in a children's park with fathers in the background who are most definitely not watching their kids anymore. [Editor's note: Can't wait for the wholesome internet traffic the phrase "Asian Taylor Swift chocha" will bring to my blog. Good god.]

Couture chocha alert:

Says Tavi: At least she's blunt about her embarrassment.

Next we have three British DSYC moments, with commentary, courtesy of Grace:

How much better would it be if it was ENTIRELY floor length, instead of the front being crotch length??

Ahhh, Jordan. I admire how she has tied a piece of floral fabric around her hips to try and add a sense of demurity to her see though net orange trousers. Sadly, she failed.

I have no words. None.

Here's a doozy:

Says Shayla: I guess she doesn't have to worry about anyone seeing anything when she bends over. You can see stuff when she's standing up! I hope she put pants on before she went out the door.

Next two are from lovely reader Jen's American Music Awards chocha report:

What's that noise? Oh I get it... it’s her chocha screaming: “I want to be in the picture too!”

Shakira should put the chocha showing dress down, go make another album and use the money to buy the rest of the missing pieces for the dress!!

Hmm...speak of the devil:

Says Glynnis: Here is Shakira, whose hips do not lie, coming very closing to airing her chocha.

And finally, this ebay chocha moment from Jenni might be one of my favorites ever. This is her story:

It said "Short dress/top". I clicked. And quickly regretted it:

Apparently I wanted to burn my eyes out as I clicked on the back view:

I mean, Sweet Mother of Jesus, when even a MANNEQUIN has to use its hand to maintain its dignity know you're in trouble!

You guys, the mannequin is embarrassed. Are you laughing as hard as I am? I can't even handle how funny that is.

Thanks so much to all the diligent chocha watchers who keep this feature well-stocked and running smoothly week after week! Find a chocha? Send it in: daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

Stockpile Syndrome

2010-03-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

Many generations of my family grew up poor in rural Italy before my great grandparents immigrated to America. As my mom often puts it, "We hail from peasant stock. If you ever need to carry big buckets of water on your shoulders, trust me, you will be able to do it. It is in your blood."

Jealous?

Perhaps because of this impoverished heritage, my mom's side of the family believes strongly in stockpiling. They also believe strongly that vegetarians eat pork, chicken, and fish, but that's another post for another time.

These people stockpile everything: garbanzo beans, paper towels, sports equipment, silverware. My grandmother's basement is basically Costco, just less crowded and with a much wider selection.

Naturally, many of my Italian relatives are proponents of stockpiling favorite items of clothing. Instead of saying, "Nice sweater," my great aunt says, "I hope you got that in every color, Winona!" And it is more of a threat than a compliment, because how dumb would I feel if I only bought one and it ripped and I didn't have five more to replace it and stay looking cute through the cold, hard winter?

I can't decide how I feel about it. On the one hand, it's nice to have your favorite shirt in a variety of colors, and it's comforting to keep a backup pair of those perfect-fitting pumps in your closet. But I've also found that whenever I do stock up on something, it doesn't feel so special anymore, and I lose interest.

So I'm curious to know what you guys think: Do you believe in stockpiling?

p.s. Sally of Already Pretty posted about this topic today too! Crazy, right? Please check out her thoughtful and thought-provoking post on buying multiples as well!

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-03-14T23:14:00.001-07:00

Rainbow Kitten Pocket Journal, $15

As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to get it for my little brother Bob, because he loves kittens and rainbows and journals. And I was right: today on the phone I asked him if he liked it and he said, "Nona, are you kidding me? It's a kitten. Barfing up a rainbow. And it's a little journal to boot! It's INCREDIBLE."

So there you go.

The World Inside Your Shoes

2010-03-12T04:10:00.000-08:00

The first thing I thought when I saw these amazing light-up heels by Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte was "AWESOME!"

The second thing I thought was, "It looks like there are little galaxies trapped in the heels! I will write a story about this in the style of Dr. Seuss."

And here we are:

The Little World Inside Your Shoes

A philosophical question:
Tell me, what would you do
if you found a little world
in the heel of your shoe?

Say you're dressed to the nines
roaming New York's mean streets
thinking, "Where is Scott Schuman?
these shoes hurt my feets!"

But that tingle you're feeling?
It's not bunion nor blister,
it's swirling stars, tiny planets--
are you getting this, sister?

Look just under your sole,
see the galaxy's glow.
It's beautiful, wondrous,
a bit frightening, no?

So what do you do now?
Kick your shoes off and run?
Call in NASA, or the airforce,
Will Smith and his gun?

Maybe you pick up your shoe
and the world that's inside,
stare at it intently,
whisper, "Who's there? Don't hide."

Does the thought cross your mind
that your find might reveal
we all live in a small world
inside a big heel?

***

p.s. Thanks so much to D'Et for directing me to these amazing shoes!

Top 5 Situations When It Might Make Sense to Spend $128 on This Ripped T-Shirt

2010-03-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

1. You are president of your local chapter of the Moth Damage Fan Club and need to make an authoritative fashion statement.

2. You are president of your local chapter of Spendthrifts Anonymous and need to make an authoritative fashion statement.

3. You are starring in a shockingly well-funded production of Les Misérables.

4. You thought the price was $1.28, so you were like, "Haha cool! A cozy, pre-ripped t-shirt for two bucks!" and you haven't seen your bank statement yet.

5. You stumble half naked into a Nevada airport (that's what you get for wakin' up in Vegas, am I right?), realize that you are half naked, and the kiosk next to your terminal is selling ripped t-shirts for $128.

Shirt info here.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-03-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Tiny Rose Teacup Ring, $10

Pretty much every night, I get out my favorite mug (National Geographic mug shoutout!), boil some water, and make myself a lovely cup of tea. Then I set it on the counter and forget it exists while I watch 3-7 hours of Criminal Minds. Then my boyfriend comes home and sighs dramatically and says, "Nona, you didn't drink your tea again. Why do you make tea every night when you never drink it?" And then I say, "Why are you always judging my tea-drinking habits? Matthew Gray Gubler is the only man who understands me!" And then my boyfriend says, "You have never met Matthew Gray Gubler. You are in love with his character on Criminal Minds, not him, and in reality he would probably be just as confused about your insistence on leaving full cups of cold tea all over the house." And then I'm like, "Damn, maybe you're right."

Maybe wearing a cup of tea would work better for me?

p.s. Thanks so much to Jolene for the heads up about this adorable little shop!

The Five Men versus the WUZZY

2010-03-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

I recently received the following message from the lovely and talented Sarah W:

Dear Winona, There was a men's fashion first impressions moment just now that I had to share with you. My roommate showed her boyfriend this item and asked him what it was:

He actually couldn't couldn't tell, and finally responded with "a poofy ball of god-knows-what."

p.s. Don't you really, really want those? They're called WUZZY!!

To answer Sarah's question, yes, I absolutely want those. But I would probably buy a moldy roast beef sandwich if someone told me it was called "WUZZY!!" And to answer the more obvious question of "Wait, what is a WUZZY!!?" well, it is apparently a slipper. Details here.

I couldn't resist asking the famous Five Men for their take on this poofy ball of god-knows-what, and here's what they said:

Brother, age 22: It looks like a replacement head for a Swiffer sweeper. Or maybe like a Flounder on the ocean floor. Actually, exactly like this Flounder:

rofl @ that pic of the Flounder. his face lol

Brother, age 15: Not actually sure what that is. If it was a slipper, I would be into it, but it may be a hat or a mitten or something. That would just be gross.

Brother, age 20: Have to suggest an Anti fungal cream for that.

Boyfriend: It's a rabbit's foot! A lucky rabbit's foot!

Dad: It looks like the Puss Caterpillar, from the southeastern U.S. Quite venomous but looks very innocuous.

Puss Caterpillar*.

*Or WUZZY!! Not sure which**.

**Confusing the two could prove disastrous. Right, Dad?

p.s. Here's the very first Five Men's Fashion First Impressions post, just in case you're new around these parts and want to get all caught up!

Stolen Peacock Vintage Giveaway!

2010-03-05T01:02:00.000-08:00

First of all, thank you so much for the great response to my friend Rachel and my new Etsy shop, Stolen Peacock Vintage. We really appreciate all the sweet comments, emails, and Etsy favorite-ing, and we're now in the process of restocking after our first sales, so we're super excited!

To celebrate our grand opening, we've arranged a little giveaway for Daddy Likey readers. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to spend on anything in the shop, along with this vintage Ann Taylor silk scarf with a gorgeous peacock pattern:

Fact: Vintage Ann Taylor scarves increase your street cred by, like, infinity:

Hardcore, right? (Complete with duckface.)

We will also send you a cookie.

For your chance to win, please take a look around the shop and leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite item. We'll choose a winner at random next Friday. Contest is open to all readers, everywhere. If you're feeling generous, please help us spread the word about this contest, and we'll love you forever! Good luck!

UPDATE: Congratulations to our winner, Lauren P.! Thank you all so much for the kind words and enthusiasm for our shop! I'll be restocking the shop (again! yay!) over the weekend, so keep an eye out for cool new stuff. We'll also be doing more fun giveaways in the future, so come on back to Daddy Likey, ya hear?

Martin Is Smitten

2010-03-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Martin Sheen, our raccoon correspondent, has something to say about this change purse. Take it away, Marty!

A shiny raccoon. With dazzling eyes. The perfect size to hold a can of tuna.

I think I'm in love.

xoxo
Martin

Top 5 Things to Wear For National Corndog Day

2010-03-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

My mom's coworker, Jordan, happens to be one of the creators of National Corndog Day, which happens to be the best holiday there is.

It is better than Thanksgiving because it involves binging but does not necessarily require awkward family bonding time. It is better than Valentine's Day because it is a day full of love and emotion without the pressure to be in a relationship. It is better than Christmas because it's cheap. It is better than the 4th of July because it carries significantly less risk of receiving disfiguring burns. It is better than Flag Day because Flag Day sucks and nobody knows what it is.

On National Corndog Day, March 20th, you get together with your friends and eat corndogs and tater tots, and drink beer. You're also supposed to watch the NCAA basketball tournament, but I don't care about basketball so usually I just eat 12 corndogs and go to sleep.

Here are my recommendations for that all-important National Corndog Day outfit:

1. Yoga Pants

The elastic waist is key here. Trust me.

2. Zany corndog-themed t-shirt

Look at that happy corndog!

3. Red Hoodie

Conceals bloating and ketchup spills.

4. Plaid trapper cap

No idea why. It just feels right.

5. And, of course, a couple of cute corn dog charms:

Now that's the holiday spirit!

I hope you'll consider spending March 20th binging on corn dogs with me. If you're interested in ordering a Corndog Day party pack, they're available here until this Friday. And if you live somewhere without easy access to corndogs, here's a recipe for corndog batter, because god knows International Corndog Day is even better than National Corndog Day.

Seriously you guys, it's so much better than Flag Day.

Don't Show-cha Your Chocha!

2010-03-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this week's installment of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha. For those of you who are just joining the party here at Daddy Likey, DSYC is a recurring feature in which readers send in examples of the not-wearing-pants-when-they-are-clearly-necessary trend.

Please feel free to click here to read the humble beginnings of Don't Show-cha Your Chocha, or just read on and you'll surely get the gist of it.

Let's kick things off with this prime example:

Reader Gracey sums it up: So very, very many accessories. And yet...no pants.

Check out this adorable little sort-of dress sent in by Vyla:

Gimme like 5 more inches of fabric and I'd be into it.

The beautiful ENC submitted this chochastic pic of Gwynnie P:

Girlfriend is definitely owning it.

I titled this next photo, "Uh oh":

As Kanishka points out: The gap at the bottom of her "dress" after the last button is a little too close to chocha for comfort.

Vigilant reader Emma sent in a motherload of chocha. Behold:

At least this one is wearing shorts. I mean, underwear. I mean, a crocheted diaper? Nevermind.

How does this work, exactly, when she unclenches her legs?

Again, thank you, crotch shadow, for your diligent service.

File this under the ever-popular "yeah, but that is a shirt" category.

From Vanda:

She says: Saw this from Whitney Port and thought, "I know she moved to the Big Apple, but do we really need to almost see her Little Apple?"

Here's a great one from Jace:

Man, thank god for that, umm, chocha flap?

Let's see...how can I make an eloquent transition here...Oh yes! Speaking of chocha flaps:

Liana says: I couldn't help but notice the unladylike (or perhaps VERY ladylike) placement of the pink fabric on this Milly dress. [Editor's note: Yes, apparently top designers are now knocking off this dress. Why? We'll never know.]

From Claire:

She says: Here we've got a ridiculously short American Apparel mini, aptly titled, because I can see, well, everything.

And another, even more upsetting angle:

The model appears to be grimacing in embarrassment, which is weird because American Apparel tends to substitute porn for their "advertisements."

One more from Claire:

Here's Taylor Momsen rocking the men's shirt...and nothing else.

Umm...yeah:

Says Alicia: All could think of when I saw this was RAWR...and not in a good way. Like, her chocha has roaring capabilities that are only augmented by the leopard dress and furry shoes. Scary.

And finally, let's end on a festive note with this graceful Olympic chocha moment sent in by Birdie:

Inspiring, no?

Found a chocha? Send it in! daddylikeyblog@gmail.com

Announcing: Stolen Peacock Vintage!

2010-03-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

So, here's the big news! My best friend Rachel and I are opening an online vintage boutique, aka an Etsy shop*, called Stolen Peacock Vintage. We are super excited to be working together and working with vintage clothing and finally unveiling all our hard work to you!

Here's the shpiel from our Etsy profile:

About Us
Stolen Peacock Vintage is run by Winona and Rachel, two childhood best friends who spent our formative years in rural Oregon exploring the countryside, watching Jet Li movies, and writing pirate-themed romance novels.

We grew up to become a fine artist living in LA (Rachel) and a fashion writer living in Portland (Winona). Our shared obsession with vintage clothing and accessories inspired us to start an online boutique.

About the Name
When we were in high school, Winona's family may have stolen their neighbor's peacock and named it Winston Churchill and kept it on the roof. But their neighbor was really mean and didn't appreciate the peacock at all. So it was OK.

Disclaimer from Winona's mother
"Did we really steal it, technically? Can't you name your shop 'Runaway Peacock' so we don't get in trouble?"

And here's a bit more about what makes us awesome (not to brag):

Our range of sizes.
If you're bigger than a size 6 or 8, it can be very tough to find vintage clothing (see evidence here). Stolen Peacock proudly caters to different shapes and sizes, meaning we will always try our best to have size large and extra large in stock, along with some great accessories that will fit everybody.

Our range of styles.
From flouncy 70s peasant dresses to bright blue 80s blazers to cat eye sunglasses to pretty silk scarves, our goal is to have a constantly changing and varied selection. We're just getting the shop up and running now, so check back often for updates!

Our product descriptions.
With J. Peterman as our role model, we try to make our product descriptions as enlightening, informative, and entertaining as possible. Still trying to work in a reference to the Burmese jungle, but we'll get there, oh yes, we'll get there.

Please visit us at www.stolenpeacock.etsy.com, heart your favorite items, and thank you, as always, for all your support. We'll also be doing a fabulous giveaway a bit later this week, so stay tuned!

*When I posted on Facebook that I had made my first Etsy sale, my friend Nelson said, "What's an Etsy?" and I said, "Etsy is code for cocaine," and he was like, "Oh. OK."

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week!

2010-02-28T21:36:00.000-08:00

Rhinestone Bee Bobby Pin, $14

Here's a story about the last time there was a bee in my hair:

I was 10, and my brothers, mom and I were driving down the highway in the family minivan. My brother Tona, who was sitting behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Nona, don't freak out, but a bee is making a nest in your hair."

So I opened the sliding side door and tried to jump out of the van.

Luckily I had neglected to unbuckle my seatbelt, which choked me back as one of my legs dangled out of the car. I screamed, "I'm gonna jump!" and Tona screamed, "I told you not to freak out!" and our younger brother Devin just screamed and my mom screamed loudest, "Don't jump! Close the door! What is going on?! STOP THE INSANITY."

She swerved into a nearby parking lot and told me to get out of the van. I dove to the pavement and began rolling around as if I were on fire.

My mom's mood, meanwhile, had shifted from angry hysteria to stone faced placidity. She calmly exited the car and walked into a nearby video store.

Eventually I got back into my seat and waited for my mom to come back. She was in the store for a very long time. My brothers and I wondered if maybe she had slipped out the back door and abandoned us. Surely we'd pushed her too far this time.

Finally she emerged, struggling to carry a gigantic piece of cardboard. When she opened the sliding door we saw it was an elephant-shaped promotional poster for Operation Dumbo Drop.

"I just...I just think we need this," she said, putting it in my lap. And then, without another word, we drove home.

Maybe a cute bee bobby pin in my hair would work out better.

A Love Letter, for Walgreens.

2010-02-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Walgreens,

My deep and passionate love for you has never been a secret. I adore your convenient selection of cosmetics, candy, hamburger helper, dog snuggies, and pharmaceuticals as much as the next girl. Way more than the next girl, actually. Once I got in a serious argument with another girl about who loved you more, and I told her that I visit you at least three times a week, and she was like, "Really? You go to Walgreens three times a week?" and I was like "At least," and she was like, "Maybe you should find other hobbies." So I totally won.

On one of my visits last week, I was on a quest to find Nic's Sticks, the much-hyped nail polish pen designed for people like me who lack hand-eye coordination and end up getting more nail polish on their face and palms than on their nails. I've been super excited to try them and I knew you wouldn't let me down, Walgreens.

I headed to the cosmetics section, usually staffed by a crotchety elderly man who says passive aggressive things like, "Yes, I can show you where the concealer is, but I'm not sure it's going to help" (It's charming, in its own way, trust me) and instead found a friendly woman named Beth Ann, eager to assist. I told her about my quest, and she went to look for the nail polish pens while I browsed the selection of ShamWows by the registers.

Beth Ann soon returned, shaking her head. "I can't find them," she said, "but I need to ask Glenda. Glenda would know. You're not leaving here without your nail polish pen, do you hear me, honey?"

"I hear you," I said back, secretly excited about the prospect of not being able to leave Walgreens.

A couple minutes later, out of the mist of the refrigerated energy drink section, Glenda emerged with glorious news: "Yes, we have your nail polish, but it's in the clearance section."

She led us over to a box of Nic's Sticks that had been marked down to about 3 bucks each. Beth Ann and Glenda and I huddled around the newly affordable loot, choosing cute colors and gossiping and giggling. This is why I come to Walgreens three times a week.

I bought three Nic's Sticks, plus some $1 eyeliner, a notebook, hand sanitizer, and a kit kat bar. This is why when I signed up for a program that would track my finances, it said, "You are spending all of your money at Walgreens," and I said, "You don't know me! You don't know my life!" and shut it off.

I really like the nail polish pens, but Walgreens, what's most important is that I really love you. Don't ever change. And please keep that mean old man out of the cosmetics section.

Love,
Winona

p.s. Exciting, non-Walgreens related announcement coming on Monday! Stay tuned!

Advanced Fashion Quiz

2010-02-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

One of the items pictured below is a $50 pair of chino shorts from J. Crew. The other is a pair of $2,015 cotton-canvas shorts from Paris fashion house Balmain. Can you tell the difference?

(Click on the pictures for the answer!)

In related news, I'm very honestly wondering: where exactly does one wear a $2000 pair of khaki shorts? I'd be a little hesitant to throw them on to go throw a football around in the park.

Ideas?