We knew it was only a matter of time before Cosby sweaters took the nation by storm -- or at least took parties thrown by white people by storm. So sayeth the fine scribes of Stuff White People Like: "White people needed to find a party that was completely without religious affiliations, but still connected enough to the idea of Christmas that they could serve eggnog and hot toddies. The answer: ugly sweater parties. These parties feature festive drinks, Christmas music by Sufjan Stevens, and most importantly, intentionally hideous sweaters. These ugly sweaters provide white people with an invisible shield that protects them from any criticism that might emerge if any Christianity accidentally slips into the evening."

I went to Vegas over the weekend. Here are a couple of the sights:

Donny and Marie are over the rainbow!

Their backs must hurt.

Are you fond of iPhones, longboards, Castro hats, Guitar Hero, and ironic belt buckles. If you are, then you're a douche, says this Web-based arbiter of cool.

Mr. Blackwell placed Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham at the top his annual "Worst-Dressed Women" list, released today.

No word yet on his "Worst-Dressed Journalists" list. But, we're expecting a strong showing.

In honor of Hempfest this weekend, check out these Farylrobin printed hemp heels from Market Street Shoes in Ballard. Bonus: They were $84, marked down from $140.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. 

Welcome to my first edition of You Write the Caption! There are no prizes except for bragging rights to your friends about just how damn funny you are, and it's on the World Wide Web to prove it!

Here we go:

You write the caption! Ooh! I'll go first:

"My So-Called Nip Slip"

C'mon, that's pure comedy, and you know it. Think you can do better? Give it a go in the comments section below. 

Direct from the Seattle office of Daily Candy- thanks for the tip- the news on naughty lingerie! Above you see designer Nona De Samim's Sans Jupons, my favorite piece from this collection inspired by 16th-century France, a time when (as Samim says) "wearing any undergarments was considered indecent due to the way they accentuate the anatomy."

So, the ladies wore practically nothing under their bustles. Hence Samim's barely-there pieces (see web site for the true skimpiness). I'd be shocked that the piece above cost £218.00, but paying an arm and a leg for a garment that barely conceals a pinkie is nothing new in the lingerie world. And with this one, there's actually quite a lot of fabric involved!

On to the Ouvert bloomers, priced £131.00:

Your bum better be in tip-top shape for this one. That's one hell of a peek-a-boo. In "A Note to Gentlemen" on the web site, they suggest you slip one of these phrases (dans l'anglais ou français) into the gift box if buying these for your lover:

"Indulge my desires and ease the pain of my eager heart."

"Luxuriate me with your sensual curves and aroma."

"I want to caress your fantasies...take the risk to blossom with me."

Aack! That kind of ruins the whole thing. These pieces really do speak for themselves. The gift can be old-school, but keep the sentiments modern, gentlemen.

Not only can he play the horn, but Seattle Jazz Hall of Famer Ronnie Pierce, center, has style. 

You can catch him every Wednesday night at the Whiskey Bar. 

So I’m riding in an elevator this afternoon in some downtown high-rise when the guy next to me turns and says, “Why aren’t you wearing shorts?”

I smile politely and reply, “Because I’m wearing linen pants.”

To this he responds, “But it’s EIGHTY degrees!”

“Yes,” I say, “I know. But linen is actually quite comfortable in this kind of weather. More so than shorts.”

To this he scrunches up his nose (yes the elevator was slow) and stares at me incredulously. (The guy’s wearing hiking shorts, a T-shirt and Tevas.) I add, “Plus, I don’t wear shorts to work.”

With that the ride and the conversation is over. But if I had longer, I would’ve told him that, first 80 degrees (actually 76 degrees according to my computer), while lovely in Seattle, isn’t hot. Second, while he’s lucky to live in one of the few cities where a pair of shorts and some sandals pass for work attire, this guy and all Gramicci-clad guys and gals should branch out. Try some of this wrinkly, light, ultra-wearable material. You don’t have to buy a button-up or fancy pants. Linen is one of life’s little pleasures in the summertime.

And it even comes in pullovers.

Ain't no party like a green card party, 'cause a green card party don't stop! But what the hell does one wear to such a soirée?

I went to a party Saturday night to celebrate a friend of a friend becoming a legal, permanent resident (he was formerly a citizen of our neighbor to the north, Canada).

Turns out that the theme of a green card party is, duh, green — wasabi almonds, mojitos, green T-shirts, tanks and polos. It looked like St. Patty's Day. One gal even painted her toenails green, which to me is not the best color for nails since it resembles a fungus.

As for Ken Tam's new green card? Not green. At least one party-goer didn't care about the color, though, saying, "It's totally hot. It's like the iPhone. I want one!"

Regardless, not everyone went the way of the green attire.

Sally Chavez went the patriotic route, at least with her shoes. I like the pigeon-toed pose even more than the shoes, though.

Joanne Ko skipped out on the green as well, and this frock is so fun — even more so because it was free. And what says America more than getting something for nothing? Ko scored the celebratory dress at Buffalo Exchange by trading in some of her old threads.

I must say, though, that the star of the party was the lower half of this guy's ensemble.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal's Saturday edition, sales of casual shoes are slow, and I'm thinking it's because of this fellow, Scottie Lum. I have never seen shoes like this on a man in Seattle. Am I just not getting out enough?

When asked about his outfit, Lum said, "White pants stand out. And you have to wear brown with green and white, of course!"

Of. Course.