Thursday, February 11, 2010

My Little Brother Bob and the Duct Tape Dress

The first thing you should know about my little brother Bob is that he is a con artist.

I meant that as a compliment--the kid is brilliant. As the youngest of four, he has always leveraged his place in the family to launch new schemes and money laundering operations. His petty crimes include stealing change from his siblings' rooms and having our dad exchange it for fresh bills at the bank; telling me that he could get me a "family discount" on the pepperoni sticks he was selling for a school band fundraiser if I paid in cash upfront; and of course setting up "Bob's Loan Service," a small business funded with plundered loot and offering interest rates starting at 100%.

When my other brothers and I would have parties in high school, when Bob was 7 or 8, he would figure out the choke point for guests entering the house and then set up a small table selling snacks and souvenirs for a significant markup. I'm telling you--the kid is brilliant.

The second thing you should know about my little brother Bob is that he loves duct tape.

He's almost 15 now, and sometimes when I visit him he'll hand me a fully functional cell phone and be like, "I made this out of duct tape," and I'll laugh because yeah right, who could make a phone out of duct tape? Plus he's a known con artist. But then IT'S TRUE.

So when I saw this $60 duct tape dress, I immediately thought of Bob:

And how he could easily make his own version, and sell it for $100, and convince us all to buy it. I'm telling you--the kid is brilliant.

19 comments:

Haley said...

I love your family.

Renée T. Habashy said...

What a fun, heartwarming post- it made me smile. Thanks!

http://reneetbouchard.blogspot.com

Vanessa said...

Your brother sounds AMAZING but I hate that dress so much.

Anonymous said...

I'd buy Bob's version over this one any day.

Katy Mary said...

haha you're brother sounds so funny. It's so great to have siblings!

Mabel and Zora said...

Your brother sounds super genius.

Brittney said...

hahahaahaahaha ohhhh Bob. :D

Also: I think I'd buy that dress from him.

WendyB said...

It's nice that you know a good con artist. All the con artists I know are evil!

Lisa said...

I think at some point you should stop calling him a con and start using the euphemistic expression "a shining epitome of the entrepreneurial spirit." Just a thought. ;-)

Kayla said...

Mahahaha, your family is great.

Me said...

i remember him recording things in stardate. hes an awesome kid :)

Rosie Unknown said...

Your brother sounds awesome!

Rhandi said...

First of all, I totally love your little brother Bob even without having actually met him.

Secondly, that particular duct tape dress is completely fugly.

And... third (thirdly? lol), I am better that your genius little bro could make a dress ENTIRELY out of duct tape (not just those random strips of tape placed on the garment) and that it would be WAY cuter than that dress.

Anonymous said...

Makes me think of Jane's post on Sea of Shoes about a duct tape Martin Margiela jacket...looked like a home ec project gone wrong

~Brittany

Anonymous said...

I love bob! Remember when he made me a member of his secret society...Damn I wish I still had my badge :( I love you!!!!!
J Castro

Whit said...

Your brother Bob would POWN this contest

http://www.duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom.aspx

iliketweet said...

I love these, seen similar ones in Topshop and Margiela, rather lovely!

Love your blog, do have a look at mine :)

iliketweet.blogspot

x

Lindsay said...

It's funny, right after I read this post I had to go to work and guess who came in? Your dad and your little brother! hah, I wanted to say something along the lines of.. So you're the brilliant child who loves duct tape.. But all I could come up with was- how may I help you?

Alecca Rox said...

sounds like he could sell ice to penguins! be good to him;)

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