Our guest blogger this week is the fabulously funny Winona of one of our favorite fashion blogs, Daddy Likely. If you haven’t check out her corner of the blogosphere, you’re missing out! This girl is truly hilarious and we may or may not have some serious girl crushes on her. Read on to find out why.

Q: How do you explain your personal style?

A: I love clothes that are comfortable and classic with a retro vibe. But I also love neon-colored tanktops and thick-knit Peruvian knee socks and overalls (sometimes all at once). My daily style reflects my mood and my attitude, so it varies a lot from day to day. I love creating outfits that express my personality, and I’m also a huge fan of accessories (huge accessories, especially).

Q: Purse style?

A: As I mentioned before, the bigger the better. Sometimes I wish this wasn’t my purse style, because I’ve lost many important documents and family heirlooms to the deep abyss that is my giant handbag, but I think the sacrifice is worth it.

A: I love this question so much that I actually dedicated a good five pages of the book to it. The random aggregation of items in my purse includes half-eaten protein bars, a pedicure kit, and a Catholic prayer card (I’m not Catholic), but you can always count on finding a mini notebook, my wallet, every receipt I’ve amassed since 2006, and approximately 400 bobby pins. And never my cellphone, because I always forget it.

A: Take your lifestyle and daily needs into account. If you lug around a laptop, several library books, and your gym clothes to work everyday, you’re going to need a large, comfortable tote bag, while low maintenance gals might be better served by a small satchel. Keep in mind where you’re carrying it as well–will you be clutching your purse to your chest on a crowded subway, balancing it on your handlebars to bike to work, or just tossing it in the back of your car? And it may sound cheesy, but I’m a true believer in handbag intuition. When you slip the right bag onto your shoulder at the store or get a glimpse of it online, you’ll just know it’s the one for you.

A: I was so excited to have the opportunity to write a fashion book that was fun to read and accessible to every woman of every size and every budget. As a reader, I was bored and annoyed with most of the options in the style section at the bookstore–rather than inspiring me, these books mostly made me feel poor and bloated. Getting dressed every morning can be such a fun, creative, empowering start to the day, and I wanted to help remind people of that.

A: My goal was for this book to be informative to women just getting into fashion, entertaining to women who have always been into fashion, and inspiring to everyone in between. I actually dedicated the book “to every woman who’s ever had a full closet and nothing to wear,” because haven’t we all felt that way sometimes (or, like, everyday)?

A: Smart, funny fashion book for smart, funny fashionable women!

We are so excited to announce that we’ll be giving away FIVE copies of Winona’s amazing book, Closet Confidential. We’ll post contest deets later today!

Meet Charissa Cowart, media personality and editor of the fabulous blog, Fashion Trend Spotting. Charissa has worked as on-air Internet/Tech reporter for local FOX News and is currently a Social Media Specialist at eBillme and on-air host at StartupsLIVE.tv. She has a passion for fashion and specializes in revealing the latest fashion trends from around the world. What’s a trendspotter, you ask? I know just who to ask…

Q: What is ‘fashion trendspotting’?

A: It’s basically what the title states – spotting trends in today’s fashion industry

Q: Tell us a little about current handbag trends.

A: Handbag trends right now are all about the two extremes! Go big or go tiny. What’s IN right now are oversized bags that make you look like you’re heading to NYC for a week, a small suitcase if you will. On the other hand, very small clutches are so hot right now! So choose your weapon… err I mean handbag wisely! Bigger than life bags mean you can fit it all in, but it might not be fun to carry.

Q: What is your personal purse style?

A: Well, I have three necessary qualities in a purse. Anything large enough to carry an extra pair of shoes - “just in case!” Anything PINK! And I must, must have a bag that helps me with my lack of organization. Do you have anything that falls in all three categories Handbag Heaven? J

Q: What’s in your purse, always?

A: I always have my Merle Norman pressed powder, e.l.f. lip gloss and hand lotion.

Q: What advice would you give someone struggling with which handbag to choose?

A: Buy them both! Seriously. If you are struggling between two bags, and both purses are on sale or in your price range - buy them both! One will certainly wear down and then you will have a second on hand to step in the lead role.

On the other hand, if you are looking at two bags of the same color, take a minute, close your eyes and think about that outfit you were already planning to carry it with first. And decide which purse would look best with it.

And if that doesn’t work…  buy the least expensive one

Q: Tell us about your blog. What do you hope to accomplish with it?

A: The goal of my blog, Fashion Trend Spotting, is to help teach my viewers how to spot trends, not necessarily on the runway or in top named magazines, but rather in everyday people. In the end, I want to help people see that anyone can be fashionable. Wear what highlights your characteristics, not what highlights the characteristics of other people.

I have a passion for fashion and networking with others on a level that allows me to get to know them and understand their passions. I want Fashion Trend Spotting to be the home for that.

Q: Is there anything else you’re dying to share?

A: Yes… Please - chat with me (aka follow me) on Twitter! @CharissaCowart

Bonus! The lovely Miss Cowart is hosting a fantasticly fun Handbag Heaven giveaway on her blog. Don’t miss it!