Cover Up?

Stanwood’s bikini barista coffee stand is not affected by Snohomish County’s new ordinance labeling scantily clad baristas as “adult entertainment.” PHOTOS BY JEREMIAH O According to a new Snohomish County ordinance, espresso stand baristas may wear revealing clothing such as pasties and thongs or even latex, and stands may display sexually suggestive signs.

They just have to be licensed as adult entertainment and operate in an adult entertainment zone.

Oh, and they must employ and serve only those 18 or older.

And their employees must also be licensed.

And they have to display “adults only” signs.

It gets more confusing from there.

The ordinance, unanimously passed Wednesday, applies only to unincorporated Snohomish County. Stands in Everett, for example, are not affected, although they are still bound by new laws prohibiting lewd conduct.

Taylor’s uniform doesn’t make her uncomfortable. “I’m a very open person,” she said. “It’s no different than going to the beach.” One other thing: Despite the hubbub and headlines about “bikini baristas,” the law has nothing to do with baristas in bikinis.

What the law does state is that baristas must cover their bottoms and the lower half of their breasts.

No pasties. No G-strings. No body paint.

Unless, again, they’re licensed.

The bottom line is: Stanwood’s Country Mudd, Inc. is good to go – it falls safely within the new sanctions.

Sheryl Thompson, coowner of the stand, said she understands the point council was trying to make and feels there’s a difference between her stands and the one the council was trying to regulate.

“I make it clear that we do not flash people and we don’t wear anything that doesn’t cover our areas,” Thompson said. “All we do is make coffee in our uniform.”

The uniform? A bikini – nothing more or less.

“Bikinis cover you,” Thompson said, “and you can buy them in any department store.”

She sees a clear distinction between this and the regulated attire, which can only be purchased in adult stores by people over 18 year of age.

“The girls have to show me their bikinis when they purchase them,” Thompson said. “I make sure they’re appropriate and fit properly.”

Taylor, a barista at Country Mudd, confirmed the girls’ bottoms and breasts are covered.

Is there a difference between her uniform and even more suggestive clothing?

“I think there is a difference,” she said. “You don’t see people in public wearing pasties and a thong, but you see people in the summer wearing bikinis all the time.”

“I’m a very open person,” she added, “and it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all. It’s no different than going to the beach and being glanced at.”

And, the “nothing more” part of the uniform, it turns out, is a bit flexible.

“We have heaters in the stands,” Thompson said, “but during the winter girls are allowed to wear jeans and boots if they want. Some girls wear leggings under their bikini bottoms.”

Regarding public outcry, Thompson said, “Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but you can be polite about it.”

Occasionally, she said, people drive up without realizing it’s a bikini stand. Some of them go elsewhere instead, and that’s fine.

“My girls are supposed to be polite,” she said.

And hopefully people are polite to them.

Because, for now at least, they’re here to stay.