Why I think every girl should buy this boring dress right now:

1. It’s 20% off for Memorial day

1. You can paint anything you want on it

2. You’d look breezy and cool with just a belt over it

4. It looks like something you would buy at Calypso and wear with Jack Rogers

5. It’s probably a precursor to the Erin Wasson fashion infusion to come (insert excitement here)

6. Seriously, it’s $37 - belt it, paint it, embroider on it if you can, whatever - this is the perfect fashion project canvas for those who can’t actually sew

—BRETT KANE

We wore a strapless, cranberry colored velvet dress to our 8th grade Christmas dance. We might have even worn it with our docs, and we definitely spent the night dancing to Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.

But we haven’t owned anything velvet since that winter of ‘97 and the sight of velvet dresses, jackets, or - god forbid - suits, makes us a bit nauseous.

The fabric looks stale, stiff and inappropriate on persons under the age of seventy-five. In fact, the one time we can remember not liking a Kate Moss ensemble was when it included a velvet coat. And remember when Jerry Seinfeld said, “I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable?” Yeah, that served as a repellent, too.

That said, we’ve seen the fabric popping up in many a holiday window, and in less than cheesy displays. A navy velvet version of Calypso’s classic wrap dress is in their window on our block and Theory makes a slim cut velvet blazer that could make a pair of jeans a bit more polished.

Do you rock velvet around the holidays? Or will you wait until you’re surrounded by grandkids to drape yourself in the lush fabric?