Near Miss: NY & Co Velveteen Dress

I only still have this dress because no one else wanted it. But let’s start the story at the beginning.

I purchased it on New Year’s Eve, 2006. The mall was insane. At New York & Company, I tried a velveteen dress on over my clothes rather than wait in line for a dressing room. That may be why I didn’t notice how low the neckline dipped until I attempted to wear it for the first time. Like the wrap sweater I profiled in December, I didn’t get much use out of the dress until I learned to layer under or over it. (I have a no-cleavage-at-work rule.)


Lisalisa (once an avid reader and prolific commenter), upon viewing the last outfit, suggested that I shorten the dress. I agreed and removed over six inches from the hem.


The final three times I wore the dress, I received some negative comments. I try not to let criticism affect my sartorial tastes, but, this time, they poisoned me on the frock. I stopped wearing it. A few months later, I put it in my swap pile. And it sat. And sat. And sat. No one wanted my dress. No one liked my dress.

But every once in a while, I would sneak it back out and wear it to work.


So, I asked you guys what I should do. And 72% of you said I should keep it. And I’m so glad I listened!


The dress and I thank you for saving our relationship. It’s been a rocky few years, but I think we’ll stay together till the dress falls apart.