The Allure of Velvet

I think it’s probably safe to say that a t-girl loves clothes.  I have a fascination with certain styles and fabrics.  I love a really cute peplum dress, I love leather, I love pleated skirts…oh, I could go on.

I think we have a certain emotional connection with many of the items that hang in our wardrobe.  I can pick out a pair of stilettos and think of a half dozen events that I wore them to.  I can remember when and where I found a certain bodycon dress that hangs in my closet.  I can recall how I felt when I tried on that flared skirt that I love so much.

The point is that, well, I love clothes.  I think some of this adoration comes from growing up and seeing a whole world of beautiful dresses, lingerie, and shoes that boys weren’t allowed to wear.  This helped fuel my curiosity and longing.

Not only was I fascinated with the clothes themselves, but there was a whole world of fabrics that were off-limits to me as a boy.  I never had patent-leather shoes, I didn’t have anything made of corduroy, and I certainly didn’t have silk underwear.

Of course, these days my wardrobe now includes Mary Janes, corduroy skirts, and if I am being honest, my lingerie drawer has panties in just about every fabric and texture you could possibly dream of.

One fabric that I was always mesmerized with was velvet.  Dark and seductive, it was a fabric that begged to be touched.  A girl in a velvet dress seemed mysterious, classy, and fashionable.  What’s more alluring than a girl like that?  I wanted to be a girl like that.  Thanks to Glamour Boutique‘s Black Crushed Velvet Fit and Flare Dress, I can finally be that girl.

My first thought when I slipped this on is how happy the dress made me feel that the sleeves were long enough.  It can be frustrating to try to find a long sleeve dress that fits, but this is perfect.  The shoulders in the dress are wide enough for it to fit comfortably and not compromise the length of the sleeves.

And the flare!

The dress has a seam under the bust which provides a very flattering fit but also creates a flirty flare for the skirt.  It’s not something I see in a lot of dresses and I appreciate how it downplays my longer torso.

I love when I put on a dress and I immediately think of an event I can wear it too.  This dress begs to be worn at a holiday party and December seems too far away.

I paired it with patent leather stilettos and nude stockings, but I think perhaps black stockings would work just as well.

As we grew up there were so many things that were denied to us, clothes we weren’t allowed to wear.  A dress like this evokes memories of those moments when we longed to wear something beautiful.  We have a second chance to finally have the wardrobe that we always wanted and I am so happy that this beautiful dress hangs in my closet.

Love, Hannah

Thank you to Glamour Boutique for providing this dress for this review.

Makeup by Corrie Dubay

Photography by Shannonlee McNeely