For December, 1997:

Q:I work as a secretary in a school office. Is it appropriate to wear a velvet dress to work? I have a short black velvet dress that is desgined in an informal style--it has a shirt collar and v-neck. I would like to wear it to work but am not sure if velvet is too dressy no matter what style.
Thanks to Sue Maness for this month's question!

A:Velvet isn't just for daytime wear anymore. The key to wearing it 9-5 is how you present it. Since your environment is casual, your black velvet jumper should be fine paired with flat shoes, tights and a mock or turtleneck sweater. You might want to save it for a day when there is a holiday party at the school.

In any event, wear it well. It's a contemporary and modern look that has many applications depending on how it is accessorized.