The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Oh, and this other thing: What. the. hell. is with this year’s selection of holiday dresses? The New York Times ran a piece this morning, alleging that the year’s holiday dresses are better tailored than last year’s and, again, that the "baby-doll dress is dead." But everyone I go, I am confronted by ads of ugly, sack-like frocks cut from the decidedly un-friendly to shapelessness fabrics of satin and silk. Every time I pick up the November 22 issue of the New Yorker (cue eye-rolling, please) I am confronted by the back cover Banana Republic ad in which a woman wears a rather tent-like silk halter dress. (This here’s the one.) Of course, none of it much applies in Minnesota, where we’d have to be crazy to venture out-of-doors with exposed shoulders this time of year.

Related to this: I had been a big, big fan of the latest Go International line by Erin Fetherston, what with all its adorable tiered dresses and Peter Pan collars. But that was before I spotted two of the silk ones on the racks at Salvation Army last night. These were wrinkled to beat hell. And I doubt I could prevent similar such messes—what with the madcap lifestyle. However, I wouldn't mind owning this chiffon bunny dress. It's delightful.