STYLE: FASHION : The Velvet Touch

Slinky, sinuous velvet, the fabric of fantasy. This rich, luxurious cloth appears in many forms this season, from body-hugging stretch versions to amazingly intricate cut patterns created by a new acid process that literally dissolves specific sections of the material. Even crushed velvet, a fixture in attics and thrift shops, gets dusted off and given new life.

When it comes to dramatic dressing for a fall soiree, think Jean Harlow, a character from a Tamara Lempicka painting or the Last Empress.