Why is there so much bad taste in the world? More importantly, why does it all seem to parade past me on cheap all-synthetic heels? The delightful Style Spy and I were out at Chez Nous –a lovely little jewel of a French bistro– the other night to celebrate her anniversaire. She was in Fendi and Miu Miu. I was in a bespoke black dress with the glammiest vintage Balenciaga chandelier earrings in the world (or at least my jewelry box which to my mind is more or less the same thing) and the peep-toed version of these, which are on sale at Zappos for infuriatingly less than I paid for them a few months ago:

(srsly, you will love these; they’re easy to walk in and the heel is the most beautiful burnished lacquered wood, your feets will smile.)

After our dinner we walked to a theoretically posh hotel bar for a little after-dinner cocktail action.

Oh honey, there was so much heartache happening in this bar. It was one giant festival of No. You know how in Unzipped, Polly Mellon warns Isaac Mizrahi that “too short looks long”? Yeah, well sometimes too short looks too short.

I blame the banded/bubbled mini dress.

How? How do people think this is a good idea?! Because it’s really, really not. Remember that unfortunate gold lamé toreador outfit I had with the bugle-beaded capris? It’s THAT LEVEL OF BAD IDEA.

Because even though what you SEE are two relatively-cute, relatively plus-sized models, what you will BECOME the second you put one of these horrific bastards on your delicate person is THIS:

and I don’t give one hot-buttered hoot what Ministry says; not every day is Halloween.

Can I just tell you how cute this dress is on? This dress is SO cute on, I can barely stand it. Okay also technically I can barely stand because I was foolish enough to wear the same Delman Mary Jane heels two days in a row and spent much of last night (and a not-insignificant part of the early morning) sampling my friend Aaron’s artisanal infused vodkas and letting a dear photog friend take pictures of my feet.

What, that’s not weird is it?

Anyway, not only is this little charmeuse number just perfect for brunchy-lunchy fun, its balloon sleeves and very subtle empire waist (they have it pinned on the model, I promise you) makes it flattering on pears AND our oft-neglected apples.

It’s available in three colors but I’m wearing the “Deep Ocean” which is a deep London blue, a bit darker and more intense than the photo.

The best part? Get this little lovely for as low as FIFTEEN DOLLARS (sizes 26 – 32 are a bit more) when you use coupon code RD12917 and get 50% off your most expensive item!

I love this dress. Love love lovety love. I ordered the navy and white  several weeks ago when it was almost $80 –still a steal– and when it arrived yesterday –after a few tense moments which involved me giving my potentially thieving neighbors the unqualified stink eye since the tracking said it was delivered on Monday– I spent a good part of the evening twirling around, inappropriately fondling the tissue-weight silk (don’t worry, it’s lined and much cuter than the picture) and cursing the heavens that I don’t own any pale tangerine shortie gloves.

It’s on super-sale, only $29.99 at Silhouettes Outlet. Be sure to click the Silhouettes ad on the right side of this page to get an extra coupon code.