I love velvet.

Here’s how much I love it. When I was pregnant with my first child, the labor class teacher recommended bringing talisman-like things into the labor and delivery room with me. At a bazillion months pregnant and in the heat of Washington, DC, summer, I shlepped to a fabric store in the suburbs to buy a couple small swatches of velvet. I did bring them with me, and  stroking the soft, comforting velvet helped me get through contractions.

Of course, comfort isn’t the first thing we think of when we think about velvet. No, we think: luxury. Elegance. Royalty, even. And that’s the vibe of this fall’s trend of velvet, especially velvet in the entire spectrum of rich, royal reds. These velvets also conjure images of early Stevie Nicks, with a little patchwork bag and a cape thrown on. But the look is a little more streamlined, a little cleaner — 2010, not 1975.

If you’re looking to get a jump on Fall (and yes, stores are starting to receive Fall shipments already), put “red velvet” at the top of the list.

It’s very wearable, especially in small doses. Just remember that red is one of the most important colors to make sure you get in the right color for YOU. Women with warm complexions will want a coral/brick red; those with cool undertones will do best in burgundy and fuchsia shades.

Click here and here for a portfolio of clothes in red velvet for Fall.