A Memo to Retail: Please reset your calendars.

'Tis the season to spend all your time and energy shopping for other people. But even if you come from the kind of family that doesn't feel the need to produce a minimum of n squared gifts for n family members, you still may find yourself shopping. Why? Because you will have approximately 1 week after Christmas to buy any sweaters, jackets, turtlenecks or bottoms made out of anything besides cotton you may need before next July. J.Crew, I'm talking to you. Thanks for getting your "resort" catalog out early, because I will *definitely* be needing my white denim miniskirt any day now.