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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#145: It's Called Fashion, Look it Up

I never remember the Met Gala’s existence until social media is suddenly flooded with otherworldly outfits. The corsets, beads, and historical dresses of the Met Gala might feel a little insignificant given the state of the world right now, but it’s nonetheless a good opportunity for some fashion escapism.

So, in honor of the world’s biggest costume party, let’s think about clothes, identities, façades, and self-expression. Where does your mind go?

This week's prompts

Write a story where a particular piece of clothing appears three times.

Nonfiction – 59 stories

Write about a character who wakes up in someone else’s clothes — or utterly weird apparel they don’t recognize as their own.

Science Fiction – 38 stories

Set your story at a global fashion event — or a carnival ball.

High School – 20 stories

Think of an item of clothing from your childhood, and write a story inspired by that.

Nonfiction – 28 stories

Write about a character who decides to give themselves, or someone else, a fashion makeover.

Fluff – 20 stories

Stories

“Mr. Pratt's Jabberwocky” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #145

“This is one giant clanging bell of a hangover,” muttered a sweaty and extremely groggy Anthony Pratt to himself as he awoke in an unfamiliar, sparsely furnished darkened bedroom. In the hot partially lit surroundings, his eyes lazily attempted to identify a few inanimate objects slowly coming into focus. The room reeked of stale cigar smoke, alcohol, and cheap sex, prompting him to assume that during the previous evening, he had somehow ended up in the boudoir of a Columbian bordello’s Madame. “Well, this is something new,” he stammered, “...

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“Blue Suede” by Paul Wilhite

Submitted to Contest #145

I was invisible and I liked it that way. Our high school loomed and brooded - old like a three-story mountain on a hill. A kid like me could stay pretty small and unnoticed here and that was my plan. I was a freshman and freshmen learned how to 'fade.' I didn't linger in those high school hallways. Most freshmen would agree that’s not a good idea. All kinds of drama and intrigues could happen in a high school hallway and also in the boys' room so most of us freshmen moved fast.My brother David was a senior and I would look for him in the hal...

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“Dazed and Dazzled by Dior” by Anne Perry

Submitted to Contest #145

Dazed and dazzled by the Dior collection of haute couture at the Dallas Museum of Art, Dorian experienced a liminal moment of decided, delirious spiritual bliss. In this state, he could hardly remember his own name or why he had come again (his sixteenth visit to the exhibit in 19 days—oh, why, why were they closed on Mondays?) Bumping into a young woman who stood with a sketchbook in front of a dazzling gingko-leaf printed draped masterpiece, his drawing diary disengaged from his arms, and a dozen sheaves of watercolor paper descend...

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“To Hold You With These Scarlet Hands” by Gem Cassia

Submitted to Contest #145

When I come to him, he is scattered amidst a garden of crushed glass and wilted metal. His head is twisted to one side, mezmerized by the sanguine floret blooming beneath his cheek. He must have anticipated my arrival; his eyes drift upwards as I approach, completely devoid of surprise. Thorny edges of broken things perforate my knees as I kneel amongst the carnage. I have never seen him before, but he considers me with a certain yearning, like he has been anticipating me for a long time. It’s a shame this is no place to exchange ple...

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“An Unvoiced Biography ” by Latha Prakash

Submitted to Contest #145

She hurled me into the truck. I thought that it was time for me to assume another duty but the decaying and putrid odour was an eye-opener. I looked around and saw that I was surrounded by rotten vegetables, discarded meat, diapers, plastic and whatnot. Reality struck me like a lightning and my misconception was gone with the wind. I was in a trash truck and was soon going to rot in a dump. One look at my stained and disfigured self and anyone would concur that the dump was the right place for me. But I wasn't always like this. I was born...

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“Pretty pink panties.” by Marie Cunningham Davidson

Submitted to Contest #145

*warning for crude language and anatomical body parts*I’m alone in my king-sized bed, trying to drift off to sleep, but the argument buzzes around my brain. I’m not a narcissist, I’m not a male chauvinist pig, nor am I selfish. Why on earth would Sarah think these things of me. She wants to know how I’d like to be treated the same way. Well, I think I treat her like a princess.I mean… I take her to the pub every Friday night… well… at least when it’s not “guys night out”…Who does she thinks buys her flowers from the supermarket? Who gives he...

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“The Human Project.” by Evie Scobey

Submitted to Contest #145

I remember just sitting there, painting my nails atop my desk when she walked into the classroom. “she” had brown hair with ratty curls tangled together, baggy black ripped jeans, an ACDC t-shirt, and a black baseball cap that she was wearing backward! She looked like someone who belonged at a skate park by the beach, not the nicest private school in malibu! Besides, where was her uniform? I decided right then and there that I was gonna make her one of us. By us, I meant us. The “It clique” If you will. I don’t quite know what I was thinking...

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“The stripper” by Mindy Brooks Overturf

Submitted to Contest #145

I struggled to open my eyes. The light in the room was blinking red then blue. It had a rhythm on off, on off. It hurt my head. Make it stop. Noone was there to hear me. I sensed I was alone but where? Gathering my courage I opened one eye then the other. The lights continued to blink they were coming from outside sitting up I cringed my head felt heavy and I longed to close my eyes again but I could smell danger. I had to figure this out. I realized I was on a dirty mattress but where I could not say. Getting up on my knees I peered out of ...

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“Sins of the Father (and Mother)” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #145

Sins of the Father (and Mother)It is a well established fact of life that parents will occasionally, usually unintentionally, embarrass their children. This is often accomplished, in most cases by the dad, simply by choice of attire. Kids do not want to be seen in close proximity to a parent who likely secured their latest colorful outfit at the clearance sale rack at the “Nerd Department” of Kohl’s.Such momentary discomforts suffered by a child are to be expected and over time can be forgiven. My tale of woe is not the result of unintention...

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“Octopus Game” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #145

In the control room Jason laughed out loud when he saw the first ten customers walk into Stage One.“This is dope. We did it!”“It’s going to be a fun day,” Phil replied.“And we got green uniforms this year instead of the red ones, more low key for lunch outside.”“Yeah, yeah,” Phil said, sounding impatient to get things moving. Phil was Amaze’s Chief Experience Designer, why he took things a bit too seriously. He picked up the microphone, “Good morning Amaze Loyalty Program Customers. We welcome you to the first day of the Amaze loyalty s...

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“The Christmas Hat” by Marcus Newton-Howes

Submitted to Contest #145

It really looks like it’s gonna be one of those weeks. Okay, it’s true. I’d soiled myself. But gimme a break. First off, I’m four years old. Second, Father thought it would be a good idea to give me a sandwich on the train, and it was only thirty minutes since lunch. Easy mate. I don’t need to eat every other minute. I’m not 6 months anymore. Third, I was already in a fragile mood after that gust of wind almost toppled me as we stepped down onto the pavement from the steps leading down from the st...

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“The Black Glove” by SEAN MILLER

Submitted to Contest #145

Boris stared intensely at his lit cigarette, watching smoke trail off its tip. He was supposed to have quit those damn cigs for good, but this last month had hit him like a truck. He needed something to take the edge off. A month ago he lit his first cig in two years after he received the notice. He had fallen behind on payments for his shop before, but this was different. He was way in over his head. Boris told himself it was only temporary, that he’d find a way to get out of debt once his store brought in customers again. But the neigh...

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“The Tin Man's Clothes” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #145

Bryon wiped the sleep out of his eyes and looked around the room that he had no idea how he got there. He yawned and rubbed his hands together. Before he could gather his thoughts someone came into the room he didn’t recognize. A tall thin man with wavy black hair accented with gray and horn-rimmed glasses was standing in front of him. Byron dangled his legs over the floor as he sat up on the bed. His eyes met the strange man’s eyes and before he could say a word the man spoke. “How are you feeling?” The man asked. Bryon paused and scoot...

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“Super Guy” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #145

It was 1975, and my six-year-old self had just finished watching a rerun of the original Superman series, starring George Reeves in the starring role. I recall how I was fascinated at this man that could run faster than a locomotive and fly to the rescue of people that were in danger. I watched in amazement as bullets bounced off him like they were made of rubber. I decided at that moment that I wanted to be jus...

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“The Cloak” by Kenneth Allan

Submitted to Contest #145

The cloak My father had loved the cloak. His grandfather had passed it to him and my father passed it to me and now I no longer have it. The cloak was a beautiful garment of velvet lined with wool, which made it warm, with a hood which could cover the entire face. It could wrap around your body with ease. It was given to my grandfather by a young woman whom he rescued from some wolves. They had injured her, severely biting her arms and thighs. My grandfather fought off the wolves and tended to her injuries. She lived in the fores...

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$250

Prize money

165

Contest entries

96

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 13, 2022 EST

Won by Avery Mossop 🏆

Title: The Overalls

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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