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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

“The Christening Gown” by Sally Ginnever

Submitted to Contest #145

Warning: this story contains implied reference to sexual abuse. The Christening gown. 1889 Marguerite stared at the box. Should she open it? Doing so would only lead to more heartache. Yet she knew she had to do so. She pulled at the ribbons which had been so lovingly tied in a bow by her mother the last time it was closed. She eased the lid off with trembling fingers. There it was. Not as white as it had been when her grandfather had worn it, not as soft as it had been when her father had been clothed in it, but just as beautiful as ...

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“Peter Leaning Forward” by Richard Leslie Brock

Submitted to Contest #145

Peter Leaning Forward Part I Peter Petrovich leans forward, arms straight out from elbows pulled tightly into his ribs, forearms leading to small wrists, and blood red hands that grip pink rubber grips, while his pasty white legs pump, and his head bobs with every rise and fall of his knees over the pedals. The chain groans along its inexorable path over the teeth of the sprocket and gears as Peter cranks himself and his bicycle up the Mesabi Trail like a breakaway racer on the Tour de France. He wears an electric blue racing shirt adver...

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“Caught Pink-Handed” by Melanie H

Submitted to Contest #145

As Vicky towel-dried her hair in the swimming pool changing room, she stole a few surreptitious glances at her neighbour Sally. Suddenly, she felt horribly self-conscious in her high-waisted white pants and shapeless triangle bra, which didn’t even match; when had she stopped caring? Vicky was wearing underwear, but Sally – Sally was wearing lingerie. The hot-pink, fine-mesh thong lay snug against Sally’s tanned skin, the stringy part at the back disappearing between her pert, peachy buttocks. As Vicky rummaged in her locker for her clothes,...

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“Flying Feet” by Ellison Edmond Everett

Submitted to Contest #145

I was flying that day.The kindergarten teacher had taken us outside to the meadow behind the school. It was flush with bright green, young, freshly cut grass. The sky was a perfect, calming blue with round cottony clouds sitting above us — still and regal. Sunlight bathed the field, and birds of all types sang their melismata. There were peals of laughter coming from us five-year-olds, as everything in our worlds made us either extremely happy or extremely sad. Being outside on a beautiful day together was on the happy side. She h...

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“Looking At One Dress Forever ” by Sheila Sarrett

Submitted to Contest #145

There have been many stories and books telling brides-to-be about their efforts in finding them a perfect wedding gown. The future bride looks through many bridal magazines, visit many different bridal shops and tries to find a seamstress who could design their special dress. However, my research shows there are few written stories about the mother-in-law’s gown. I will be the first to tell you my “dress” story as to the places my dress went to and where it is now 20 years later. When my son became engaged the happy couple picked a...

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“Mother Bother & Baby Booties” by D. Grimes

Submitted to Contest #145

[content warning: death] Sarah sat in a powder blue wingchair that matched the color of the walls, bouncing the one-month-old Noah on her knee, looking into his scrunched red face. The lamp on the nightstand spilled soft light onto the block-color carpet, and illuminated the white cloth clouds swaying above the crib. She gently fought Noah’s squirming legs and pulled the knitted booties from his feet, revealing pink splotches on his wriggling toes. She tugged the booties off and tossed them onto the floor. A wave of warmth pushed behind her ...

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“1822, 1851, 1885” by William Nielsen

Submitted to Contest #145

Sensitive content: mild reference to violence, trauma.Good stone streets, good stone buildings. Not far off from the proper French cities home across the ocean. The wind whistled down the Saint Lawrence, carrying the sickly-sweet city scent along with it. The late summer sun shone bright, providing a comfortable afternoon heat. Shouts and clamor from the port echoed behind Denis, the ship that carried him from his old life now docked and still.He took in the sights, legs adjusting to solid ground again. He prayed as he walked, giving thanks ...

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“I'm Not Wearing That!” by Ann Martin

Submitted to Contest #145

I’m Not Wearing That! Ann Martin There were a couple of things about Francesca Fudgewick that everybody needed to know. One: she never answered to anything but Frankie. Two: she was very fussy about what she wore. For somebody only eleven years old, Frankie had an amazing sense of style. Everything she wore was not so much pre-loved as completely had-it. Charity shop throw-outs, ragbag rejects, total tat, or not interested. Frankie’s jeans were gone at the knees and threadbare in the behind. Cat hairs, dog slobbe...

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“Curse of more” by Scott Skinner

Submitted to Contest #145

One.I’m glad you asked. It was Ashton Kutcher in the movie Spread. They were black combat boots, loosely laced. He wore them with cuffed jeans, a striped shirt, thin black suspenders, and a green flight jacket. The washed denim jeans had the perfect amount of colorful paint drops to blur the line between an actual artist’s clothes and high fashion clothing. There was a glossy black Mercedes G Wagon. He stepped out of it, and my life changed. I studied him. I believed that dressing like Ashton Kutcher in this movie would solve my problems. I ...

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“The Vicar's Banquet” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #145

Roger groaned as he woke up in a barn after a long day of what his paystub referred to as ‘groundskeeping.’ He blinked and saw a raven nearby, simply watching him. As soon as he stretched, the bird cawed and flew off through the large opening where the barn doors used to be and into the morning sky. His head had been laid on a rough bale of hay so he had to rub his neck to - in a bit of futility - soothe some of his new neck pain.Feeling an alien bit of soft cloth, he could tell something was different: his shirt and overalls had been replac...

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“Denny's Closet” by Jame Michaels

Submitted to Contest #145

Denny’s Closet Chapter 1 By Jame Michaels She came right over, when I entered the office, and shook my hand. “Are you Dave?”, she asked with a nice smile. “Margie told us last Friday, the home office had hired a new person for the opening. “Yes, I’m Dave. And you are?” “I’m Denise, but everyone calls me Denny. I’ll be your sidekick for the first week or two to get you settled in and train you on Jeepers.” Two weeks? Only two weeks, I thought to myself. I could see myself spending a lot more than two weeks with her. “What is Jeepers...

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“The Mind Meld” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #145

It was the deep humming sound of an electric motor, which aroused me from my sleep. Strange, I thought. What is a motor doing in my bedroom and why would it be running? But when Chuck opened his eyes, it wasn’t his cell where he found himself. Instead of a pillow encasing his head, he found himself dressed in a hospital gown, strapped down held motionless, and his head was adorned with what appeared to be a helmet with countless wires extruding from it.Slowly, like the sun rising in the east, his mind cleared. “Hey, John,” Chuck shouted. “Ge...

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“Catch & Release” by Tianna Glass-Tripp

Submitted to Contest #145

**Content Warning** This story contains sexual content and swearing. My face is coated in what has to be the brightest sunshine I’ve ever felt. I open my eyes and look around a beautiful room. The first word that comes to mind is “plush”. I’m absolutely drowning in about seventeen down pillows and a fluffy white comforter. I look up at a gray, tufted headboard. The windows are only dressed with pure white sheers, making the room seem even brighter. I’ve woken up in my fair share of women’s beds over the years and I’ve got to admit, this is...

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“Masquerade” by Cindy Calder

Submitted to Contest #145

His eyes reflected his anticipation as he lingered from the shadows of the veranda, silently awaiting her arrival, their blueness deepening to midnight black.Adrianna stepped onto the lengthy veranda. It was an unseasonably warm evening in Venice this February, and she hoped to catch the breeze coming off the water. Even though she had not yet danced, her face behind the mask she wore was finely misted with perspiration. She could feel small rivulets of the same running down between her breasts beneath the heavy eighteenth century costume th...

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“Something to Somebody” by Sawyer Fox

Submitted to Contest #145

Anna hadn’t slept in nearly three days. If the swollen bags under her eyes weren’t enough of an indication, her snappy attitude was sure to clue anybody in. Her assistant, Miles would probably be the one getting the worst of it; at least he was used to her sleepless irritability. She sat in her bedroom at the vanity in the corner, waiting for Elisha, her makeup artist, to arrive. She stared deeply into her own swollen, bloodshot eyes until they lost focus. Then she would snap out of it and start it all over again. Had she dreamt the past twe...

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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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