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

Posted in Nonfiction on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 59 stories

“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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“Hand Shoe Elegy ” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #145

Year 0 He dies during lockdown, on his way over to feed the cattle of a sick neighbor. The funeral was rushed and ill-considered, like a battlefield amputation. Two months later, when gatherings are greenlighted again, we decide to hold a memorial service. When we can’t find a decent photo of my notoriously camera-shy father, the event co-ordinator suggests we “highlight a personal item, something to focus on, maybe a favorite mug? His pipe?” Her hair is perfectly coiffed; her suit is immaculate. I become aware that I haven’t slept in two da...

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“Dreams on meadows” by Marina Č.

Submitted to Contest #145

It was sunny, the light wind was twisting the grasses on the meadows. Skinny little girl with ginger hair and the pale face covered by the spots was running through grass. Her skinny long fingers crossed the tops of the grass. She wore blue shorts, a washed white T-shirt with straps and she was completely barefoot. She did not smile, the expression of her face looked dull, without any feelings. Her blue eyes looked thoughtful and tired, she is only about eight years old, but the body seemed older in terms of the body’s structure and attitude...

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“That Old Thing” by Etya Krichmar

Submitted to Contest #145

That Old Thing I neatly folded and put away that old thing into a drawer in my closet a long time ago. The old thing I refer to is my favorite red with the white polka dots dress. The white dots give it a character and make it look cheerful. I smile each time I look at them. My dress is still trendy today because of its ageless, classical style despite its vintage. Ever since I was a child, fashion has consumed me. I stayed on top of the latest trends throughout my life and still follow them today. I used to obsess over the Fashion Police s...

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“The Haunted Hat of 205” by Thomas Auen

Submitted to Contest #145

(CW/TW: content of sensitive nature including HIV, the supernatural, and death mentioned)October 4, 2017It’s been nearly a year since I moved in. The hat’s gone. He hasn’t visited either. Three times the hat and he appeared, sometimes arriving separately and sometimes together. I feel as if I’ve lost something. Is it odd to consider losing that which may never have been here? I’ve been thinking of this more and more since their presumed departure.“They leave us,” he had told me, specifically referencing his hat. He felt the hat had left him,...

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“The dress” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #145

_"What is this mother? Whoever wore something like that? I don't think I've seen anything uglier in my life." -"What kind of a question is that?" Amalia answered her daughter indignantly. "I myself once wore this beautiful piece." Elisabeth looked at her mother in surprise and rolled her eyes. -"Let's keep it civil, shall we?" Amalia tried her best to sound as stern as possible. "You mend that tear in the muslin, and I'll tell you the wonderful story behind that dress." -"What?" Elisabeth gasped, "Why? Mother please, this will give me a migr...

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“The Little Dress with the Long Ruffled Sleeves” by Abbey Ryan

Submitted to Contest #145

Note: This story contains sensitive content relating to mental health and pregnancy loss. She sets a black box with a big ribbon on the dinner table. It’s the kind of box that fancy stores put expensive clothes in, but I’m engrossed enough in my phone that I don’t really look up. She wants me to look up. Probably wants me to guess how much she spent on the box’s contents, but I don't do it. She clears her throat and I keep chewing my dinner, concentrating on what’s happening on my phone screen. I place my final fork-full of food into m...

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“The vail of the entity” by Vos Gillespie

Submitted to Contest #145

I think someone or something is following me. For the past two days, I've seen something or someone dressed in black, with a matching vail. No one else seems to notice her, even when I point her out. It seems that I am the only one strangely lucky enough to feel and see her. Thankfully, she stays at a distance, never giving a close enough view. That lack of view doesn’t change how terrifying she is. Or the troubled feeling she leaves me with. Today, I was leaving my apartment when I had this feeling of being watched. I didn't look behind me,...

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“Peasant Style” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #145

Peasant Style Packing her clothes was the last thing she had to do before leaving. Vail had been her home for years but with their recent divorce and Martin working at the same lodge, it was time to leave. The large maroon bag was zipped and hauled onto the floor, ready to be rolled out into the tiny kitchen. The house they’d shared was only a rental, the pile of ski’s, poles, and pieces of clothing she couldn’t fit in her luggage was just stuff. Her job as a ski instructor was cliché for a Colorado girl, but she’d loved it. Growing up...

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“THE ONE MISSING STAR” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #145

THE ONE MISSING STAR “ Do you see how he got dressed, our very dear friend? Oh, I say, at least, he could spare us the sight of those disgusting hairs on his beautiful muscular legs…..All he had to do was wear an ankle-length skirt, if he didn’t want to shave” Marilda , she laughed heartily, even though she pretended to be disgusted by how he showed up at the masked ball, he, Teddy Boy, their friend Alice’s boyfriend. Kate remained silent , her eyes glued to the skirt Teddy Boy was wearing. S...

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“Triangular Nightmare” by Laura Huffman

Submitted to Contest #145

With July’s rising temperatures and high humidity Wilma sat in the kitchen nook with a bottle of Coke. Wearing nylons and her ankle-length nursing gown she was over-heated and dehydrated. Throughout the day the heat upstairs was unbearable. Every window was open in the mansion, but with no breeze, the oscillating fans in the residents’ rooms were only blowing hot air. She removed the stethoscope from around her neck and took off her white nursing ca...

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“Dumb and Restless” by Maureen Murphy

Submitted to Contest #145

Dumb and Toothless When your front tooth falls out in the middle of a fashion presentation, you might think that nothing worse could happen, and depending on your point of view, you may be right. Or wrong. I worked at a very stressful and physically constraining day job, looking through a microscope, sitting still for hours at a time. To have relief and variety, I joined a company which sold ladies’ clothes at home presentations. It was fun. I went out at night, met new, interesting people, took my clothes off, and came home with money...

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“The Magical Dress” by Ginger Scharpe

Submitted to Contest #145

The girl squealed with delight at the way the dress fit. It had a tight cream-colored bodice that hugged her curves perfectly. The floor length skirt flared out at the hips with sweeps of iridescent colors layered throughout the sheer material. It had an amazing shine when her hips moved in just the right way. The actual heart shaped sweetheart neckline dipped just enough, and the soft material came up to cover her youthful bosom perfectly. She held her breath as she turned to look at her back in the mirror. She squealed again when she didn’...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“Looking At One Dress Forever ” by Sheila Sarrett

“Mother Bother & Baby Booties” by D. Grimes

“1822, 1851, 1885” by William Nielsen

“Hand Shoe Elegy ” by VJ Hamilton

“Dreams on meadows” by Marina Č.

“That Old Thing” by Etya Krichmar

“The Haunted Hat of 205” by Thomas Auen

“The dress” by F.O. Morier

“The Little Dress with the Long Ruffled Sleeves” by Abbey Ryan

“The vail of the entity” by Vos Gillespie

“Peasant Style” by Maureen MacLennan

“THE ONE MISSING STAR” by Mara Masolini

“Triangular Nightmare” by Laura Huffman

“Dumb and Restless” by Maureen Murphy

“The Magical Dress” by Ginger Scharpe

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

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

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

Contest #145

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

165

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: