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Easily inspired Fashion Fiction Issue Spring 2011/ issue 2 / volume 1
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Easily inspired Published by BridgeSpotters Publishing New York, NY 11225 Š 2010 Lesley Williams All rights reserved Printed and bound in New York, NY 4321 First Edition this zine was printed on 50% post-consumer waste paper No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher, except in the context of reviews. Every reasonable attempt has been make to identify owners of copyright. Errors or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions. The Creative Cookie zine/by Lesley Williams
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Easily inspired
fashionably grown in Brooklyn... SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THIS ZINE, in September, it seems as if I’ve been going nonstop. Countless hours have been happily spent getting better at my creative loves--photography, sewing, and writing. In the middle of all this growth, we launched a new site, Easilyinspired.net, had fab party to introduce it, and shaped this second issue of Easily inspired focused on fashion fiction. What is fashion fiction you ask? It’s fashion focused flash fiction in 650 words or less. We put out a call for submissions and were pleased (and a little surprised) when we received submissions from all over the globe! With a few entrusted fashion forward friends the entries were narrowed down to the top 10 pieces, published on the pages that follow. Congratulations to Grace Lo Porto the winner of our first annual contest! We loved her piece about a wandering pair of pants. This issue will also introduce, Ruby Harrison, the main character in a series of short stories that I started developing earlier this year. Ruby is a quirky fiber artist who is making her dreams a reality, and of course, fashion always jumps into the plot! In addition to Ruby, you’ll get to check out my interview with, Brett Sanders, an artful comic writer and humorist. In our chat, Brett explains his thoughts about fashion and he brings us into Yvonne, the receptionists’, fashion reality. It’s human nature to pack schedules, and if you are like me it’s a struggle to find a time to just relax. I’d like to recommend this issue of Easily inspired an excuse to do nothing, until it’s time to write your own story at the end! Be easily inspired,
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fashion Fiction Ruby’s Secret K-)*'+,'-)>3,,318+ THE
THIRD WEEK OF
APRIL
WAS unseason-
ably warm in Manhattan. Determined to be on time for her meeting, Ruby quickly showered, drank her last sips of coffee, and ran out the door in a nerdy yet stunning look. She wore a pink silk vintage blouse, a denim A-line skirt, and grey ankle boots. Her natural hair was pulled back into a bushy bun. She had completed every task on her morning to-do list except shave her underarms, and put on deodorant. By the time she realized her omissions, she had just been seated at one of the City’s trendy rooftop cafes, Paisley, with a perspective client from a showroom in Chelsea. Ruby immediately noticed Ian Malone’s white tone-on-tone alternating raised stripe dress shirt with French cuffs. Ruby commented on it early in the conversation, she really had a thing for the French. A Detroit native, Ruby moved to the Big Apple to pursue her dream of becoming a respected textile artist. After two years she could proudly boast that she was on her way. While looking at the menu and her OPI painted nails, she felt a light sheen of sweat collecting and unifying the back of her sleeveless blouse and the plastic chair that she sat in. The combination of the weather, earlier cups of joe, and the general anxiety of meeting with a new prospect, made her perspire more than usual. At this point there was nothing that she could do to solve her prickly issue except go with the flow while keeping her hands in her lap—it would be a shame to accidentally raise an arm exposing a hot hairy pit. When the perky male waiter returned, Ruby ordered blueberry lemonade with mint, cucumber gazpacho, and salad with mixed greens as her
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entree. She avoided anything that could make her any warmer. Her discomfort was on the low but with every minute that passed, the heat threatened to tell her secret. Be cool, cool down Ruby thought while discussing the details of what would hopefully be her next freelance gig. Ruby finished her second glass of lemonade and then pushed the empty salad plate to the left, she glanced down at her watch, 1:45pm, there were only 15 minutes remaining. Whew. After the check had been taken care of they exchanged pleasantries and prepared to part, Ian promised to follow up, by phone, with his decision by the end of the week. Ruby felt confident that this opportunity was in the bag. As she stood to shake Ian’s hand, the yellow plastic chair, she had been sitting in, decided that it wanted to come with her. She vigorously forced the separation of chair and silk tipping her soup bowl and splattering unfinished spoonfuls of green slime on Ian’s white shirt. Ruby dipped her napkin into a glass of iceless water from the table and she started blotting Ian to remove the stain. This caused it to morph. Ian tactfully refused Ruby’s help. “Thank you— you’ve done enough; you really know how to leave your mark, eh?” he said with a stingy smile. Not sure of what to do next, Ruby apologized again and thanked him for the meeting. As she darted to the elevator, she observed Ian requesting a glass of soda water, from the server, he needed to do “triage” on his shirt before his 2:30pm. On her subway ride Downtown, Ruby replayed the final three minutes of lunch with her prospective client. She closed her eyes and wished for a second chance to make a first impression.