New Dress

“Thoughts? Opinions?” Pulling back the curtain, Peter looks at his creation as Velveteen turns in the mirror, watching their reflection from this angle and that. Striking a pose, Velveteen raises their arms, revealing the draping fabric gathering under their bell sleeves. The silk feels smooth and cool against their skin. The cinched waist balloons out into a loose skirt, falling mid-thigh. A large silver belt sits at their waist just before the skirt flows out. 

The dress is a beautiful deep shade of bluebonnet, coloured throughout, completely opaque. A v-shaped backless cutout completes the look with lace-style edges. It’s just beautiful. Turning around, Velveteen admires the back. It contrasts well with their dark skin. Stunning.

Turning around again a few times, Velveteen catches the pleased smile on Peter’s face. Meeting his eyes, they nod.

“I like it.” 

“Just like?” Peter teases. Velveteen raises an eyebrow and Peter chuckles. “I can tell you like it. Anything to change?” 

“You’ve not used this fabric before, have you?” Velveteen asks, pinching it between their forefinger and thumb. Smoothening it out, they look up at Peter expectantly. Peter shakes his head. 

“It’s a new type of silk. Silk charmeuse. Why? Is it okay?”

“It’s okay, it’s just new.” Velveteen nods and drops the fabric. They twirl around, watching the skirt billow up. “I enjoy it, but…”

“You know you can be honest with me.” Peter steps into the changing room, armed with his measuring tape and tailor's chalk. “What’s the story, then?”

“I’d love it if it were a little shorter.”

Velveteen pulls up the dress by the waist, slowly dredging the skirt up their thighs. Adjusting it perhaps two or three inches shorter, they look up at Peter again. Chuckling again, Peter kneels down and marks the change in length with his tailor’s chalk. He makes a marking at the skirt, at the waist, and just above the belt. 

“I’ll have to modify the torso,” he says, more to himself than to Velveteen. He puts a steady hand on Velveteen and turns them slightly, making a mark at their back. 

“What made you go with solid instead of sheer?” Velveteen asks. 

“Experimenting,” Peter says, wrapping the measuring tape around their waist. He mutters some numbers to himself, and takes out his pin cushion, pinning a new measurement in place. The silk tightens. “Why? What do you think?”

“I do like sheer,” Velveteen says. “I think a sheer skirt might look good. A little revealing.”

“Opaque might leave a bit more to the imagination,” Peter replies with a grin.

Velveteen flicks their tail at him. Peter laughs. 

“I see what you mean, we’ll change it to sheer.” Straightening up, he reaches up and takes a necklace from one of the jewellery boxes in the changing room. Fixing it gently around Velveteen’s neck, he steps back and looks at them carefully. 

Turning their gaze to the mirror, Velveteen takes a look. A thin silver chain with a pendant. It’s delicate and dainty. Peter is muttering to himself, circling around Velveteen. When he gets into creative mode, Velveteen knows not to say anything until he’s finished. He grabs a pair of heeled boots, handing them to Velveteen. Putting them on, they strike another pose, showing off the complete look.

“Yes, I see it now,” Peter says, stepping back. “I see your vision. You have great ideas! Pop it off for me, then, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Not that I don’t like it,” Velveteen says, just before he turns to leave. 

“Oh, I know.” Peter laughs again, a twinkle in his eye. “I’ll save it for something else.”

“It’s beautiful how it is.”

“I trust my model’s vision.” Gathering his supplies, Peter smiles at them before he steps out of the changing room, drawing the curtain back. 

Gazing at their reflection once more, Velveteen twirls around again, watching the skirt billow out. It’s beautiful right now, but Peter will make it even more stunning. Of course he will. Velveteen trusts him to do it so. They take off the belt first and step out of their heeled boots. Carefully removing the dress so as not to brush off the tailor’s chalk or to prick them with the pins, they step out gracefully and hang the beautiful dress back up onto a plush hanger. They affix the belt onto the dress and unclasp the necklace. They stare hard at the dress, visualising Peter making the modifications. What sort of beauty will he create out of their vision? Velveteen smiles a little as they dress themselves, looking at the silk garment. They can’t wait to see it.