Bachelorette party gag gift

THERE, IN THE DARK DEPTHS OF YOUR CLOSET IS ... The ugliest

"You can always wear it again."

Right.

Any woman who has ever donned a bridesmaid's dress knows what a joke that is.

If it's not the color that triggers the gag reflex, it might be those puffy sleeves or ruffle on the hem that does it.

Now's your chance to share your bridesmaid horrors with the world.

The Gazette is sponsoring an Ugly Bridesmaid's Dress contest for anyone who's been brave enough to save their frightening frock. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to The Citadel mall (you can use it on something you actually WILL wear), plus a four-pack of movie tickets and a bag of Gazette goodies.

Second prize includes a two-pack of movie tickets and Gazette goody bag.

Here are the rules:

Send in a current photo of you in your bridesmaid's dress, along with information on when you originally wore it and any comments you have about its horrifying appearance. (If it doesn't fit anymore, here's what you do: Put it on anyway, and don't bother trying to zip it up. We just want the front view. If it buttons in the front, simply hold it up in front of you and have the photographer snap away).

Include your name, a daytime phone number and an e-mail address, if you have one.

Mail the photo and entry information to Linda Duval, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs 80902, or e-mail them, with photo in JPEG format, to duval@gazette.com.

Deadline is April 12.

We'll select five finalists from the photos for a story to run in early May, and let readers decide the winner.

While you're at it, you can double up on your efforts and enter the DeKuyper Pucker Schnapps "Worst Bridesmaid's Dress" contest to win a trip for four to Puerto Rico and trip for two to attend the "World's Largest Bachelorette Party" in New York.

E-mail your photo in JPG format to pucker@bsmg.com or snail mail to DeKuyper Pucker Schnapps "Worst Bridesmaid's Dress" Contest, c/o Erin Woods, Weber Shandwick, 676 N. St. Clair, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611.

Include a 50-word-or-fewer description of your dress along with your name, address, age, phone number and e-mail. Deadline is April 22; contestants must be 21 or older.