Designer Drama (7 page)

As the black-tie guests flooded into the FIFI gala banquet hall, Tony took the microphone to welcome them. “Esteemed guests from around the world,” he began. “Welcome to the annual FIFI International Student Runway Invitational. The designers who are presenting here tonight are the best and brightest. They all have that certain je ne sais quoi, and their individual schools have chosen them as representatives.”

The crowd was dressed in tuxedos and shimmering evening gowns, and the entire room was decorated with French flags and towering flower arrangements. The judges sat at a long table at the end of the runway, and they were some of the biggest names in French fashion.

“Monsieur Louboutin”—Tony waved to him from the stage—“we are deeply honored.”

Mickey loved the look she'd made for herself: a cropped black tuxedo jacket splattered with paint and a matching tulle skirt. For her mom, she'd created a dress reminiscent of Leslie Caron in the movie
An American in Paris
: a sleeveless top striped with rainbow ribbons and a billowing orange chiffon skirt. JC had dressed up as well, in a blue velvet jacket with “tails.” Madonna was equally stylish in a rhinestone-studded collar and matching blue-velvet dog bag.

They all waited frantically backstage for the show to begin.

“There are so many people out there,” Mickey said, peeking out the curtain. “So many stylish people!”

“They look like they eat Americans for lunch,” JC remarked.

Madonna barked. “It's okay, Madonna,” JC assured her. “Chihuahuas are Mexican.”

Tony clinked his glass to get the audience's attention. “Silence,
s'il vous plait
,” he said, signaling them to settle down. “It's time to start the runway show!”

As techno music pulsed over the speakers, the first designers to present were a team of British students from the London School of Fashion. Their representation of Paris was based on its legendary singer, Édith Piaf. Each look was rose-colored, like her song “La Vie en Rose.”

“Stunning,” JC remarked. “The dye work on that gown is to die for.”

Mickey nodded. “They
are
really good.”

Next up was a pair of Japanese students from Mod Tokyo School of Art and Design.

“Whoa,” Jake said, whistling through his teeth. “They used vinyl to create skirts that look like French perfume bottles.”

Mickey agreed: this collection was even more innovative than the one before it.

“Next, please welcome our competitors from the Fashion Academy of Brooklyn…” Tony introduced them.

Mickey gulped and grabbed JC's hand. “OMG, that's us!”

She gave her first model a quick push onto the stage just as her mom was putting the finishing touches on the girl's lip gloss.

“She looks great, honey,” Mickey's mother assured her. “They all do.”

JC and Mickey watched anxiously for the crowd's reaction. The shredded Gauguin earned oohs and aahs, but the superhero cape and her Seurat dress got only lukewarm applause. Mickey was shocked: she loved the royal-blue column gown she and JC had created and the billowing red, white, and blue satin cape that appeared to “fly” as the model strutted down the runway.

“I don't think they understood it,” Mickey said. “Maybe the paintings were too out there—or the cape was too long? Maybe I should have done blue not green—or fewer dots on the dress?”

“Honey, you can't second-guess yourself,” her mom reminded her. “If you don't win this time, it's okay. We got to go to Paris, didn't we? Best trip ever!”

Tony's voice boomed over the speakers. “And now, we have yet another entry from the States, an independent team sponsored by House of Lee Couture…”

Mickey turned to Jake. “You gotta wow 'em.”

“Me?” Jake asked. “Why me?”

“Because you're from FAB, and we stick together.”

“Break a heel,” JC said, wishing him good luck. Jake looked terrified and lost without his twin sister.

“What's wrong?” Mickey asked him gently.

“I-I just don't know what to do without Jade,” he said. “I mean, she always handles the runway shows. I'm just in the background, sewing and styling.”

JC gave him a shove. “Then it's time to take your place in the spotlight,” he said. “You're an awesome designer, Jake. You don't have to hide in Jade's shadow.”

Jake thought about what JC was saying. He saw his three supermodels looking to him for instructions.

“Do we have our next student presentation?” Tony called over the loudspeaker.

“Okay, ladies.” Jake huddled his models together. “Shoulders back, heads high. This collection is about long, strong lines, so no slouching!”

The girls all obeyed and strutted out onto the runway looking fierce and fab. The last look was Jake's “split personality” Clark Kent and Superman suit. As the model did a spin at the end of the runway, there was thunderous applause.

“Do you hear that?” Mickey asked him. “They love it. They love you.”

Jake beamed. “They kinda do, don't they?”

“And there's not a sign of Jade in sight,” JC reminded him. “You did this on your own—and that last design was all yours.”

“Come on out here, Jake Lee,” Tony said over the microphone. “Take a bow for that incredible last look.
Très à la mode de l'avant
—very fashion forward!”

Jake blushed. “I'm proud to be a FAB student and represent my school,” he said, glancing at Mickey. “FAB folks stick together.”

• • •

Once all the students were done presenting, the judges deliberated for nearly an hour while the guests ate a gourmet French dinner.

“Pass the beef bourguignon,” JC said, helping himself to seconds at their assigned table.

“How can you eat?” Mickey said nervously. “I'm a wreck.”

“Oh, me too,” JC said, helping himself to a cream puff for dessert. “I always eat when I'm stressed.”

When the waiters had cleared all the courses, it was time for the awards to commence. Tony took to the stage, waving an envelope in his hand.

“Monsieurs and madames,” he said. “May I have your attention please? The judges have decided.”

There was a long list of medals: best needlework; most impressive embellishment; best use of unconventional materials. The Tokyo team and their perfume bottles took that prize. Nearly halfway through the awards, FAB had still won nothing.

Mr. Kaye drummed his fingers on the table. “Come on, come on…” he said through clenched teeth.

Tony cleared his throat. “And now, the award for most colorful design: Mickey Williams and JC Cumberland from Fashion Academy of Brooklyn!”

“That's us!” JC cheered, leaping out of his seat to go retrieve their prize.

Tony hung a gold medal around each of their necks and congratulated them.

“I think the judges made the right decision,” he told Mickey. “This category is
très
you.”

Mickey smiled and held the medal up in the air so both Mr. Kaye and her mom could see it.

They took their seats while a few more medals were handed out. An Italian school took home “most accomplished leather crafting” for a chocolate-brown suede bubble coat inspired by a chocolate soufflé, and a German group earned “best use of luxe fabric” for its gold lamé gown that looked like the Dôme des Invalides. Jake wasn't among the winners, and he was beginning to lose hope.

“It's okay, Jake,” Mickey said, patting him on the back. “No biggie.”

Tony cleared his throat: “Last but not least, we have
le prix ultime
—the ultimate prize. This is the top award of the competition, and it goes to the design the judges felt was the most innovative and avant-garde.” Jake peered out at the judges, but their faces were completely blank.
Oh well
, he thought,
Jade was right…she's the designer in the family, not me.

Tony held up a huge, gold trophy cup. “And the winner is…Jake Lee, Fashion Academy of Brooklyn!”

“Whoopie!” Mr. Kaye yelled, jumping out of his seat. “FAB wins! We win!”

Jake sat and stared, utterly speechless.

“What are you waiting for? Get up there! Go get that trophy!” JC said, shaking him.

Timidly, Jake made his way up to the stage, and Tony handed him the gold cup.

“Tell the audience, where did you find your inspiration for your design?” he asked, pointing the microphone in Jake's face.

“I-I…” Jake stuttered. “I guess sometimes I feel like Clark Kent, hiding in the shadows, when I want to be a fashion superhero.”

“You should stop hiding,” Tony said, shaking his hand. “You are very talented.”

Jake held tight to his trophy and took his seat at the table.

“Feels good, doesn't it?” Mickey asked him.

“Yeah,” Jake said. “It does. It feels great to get credit for a change.”

Mr. Kaye was beside himself. All the judges rushed up to shake his hand and congratulate him on his school's top placement in the invitational.

“
Bon travai
l
!
Good job!” Christian Louboutin said, patting him on the back.

Mr. Kaye blushed. “
Merci
,
merci
!
”

“I'm not surprised FAB won the top prize,” Tony told the judges. “Chester is a brilliant teacher. I saw for myself when I visited New York City recently. He fights hard for his students.”

Mr. Kaye shrugged. “Well, I-I try.”

“You do more than try,” Tony said. “You help these kids believe in themselves. You empower them.”

Mr. Kaye held his head high. “I do, don't I? Let me tell you my educational philosophy…”

“Great,” JC whispered to Mickey. “Now there'll be no talking to him.”

Mickey giggled. It was great to see Mr. Kaye so happy. Come to think of it, she'd
never
actually seen him laugh before. This was a first!

“I'm proud of you, Mickey Mouse,” her mom said, admiring Mickey's medal. “That's quite a prize you've got there.”

The best part, Mickey thought, was that she had proved she belonged on the Paris runway—and she knew she'd be back again one day.

“I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow,” she said. “The week flew by.”

JC looked at his watch. “There's still time to hit my favorite patisserie.”

Come to think of it, Mickey
was
starving. “Do you think they have macarons?” she asked.

“One Mickey macaron coming up!” JC said.

Meet Susanna Paliotta and Isabella Barrett, designers of Bound by the Crown Couture for kids!

Bound by the Crown Couture is a kids' couture fashion label for trendy four- to fourteen-year-olds. I went to their runway show during New York Fashion Week and was wowed by how sophisticated and chic their line is—and how well the mom-daughter duo work together! I love how the clothes feel cool and classic at the same time, from the tweed suits to the ornate “angel” gowns. The look was very grown-up but also age appropriate. So how do they do it? I had to ask! Check out boundbythecrown.com to see and shop some of their latest looks!

Carrie: My mom and I write our book series together. How do you two work together as a design team?

Susanna:
Bella is very involved in the fabric choices. She loves going to the outlets and seeing all the samples and has a very clear vision of what kids like. It helps to have that perspective when building a children line. There is no better way to do test market research than when Bella wears something and we get to see what type of reaction people give before putting it into full production.

Carrie: What's the hardest part of working together?

Susanna:
Separating the family aspect from business. Sometimes it's hard not to be Mom! But I respect Bella's opinion.

Carrie: How do you decide what looks will be “in” for the new season?

Susanna:
Trend forecasting is one of the hardest but most fun aspects of fashion design! The BBTC brand likes to stay with vintage styles while using modern fabrics, so even when we are trend forecasting, we are staying true to the brand's core values.

Carrie: How and why did you decide to create your own fashion line for kids?

Susanna:
After buying hundreds of “one and done” outfits for Bella—most of which were uncomfortable—she said to me we should make “comfortable couture.” I knew she was right; this is what kids want. I made a few samples based on styles I grew up wearing but let Bella choose the fabrics, and we got a huge positive response.

Carrie: Bella, you're a serious entrepreneur! What advice do you have for kids who want to start their own business?

Bella:
I have grown up in a family that all owned their own businesses—so I knew I wanted to own my own as well. My advice is do something you love! When you're young, you can try different hobbies, and the best part of being a kid is there are no boundaries on your ideas! Through the Young Entrepreneur Club, I have met so many kids who started businesses in their playrooms. Don't be afraid to dream big.

Carrie: How would you describe “fashion”?

Bella:
Fashion is a way to express yourself.

Susanna:
It's the best form of expression! What I love most about fashion is you can have the same outfit and put it on three different girls, and they will all wear it a little different.

Here I am with Susanna modeling one of her chic BBTC coats. Love!