Black Label [EN]: Chapter 149

Black Label 148

149. Just Watch the Results

The stage chosen for the Dior 2014 Haute Couture collection show was the ‘garden’ of a grand mansion in Granville, the coastal city where Dior’s birthplace was located.

Chairman Ardo used this mansion as a villa where he enjoyed short vacations every summer. The garden alone was a spacious area well over 100 pyeong [approximately 3,600 square feet, a Korean unit of area].

Although it was already midsummer, the mornings in Granville were rather cool, making one forget the season.

Whenever the chilly sea breeze blew in from the distant coast, the dewdrops on the tips of the grass trembled precariously, as if about to fall.

In the midst of the stillness, the heavy engine sound of a car began to be heard from the far end of the road.

Rounding the corner, a large Rolls-Royce sedan came into view.

The sedan smoothly stopped in front of the mansion’s iron gate, and soon after, Chairman Ardo, impeccably dressed, stepped out from the back seat.

He was wearing a slim-fit gray suit that meticulously showcased his physique.

A flamboyant cobalt blue tie that matched his bluish eyes and a similarly colored handkerchief made him look even more stylish.

“Hmm….”

Standing still and gazing in the direction where the show for this collection would be held, Chairman Ardo tightened his tie slightly and said quietly.

“Let’s go.”

Then, he immediately began to walk quickly towards the show venue.

The promenade in the mansion’s garden, where the show was to be held, was utterly deserted.

This was because there were still eight hours left until the show started.

However, in just twelve hours, this garden would be bustling with activity.

“How many people are expected to attend the collection?”

At Chairman Ardo’s question, his secretary, who was following closely behind, answered as if he had been waiting for it.

“Approximately two thousand people are expected.”

Chairman Ardo responded with a low voice, “I see,” and gave a faint, bitter smile.

Of the two thousand people who would visit the show today, at least more than half would be expecting the downfall of rookie designer Lee.

Every time articles were published reporting the constant turmoil within Dior House, criticisms based on these reports poured out in droves.

The level of criticism grew more intense with each passing day.

The initial caution had completely disappeared, and unpleasant words such as arrogance, conceit, and cockiness became common descriptors attached to Lee’s name.

Even critics who had initially stayed out of it, carefully observing, joined in the attacks.

They said that he would tarnish the name of Dior, or that this collection was a can’t-miss opportunity to witness the worst haute couture in Dior’s history….

It got to the point where Lee was advised to avoid browsing the internet as much as possible.

On the other hand, Lee’s reaction was nonchalant. He chuckled and told them about a Korean proverb that said, “Being cursed at makes you live longer.”

He even joked that he might already be on the path to immortality.

As Chairman Ardo recalled his conversation with Lee, he chuckled to himself, but then his secretary, who was following behind him, suddenly exclaimed, “Wow….”

Chairman Ardo glanced at his secretary’s face and slowly turned his head in the direction he was looking.

“Huh….”

The show venue for the 2014 Dior Haute Couture collection was breathtaking.

A show venue that gave off a dreamy feeling, surpassing mere beauty.

* * *

This fashion world is endlessly generous to the winners and endlessly cruel to the losers.

If you have a successful season, you are worshiped like a god, but if you face a single failure, you are relegated to a has-been who can never recover.

The reason why most designers disappear after experiencing a single failure is because they cannot handle the whiplash between success and failure.

“Tsk, they’re really making a fuss.”

Mark Jacobs said in a neurotic tone and spat on the floor, “Ptooey-”

Alexander King, who was walking beside him, shook his head once and said quietly.

“Mark, there are many eyes watching.”

“I know.”

“You need to be more careful with your words and actions.”

Mark Jacobs replied in a very sarcastic tone.

“I bet everything I’ve built up so far that more than half of those guys wrote articles praising Lee just six months ago, right?”

Alexander King gave a bitter smile.

The reason Mark Jacobs was so angry was because of the pointed questions he received in the photo zone.

Amidst the flashing lights, some reporters had asked quite aggressive questions.

This 2014 Dior Haute Couture collection was by far the biggest topic of conversation in recent months.

Countless critics seemed to be competing to see who could criticize more harshly, baring their sharp fangs.

Nevertheless, the show venue where the collection was to be held was so crowded that it was no exaggeration to say there was barely room to move.

After being lost in thought for a while, Alexander King began to walk towards the garden where the show would be held and carefully opened his mouth.

“By the way, there are so many things I can’t understand.”

Mark Jacobs frowned slightly and asked, “What is it?” Alexander King swept his long side hair behind his ear and began to continue speaking.

“Starting with the leaks inside Dior House that were revealed by the whistleblower, to the dozens of negative reviews and columns pouring out every day. Even the media is pretending to remain neutral, tearing apart Dior’s haute couture this time, right?”

“So?”

“That part is very suspicious. Other brands aside, Christian Dior has a powerful parent company called ‘LVMH Group,’ right? Chairman Ardo should be able to manipulate the desks of magazines and media companies at will….”

Just as Alexander King was about to continue speaking.

“That’s right.”

Mark Jacobs cut him off by answering briefly.

“Chairman Ardo could easily silence this kind of gossip with a snap of his fingers.”

“That’s why I don’t understand it even more. Public opinion has become too extreme. Even if you look at web communities, right? They treat people who support him as abnormal, but why has he been standing by and watching until it’s gotten this bad….”

After rubbing his nose once, Mark Jacobs muttered, “Well…,” and immediately added.

“He must have intentionally taken no action.”

“So, why? The amount that Christian Dior earns each year is definitely not small, so why has he maintained such an indifferent attitude?”

“Although I don’t know the reason, from what I’ve experienced, Chairman Ardo is a chillingly calculating person. What’s even more amazing is that his calculations are never wrong.”

After finishing speaking, Mark Jacobs licked his lower lip once and added quietly.

“There’s always a lot of money at stake in all his choices and decisions. And I have never seen him miss the stakes he’s betting on.”

His thoughts became even more complicated.

Alexander put his hands in his jeans pockets and muttered, “I really don’t know,” but then Mark Jacobs looked at Alexander and said in a calm tone.

“I heard some critics whispering behind my back. They were saying that Lee had repeatedly made unreasonable demands and decisions, so he fell out of favor with Chairman Ardo. That’s why the group isn’t giving him any help.”

“And?”

“That’s the most ridiculous nonsense. Chairman Ardo is the kind of person who would suppress his emotions for even 1 dollar, no, 1 cent. This Dior Haute Couture situation is really full of nonsense, but… what’s really nonsensical is something else, right?”

“Something else?”

“Lee’s slump.”

After answering briefly, Mark Jacobs gave a sly smile and continued to speak.

“Lee is experiencing a slump? That’s just ridiculous. From the beginning, it was a flawed calculation that could never be established. If the formula is wrong, there’s no way a correct answer can come out….”

After finishing speaking, he began to look at the show venue where the 2014 Dior Haute Couture collection would be held.

This is the place where the answers to all the questions will be revealed.

“The display for this collection is really fantastic.”

“It is.”

To put it simply, the entire garden was displayed in the form of a ‘maze garden.’

The green bushes were cut into neat squares to create walls, but the height was low, so the upper bodies of the models participating in the show were designed to be clearly visible.

Just as Mark Jacobs was about to push through the crowd and move towards his assigned seat,

Alexander carefully asked a question.

“Mark, are you still predicting Lee’s success in the midst of all this?”

“Of course.”

After answering briefly, Alexander added in a calm tone.

“The reaction changes depending on the result. Maybe the two of them created the current atmosphere themselves.”

“That really doesn’t seem to make sense….”

“Look back at everything Lee has done so far. Has anything made sense?”

* * *

On the terrace on the third floor of the mansion where the show would be held, Jaesung and Chairman Ardo were sitting facing each other in this place where the nearby coastline and the show venue could be seen at a glance.

The two were sitting facing each other across a table, smoking thick cigars.

“The moment of truth has finally arrived.”

“Yes, it has.”

“How do you feel?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

After answering quietly, Jaesung cut off the end of his cigar with the cigar cutter on the table and began to look down at the bottom of the railing.

Countless people were waiting for the 2014 Dior Haute Couture collection to begin, exchanging various conversations.

“Most of them will be hoping for your and Dior’s downfall.”

“In two hours, their attitude will change.”

After answering quietly, Jaesung got up from his seat and picked up his coat.

It was a neat suit coat made of the same material as the tailor that Chairman Ardo was wearing.

“I have a lot to prepare, so I’ll go down now.”

“I wish you good luck.”

“Thank you.”

After answering briefly, Jaesung immediately opened the door to the staircase connected to the inside of the mansion and entered.

Then, Tommy, a reporter from CNN STYLE who was waiting with a camera, quietly spoke.

“The moment has finally come to put an end to the journey.”

“It seems like it was a meaningful journey where I could feel a lot.”

“Could you give me an example?”

“First of all, I realized that I should never slip up.

Looking back, the past 8 weeks of preparation were definitely a difficult time.

During the past 8 weeks of preparation, I felt like I had received all the criticism I would receive in my life….

All sorts of magazines, webzines, and fashion communities were filled with criticisms that were sure of the failure of this Dior Haute Couture.

Even though the results had not yet come out, everyone was eager to point fingers and scold me just because it was expected to be a slump.

“You morons, just watch the results.”

After finishing speaking, Jaesung moved without hesitation and began to descend the stairs.

It was an imminent point, with less than an hour left until the start of the show.