Black Label [EN]: Chapter 150

150. The Time When Prejudice Breaks Down

“It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.”

At Geraldine Saglio’s words, the editor of Paris Vogue, the other editors sitting around nodded in agreement.

The show venue for this Dior 2014 Haute Couture collection was displayed as a ‘maze’.

In the middle of a spacious garden, lush bushes were trimmed into neat squares, standing like walls.

The walls were an ambiguous height, where only the tips of the models’ heads could be seen until they turned around the winding corners and appeared on the runway stage where the maze ended.

In addition, the horizon of the Granville coast could be seen in the distance.

The place was filled with a dreamy atmosphere, and it definitely made people feel sentimental.

Soon, a middle-aged director with a bulging belly adjusted his glasses and replied.

“The display itself is attractive, but, well? This Haute Couture has been particularly noisy…….”

As soon as he finished speaking, the directors sitting nearby began to chime in with their opinions.

“It is true that the display and performance account for a significant portion, but the most important thing is the quality of the design.”

“I agree. No matter how splendidly the show venue is decorated, if the clothes on display are not good, it will be impossible to avoid harsh reviews. Judging from the articles and columns reported in advance, Dior’s this season is probably…….”

“The director’s capabilities were insufficient to be in charge of Dior’s historic Haute Couture. Chairman Ardo [likely referring to Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, Dior’s parent company] was too hasty. No matter how great a person is, they are bound to make mistakes at least once in their lives, and for Chairman Ardo, that mistake is the selection of this Dior director.”

Geraldine, who had been silently listening to the directors’ heated debate, unknowingly sighed, “Hoo-.”

Everyone was subtly hinting at their certainty of the failure of this Dior Haute Couture, which Lee had taken command of.

‘Lee…….’

Will Lee really face her first defeat in this Haute Couture?

She felt sorry for Lee, but she was also predicting the failure of this season.

Even if she guessed based on the signs that appeared during the season preparation period, and considering the characteristics of the Haute Couture field, she had no choice but to predict failure.

That’s because, unlike other fields, Haute Couture requires a high degree of ‘cooperation’.

It’s a difficult task even when it proceeds in a friendly atmosphere, but what if the parts were constantly making squeaking noises throughout the preparation period?

In the end, there was only one thing she could do for Lee.

Even when articles and columns dealing with the noise coming from inside Dior House were reported every day, she did not report a column on this topic and maintained strict neutrality.

The flow of public opinion was so firm that she could not report a column that defended Lee.

There was no need to share the beating.

But at least she didn’t criticize it. That was all the favor she could do.

Geraldine Saglio turned her head and began to look at the horizon in the distance.

She could feel the bluish seawater gently rippling whenever the wind blew.

* * *

Jaeseung and Ashlyn were standing face to face in front of the 3rd-floor hallway of the mansion where the models’ waiting room was located.

During the model audition, Jaeseung gave Ashlyn the lowest score of ‘0’.

The audition was conducted in a format where the average was calculated after excluding the lowest and highest scores among the judges’ scores, so it was like giving up scoring altogether.

Nevertheless, Ashlyn was confidently selected as a model for this Haute Couture.

Moreover, she was even the model for ‘Outfit 17’, which could be said to be the main design.

Jaeseung tilted his head slightly and asked Ashlyn with a puzzled look.

“Ashlyn, what’s wrong?”

It was less than 30 minutes before the start of the show.

If you are a model participating in the runway walk, you should have completed all preparations and entered the stand-by state.

In the meantime, she called him out, so he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Take it.”

Ashlyn, who had been holding a cute rag doll tightly in her hand, handed it over.

Jaeseung tilted his head slightly and immediately asked back.

“What is this?”

“Worry doll.”

“Huh……?”

Ashlyn smiled brightly and added.

“It’s simple. This rag doll will take care of all the worries Lee has to do in the future.”

“Did you make it yourself?”

Ashlyn mumbled, “Just, well…….” and raised the corners of her lips slightly and said.

“From time to time, whenever I have time.”

Jaeseung hugged her lightly and replied.

“You must have made time.”

Jaeseung knew very well that a model preparing for a runway walk would never have free time.

That’s why, even more so, he couldn’t help but feel more and more affectionate towards Ashlyn.

“I’ll go now.”

“Do well.”

“Okay.”

Ashlyn replied briefly, smiled, and slowly began to move.

Jaeseung, who had been watching Ashlyn’s back for a while, clenched the hand holding the rag doll—no, the worry doll—even tighter.

* * *

From the Yamaha speakers installed throughout the mansion garden, the host’s voice echoed.

-Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to make an announcement. We will start the 2014 Dior Haute Couture show soon. We would like to ask you to take your assigned seats. I will make the announcement again. Soon…….

The audience sitting in their assigned seats adjusted their posture.

As the start of the show approached, the commotion that had been flowing from various parts of the venue became even more intense.

How long has it been? The volume of the classical music flowing from the speakers gradually increased.

At the same time, the guests who were seated also began to adjust their posture one by one.

It was because everyone noticed that the show was starting.

Soon, the host standing on the red carpet laid out under the runway stage glanced at the cue card and immediately opened his mouth.

-First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the guests who have visited the show. Before we begin, there is one thing I would like to mention. Unlike other collections, this 2014 Dior Haute Couture has simplified the process. We will skip the intro video viewing and introduction of the brand’s history and proceed directly to the model walking.

As soon as the host’s words ended, sarcastic remarks began to flow from various places.

For example, “It’s better to get hit early,” or “That’s a wise decision. If a show with nothing to see is prolonged, the intensity of the criticism will only increase”……

Some critics and editors were so eager to write scathing reviews that they were already loosening their fingers.

At that time, the host raised his palm once as if to dissuade them and slowly continued to speak.

-Then, before we start the model walking, there will be a greeting from ‘Lee’, who was in charge of directing this season’s Dior Haute Couture.

As soon as those words ended, there was another commotion in the venue.

This was because, originally, the designer’s greeting was supposed to follow after the model walking and the finale stage had ended.

Some critics who were sitting with their arms crossed and arrogant expressions became even more excited and began to make various slanders.

“That’s a very new form of progress. I’ve watched hundreds of collections, but this is the first time it’s been done this way.”

“Haha, well? I was afraid of being booed during the finale greeting. I used a trick.”

Before long, Lee, dressed in a neat tailor-made suit, and Kangjun, the sub-designer, appeared at the end of the runway stage.

But, why? Unlike other shows that had been held under the name ‘Lee’, only weak applause was echoing.

Clap clap clap clap…….

On the other hand, Jaeseung’s expression was relaxed.

Jaeseung chuckled and brought the hand microphone he had just received from the host to his mouth.

-Nice to meet you. I am Creative Director ‘Lee’, who directed this Dior Haute Couture. First of all, I would like to bow my head and thank the guests who have taken their precious time.

Jaeseung bowed once, looked around the audience slowly, and then continued to speak.

-As you all know, the process of preparing this Haute Couture was not smooth. It was a really unfortunate thing. There was constant disagreement within Dior House, and articles questioning my qualifications poured into all kinds of magazines and fashion communities. It was infuriating.

Soon, some of the audience frowned. The overly aggressive remarks felt unpleasant.

On the other hand, Jaeseung still had a relaxed expression.

Jaeseung rubbed the bridge of his nose once and continued to speak in a calm tone.

-Among the proverbs in my home country, Korea, there is one like this: “The ground hardens after the rain.” Does anyone know what it means?

Perhaps because the atmosphere in the venue had already turned cold, everyone just sat still with dark expressions.

Jaeseung nodded a few times and then continued to speak.

-To put it simply, it means that “after experiencing some kind of storm, things become more solid.” I, the Dior brand board, and the members of Dior House have succeeded in building a true partnership after continuous conflict, like the proverb that the ground hardens after the rain. I dare to say that the Haute Couture designs that will be unveiled in 1 minute from now will have the most solid beauty among the clothes I have ever designed.

Perhaps because of Jaeseung’s overly confident attitude, some critics and editors began to mutter explicit criticisms. Some were even openly cursing.

Jaeseung smiled mockingly at them, rubbed his palms together, and continued to speak.

-More than half of the critics and editors here will probably regret their hasty judgments tonight.

Jaeseung said, “Then, I hope you enjoy the show,” and immediately disappeared again.

Boos erupted from all over the audience.

Some people couldn’t control their anger, which had soared due to Jaeseung’s arrogant attitude, and began to write critical columns with their laptops open on their laps.

Meanwhile, the volume of the classical music that had been playing in the background gradually began to increase.

It was the moment when the curtain rose on the 2014 Dior Haute Couture collection, which had been full of ups and downs.