Black Label [EN]: Chapter 185

185. For You (2)

The third act, the grand finale of Janelle’s F/W [Fall/Winter] season collection, had begun.

Meanwhile, online fashion communities were buzzing with excitement, practically ablaze with discussion.

-Has anyone seen Phil Adore’s SNS [Social Networking Service] feed? What on earth is Janelle up to this season?

-I know, right? Did they perhaps receive a huge payout from the Janelle Group? Phil Adore has never written such a glowing review before.

-Oh, that’s a plausible theory, isn’t it?

Posts related to Janelle’s F/W season collection, which wasn’t even fully unveiled yet, were being updated constantly, practically by the second.

This frenzy was largely due to the influence of critic Phil Adore’s recent post.

Hundreds of thousands of people were seeing his SNS updates in real time.

Moreover, magazines and mass media outlets were monitoring his personal SNS and page around the clock, quickly turning his posts into news articles.

It was no exaggeration to say that his nonchalantly written lines held the “Money Code,” influencing the flow of capital in the fashion world.

-By the way, will this Janelle F/W season collection be released on DVD?

-Don’t you have anything else to worry about? There’s no way the Janelle Group would pass up a profitable venture, right? Maybe the full video will be leaked on Google in a few hours?

Posts about Janelle were flooding the internet.

Phil Adore, the catalyst for all this, sat in the banquet hall with a furrowed brow, seemingly displeased.

“Tsk, this.”

Phil Adore muttered and turned off his smartphone, which was buzzing incessantly with notifications from his SNS followers.

He refocused on the runway and sighed. “Hoo-” He felt that even a few seconds of distraction were too precious to waste.

Phil Adore wasn’t the only one captivated by the collection.

All the VIPs in the audience were perched on the edges of their seats, eyes glued to the runway stage.

“The third act is a reinterpretation of the ‘Signature Design’ left by Karl Lagerfeld himself….”

Similar to the second act, this segment showcased reinterpretations of founder Coco Janelle’s masterpieces in chronological order.

Starting with designs from the late 1970s, when Karl Lagerfeld became Janelle’s creative director, the show featured his iconic pieces, still highly regarded despite the years.

The focus wasn’t on replicating the ‘Originality’ of the initial designs.

Otherwise, they risked being labeled as ‘self-replicating’ or ‘replay designers.’

The designs being presented now felt like they had undergone modifications and improvements, addressing any previous shortcomings.

Critics tasked with reviewing the collection began exchanging opinions.

“What were Lagerfeld and Lee trying to say…?”

They huddled together, debating various interpretations.

One suggested that this season was an attempt to refine Janelle’s already established history, making it even more perfect.

Another believed it was meant to evoke nostalgia for a bygone era, whether recent or distant.

A third critic, sitting nearby, argued that it emphasized the fleeting nature of trends and the enduring greatness of the classics.

These were fundamental questions with potentially valid, yet also potentially flawed, answers.

‘Phil Adore’, having already decided against reviewing this season, remained silent, ignoring the hopeful glances from younger critics seeking his approval.

‘It’s really subtle.’

He felt a thrill. While he couldn’t articulate the message, he knew that the combined genius of the two designers was stimulating his senses.

He occasionally glanced at the statue of Karl Lagerfeld, gleaming in the light.

At those moments, a strange feeling washed over him, causing goosebumps and prompting him to consciously breathe.

The runway show continued smoothly, and the third act, which began with the designs of the late 1970s, had progressed to the 2000s.

As the show neared its end, the critics’ debates intensified.

With little time remaining, they desperately sought a definitive answer.

Suddenly, one critic, mid-sentence, stopped and pointed to the runway. “Wait a minute….”

A black model in a glossy leather rider jacket walked with a confident gait.

Click. Click.

The critics fell silent, their attention drawn to the T-shirt she wore.

It featured a single line of text:

-There is no right answer.

It was a direct jab at the critics. Below the phrase, the iconic Janelle logo was prominently displayed.

The model reached the end of the runway, executed a flawless turn, and began her return. The next model appeared.

This time, an Asian male model in a minimalist blouson jacket strode confidently forward.

He also wore a cotton T-shirt with a phrase printed on it:

-A movie we watched last night shakes the world’s trends.

It was a clear display of Karl Lagerfeld’s ‘*Narcissism*’, yet no one felt offended. It was simply an undeniable truth.

Next, a slender white model in a camouflage-patterned long coat appeared.

Her T-shirt read:

-The public calls our past times ‘classic’.

And then.

The ‘last model’ of the collection emerged.

A famous model, Ashlyn, whose career had skyrocketed in recent years, making her highly sought after by premium brands.

She walked with a natural gait, her makeup bold and striking.

Click, click.

Despite wearing towering heels, she moved with unwavering confidence.

She wore a long coat, almost a trench coat, but elevated by the unique color and fabric.

The coat began with a light pink collar, gradually transitioning to a red hem using the ‘*gradation*’ technique [a gradual shift in color or shade].

She also wore dark black sunglasses with a large Janelle logo on the frames.

Reaching the end of the runway, she placed her hand on her waist and slightly lifted her coat.

-All, for you.

The phrase on her cotton T-shirt was clearly visible.

She scanned the audience, nodded as if satisfied, and turned around.

The lights began to ‘fade-out’, signaling the end of the show. Yet, no one applauded.

The audience remained motionless, staring blankly into the darkness.

And then.

Clap clap clap clap-

Faint applause began on one side of the audience, gradually growing louder.

It was the contagion of praise.

And it spread rapidly, like a flame igniting dry paper.

From side to side, the applause grew.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap-!

Clap clap clap clap clap-!

The hall was now filled with thunderous applause.

Jaesung stood with Chairman Bertheimer on the second-floor balcony, looking down.

The gradation long coat worn by Ashlyn was Karl’s final design.

The last sketch he made before losing his sight and, ultimately, his life. Jaesung had completed the unfinished design himself.

“Lee, thank you for your hard work.”

Jaesung nodded in response to Chairman Bertheimer’s words, feeling the chairman’s hand on his shoulder. Was his reaction too subdued for such a successful outcome?

Chairman Bertheimer smiled awkwardly, sensing Jaesung’s lack of enthusiasm.

Jaesung’s reaction was simple: he didn’t feel he deserved the thanks.

The praise that should have been directed to someone beyond reach felt like it was being returned to him, causing a pang in his heart.

Jaesung smiled and winked at Chairman Bertheimer, signaling their return to the waiting room to bask in the celebratory atmosphere.

The long and arduous show, filled with both triumphs and setbacks, was over.

The end of the show marked the beginning of a new challenge. It was time to walk the precarious tightrope again, betting everything.

It was time to engage in a struggle for survival. The time had come to face the guillotine of the new season.

Aren’t you afraid?

Not at all.

Just like you have been, I am also…….