Chapter 9 Chapter nine

It's raining in Paris.This July rain made the pedestrians on the street into a mess, some were running to find a place to shelter from the rain, and some were eagerly searching for the scarce taxis.There was a tall gray building on a corner of the Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré.This is a large auditorium.At this moment, everyone inside was in a panic.A dozen half-naked models were running around hysterically while ushers had just lined up seats and carpenters were banging and banging the last bits of carpentry.Everyone was gesticulating and shouting desperately.The noise in here is so loud that your head will explode.

In command of the stormy chaos was Ms. Kendall Stanford Lenoir.The fashion show will be held as scheduled in four hours, but everything here is messed up. Disaster: John Fairchild of W City is unexpectedly coming to Paris, but no place is arranged for him. Tragedy: The stereo failed. Disaster: One of the lead models is sick. Accident: Two makeup artists got into a fight backstage and got delayed. Misfortune: All the seams on the smoked skirt are ripped open. In other words, Kendall thought doggedly, everything was normal. ※※※ Here one might mistake Kendall Stanford Lenore himself for one of the models.She was a model for a while.She has an elegant demeanor, with golden hair tied in a bun and a pair of strapless pumps.The crook of her arms, the shade of nail polish, the way she smiles, and everything else speaks of her well-rested demeanor.If it weren't for the careful makeup, her appearance would be mediocre.But in order not to let anyone realize this, she took great pains, and I don't know how much effort was spent on her face.

On the rehearsal field, she does everything by herself. "Who turned on the lights on the catwalk—Ray Charles?" "The background on the stage is blue..." "The lining is exposed, fix it quickly!" "Models don't wear make-up and hair on the show floor. Ask Lulu to find them a dressing room!" Kendall's venue manager hurried up to her. "Kendall, thirty minutes is too long! Too long! Fashion shows don't usually last more than twenty-five minutes..." She stopped what she was doing and asked, "What do you suggest, Scotus?"

"We can cut out part of the design..." "That won't work. I can make the model go faster." Then someone called her again, and she turned away. "Kendall, we can't find Pia. Do you want Tammy to change into a dark gray jacket and trousers?" "No, let Dana wear this. Tammy wears a tunic and leggings." "What about the dark gray bodysuit?" "Let Monique wear it. Don't forget to put her in the gray stockings." Kendall looked at a Polaroid shot of a group of models in various gowns pinned to the billboard.The photos are arranged in strict order.She examined the pictures on the billboard with a practiced eye. "Let's make some adjustments. We'll show the beige cardigan first, then the one-piece, then the strapless silk leggings, the taffeta tux, then the workwear, but with the tops..."

Then two of her assistants came running over. "Kendall, we're arguing about seating here. Are you putting the journalists together, or breaking them up among the celebrities?" Another aide said: "Maybe we can put journalists and celebrities together." Kendall didn't seem to be listening.She hadn't closed her eyes for two days and two nights, and she had to be locked up so that no mistakes could be made. "Fix it yourself," she said. She looked around the venue, thinking about the upcoming fashion show.Celebrities from all over the world come here to applaud her works.All this I want to thank my father.He told me I would never be a climate...

※※※ She has always wanted to be a fashion designer.Even as a little girl she had a natural taste for styles of dress.Her doll wore the most fashionable coats in the city at the time.She always likes to show her mother her latest little creation.Her mother would always put her arms around her and say, "You're so smart, my little darling, and you'll be a famous fashion designer someday." Kendall is convinced of this. In school, she took courses in graphic art design, structural drawing, space concept and color matching. One of her teachers once suggested to her: "If you want to be a designer, the best way is to start as a model. Only in this way can you meet first-class design masters. As long as you have the heart, you will Learned a lot from them."

Once, she told her father about her dream.He looked at her and said, "Just you? Modeling! You're not kidding!" Kendall returned to Mount Rose after graduation.Father needs me to take care of the house, she thought.Her father had more than a dozen servants, but none of them could be responsible.Because Harry Stanford is often away from home for a long time, these servants have their own way and lawlessness.Kendall wanted to keep everything organized.She made plans for the various activities at home, and was busy for her father's party.She tried to make him feel comfortable and happy.She expected his approval, but instead, she got a scolding from her father.

"Who told you to hire that goddamn cook? Get him away..." "I don't like the plates you bought, where is your taste...?" "Who told you to redecorate my bedroom? Get the clutter out of here..." No matter what Kendall did, her father was not satisfied. His father was so unreasonable, which eventually caused her to leave home.There is always no warmth in this family.Except for discipline and beating and scolding, his father never questioned his children.One night she overheard her father saying to a visitor: "My daughter has the face of a horse. It will cost her a fortune to seduce some poor man."

It was too much, and she couldn't take it anymore.The next day, she left Boston for New York. ※※※ Alone in the hotel, Kendall thought to himself: Well, I'm in New York now.How can I become a fashion designer?How to break into the clothing industry?How can I get people to pay attention to me?She remembered her teacher's advice again.I'll be a model first.That's it. The next morning, Kendall rummaged through the phone book, copied down a bunch of modeling agencies, and started running from one to the other.I've got to tell them the truth, Kendall thought.I'm going to make it clear to them that I'm modeling temporarily and I'm going to be designing clothes soon.

She walked into the office of the first agency.A middle-aged woman sits behind a desk. "What's with you?" "Yes, I want to be a model." "So do I, dear. Come on, forget it." "what?" "You're too tall." Kendall gritted his teeth and said, "I want to see the person in charge here." "You're talking to her! I'm the boss here." The following five or six families also hit a wall for her. "Too short." "too skinny." "too fat." "Too old." "Too young."

"Not in good shape." A week passed, and Kendall was desperate.Now there is only one business left on her visit list. Promontory Models is Manhattan's premier modeling agency.No one at reception. Voices came from an office. "She's free next Monday, but you can only use her for one day. She's full of gigs for the next three weeks." Kendall walked to the door of the office and glanced inside. A well-dressed woman was on the phone. "Yes. I'll think about it." Roxanne Marinaker hung up the phone, raised her head, and said, "I'm sorry, we don't need your body type." Desperately, Kendall said: "I can be any shape you want. I can be taller, I can be shorter. I can look younger, I can be older. I can be thinner..." Roxanne took her hand and said, "Stop talking." "All I want is a chance. I really need..." Roxanne hesitated.There was a moving longing all over the little girl.She is indeed a beautiful figure, and she is not beautiful, but she may dress up skillfully... "Have you had any experience in this area before?" "Yes. I've been wearing clothes all my life." Roxanne grinned. "Okay then, let me see your masterpiece." Kendall looked at her blankly. "My masterpiece?" Roxanne sighed. "My silly girl, there's no self-respecting model who walks around without acting stills. This is your 'bible.' That's what your clients want to see." Roxanne sighed again. "I want you to take two snapshots of your facial expression, one smiling and one serious. Turn around." "Okay." Kendall started to turn around. "Slowly." Roxanne looked at her carefully. "Not bad. I'll also have a picture of you in your pajamas or bathrobe, but try to show your figure as much as possible." "I'll take a picture of each." She promised impatiently. Roxanne laughed at her eager expression. "Very good. You...you are different, but you have to take a group of photos." "Thank you." "Don't thank me so early. Modeling is not as easy as it looks. It's hard work." "I'm ready." "We'll see. I'll give you a chance. I'll recommend you to the 'Audition Ground.'" "what?" "The 'Audition Room' is where clients pick new models. There are models from various agencies. It's a bit like recruiting movie actors." "I can handle it." Thus began Kendall's career.She went to more than a dozen "trial venues" in a row before a designer became interested in her and asked her to try on his clothes.She was too nervous and almost ruined the opportunity because she talked too much. "I really like your designs and I think they look great on me. I mean, they look good on any woman. It's amazing! But I think they look great on me," she said. Nervous, almost stuttering when speaking. The designer nodded sympathetically. "Is this your first time looking for a job?" "Yes, sir." he laughed. "Okay. I'll try you out for a while. What did you say your name was?" "Kendall Stanford." She wondered if he might connect her with the Stanford family, and of course he had no reason to. ※※※ Roxanne is right, modeling is not easy.Kendall first had to get used to being rejected, getting used to "auditions" that didn't work out, getting used to weeks without work.Every time she finds a job, she has to get up at six o'clock in the morning to put on makeup, and then take pictures one after another, often ending after midnight. One night, after a day of photoshoots, she came back and looked in the mirror, complaining, "I can't do it tomorrow, look how swollen my eyes are!" A model said to her: "Apply a few slices of cucumber on the eyelids, or make tea with chamomile leaves. After cooling, pour the tea into the eyes, and it will be fine in fifteen minutes." The next morning, my eyes were no longer swollen. Kendall is especially envious of models who are constantly on task.She kept hearing Roxanne arranging their schedules... "I promised Scalzi I'd give him Michelle's deputy, call them and tell them we'd send her right away..." Kendall quickly learned not to judge a designer's clothes.She got to know some senior photographers in this circle, and she shot and synthesized a set of performance masterpieces——she finally had her own masterpieces.She began to carry a model bag, which contained all kinds of essentials - clothes, cosmetics, nail care kits and jewelry.She learned to tie her hair up to reveal more of her body, and to perm it with a curling iron. There are endless things to learn.She became the darling of photographers.One photographer took her aside and suggested: "Kendall, don't smile all the time when you're shooting consecutively. Save the smile until the end. That way, the corners of your mouth won't wrinkle." Kendall's fame is growing bigger.She didn't have the striking beauty of most models, but she had something more beautiful, and that was elegance. "She's on the level," one ad agency once said. That sentence really sums it up for her. She feels alone.Occasionally she goes out on a date too, but it's so boring.She worked non-stop, but she felt as far away from her goal as when she first came to New York.I've got to try to get in touch with some senior designers, Kendall thought. "I've filled the four weeks below you," Roxanne told her. "Everyone seems to like you." "Roxanne..." "What's the matter, Kendall?" "I don't want to do it anymore." Roxanne stared at her, unable to believe her ears. "What did you say?" "I want to be on the stage and do a fashion show." Being on the runway and doing a fashion show is what all models yearn for.This form of acting is the most exciting and the most lucrative. Roxanne was a little unsure. "It's almost impossible to get in there,..." "I want to give it a try." Roxanne eyed her. "Are you serious?" "yes." Roxanne nodded. "All right. If you mean it, the first thing you'll do is learn to walk the beam." "what?" Roxanne explained the gist to her. ※※※ That afternoon, Kendall bought a narrow, six-foot beam.She sanded it down and placed it on the floor.She tried several times and always fell off the top.The thing was tough, and Kendall learned the hard way.But I will definitely do it. Every morning, she got up early and practiced walking on the wooden beams with the protruding parts of her feet.The pelvis is forward, the toes feel under the foot, and the heel is low.Day after day, her balance improved dramatically. She walked up and down in front of a large long mirror to the beat of the music.She learned to walk with a book on her head.At first she practiced in shorts and sneakers, but she quickly settled into evening gowns and high heels. When Kendall felt she was done with practice, she returned to Roxanne. "I'm looking forward to it," said Roxanne. "Ungaro is looking for a model, I recommended you to him, he will give you a chance." Kendall burst into ecstasy.Ungaro is one of the preeminent designers in the clothing industry. A week later, Kendall arrived on the show floor, trying to look as comfortable as the other models. Ungaro handed her a women's suit, smiled and said to her, "Good luck!" "thanks." Kendall came out, acting like she'd been doing it her whole life, and even the other models admired her.The show was very successful.Since then, Kendall has become one of the mainstays of the catwalk team.She started working with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry: Yves Saint Laurent, Halsson, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, St. John... Ken Del was overwhelmed, she traveled all over the world.In Paris, a haute couture fashion show is held in March and April every year; in Milan, the peak season for performances is in March, April, May, and June; and in Tokyo, Japan, the peak season for performances is in August and October.It's an exciting, busy life, and she cherishes every minute of it. Kendall worked so hard and studied hard.As a model for those famous fashion designers, she is always thinking about what changes she would make if she were a designer.She learned how to design clothes to fit, and what kind of texture materials can show a sense of elegance.She has an understanding of clothing types, styles, and how to cut them.She also knows which parts of a woman need to be covered and which parts need to be exposed.At home, she often conceives design sketches, and her design ideas are like a spring.One day she selected a set of her designs for a big-name clothier named Al Manian, and he was immediately interested. "Who designed these?" "it's me." "Wonderful, really great." Two weeks later, Kendall took a job as an assistant at Donna Karan, where she learned to run a clothing business.At home she relentlessly designs.A year later, she held her first fashion show in her life, but it was a complete failure. The style designed is very general and no one is interested.She held it a second time, but no one came. I might not be the man for this job, she thought. One day you will be a famous fashion designer. Is there something I'm doing wrong?She was puzzled. She suddenly had an epiphany in the middle of the night. Lying in bed, Kendall thought to himself: I'm designing clothes for models.I should aim my designs at real women and real families.My clothing should be beautiful, comfortable, stylish and functional. It took Kendall almost a year to throw another fashion show, which was an instant success. ※※※ Kendall rarely returns to Rose Hill now.It was rare to go back once, and the father and daughter broke up unhappy.Her father was still the same.If anything, he's become more unbearable. "You haven't had a fool take your fancy yet, huh? Probably never will." ※※※ Kendall met Mark Lenoir at a charity ball.He works in the international department of a brokerage house in New York, responsible for foreign exchange business.He was five years younger than Kendall.He was a very attractive French man, tall and thin.He is gentle and considerate.Kendall quickly fell in love.He invited her to have dinner with him the next night, and that night Kendall slept with him.They have spent the night together every day since then. One night, Mark said, "Kendall, do you know I'm madly in love with you?" She said softly, "I've been seeking you all my life, Mark." "But there's a serious obstacle between us. You've had a great career. And I'm never going to make as much money as you. Maybe one day..." Kendall put a finger to his lips. "Shut up. You've given me far more than I could ever have dreamed of." ※※※ On Christmas Day, Kendall took Mark to Rose Hill to meet her father. "You're going to marry him?" Harry Stanford growled. "He's a nobody! He wants you because he thinks you're going to get a lot of money." If Kendall didn't need a reason to marry Mark, this is it.They were married the next day in Connecticut.The marriage of Kendall and Mark has brought her more joy than ever. "You can't let your father bully you like that," he told Kendall. "He has used money as a weapon all his life. We don't want his money." For that, Kendall loves him even more. Mark is the perfect husband - kind, caring, caring.I have everything now, Kendall thought happily.My past is dead.She succeeded despite her father's objections.In a few hours, the fashion world will be impressed by her talents. The rain outside has stopped.This is a good sign. ※※※ The show was an astonishing success.At the end of the performance, with music playing and camera flashes flashing around, Kendall stepped onto the stage, bowed deeply, and was greeted with applause.Kendall really hoped that Mark could come to Paris to share the joy of victory with her, but the brokerage house did not approve him as a fake. After the audience left one after another, Kendall returned to the office feeling very excited.At this time, her assistant said: "There is a letter from you, which was sent by someone." Kendall looked at the brown envelope that the assistant handed over, and suddenly felt a chill.She knew the contents of the letter without opening it.The letter said: No signed signature. Kendall stared at the letter, dazed.It's endless.This blackmail never ends. Another aide rushed into the office, saying: "Kendall! I'm really sad. I just heard terrible news." I can't take the terrible news anymore, Kendall thought. "Yes...what's the news?" "Luxembourg radio TELT broadcast a news. Your father . . . he died. Drowned." It took Kendall a while to catch on.Her first thought was: I wonder what else could make Dad prouder, my success, or am I a murderer?

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