Page 12 of Bad Influence
Missoni.
Nothing was coming up.
Perhaps sensing my panic, Mandy came over and placed a hand gently on my back.
‘No problem,’ she purred. ‘It can wait.’
I sat back and placed the phone back in my bag, relieved.
‘Sure. Well, if you’d like me to follow up, just say the word.’ I wasn’t going to press the issue.
I stood up and hung up the Missoni swimsuit and gold hoops next to the other two looks, and we both stood back to admire the three outfits together.
‘I like the way you’ve curated these, it’s different,’ she remarked. ‘It feels fresh.’
‘I’m glad you think so,’ I replied. ‘In fact I think we could push things even further, if you’re game. I think we could really put you on the map as a fashion-forward personality.’
‘You’re right. Beachwear is one thing,’ Mandy said, pulling a strand of hair that had stuck to her peachy lip gloss, ‘but I need to know if this leopard can change her spots.’ She glanced sideways at Jose. I had a strong suspicion that they were silently weighing up whether to tell me something. ‘Imagine, for a moment, that we’re moving to the UK,’ she continued, her eyes widening. ‘How would you suggest I evolve my style of dressing?’
‘Well, I mean, wow, that would be exciting, of course. I—’ I began to reply, but Jose interjected, perhaps he was annoyed she’d said too much.
‘Which brings us neatly onto the fourth outfit,’ he stated. ‘It’s London Fashion Week, the weather is god-awful British rain, Mandy’s got four shows back to back. What does she wear?’
I paused for a moment. My experience of one particular fashion week came back to haunt me and I felt my palms become tacky again. I’d attended New York Fashion Week in a Manhattan heatwave, and the Michael Kors show was the scene of a career-defining moment, when I inadvertently exposed the super-stylist Lola Jones’s alopecia. The episodetaught me a lot about social media and the power of one ill-advised post – how it could go viral in a split second. I was very,verylucky that this particular post was an innocent mistake – I had no idea that the top of Lola’s head was in the photo, let alone that she was struggling with a hair loss condition. I wouldneverhave posted a photo with her in it if I had. Within minutes, some trolls had spotted it and before you could say ‘stop the world I want to jump off’ my image went viral. Fortunately, something positive came out of it in the end because this went on to become one of the trending fashion week news stories for all the right reasons. Instead of hiding away, Lola chose this moment to speak about her condition with a view to supporting other alopecia sufferers and made the news agenda globally. Plus, I gained thousands of new Instagram followers in the process.Phew.
For Mandy’s next imagined styling assignment, I was ready.You’re not fooling me. No way, Jose!
‘Is this a trick question?’ I smiled.
They both stared at me, puzzled.
‘Dressing for London Fashion Week,’ I said confidently. ‘Well, it all depends on which shows you’ll be attending. I mean, are we talking Burberry or Harris Reed, perhaps Roksanda, David Koma, or Julien Macdonald?’
Mandy shrugged. ‘All of them?’
She clearly wasn’t wise to London Fashion Week etiquette, where celebrities showed their fierce allegiance to one or two fashion houses, rather than appearing beside every catwalk, along with the fashion press.
‘Whoever you want to see – and we would work together on who aligns best with your brand – the etiquette is you wear that designer. If I was your stylist, you could trust in me for that. I would arrange with the fashion designer’s team that you sit front row at the show, and we would borrow a current look from the collection. If for any reason they won’t lend, we would work to build a relationship. All this takes time and a strategy.’
‘A fashion strategy. I love the sound of that, darling,’ Mandy cooed. Her face lit up as she looked across at Jose in anI told you soway.
I loved the sound of it too. I just hoped I could come up with one. Although Mandy didn’t strike me as a natural fit at London Fashion Week, I instinctively felt she would be fun to work with, and there were bubbles of excitement in my stomach – a sensation which had been absent in my working life for a while.
I took this as my podium moment – the chance to leave her with something powerful, in the form of a few choice words that would hang in the air long after I had left the room, in a bid to win me this job.
Think Best Actress Oscars speech, Amber. Move over, Emma Stone, I’ve got this.
‘Mandy, I would really love this opportunity to work with you,’ I began, nerves kicking in as I held her gaze with mine. It was the first time I’d noticed what an exquisite, pure shade of aquamarine her eyes were. ‘Not just because I think you are a fantastic personality, but because I believe we have an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here.You see, I don’t just love fashion – it goes much deeper than that. I really believe in the power of fashion to influence how the world perceives you.’ Mandy looked intrigued, so I took a deep breath and continued, ‘This isn’t new. Sartorial choices have been on the front line of communication since ancient times – just ask the ancient Egyptians, where practically every colour, accessory, and garment a Pharaoh wore had meaning – but it has never been more important in modern times than now. Today’s online world is crowded with unsolicited opinions, and how you present yourself is a form of art. It hasneverbeen more critical to let your authentic self cut through the noise and shine through. Your wardrobe is one of the things you have within your control. Mandy, I want to help you step into not only some fabulous clothes, but to create stories with them – stories the world will fall in love with because they are one hundred per cent authentic to you. To help spread influence in a really good way.’
I stopped. I had surprised myself with the reference to the ancient Egyptians but felt relieved that not even Mandy could have a hotline to Cleopatra to check out the details.
I looked searchingly at the couple for a response.
‘Wow. Thank you, Amber,’ Mandy said after a beat. ‘I can see how much this role would mean to you.’ I nodded sagely in response. ‘And I’m glad you’ve said all this, because I wanted you here to discuss the whole of me.’
‘The whole of you?’
‘Not just what I wear, but what it all means.’ She paused and I wondered if she meant she was looking for a ghostwriter as well. ‘I meant that figuratively,’ she clarified. ‘What I’m trying to say is, I like your idea of storytelling. Fashion is about invention and fantasy. I’m looking for a stylist just likeyou,Amber.’
