Page 54 of I Dreamt That You Loved Me

After I changed back into my own clothes, Simone immediately placed an order for the entire collection and popped a bottle of champagne.

“Those pieces are exquisite.” She lifted her glass in a toast. “To your bright future.”

I blushed at the compliment and drank to my bright future. I didn’t know if my first foray into fashion design would be a success or a complete bust but I was in love with the entire design process and thrilled with the finished product, so I planned to continue down this road regardless of the outcome.

“You’ll need to do a runway show, of course,” Simone said.

I sat on a Lucite cube across from her. “Isn’t it a little late for that? I don’t even have enough pieces.”

“I’m thinking down the road. I would also approach other boutiques and ask if they’ll stock these pieces. You want to start getting your name out.” She tapped her chin and I could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. “In fashion, you always have to be thinking ahead. As soon as you finish one collection, it’s back to the drawing board for the next one.”

I already had an inspiration and a moodboard for my next collection so it didn’t sound as intimidating as it would have back in December when I started on this journey.

But it was still a little bit intimidating for someone who had never considered fashion as a career.

“Quality over quantity always,” she advised. “When you’re starting out, you want to focus on the narrative and create a cohesive aesthetic.”

I nodded and took mental notes.

“What direction are you planning to go for your next collection?”

“Grunge,” I said. “More specifically Kurt Cobain’s style and the Nirvana song, ‘Come As You Are.’”

“Hmm.” Her eyes narrowed. “Interesting.”

It sounded like she still needed to be sold on the concept so I pitched the idea like I was at a trade show trying to entice buyers.

“Feminine with an edge. Whimsical with a nod to the Bohemian 70’s. Cross-gender. Think stripey knits and crocheted cardigans. Babydoll dresses and short plaid kilts over patterned trousers. A collection inspired by vintage shopping and anti-establishment, reluctant rock stars who aren’t afraid to wear a dress or call out sexist, homophobic, racist assholes.”

Okay, maybe I wouldn’t have addedthat last partbut Simone nodded sagely.

“Axl Rose.”

“Yeah. Axl Rose. Rock stars aren’t gods and they shouldn’t be treated as if they are.”

“You speak to my punk-loving heart but that’s your aesthetic, you know,” Simone said. “You’re going to be a designer who dresses rock stars and the cool girls who sit in the front row.”

I balked at that idea. I’d always been inspired by music, but I wasn’t entirely on board with her predictions for my future as a designer. “I’m pretty sure my designs are the opposite ofthat.”

“Oh, my darling.” Simone shook her head and sighed. “You’re so deep in denial.” She dragged me over to a full-length mirror and stood behind me with her hands on my shoulders. “Take a good hard look. What do you see?”

“A girl with smudged eyeliner and bangs that need a good trim.” I blew them out of my eyes. “A tired girl who needs a shower and got dressed this morning in the clothes she pulled out of the heap on her bedroom floor.”

Simone squeezed my shoulders and gave me a triumphant smile. “Exact Amanté. You look like a rock star or one of the cool girls who sits in the front row. And you are going to take the fashion world by storm.Youare a rock star.”

Gosh. Nicky would be so proud.

“While you’re at it, why don’t you design some pieces for that beautiful boy with the ethereal voice?”

My heart gave a little twinge.Gabriel.

“I cannot wait to see what you do next,” she said on our way out the door.

I knew exactly what I needed to do next. It was a Monday night.

When Annika called last week, she asked me what I was waiting for. I told her about the Froot Loops that caught my eye in the grocery store when I was a baby.

“So Gabriel is a box of Froot Loops?”