Chloe by Design: Making the Cut

by Margaret Gurevich

  The judges begin their short walk around our creations. For a several minutes, no one says anything. Then Mallory Kane suddenly claps her hands. “Bravo!” she shouts. “I have to confess something. When I agreed to be a part of this show, I was pretty nervous about what that would mean. I’ve seen Design Diva, and some of the visions are . . . well, let’s just say different from mine. I was a little worried about what I would do if I had to choose from a group of out-there designs.”

  Well, this is a great pep talk, I think. Is she going to tell us how terrible she finds all our designs?

  Then Mallory smiles. “But you’ve all surprised me. There’s not just one design I’d be happy to display on my site — I’d love to see all of your work displayed.” She frowns. “That’s what makes judging so difficult.”

  Mallory walks around each design for the second time. When she’s done pacing, she claps her hands again. “That’s it!” she yells. “I’ve got the solution!”

  Jasmine, Missy, and Hunter look alarmed. Whatever is coming was clearly not scripted. “Maybe we should talk about—” Hunter starts to say.

  But Mallory doesn’t let him finish. “My site, my rules,” she interrupts. “I’ve decided that instead of just one contestant’s design being showcased, I want to display two. One menswear-inspired item and one dress.”

  The judges quickly glance at the cameras, and their plastic smiles immediately return. “What a lovely idea!” Missy says.

  “What a treat for everyone!” Jasmine agrees through clenched teeth.

  Derek and Shane grin at each other. I can understand their excitement. Mallory’s decision to change the rules must mean she likes at least one of their designs enough to keep it in the running.

  “Let’s start by discussing what we like about each design,” Hunter says, sounding rushed.

  He probably wants to get started before Mallory tries to change anything else, I think.

  “Great idea,” Missy says. “Nina, let’s start with you. I like how you utilized satin to create a mermaid-style dress. The flared lower half really shows your command of sewing skills.”

  My body tenses. Nina used satin? That has to give her points since it’s pretty challenging to work with.

  “Thank you,” Nina says. Her smile looks a little smug to me, and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. “I was really inspired by old Hollywood glamour.”

  “I like the mermaid style, too,” says Jasmine. “And using satin is a bold choice.” She pauses to examine the stitching of the satin and nods. “However, I can see you had some trouble with it here, here, and here.”

  Nina’s face reddens with embarrassment, and she doesn’t say anything.

  “Overall, though, fine work,” Hunter says. “You can barely tell this dress has been turned inside out.”

  “Thanks,” Nina mumbles. She looks over at her mentor and then looks away again. Tanya looks irritated, but it’s impossible to tell if her frustration is directed at the judges or at Nina.

  Daphne is up next. “I chose a white dress,” she explains, “and dyed it to create an ombré effect. I also altered the back of the dress. It was a scoop neck before, so I made it just a little bit deeper and more dramatic.”

  “I love this color!” Mallory gushes. “You’ve done such a fantastic job with the dyeing.”

  “I agree,” says Hunter. “The color is spot on. And I love the fabric, but it seems like that’s really all you did. I’d have liked to see more complexity in the design itself. It’s a bit too basic for my tastes. There’s no real risk.”

  Daphne’s face falls as the judges move on to the boys. Shane chose to go with a less-traditional suit style with pants that fall just below the knees. Derek’s suit pants fall past the ankles. He also made a vest from the excess fabric, adding gold buttons to the front and creating a vertical striped design with gold thread.

  “The tailoring on both of these suits is very impressive,” Mallory says. “I wish we could use all of these.” She swipes at her eyes.

  “I agree with you on the tailoring,” Jasmine interrupts, “but, Shane, these cropped pants are just oddly proportioned. The length of the pants isn’t flattering with the blazer, and they don’t really work with the overall suit design.”

  Shane frowns but doesn’t say anything as the judges move in my direction.

  “My favorite aspect of this dress,” says Mallory, jumping right into her critique, “is the asymmetrical hem. It adds just the right amount of interest to the dress.”

  I hardly have time to enjoy the compliment before Jasmine jumps in. “My concern is whether or not this style will withstand the test of time,” she says. “It’s stylish now, but the mark of a lasting design is something that can be worn for more than a month. This is awfully trendy.”

  I notice Nina winking at Tanya, and I clench my fists.

  “Still,” says Missy, “I love the bold color. It’s just stunning. And the bands of contrasting fabric around the middle are beautiful. The fabric strips are very slimming, and I adore the metallic accents. You can’t tell this dress was inside out.”

  Jasmine glares at Missy. What’s the problem? I wonder. Maybe it makes for bad television if the judges leave us feeling confident about our design. Have to keep the audience — and us — guessing, I suppose.

  “As Mallory said, everyone’s designs today were impressive. It’s clear you’ve all come a long way since this competition started,” Hunter says. “And even though we’d like to keep you all, two designers will be going home today. When we come back, we’ll reveal who will be advancing to the top three.”

  With that, the judges disappear. Everyone seems nervous. Daphne is looking at the ground, and I see Nina biting her fingernails. Even if she did steal my seam ripper, there’s something about her hunched posture and nervous biting that make me feel sorry for her. Shane looks to the judging room, then back to his design. Even though I like his suit, he hasn’t seemed the same since his brother was sent home.

  I don’t see Derek, but suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder, and he’s standing right behind me. “I really liked your dress,” he says.

  “Thanks,” I say, feeling flattered. “I’ve liked all your designs from the start. The stuff you came up with for the rodeo challenge back in Salinas was awesome!”

  Derek blushes. Sensing a moment he might need to capture, one of the cameramen gets closer. Derek rolls his eyes. “That’s right, folks,” he says to the cameras. “We’re forming an alliance. Or are we?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I laugh. The cameraman moves on to Shane.

  “I guess we don’t provide enough drama,” I say.

  Derek rolls his eyes again. “Fine by me,” he says. “I’ve been trying to lie low and avoid that.”

  Before I can reply, the judges reappear. That didn’t take long.

  “We’ve come to our decision,” Jasmine announces. “While we agree each of the designs is special, we can only choose three to move on to the final round of the competition.”

  “I want to emphasize, however,” Missy jumps in, as Jasmine rolls her eyes, “that we are all so impressed with how far you’ve come. Don’t let tonight’s elimination detract from everything you’ve accomplished.”

  “While all five of you did great work, two of your designs really stood out,” Mallory says. “They are not only stylish, but I can see them being popular for years to come.”

  My heart sinks. Jasmine made it more than clear that she didn’t think my dress would stand the test of time. Mallory’s statement seems like foreshadowing — even if I make it to the top three, my dress won’t be featured on her site.

  “Derek,” Mallory says, “your command of fabric, stitching, and color makes your feminine suit a welcome addition to any wardrobe.”

  Derek takes a deep breath. There always seems to be a but following the judges’ compliments — but not thi
s time.

  “Congratulations!” Mallory exclaims. “Your suit is the top menswear-inspired pick for my site!”

  “Daphne, Shane, Nina, and Chloe,” Hunter says, taking over, “only two of you will continue on in the competition after today. Nina, your mermaid dress was an interesting silhouette, and we were impressed by your choice of fabrics. You’re safe.”

  I see Nina let out a huge sigh of relief. From the sidelines, Tanya gives her a proud smile and a big thumbs-up.

  “We have one spot left in our final three,” Jasmine says. “Chloe, I had questioned whether your dress would still be something teens would want to wear in the future.”

  Instinctively, I glance over at the camera. “Yes,” I say. “I remember.” The knot in my stomach gets tighter.

  “I agree with Mallory that the design will appeal for many seasons,” says Jasmine. “Sorry to keep you hanging like that.”

  It takes me a minute to make sense of what Jasmine said. “You mean I’m safe?” I ask. I can hardly believe it. I made it to the final three!

  “You’re more than safe,” Mallory says. “You’re also our other winner. Your dress will be featured on my website. Congratulations!”

  I gasp. This is too good to be true. “Thank you,” I manage to say.

  “Unfortunately, Daphne and Shane, that means you’ll both be leaving us today,” Jasmine says. “We’ve enjoyed your designs throughout the competition, but this round they weren’t where they needed to be to move on. We wish you both the best.”

  Shane and Daphne take the elimination better than expected, hugging everyone goodbye before leaving the room. Then there are three — Nina, Derek, and me.

  Derek hugs me, but Nina hangs back until Tanya whispers something in her ear. Then, she gingerly puts her arms around me and offers a forced smile for the cameras. I close my eyes, and this time the dresses of my nightmare are gone. All I see now is row after row of my emerald dress.

  The night before the final challenge, I try to focus on relaxing. The internship is almost in my hands, and I don’t want to psych myself out. I sprawl on the hotel bed and flip through the channels until I come across the most recent episode of Teen Design Diva. It’s the dress challenge. They’re breaking it up into two parts, with the results show airing at the end of the week.

  I watch as the commercials tease what will happen in tonight’s episode. They show me on my hands and knees looking for the seam ripper. Then they show me yelling at Nina and the screen freezes on my angry face. Just as the voiceover says, “Has the pressure finally gotten to be too much for one of the designers?” my phone rings.

  “What the heck?” Alex says before I even manage to say hello.

  “It wasn’t my fault,” I tell her. “You’ll see.”

  “Duh,” Alex says. “I’m your best friend. I know that. What did Nina do?”

  “I don’t know for sure if she did anything,” I say. “I just have my suspicions. Let’s just watch. You’ll find out when I do.”

  The show does a montage of all the contestants before launching into the instructions for the challenge. There’s my relieved face when we’re told about the extra time and help from our mentors. The camera stays on me as we’re told about the inside-out twist, and I frown with worry. My nervous face is the last thing viewers see before the commercial break.

  “I think they’re trying to show your descent into madness,” Alex says with a laugh.

  “Drama,” I say, groaning.

  When the show returns, they’ve switched gears. The cameras zoom in on Shane and Daphne, both hard at work. Hunter says something to Shane that we can’t hear, and Shane nods. Then the show cuts to a confessional of Shane.

  “I’m kind of done,” Shane admits to the camera. “Without Sam here . . . I don’t know. That really got to me. I’m doing my best, but honestly I’ll be fine if I go home tonight.”

  “No!” Alex shouts in my ear. “Tell me he doesn’t get eliminated.”

  “You know I can’t tell you that,” I say. “You have to watch to find out.”

  Alex grumbles, and the cameras move over to Nina, who is deep in discussion with her mentor. “I’m doing the best I can!” Nina snaps at Tanya over the top of her sewing machine.

  I have to admit, Nina does seem to be working hard. Her fingers are moving quickly, and unlike mine, her basket and scraps are well organized. Hunter walks over to her to discuss the design she’s working on, but before he can say anything Nina shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just too swamped to talk.”

  I can practically hear Alex rolling her eyes through the phone. “I can’t believe her nerve. All hail, Queen Nina,” she mutters.

  The camera pans back to me. My back is to my basket as I sew the fabric strips around the waist of my dress. That’s when I see it. Nina stealthily walks over to my basket and takes the seam ripper.

  “Oh, no she didn’t!” Alex exclaims. “Why is she taking your stuff?”

  I’m too busy watching to answer her. I suspected this, and seeing it actually take place makes me angry all over again. The camera pans back to Tanya, who gives Nina a quick high-five. It stays on the pair, and I turn up the volume.

  “That’s how to do it,” Tanya says under her breath. “If you really want to win, you have to prove it. You have to be willing to do anything.”

  Nina is back at her machine and grinning. “I do want it,” she says. “I gave her this hideous necklace while we were back home, too, and told her that’s what the judges are looking for.”

  “Nice,” Tanya says with a smirk “Maybe she’ll use it in the finale.”

  “What a jerk!” shouts Alex. “If you’re in the finale, you should use that necklace. You can make anything look amazing.”

  I stare at the screen, not saying anything. Even though I suspected Nina wasn’t playing fair, seeing proof of it stinks. Her elbowing me in the side early on in the competition clearly wasn’t an accident. Neither was my seam ripper going missing. And now the necklace.

  I don’t want to watch the rest of the show. I already know I freaked out on her. I don’t need to watch the replay on national television.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Alex,” I say. “Keep watching. It gets good.”

  I hang up, suddenly exhausted. I know Nina wants to win, but so do I. It’s like elementary school all over again. The only difference is me. When I was a kid, I would’ve cowered and let her win.

  Not this time, I think determinedly. I’ll do exactly what Alex said. Not only will I find a way to use that ugly necklace, I’ll win with it.

  The final challenge is being held in a huge conference room in the hotel. Today, it’s relatively empty — just us, the judges, the producers, and the camera crew. On Monday, it will be packed for the live finale.

  “Designers,” Missy says, “welcome to the final challenge! As we mentioned earlier on in the competition, for this challenge, you’ll each be allowed to use one item from home. Do you all have yours?”

  I pat my pocket with the necklace Nina gave me back in California. That feels so long ago at this point.

  Missy continues. “It’s been a long road, and for one of you, the journey will continue. As you know, the prize for winning this challenge, and the show, is an amazing fashion internship.”

  My heart is beating fast, and I feel my blood pumping. The internship is almost within reach. I can’t believe how far I’ve come since the first challenge. But I still have one final challenge to go. And Derek is a great designer. So is Nina — as much it pains me to admit it.

  “For your final task,” Jasmine says, “you will have to create an outfit that can do double duty. It must be something that could be worn in the office, as well as for any evening events.”

  “You will have until five p.m. Friday night to complete this challenge,” says Missy. “That’s almost two and a half days
, so we expect to see your best. Your time starts now!”

  I take a deep breath and focus on the challenge at hand. With so many hours to complete a task, I know I’ll need a design that’s extra special. I think of office wear that’s inspired me in the past, and the perfect idea forms in my mind — a sheath dress with a slim pencil skirt. It’ll be perfect for the workplace during the day, especially if I add a removable collar. To transform it into something I could wear to an event, I’ll add a peplum ruffle at the waist that can be zipped on or off. With the peplum on and the collar off, it’ll be a chic party dress. I’ll use a rayon-nylon-spandex blend for the dress and silk-cotton shirting for the collar and peplum.

  It’ll be a lot of work, but I need something big. At this point in the competition, it’s go big or go home. And going home was never part of my plan.

  * * *

  “Talk us through your design so far,” Hunter says later that afternoon. He motions for the camera crew to move closer.

  I sigh. I may have gotten used to having the cameras around, but it doesn’t mean I like them. “I’m creating a sheath dress with a natural waist for the office,” I explain. “The definition at the waist and fitted skirt will make it office appropriate, and I have some removable accents to help transform the dress depending on where it’ll be worn.” I attempt to sew while talking but give up.

  “Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you,” Hunter says.

  I smile. “Yep, so if you don’t mind . . .” I trail off.

  Hunter laughs and motions for the cameras to follow him to Nina. “I can take a hint. Best of luck, Chloe.”

  Once he leaves, I finish marking the pattern on my fabric. I’ve opted for basic black for my sheath dress. Some people might think it’s too boring, but to me, it screams simple and chic. The black-and-white combo will look elegant and modern, like a feminine tuxedo. Best of all, I’m staying true to my style aesthetic. I might get brave and branch out with color on occasion, but for a big challenge like this, I’m sticking with what I know.