Chloe by Design: Making the Cut

by Margaret Gurevich

  Once I have my pattern set, I grab my fabric and head over to my sewing machine to start sewing.

  “Use this,” says Derek, suddenly beside me, tissue paper in hand. “If you put it under the fabric, it will keep it in place while you sew.”

  I have to admit, I’m surprised by the gesture. “Helping the competition?” I say with a laugh. “Viewers will love that.”

  Derek shakes his head. “I don’t care about that. If I beat you, I want it to be the best you. Otherwise, how will I know where I stand?”

  Even when he’s not sewing, Derek impresses me. I don’t see myself doing the same for Nina. “Thanks,” I say gratefully. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nina’s shocked face. Clearly, she wouldn’t do the same for me either.

  As the day continues, I only take a few small breaks. Some water here, a sandwich there, and it’s back to the machine. I don’t have any time to waste if I want to finish my dress in time.

  It’s past nine when Jasmine walks over to my station. “Interesting choice of material,” she says. From her tone of voice it’s impossible to tell if she means interesting in a good way or a bad way. But at this point, I don’t have time to redo it either way.

  Jasmine keeps inspecting my work so far, focusing on the seams, while I watch nervously. I’ve tapered the waist and added darts to my dress to make it more slimming. “It looks like you’ve made some major improvements from the shift dress we saw from you back in the first round of auditions,” she finally says.

  “Derek gave me a few tips,” I say.

  Jasmine raises her eyebrows. “It’s a welcome change to see camaraderie in this competition.” Did she just give Nina a pointed look?

  Jasmine moves on to Derek, and I can hear her fawning over his design. It’s clear from the tone of her voice that she’s impressed. As usual, his construction is spot on. I don’t want to wish bad luck on anyone, but would it be too much to ask for him to flub his stitching just once?

  I keep working. I can’t let myself get rattled by the competition. At this point, it’s anyone’s game, so I need to be at my best. Only a few more stitches before I call it a night. Tomorrow, I need to work on tailoring the dress and creating the removable collar and peplum piece. I still need to figure out how to incorporate the clunky chain Nina gave me, too. I’m determined to use it somehow.

  I sew my last stitch and see Derek and Nina packing it up for the night too. From what I can see of their designs so far, they’re determined to bring their “A” game to the final challenge as well. For the first time today, I notice the ache in my fingers and shoulders. The pain is a comforting reminder of all the hard work I put in.

  * * *

  The next morning we’re back in the workroom bright and early. The camera lights seem brighter today, and my fingers feel less able. I knew yesterday’s Zen feeling was too good to be true. Last night, it seemed like I had all the time in the world to finish my design. But today has been full of nothing but stitching mishaps — or at least that’s how it feels. My thread keeps breaking, and my rushed fingers mess up even zigzag stitches. Oversleeping this morning didn’t help either. Now, it’s after eight at night, and I’m still trying to put the finishing touches on my dress.

  Just ignore the cameras, I tell myself. I take a deep breath and slip the lining inside my dress, like I’m placing one tube inside another. I sew around the top edge of the neckline, then carry my dress over to the sewing machine to hem it. Once it’s done, I slip it back on my dress form to keep the fabric from getting wrinkled. I still need to attach Nina’s chain necklace, which I’ve decided to use as a belt, but I don’t want to do it while she’s around, so I decide to focus on my removable pieces instead.

  As the clock strikes ten, I grab the silk-cotton shirting I’ll be using to create my peplum ruffle. Sleep beckons, but I push the thought away. Why save anything for tomorrow? A cameraman yawns silently and trails after me.

  “Calling it a night soon?” Missy asks. She looks as tired as I feel.

  “Almost,” I say.

  “Good luck,” Missy says. “And remember that no matter what happens, we’re all proud of you.”

  I sit at my machine and think about what she just said. No matter what happens? What does that mean? Is she trying to let me down easy already? Does she think those words lessen the blow of losing? Let’s face it, at this point in the competition, no one is going to be happy to come in second.

  Trying to put Missy’s words out of my mind, I get to work on the peplum, measuring the waist of my dress form and calculating how large of an opening I’ll need to cut in the fabric to make it fit. I fold the fabric in half twice, creating four layers, then cut the correct amount out of one corner to create an even loop of fabric.

  I hold the fabric up against my dress to figure out how I want it to look. Then I cut out another long strip of white material. Laying it out, I pin it and use a fabric marker to trace along the edge of where I want it placed. Then I unpin it and cut the material out. I add a few small stitches down along the two ruffled areas on the front of the peplum to reinforce them, then place the long strip around the peplum, pin it, and sew it in place.

  I hand sew a couple of hook-and-eye closures to the dress and peplum piece so it can be easily removed, then stand back to admire my work. It’s one of my best designs yet — I just hope it’s enough. I can already imagine myself walking the streets of New York in it, sitting in meetings with fashion executives, and discussing the latest designs.

  I place the dress in a garment bag and hang it beside Nina’s and Derek’s bags. I know their designs are probably their best work too. Thinking back on all the different challenges, it’s almost impossible to tell who will win tomorrow. Nina and I have been pretty closely matched throughout the competition, while Derek has been at the front of the pack since week one. I can only hope the judges will see how much I’ve improved and how much effort I put into my dress. With the internship so close, there’s no room for mistakes.

  Monday is chaos as our family members are flown in from around the country and the stage is set up for the big finale. Unlike earlier in the week, every seat in the room is filled with family members, friends, past contestants, and other viewers. Liesel is there — and so is Jake. I haven’t seen him since I visited Liesel’s store for inspiration, but he’s as cute as I remember.

  “Break a needle,” my dad tells me before he goes to find a seat in the audience beside my mom. I’ve missed him so much these past few weeks — even his corny jokes.

  I laugh. “That’s not even a saying! But thanks.”

  Liesel and Jake walk up to the stage, and Liesel gives me a hug. “I’m so proud to have been your mentor, Chloe,” she says. “Knock them dead.”

  Jake gives me a hug too, and I blush. “You’re going to kill it out there,” he says.

  Just then, a producer comes over and ushers me to the stage so we can get started. Nina and Derek are already there, standing beside their dress forms. The lights dim, and Hunter takes the stage. “Welcome, everyone, to the finale of Teen Design Diva!” he says, and the audience cheers. “All the contestants have come so far. Let’s watch their journeys.”

  A video montage starts up, chronicling clips of us throughout the series. The clips from the show are interwoven with interviews with our family, friends, and other people from back home. I shoot a surprised look at the audience. I didn’t know they interviewed our family and friends.

  I get to see Derek’s house. His mom shows off his room, which is lined wall-to-wall with his designs. Apparently, he’s one of six kids and captain of his school’s swim and baseball teams. The producers interview his teammates about what a team player he is before moving on to a montage of his wins throughout the show.

  Nina’s video shows her gaggle of followers back in Santa Cruz. They’re all giggling as they fawn over how wonderful Nina is. Then the video shows her h
ouse, where her mom talks about how helpful Nina is, finding time to help around the house when she’s not busy designing.

  Huh. I never pegged her as the helpful type, I think. The video zooms through the challenges. First, Nina’s rodeo-inspired design, then the zoo competition, and finally the team challenge.

  Then it’s my turn. My video shows my parents and Alex talking about how much I love designing and how long I’ve been doing it. The producers show the outside of Mimi’s Thrifty Threads and interview Mimi, who calls me talented and creative. There’s a clip of me talking about my gramps during the audition process. Watching myself choke up on screen makes my cheeks flush, but I watch proudly. My grandpa’s inspiration helped put me on this show. There are clips of me being named to the top fifteen, my toy store challenge win, and the Sony Wonder Lab.

  When the video ends, Missy steps forward. “There’s no doubt you’ll be seeing all three of these talented designers for years to come,” she says. “Remember, you saw them here first!”

  The crowd cheers, and Jasmine raises her hands in the air for silence. “Tonight, however, is about choosing one winner. One of these designers will win the opportunity of a lifetime — an internship with a top designer here in New York and the chance to take the fashion world by storm. Let’s get started.”

  The judges make their way to where Derek is standing. “Can you talk us through your design?” Jasmine asks.

  “I’d love to,” Derek says with a charming smile. “I wanted something easy and effortless; I think everyone wants to look good at work without having to put too much thought into it. So I chose to create a shirtdress with a cropped blazer. Both pieces work individually or as a complete outfit.”

  The judges examine Derek’s shirtdress by itself for a moment, and then Derek adds the black blazer to the ensemble, transforming it into eveningwear. Like with all of Derek’s designs, the blazer has minute, intricate additions like embroidery on the lapels.

  Hunter nods. “I love the gold accents on both pieces. The gold buttons on the shirtdress coordinate nicely with the embroidery on the blazer’s lapel. I might be calling you for ideas sometime.”

  “Anytime,” Derek says with a wink at the audience. “I’m happy to share.”

  “Fantastic,” says Missy before moving over to Nina.

  Even though I can’t stand her at the moment, I have to admit Nina’s design is stunning. She went for a vintage 1950s feel with a strapless, cinched-waist dress. Pink lace covers the fitted bust and a darker satin belt connects it to the flared-out black satin skirt.

  “The dress is adorable!” Missy exclaims, echoing my thoughts. “But how would you make it appropriate for the office?”

  Nina adds an open-front black blazer she’s holding on her arm. “Adding a tailored jacket takes the dress from event-worthy to something that would fit in at any fashion internship,” she says with a smile.

  “Just lovely,” says Missy. “Thank you.”

  I take a deep breath as the judges make their way toward me. “Last, but not least,” Hunter says with a smile. “Chloe, tell us about your dress, please.”

  “I really wanted to stick with my simple-chic style aesthetic,” I say. “After all, that’s what got me this far. So I decided to create a tailored shift dress in a monochromatic color palette. I used black rayon for the majority of the dress and a silk-cotton shirting for the collar. Metallic accents help add some shine and a throwback to some of my earlier designs.”

  Missy comes closer and examines the chunky belt circling the natural waist of the dress — Nina’s necklace. I waited until just before the live show to add it to my outfit. “This belt is really interesting,” she says. “I love the contrast between the chunky chain and simple lines of the dress.”

  “That used to be a necklace,” I tell her. “Nina kindly bought it for me.”

  Nina gasps.

  “Very chic,” says Jasmine. “But as elegant and well-tailored as this dress is, I’m not sure I see it being appropriate for an evening party.”

  “I’m glad you brought that up,” I say, pulling out the peplum piece I created. I take the collar off the dress and slide the peplum around the waist. “These removable pieces make it easy to take the dress from day to night. With some metallic heels and cool jewelry, it will fit in at any event.”

  “Very impressive, Chloe,” Jasmine says. “I love the modern addition of the peplum and that you stayed true to your personal style. You’ve really created a cohesive collection throughout this competition.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” says Hunter, “I’m sure you’re as blown away with these final designs as we are. But you’ll have to wait until after the commercial break to find out which designer takes it all.”

  “And five, four, three, two, one!” the producer counts down.

  Jasmine steps up to the mic as soon as the commercial segment ends. “It’s been a long road,” she says. “And all three of our designers have grown tremendously throughout this competition. Let’s give them one final round of applause.”

  The crowd claps and whistles. When they settle down, Jasmine continues. “We won’t be criticizing anyone’s design today because they are all fantastic. What it came down to for us was who took that extra step.”

  That could mean anything. Derek’s shirtdress and jacket were high quality and well made. As much as I hate to admit it, Nina’s dress was adorable. I still like my dress the best, but that doesn’t mean the judges did. It’s anyone’s game.

  “Who has consistently improved throughout the competition and grown as a designer,” adds Hunter.

  “The winner of the first season of Teen Design Diva and recipient of the fashion internship in New York City is . . .” Missy pauses. “Chloe Montgomery!”

  Balloons fall from the ceiling and confetti rains down around me. I feel like I’m in a fog.

  It’s me, right?

  They said my name?

  My family, Jake, and Liesel rush to the stage. My mom and dad hug and swing me around.

  “I knew you could do it, Chloe,” my dad whispers in my ear.

  “We’re so proud of you, honey!” my mom exclaims, grinning at me.

  Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to see Derek standing there. “I’m rethinking helping you now,” he says with a grin. “Kidding. You deserve it. Your design really was the best one.”

  “Thanks,” I say, still shocked. “Your stuff has always been amazing.”

  “Thanks,” Derek says. “Congrats again. I’ll see you around.”

  Derek heads offstage, and I catch Nina’s eye. “Good work,” she mutters grudgingly before rushing off the stage too.

  The judges hug me. “You’ve come so far, girl,” says Jasmine. “I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.”

  That’s a real compliment coming from Jasmine. She must believe in tough love.

  The world is spinning. A cameraman shoves through the crowd as Hunter hands me a mic. “What are you feeling, Chloe? Did you have any idea you’d make it this far?”

  “I’m feeling awed,” I say. “Shocked. This is unbelievable. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to have this opportunity? To answer your second question, it took me a while to believe in myself, but I’m very lucky to have supportive friends and family.”

  I think of Mimi back home. Without her, there’s a good chance I’d still be sitting in my room wondering if I should have entered the competition. I remember my promise to mention her store if I won. “One woman in my town owns a store called Mimi’s Thrifty Threads. She has been an amazing inspiration. Look her up!”

  Suddenly arms surround me from behind and I’m being picked up and swung through the air. When I’m back on solid ground, I turn around to see Jake standing there. “Congratulations!” he says. He leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Now that you’ll be in New York, I’ll get to see even mo
re of you.”

  The balloons and confetti have stopped falling, but I still feel weightless. Through the window of the room, I see the bright lights of the city and the top of the Empire State Building.

  “Chloe,” Missy says, appearing at my elbow, “we need you to sign paperwork and meet your internship bosses. There will be a blog, Fashion Week prep, you name it. There’s so much to do!”

  Missy keeps chattering, and I try to take it all in. I think about all the different versions of who I’ve been along the way — Confident Chloe, Cowardly Chloe, Charismatic Chloe, Clumsy Chloe. I think of how far I’ve come.

  Cameras flash in my face, but this time, I don’t want to run away. I belong here. And I’ll tackle everything that lies ahead on my own terms, as myself.

  Just Chloe.

  That’s who I am, and it’s enough.

  Margaret Gurevich has wanted to be a writer since second grade. She has written for many magazines and currently writes young-adult and middle-grade books. She loves hiking, cooking, reading, watching too much television, and spending time with her husband and son.

  Brooke Hagel is a fashion illustrator based in New York City. While studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, she began her career as an intern, working in the wardrobe department of Sex and the City, the design studios of Cynthia Rowley, and the production offices of Saturday Night Live. After graduating, Brooke began designing and styling for Hearst Magazines, contributing to Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Seventeen, and Esquire. Brooke is now a successful illustrator with clients including Vogue, Teen Vogue, InStyle, Dior, Brian Atwood, Hugo Boss, Barbie, Gap, and Neutrogena.