Rebirth of the Fashion King

"Your hair."

"What's wrong?"

"It was shorter than the last interview."

"I cut it myself," Freja said.

Virginie widened her eyes slightly behind her sunglasses. No model would change their hairstyle on the eve of Fashion Week; that's an ironclad rule.

Hair is a model's weapon; any change in length or color must be approved by the agency and the brand.

"You know the rules." Karl Lagerfeld's voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge hidden in that calmness.

"Know."

"Then why did you cut it?"

"Because I want to cut it," Freja said.

"Moreover, I think short hair is more suitable for this season's stand-up collar design, as it won't cover up the neckline structure."

The interview room fell silent.

At this moment, Li Xun spoke up.

"Her judgment is correct. This season's high collars need to fully expose the neckline. Long hair will have volume when it is up, but short hair does not have this problem."

The Empress Dowager turned to Li Xun.

Are you making styling decisions for my models?

"I'm confirming her professional judgment," Li Xun replied seriously, "just like you affirmed my judgment about Vlada on the initial screening list."

The atmosphere made the interview a little suffocating.

"Rhine is so attractive."

"I really don't dare to talk to Mr. Carl like that."

"He's really charming."

The old man nodded, then he circled Freja's name with a pencil.

"Make a call before you get your next haircut," he said.

"Who should I call?"

"Call him." Carl pointed at Li Xun with his pencil.

Freja looked at Li Xun and smiled slightly.

"no problem."

  

She turned and left. After the door closed, Virginia whispered something that only the two people next to her could hear.

"She was the only model who dared to come for the audition after cutting her hair."

"So she stayed, mainly because her hairstyle was alright, not ugly," Li Xun said.

Next up is Vlada Roslyakova.

She was extremely slender, with blonde hair and almost transparent skin, looking like she was made of porcelain.

V-Fairy's catwalk is considered top-tier among "baby-faced supermodels" in the industry. She walks with a dreamlike quality, taking small and light steps, as if walking on water.

Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead, her pale blue irises appearing almost transparent in the greyish-white light of the Grand Palace.

"Vlada Roslyakova. Women's Model Agency."

Her voice was soft, but her words were clear.

"Is this the girl who took little Rhine's 'first time'? If I remember correctly."

"I'm not mistaken, I remember it very clearly," Virginie chimed in.

"Let's get started." Seeing that something was off between the two, Li Xun quickly interrupted.

Vlada pouted and started working.

Her style is lighter and more classical ballet-like. Every step she takes is so light that it's almost silent. Her arms swing very little, her chin is slightly raised, and her gaze is upward. Her whole demeanor is like that of a proud little princess.

After looking at the photos, Li Xun didn't ask any questions and immediately told the old lady to hurry up and select the next model, who was also the last model of the morning, Abbey Lee Kershaw.

She changed her clothes. She had been wearing a black tank top and black high-waisted jeans in the waiting area, but now she had changed into the all-white top and high heels required for the interview.

Her face was expressionless, but her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

She walked in, taking each step very carefully.

"Abbey Lee Kershaw. Chic Model Agency."

Her voice was a little hoarse. It could be from nervousness, or it could be from the dryness in her throat caused by several days of dieting.

"It's just a couple of steps."

Abbey Lee's catwalk has improved rapidly since her debut in 2008. Her style leans towards power, with long strides, a stable center of gravity, and powerful arm swings.

But today, her catwalk was clearly off. Her center of gravity swayed in the first few steps. Although she immediately adjusted, the sway was as jarring as an alarm to professionals.

As she reached the end, turned around, and started her return journey, her left knee buckled slightly inward upon landing, indicating a decrease in the strength of her inner thigh muscles.

Finally, she walked back to the long table and stopped. Her breathing was a little more rapid than usual, not because of nervousness, but because of physical exhaustion.

Li Xun asked a question.

"Your agent tells you that you'll be replaced if you don't meet the standards, and your body tells you that things will go wrong if you continue like this. Whom would you listen to?"

silence.

"You'll listen to your agent," Li Xun answered for her.

"Because your agent controls your job opportunities, because you feel your body doesn't matter, because you're young, and you think your young body can handle anything."

The old lady watched this scene without saying a word, while Virginie put down her pen.

"When I was studying at Central Saint Martins, one of my mentors said that models are the most important part of the industry, but also the least respected part. Designers treat them as clothes hangers, photographers treat them as props, and agencies treat them as commodities."

He looked at Abbey Lee.

"I don't need clothes hangers; what I need are collaborators who can understand design, present design, and bring a garment to life on the runway."

He picked up the list from the table.

"At this season's Paris Fashion Week, Chanel needs your skeletal structure to support the tweed silhouette, but Chanel doesn't need a model who almost faints during the audition, so here's the solution."

He got the list directly from the old lady and found Abbey Lee's name.

"You stayed not because I was kind, but because you still managed to complete the catwalk even though you hadn't eaten breakfast and were severely exhausted. Your center of gravity swayed for a moment but you adjusted yourself, and your knees buckled inward but you corrected them in the next few steps."

Your professionalism is on point; that's exactly what we need.

He drew a circle next to her name with a pencil.

"But there's one condition: I need a supermodel who's full of energy."

"But."

"No buts," Li Xun interrupted her. "If your agent has any objections, have him call me directly."

The Empress Dowager also spoke up at this moment.

"If your physical condition is worse than today during the second fitting, I will replace you immediately. But if your physical condition is better than today, and your measurements still meet the current standards..."

He paused for a moment.

"Then add one more outfit to this season's haute couture show."

Abbey Lee's eyes widened suddenly. Adding an extra outfit meant one more appearance, one more exposure, one more backstage photo, and one more runway video. In the competitive system of supermodels, the difference of one outfit could be the dividing line between first-tier and second-tier.

"Did you understand?"

"Understood, Mr. Carl."

"Go out and let her go to the lounge to get something to eat." This was said to Mathieu, who was standing at the door.

Mathieu pushed open the door and came in, holding a walkie-talkie. He gestured for Abbey Lee to follow him. As Abbey Lee turned around, Li Xun said something else.

"Not an apple, just have them give you a sandwich. Whole wheat bread, chicken, vegetables—this isn't a suggestion, it's a work assignment."

OK.

……

After everyone left, Li Xun and Virginia took off their sunglasses.

"I didn't expect you to soften your heart?"

"Unexpected."

The Empress Dowager asked hesitantly, "Do you all think I was too...?"

Virginia Wyard and Li Xun exchanged a glance, then replied in unison, "Yes!"