Outfits above

ACT 1

THE RUNWAY

"dress shabbily they remember the dress, dress elegantly the remember the woman,"
-Coco Chanel

A Nice long chapter for my readers, plz comment~

"Does anyone have another Wagon wheel?" Gianna asked as she was unpacking snacks from her safe from under her bed, as Talia clad comfortably in mauve La Perla pants and oversized white shirt was digging through her stash.

"No, I only brought Tim Tams-,"

"Of course you did," Mila chortled as a pillow was hit her in the face from Talia.

"I also brought walkers smoky bacon flavoured, a bunch of Maltesers, Gianna I got your sour patches-"

"-Thanks babe," Gianna chirped as she dexterously cradled her snacks from her bed to the bottom of the steps where she dumped them in the middle of her carpet.

"And, also does anyone want a Dr Peppers?" Talia held up from her right hand as Mila turned around frantically.

"Ooh, me!" Mila called out as Talia threw it across the room.

"You twits! The f*ckin carpet!" Gianna furiously gestured to the rug.

"Mate, it was only twenty pounds from the marketplace," Talia sniggered at the female in a matching red and white pyjama set from the eco-friendly Orchard Moon.

"So? it would be so much hassle to go back and find and exact the copy of this," the Italian brunette huffed as she sat down crossing her legs as she turned to her other friend who was wearing a long-sleeved animal print top and black sweat pants.

"It's true," Mila admitted as she then pulled out a packet of wagon wheels, "found some Gigi," as Gianna smiled as she was handed the packet as Mila continued to pull out the rest of her food.

"Is that red wine?" Gianna baffled as she looked at her friend who only shrugged.

"I don't know about you guys but I wanna get drunk on wine," Mila declared as the door opened to reveal to other girls, Adya and Zehra.

"I brought Didos!" the direct Osman house descendant vivaciously said as she triumphantly held the plastic bag that evidently showed the singular bars of chocolates.

"Yes! I've been craving some!" Gianna's chocolate orbs gleamed with glory as she saw the chocolates.

"I just brought a bunch of crisps," Adya added as the two joined the bonfire of snacks.

"Okay, I'll trade five didos for a bunch of curly wurlies," Gianna and the Zehra traded.

"What the hell, Gigi were all dumping our sh*t in the middle so we can grab whatever we want," Mila lambasted, "it's not the playground."

"Weak," Talia coughed in the background.

"it's business," Gianna defended as she unwrapped her chocolate.

"Come on, we all did that when we were in middle school," the granddaughter of the marajha said, "and we all knew how aggressive we were."

"True," the three agreed in unison.

"Then again, we are all still predominantly still like that, I mean look where are now," Talia gestured to the current scene.

"first act of trading," Zehra smiled.

"I blame Mr Villarreal," Mila blurted.

"He was a strange old man," Adya recounted.

"Speaking of man, well not old mans my baba* is already finding me a suitor with some other family," Zehra revealed as their eyes widened.

"Wow, already?" Gianna cried out surprisingly as the green-eyed brunette girl only shrugged phlegmatic.

"It was bound to happen at some point, one way or another," Zehra sighed.

"Have you ever met him?" Gianna inquired in an anxious manner as the Turkish female gave a sympathetic smile.

"I think so, apparently when we were eight, not that I can remember but I heard he's kind-hearted which is fine with me I suppose. He's a distant relative,"

"Are you alright with that?"

"Well it's not like we're second cousins or something, and to be honest it's nothing new I mean Kate and William are twelfth cousins," Zehra clarified.

"We're all going to have to be wedded with someone of some standard at some point," Mila said as she sipped from the brim of her wine bottle, "I mean anyone who's caucasian and has some title will probably be my partner by my father and mother's approval. It's nothing new Gigi, I mean look at Talia she was betrothed at ten to Mikhail and they're doing just fine." Talia had mentally rolled her eyes at the statement.

"It's nothing new," Talia lamented as she twisted the cap of her lemon Lipton ice tea, "We all know our parents are scheming on who to pair us with as she chugged the brown golden lemony liquid.

"Yeah," Adya said as she was lying down on the ground, "It's like Bend it like Beckham quoted "White no, Black nope, Muslim," as she slit her throat with her finger.

"I'll be lucky enough to get anglo-Indian at most, but they're so hard to find these days," Adya added as she turned her head, "Your parents Gianna is either Italian, French or British guy with anyone with a title," as Talia looked from the corner of her golden glasses her friend facading her composure.

"If you weren't married to Mikhail Talia, who do you think you'll be with?" Zehra asked as she scoffed down on a Wagon Wheel.

"I don't know, I never really thought about it since my whole life has been revolved around me and him," Talia thought, "probably some other Chinese boy from our circle."

"Really, not Hiro? He seems like a good choice, and your friends," Mila proposed as she had a blank expression plastered on her face as she was discombobulated by the stares, "what?"

"Are you alright? Like hell her family would let her marry a Japanese," Adya snorted.

"My grandmother has such a prejudice we have to be careful if want to visit Japan or eat Japanese if we don't want to be beheaded," Talia rolled her eyes. "Aunt Izzy won't even let her kids have Japanese cause she's such a suck-up."

"The Japanese slaughtered so many Chinese, and especially Singaporeans in world war two. Talia's Ah Ma's mother was there during the war and told so many stories about her time and how she was almost imprisoned and captured by a Japanese officer," Gianna filled in.

"it's forever imprisoned in my mind. My Ah Ma only gave me approval to marry Mikhail because his family were more loyal to the British during both world wars," Talia said. "So it's either another Chinese boy or Mikhail."

"Yeah, German, German, Italian or Swedish for me," Mila said.

"How are you guys so composed?" Gianna blurted as they all turned to her.

"What do you mean?" Zehra asked raising a brow.

"Exactly what I said, with all of this," Gianna expressed.

"I don't know, perhaps we all know it's going to happen at some point, you know how it is men all worry about is their bloodline, that's why they bother to keep us," Zehra replied.

"That's harsh, Zee," Talia argued.

"What? You know it's true," Zehra said as she inspected the two packets. I wonder what dido's and wagon wheel's taste like together she mumbled.

"Zee's right, sadly. Were girls. We have periods, nothing special," Mila muttered as Zehra scrolled through her phone.

"Let's have a change of topic," Talia muttered as her phone buzzed.

it's done.

"Hey, guys," Zehra got up as she clicked onto the article on her phone.

"Yeah?" Gianna replied as Mila whipped her head around closing the lid of her wine.

"You won't believe this, Society Model 'It Girl' Camille Englepoel has graced upon us to release her new line Isleen," as the other four instantly raced towards her as they viewed the screen to see a headshot of Camille and another wide shot of her behind racks of clothing.

"You've got to be kidding me," Mila scoffed.

"It's apparently been making headlines everywhere, this was posted over a month ago."

"I guess we don't keep up," Gianna grinned.

"What a load of rubbish," Zehra added as she scrolled down.

Society Model 'It Girl' Camille Englepoel has graced upon us to release her new line Isleen. Manhattan's 'It Girl' heiress to the shipping and fabric fortunes and rising model has broken news to fans and the world on her debut to the fashion industry by sharing on her new and first release in April of her new fashion line.

"I've decided to release a new high luxury fashion line,"  she said. "As much as I love modelling I love the behind the scenes as well, my new line was made eco-friendly in all of the processes. As a south African daughter, I wanted to share my experience through fashion. I saw all through the designs that it both emerged with New York and American high fashion that merged with my South African culture. And may also say that twenty per cent of all my earnings within this goes to those to improve life in the slums of my country."

Not only did this goddess change the face of fashion modelling but she is an absolute angel! Fans are already pumped to buy each piece -well if they can afford it-. Not only that thanks to her connections -cough, cough her best friends and her current boyfriend, Jasper Channing- they managed to snap all the best and biggest fashion names with some including Beyonce (my heart!), Virginie Viard, Charlotte Casiraghi, Phillip Lim, Anna Wintour (Yess queeen!) and the one and only Stefan de Belacroix. Yes, the one and only!

For those who don't who, this is -if you're in the fashion industry and never heard of him your living under a rock btw- he is said to be if Karl and Anna were mushed together or had a baby. I'm dying!!!!

Anywho resurrected, the show will be located at none other than the Von Huxley Hotel, in the heart of Manhattan. I don't know about you whether it's sporting the event from the phone or a screen or sitting in the front row I can't wait! Are we seeing another candidate for Haute Couture?

"That is the most bias thing I've ever read," Talia rebuked.

"My God, the fans are the worst part, they're just going to support the wh0re no matter what she does and not understand a thing about fashion," Gianna commented.

"I know right, I swear if I see her brand on the twelve haute couture before Gucci I will never buy a piece for at least the next five years," Mila remarked.

"It's not that, it's the fact that hardworking designers from across the globe from humble beginnings and create stuff from scratch make a living after at least thirty years in the field, it's one in a million to recognise and work under apprenticeship. Even after dressing an A-list celebrity, they may not even get recognised as a high fashion brand. But people like this honestly make me sick who can just easily access such a thing and don't understand the true depth," Talia argued as the others nodded.

"That's true like for me Camille can do whatever she wants, it's nothing new for celebrities to release a fashion line but to do it and showcase it to this extent is just absolutely utter rubbish," Zehra said.

"If she just released a makeup line I wouldn't be fazed, and yeah I agree with Zee may be of her fashion line wasn't presented this big for its debut I wouldn't even care," Gianna added, "Haute Couture celebrates the highest level of craftsmanship, she probably hasn't even laid a hand on a sewing machine and fabric."

"Aye," Ayda said.

"I would feel so sorry for anyone who had to attend," Talia chortled.

---

"How the f*ck did I end up here?" Talia muttered as she got ready to attend the fashion show as she sat in the backseat of the Mercedes Benz S class customed made car that drove her through the opulent waves of the building that towered her like a David and Goliath. As she glanced at her phone again at Mila's brother's text.

Midnight. He's making sound like a tragic Cinderella?

Sighing as she glanced back at the window, though abhor in attending she received a request through Mikhail from none other than Karl Langford to replace his attendance to the Isleen premiere show, "Why the hell would I sit next to that bastard (Stefan) along enduring such a nuisance when I can see it after the reviews" Karl said, she had kindly accepted the offer, under though the strict condition of Mikhail not letting a single picture land on her pretty little face. Not that it was new, her family simply forbade any appearance of any magazine cover as people swarmed towards her like bees to pollen.

"Lady Talia, we've arrived at the back door alley," the driver announced as Talia gave a smile as she checked her phone quickly as her eyes furrowed at the text from her friends.

HAVVVEEE FUN YOU LUCKYYY BIATCH!

TELL US EVERYTHING WHEN YOU GET BACK!

As the chauffeur opened the door to reveal Viard sporting in a simple chic matching obsidian pants and single breast suit smiled as three other attendants ostentatiously awaited in a row beside a door.

"Lady Talia," Viard smiled as she assessed her outfit approvingly, Talia donning in an Alexander Mcqueen customed made deconstructed black wool-silk jacket draped in toils that were wrapped and accented perfectly at the waist with a chocolate leather belt corset. That was paired with knee-length black boots and her hair done in a loose medieval dual braid bun, as the black liner and light smoky eyeshadow brought out her eyes.

"You look lovely as always," Viard complimented.

"You look very chic yourself," Talia replied back as they made their way inside.

---

Golden ribbon hues had beautifully illuminated the room, as Talia has stepped foot into the ballroom of one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, A golden canopy with lights designated assiduously within the room had transported the guests to the is an ethereal South African garden with the marble columns spiralled with fake native South African flowers within between each column a thin line of water had enchanted each guest in astoundment.

"So this is the grand hotel of von Huxley," Talia mumbled as her jade eyes wandered with the glory of the golden room, the light from the gold flourishing ever so gracefully as danced on Talia's skin like the whispers of the wind's song. She too admitted it was far grander than any hotel lobby she had ever seen. "Stunning," the word left her lips.

"It truly is," Viard looked up at the ceiling that mimicked a rainforest canopy that was touched by King Midas.

"It's like Cleopatra met the curse of the Golden touch," Talia expressed as she snapped out of her gaze.

"May I have your attention," a man dressed in traditional french with a dash of modern chic called out, standing behind a waterfall as everyone's attention halted at the man's words, "Esteemed guests, the show will begin momentarily if you will all take your seats," as the man stepped back to his left with his arm extending gesturingly as the waterfall behind him had split into two as small rapturous applause from the crowd in awe.

Damn Talia said as the two females along with the crowd had walked through to only to be hit by the roaring odour of South African coves that dripped down and through the immense roots of the arch that welcomed them.

Dry flowers are woven precariously in the room, with a breathtaking chandelier of a baobab tree root hanging from the ceiling with flowers and light bulbs intertwined, the magnificent structure fastened above the 'T' shaped runway. In the front row seats, Talia sat sandwiched between Viard and none other than Stefan Belacroix.

"lady Talia," Stefan addressed as Talia only gave a gentle smile as the light turned off with a spotlight diligently following the female as a rapturous applause played in the background as Camille Englepoel glided down the runway with a soft two-piece tulle dress, the top a sweetheart neckline that's sky blue lace sleeve wrapped around her fair skin. Her golden mane in a dramatic high ponytail swished behind her perfectly.

Reaching the end of the runway Camille lifted the microphone to her lips as she spoke "Hello and good evening to you all, I would like to all thank you for attending and supporting the debut of my new fashion line Isleen."

Can we just get this thing wrapped up already, I'm missing the new episode- Talia muttered in her head.

"When I was searching for a name for this I came across the word and name Isleen which means Dream or Vision, my dream and vision for this are to show the world my vision to represent my experience of becoming a model and my success. My culture, and my home New York. So I worked tirelessly and overlooked the designs that represented perfectly my two worlds. I would love to say thank you to my best friends, Verena and Dakota for their amazing support and for helping me to make this possible," she gestured her hand to the two girls as the spotlight revealed the two girls in the front row opposite to Talia.

"Now, I hope you enjoy my show," she smiled as she turned to the crowd only to see those familiar emerald-jade eyes she knew when she was eight.

Making her exit the lights faded as a faded mix of traditional tribal music filled the room as the golden lights displayed the first duo of models.

"What the hell?" Talia lowly muttered as watched to what she could only describe as Boho goddesses strutted down the runways as Talia facepalmed. Her jaded eyes skimmed the next lot of models as Talia's eyes had never been blinded so badly in her entire experience of Haute Couture fashion shows.

The brunette looked to her side and never in her life she would forget the moment Viard looked more disgusted as she skimmed the back panelling of the A-line dress with a shredded shirt. The next batch had consisted of models, it seemed the pleasing thing Talia had seen was the rich coral orange and rose gold headscarf. Yet it call came crashing down when a male model came walking with a blouse of exotic feathers blooming vibrantly that only jarred by the fur skirt. It somewhat worked, but Talia prompted in her head that the animal wanted its fur back.

A woman with a distressed leather empire line bodice was snaked by an ocean of mermaid tear pearls that had hugged her arms like a second skin, this trailed by a male shirtless strode with an isiphephetu design jacket.

The final show's showstopper was evocatively screaming to be embedded in the female's mind as the model donning with a gown pouf of cerise flamingo feathers that trailed behind her precariously glided down the glossy catwalk with her head adroitly resting under a headdress that sculpted to be a golden version of a springbok's antlers vining with miniature diamonds spiralling upwards.

"I'm not sure if they're mocking maleficent," Stefan muttered in french.

"I'm concerned if they gutted poor flamingoes," Talia replied gulping as she blinked blankly as light applause played as the lights dimmed. HOLY FRENCH TOAST WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST WITNESS?! Wait-, where did Stefan, Omg he's walking out! He's going, he's walking out! HA!

---

Talia who had aggressively looked at her phone at the time started to rhythmically tap her french manicured fingers on the side of her hip as her other hand cradled a glass of water as she waited for Viard to come out of the washroom.

I told her not to drink too much. Thank god Karl didn't attend, he would make such an outburst and unplug the whole show-

"Is that you? Talia?!" A voice beckoned as the angelic voice made Talia spike as she rigidly turn her head to see her childhood friend Camille as she smiled. Go away, go away, go away-

"Oh my god it's you!" the luscious blonde had hugged the girl in Mcqueen as Valentino had shaken his in disapproval five feet from the two. Why is the girl randomly hugging the fiancee' of a future archduke?! God bless the girl.

"Camille," Talia put on a laboured smile towards the renowned model.

"What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming-, not that I wouldn't. I can't ever find your number or address," Camille inquired buoyantly as she scanned her outfit. My god, Talia is so chic! It's the first time I've seen her dress up! She looks like Audrey Hepburn meets Elizabeth Taylor and Marie Antoinette! I've never seen the design.

"Well, I keep moving here and there, I apologise. My sudden attendance was last minute, I'm filling in for Karl, he called me and said if I can attend with Viard," Talia replied in a honeyed tone.

"Who?" Camille blinked, she knew every big-name designer or seamstress.*

*Jokes on you Camille you're looking at the new creative designer for Chanel.

"She's a french designer-, never mind."

"So how did you think of the show?"

"Impalpable," Talia quickly said. FIVE MILLION DOLLARS GONE TO WASTE!

"Cams!" A voice called out as two girls strutted graciously towards the two as Talia internally puked in her head. A tall brunette with long dazzling tanned legs and piercing amber orbs opted in Versace golden mesh pinstriped suit dress stridden with a Chinese looking female that face was composed beautifully with bold cat-like eyes and a viper-like face.

Go away, go away-

"Oh, who's this?" The tall brunette asked as she looked at this impeccably dressed female.

"This is my childhood friend! Talia! Talia, this is Verena and Miranda. Babes, her family is the one that actually launched my career, I owe it to her," Camille eulogized as Verena was struck with sudden interest. "Where's Dakota?"

"Trying to haul the boys back here. I'm not sure where her mum is," Miranda replied.

"Wow, really," Verena gave a sweet smile as she skimmed her outfit, she too admitted how well the clothes accented her figure, "I love your dress, it's the creme de la creme of any pouf sleeve dress I've seen. Where did you get it? Armani? Gucci?"

"Uh, McQueen," Talia informed.

"I can't remember seeing that, but it looks similar-,"

"It's a prototype," Talia filled in, "It's a reconstruction of the recent one that you've seen."

"It's so chic," Miranda admired, "So what's your reason for attendance?"

"Well one to see the show, but I'm just filling in for a dear friend of mine who couldn't make it," Talia humbly answered.

"No way, you're on good terms with Karl Langford?!" Camille exclaimed as Talia mentally glared at the female as the others raised their brows.

"The cranky old guy?" Miranda blinked.

"That's how everyone knows you from Chanel when we went," Camille revealed.

"Yeah," Talia stammered. VIARD COME BACK! I swear if they say anything about -

"So what does your family do?" Verena asked.

"Nothing special, my mum's a doctor and my dad's an IT engineer," Talia shrugged as could see how Verena had lost interest in her.

How boring, so f*cking original with these Asians. Let's be nice cause I wouldn't have met Cam without her anyways.

"Miranda, there you are!" A male's voice called out as Miranda's father waltzed in opted in an Armani suit.

"Hey dad," Miranda casually said.

"Oh, hello I'm Emanuel Xiao," the man said as Talia nodded her head.

"I'm Talia, Talia Padilla-Hu," she smiled as Mr Xiao's eyes became the size of golf balls.

"By any chance, would you be related to someone named Lady Padilla-Hu?" he excitedly questioned as Talia's eyes widened.

"Um, yes, if you refer to either Dr or Angelina Padilla-Hu then yes, I'm her daughter," she cautiously said as she had never seen a smile so bright as the girl's raised their eyebrows engrossed in the new acquaintance, an investment smile. She had seen too many of them.

"Oh, pleasure, pleasure making your acquaintance! I saw your mother at the Lim charity ball in Shanghai! Which I assume you are related to."

"Distantly," Talia said feeling uncomfortable as she saw Viard walking up to her.

"Talia, there you are! I'm sorry I took so long-, oh apologies I must take Lady Talia now," VIard interrupted.

"but-,"

"Apologies again, Talia," she gestured as smiled at the cluster.

"Till our next encounter," Talia said as she gave a small wave and left.

"What did I miss?" The orange hair girl said walking in.

"A lot," Miranda smirked.

"Well, you fill me in later, I gotta leave! Sorry, my mum is got a flight and I gotta go with, fab as always Cam," Dakota informed.

"Really? Text us, babe," Verena hugged her friend followed by the rest.

"Bye b1tches," she waved with her mum as they made their way to their Rolls Royce limousine.

"You okay?" Her mum asked.

"Yeah, just tired," she replied as she looked at the phone of her lock screen as the clock turned to midnight.

Only is she knew that would be the very last thing she looked at...

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