"No, it's her first collection. It's Eliza Thompson. Remember, the girl we put in the socialite centerfold the first week of July?" Each summer, the magazine regularly shot the season's hottest social swans in a three-page foldout. It was a tongue-in-cheek
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nod to the Playboy model, with lists of the socialites' "turn-ons" and "turn-offs." Turn-ons: Five-hundred-thread-count sheets. Turn-offs: Flying commercial. Eager readers collected them like baseball cards. ("Oh, you have an Elisabeth Kieselstein-Cord! Trade you for an Ivanka Trump?")
"She has a line?"
Mara nodded eagerly.
"I don't know," Sam said doubtfully. "This is the final issue, so we can only cover the really big names. Sydney Minx is having his show at the same time. Plus, I spoke to his publicist--he's going to give us a full interview this time."
"But I really think Eliza Thompson is going to be more relevant to the column, to the new generation of readers who are her age . . ." Mara argued. After the success of her column and since receiving the attention of the New York media world, Mara was starting to believe she could pull off being a reporter after all. She was eager to flex some of her new journalistic muscle, especially if it meant being able to help a friend.
"Maybe," Sam said. "But the whole socialite-with-a-clothing-line is kind of done, isn't it? Aren't they all DJs now? Or porn stars? Let's stick with Sydney."
"Are you sure? I really feel like Eliza's show will be more dynamic and current," Mara wheedled, thinking of several fabulous outfits Eliza had in store.
"Sydney's show is the biggest thing to hit this town," Sam snapped. "It's going to close the social season. Everyone is going
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to be there--nobody can stop talking about that show he did earlier this year. And your profile will only made him a bigger deal. People love scandal. It's going to be his comeback."
"But Eliza--"
"Enough. I want you at Sydney's show."
Mara nodded. She'd been shot down, but what could she do? After all, Sam had been in the business twenty years.
She looked at the invitation Eliza had sent--a carefully constructed origami representation of an oversize tote bag ("The Working Woman's New Briefcase")---and put it aside. There was no way she would be able to cover Sydney's show and Eliza's at the same time. Eliza was bound to be so disappointed; she'd already told several prospective buyers that Hamptons would be covering the collection. Mara only hoped her friend would understand.
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daughter knows best
IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FITTING, JACQUI GOT A CALL FROM the caterer. Bad news. The credit card account that Jacqui had given her at the meeting had been closed. Kevin had already started to freeze all of their mutual assets. Damn. Jacqui thought quickly and provided Georgina with Anna's ATM card. She crossed her fingers. Hopefully, the checking account was still working. Georgina called back. It was. They were back on track.
"What's up?" Eliza asked, pinning back the dress on Jacqui's torso. "Does that feel okay?"
Jacqui nodded. She stood in the middle of Eliza's bedroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She still couldn't believe how well the dress fit. It was a cheeky take on a Catholic schoolgirl uniform, with a glen plaid pattern and a Peter Pan collar. But instead of looking . . . well, costumey and pervy, the dress was fresh-looking and fashionable while being incredibly comfortable.
"It's fabulous," she told Eliza. "It feels so good."
"Cotton with a hint of spandex." Eliza grinned. The glamour girl collection had been inspired by her idea--Girls Who Mattered. It was all about making clothes for girls who had other things to think about than clothes. The "uniform" was supposed
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to take all the angsting out of dressing--just grab a sweater, a shirt, pants, and go.
She had been able to talk a few of her old classmates into modeling at the show as well, and they were all sitting around Eliza's room, waiting their turns.
"I still need two more girls," Eliza fretted.
"What about Shannon and Madison?" Jacqui suggested. "I'm sure they'd love to do it."
Jacqui found Shannon reading a book to Cody in the sunroom. She explained that Eliza needed a few more girls for her show and thought that she and Madison would be ideal.
"Me? In a fashion show? Fantastic," Shannon said, putting down the book. "But..."