Fashionista Read Free Page B

a whole summer campaign around a retro La Dolce Vita theme. Dress the models up with 60s makeup and hair. And those dresses with the full skirts. ” He sounded kind of wistful as he pictured the sexy dresses with the full skirts.
    “ Have them kicking their sandals off to dance barefoot on the sand. ”
    “ Why don ’ t you put something together? ” Allegra said, seeing he was in “ the zone. ”
    “ Okay, ” he said. “ I ’ ll have something for you to look at tomorrow. ”
    Allegra smiled as Ebeneezer left her office. She had hired him right out of Booth School of Business to replace Zangari ’ s former head of marketing, who ’ d retired after Enzo died. Ebeneezer was young, metrosexual, ambitious and Allegra loved his energy and his ideas. Mariella had been annoyed that Allegra had offered him the job without consulting her first, but even she had to admit that sales had gone up since he ’ d begun implementing his master plan with mini-movie style ads, modeled after Jaguar ’ s “ It ’ s Good to Be Bad ” and BMW ’ s “ The Driver ” commercials. They ’ d become viral sensations and now Zangari had a YouTube channel. I wonder if Jennifer Lawrence needs a new pair of shoes, Allegra thought. She knew Jennifer was on Ebeneezer ’ s wish list of actors for the next video. She could totally pull off that glam 60s look .
    She smiled again, but her good mood evaporated as Severine brought in the mail, including several bulky packages that could only contain portfolios.
    Allegra ’ s official title was “ Design Director for the House of Zangari ” and it seemed like every day half a dozen portfolios from would-be designers landed on her desk. With every celebutante in the country designing handbags, she ’ d come to see purses in her sleep — clutches, envelopes, doctor bags, hobo bags. She ’ d only hired one designer sight-unseen. Her portfolio had been outstanding and she ’ d sent it with a gorgeous clutch in forest green faux leather with hand-tooling on the flap and a leopard-print lining. Inside the purse was a hand-calligraphied note that said “ Vegans need accessories too. ” Allegra had hired Lily and put her in charge of designing all of Zangari ’ s alternate line of leather-less accessories and they ’ d been a huge hit in their online store.
    Panning for gold , Allegra thought as she contemplated the stack. I ’ m panning for gold . She opened the first portfolio to see a sketch of a crossbody purse that was designed to look like a python strangling the wearer.
    Nope .
    The next portfolio contained a whole series of geometrical designs, including a circle purse with a hole in it like a life preserver. It was cute but totally impractical, as was the triangle design clutch with looked like it was reversible. Allegra had experimented with triangle shapes herself and knew they rarely worked. Maybe if all you wanted to carry was a credit card and your house key but anything else and the purse would bulge in a way that wasn ’ t attractive.
    She scribbled a quick note on Zangari letterhead saying, “ Try again, ” and put it aside for Severine to mail back.
    The third portfolio came packaged in a metal box that looked like it had been beamed back from the future. Inside were beautifully rendered watercolor illustrations of a knock-off version of Kate Spade ’ s giraffe print purse and another of a tote from Allegra ’ s tribal collection of 2014. How stupid are you? she thought crankily. Did you think I wouldn ’ t notice you stole one of my designs? Or one of Kate ’ s most copied accessories?
    She closed the box and put it aside. That one would get a form letter saying, “ Don ’ t bother to submit again. ”
    She was just reaching for the fourth portfolio when Sina appeared at her office door.
    “ Are you busy? ” she asked, and without waiting for an answer, turned and ushered in the two people standing behind her. Allegra recognized the girl she ’ d seen in the