The Fashion Princess Read online

  “I’ve copied one of the looks from one of Bryony’s magazines and the dress is a sample she lent me. She dropped it by last night after you’d gone to sleep. Don’t you like it?” asked Saffron.

  “Um, it does look very . . . um . . . interesting and . . . um . . . different, Saffron, but you don’t look like you any more,” said Poppy, being as truthful as she could without hurting Saffron’s feelings.

  “Oh dear, don’t I suit it then? I just wanted a change, with us being in New York and everything. I thought my look was getting a bit, you know, boring, especially after seeing all the glamorous people on the plane and here at the hotel,” replied Saffron in a rather subdued voice.

  Poppy was worried that her older cousin might cry.

  “But Saffron, everyone wants to dress just like you. All my friends think you’re the most glamorous and pretty person they’ve ever met. You always look lovely in your clothes. You don’t need to copy people from magazines.”

  “I suppose you’re right, Poppy,” sighed Saffron. “I just got a bit swept up in the excitement of it all. Will you help me pick out another outfit?’

  “Yes please,” Poppy smiled and headed over to Saffron’s bulging wardrobe.

  While Saffron went to wash out the hairspray and scrub off the make-up, Poppy laid out a turquoise tiered mini-dress with a short pink jacket and gem-studded sandals for her. She was sure her cousin would look her usual gorgeous self.

  When Saffron was finally ready, they went down to the lobby to meet the others before heading over to the fashion shows. Poppy was a bit surprised that Orlando was coming along too. She thought he would prefer the hotel sports club. He hadn’t really dressed up for the occasion and Poppy couldn’t imagine that he was into fashion at all. He was wearing army-green combat shorts, a black rock-band T-shirt and trainers. He had his bag over his shoulder, which Poppy thought was bound to be full of snails, spiders, worms, frogs and all sorts of foul things. Berry, on the other hand, looked magnificent. She was wearing a navy and white striped mini-dress with footless tights and loads of funky jewellery, plus a cute red clutch bag. And Bryony’s outfit was pure haute couture!

  “Come on, you lot,” she called. “The taxi’s waiting.”

  Chapter Four

  WHEN THEY ARRIVED at Bryant Park on 42nd and 6th, Poppy was amazed at the size of the Fashion Week event. There were several huge air-conditioned tents set up in a large park. All around, there were glamorous people wearing huge sunglasses and amazing hats and outfits, mainly in black, white or grey. The models were all taller and thinner than Poppy expected.

  Berry seemed to know the whole scene inside out. She nudged Poppy. “Wow, look – there’s Tallulah Melage,” she whispered, pointing to one of the models close by.

  “This is so cool!” Poppy whispered in reply. “Don’t you think she’s the most beautiful girl in the whole world?”

  “Definitely,” agreed Berry, mesmerized by the model.

  Tallulah must have heard their whispered comments because she turned to the girls and smiled broadly.

  “I’m not pretty first thing in the morning, I promise you, girls. It’s all tricks of the trade,” she said sweetly, before floating off in a black chiffon mini-dress.

  “Wow, she’s a really nice person too,” said Berry.

  “I know,” agreed Poppy. “I just can’t believe she spoke to us.”

  “Most models are really rude and unfriendly,” said Berry, sounding very knowledgeable. “But I reckon it’s just ’cos they’re hungry.”

  “Yeah, probably,” agreed Poppy; she wasn’t really sure why the models would be hungry, though she did know that she got quite grumpy when she hadn’t eaten properly.

  Saffron and Bryony came back after registering at Reception and were quite miffed when they found out that they had missed out on a personal chat with Tallulah Melage. Bryony was secretly hoping that Tallulah would be there when she interviewed Ned Carew later that morning. She was desperate to meet her.

  Bryony handed out everyone’s official Buttons and Bows name badges, which allowed them access to all the VIP rooms and the shows. The girls were absolutely thrilled with theirs and pinned them on right away. Orlando was rather less enamoured with his, and shoved it into his famous bag!

  “We have to wear our badges if we want to wander around the tents and runways and get into the smart cafés and everything,” explained Berry, taking Poppy under her wing.

  “Um, OK, but what are runways?” asked Poppy curiously.

  “Just the catwalks where the models sashay up and down in their incredible outfits,” explained Berry.

  “I wish we could go and stare at airport runways instead of this old garbage,” moaned Orlando. “Clothes were invented to keep us dry and warm, or cool and comfortable. Everything else is just rubbish. That’s what my dad says.”

  “If you don’t like it here, you should have stayed behind at the hotel, moron!” said Berry.

  “Enough bickering, you two,” said Bryony firmly. “Let me explain what the plan is. First of all, Saffron and I have a couple of ‘press only’ shows to go to, so you guys can go exploring. Then I’ve got an interview with Ned Carew. But you can go to any of the other shows so long as you wear your badges, OK?”

  Berry and Poppy nodded, while Orlando swatted a wasp.

  “You can roam around freely but you mustn’t leave the park, and don’t take unofficial routes between the tents – always use the walkways, otherwise you’ll get in the way. And if you get lost, go to Reception and we will find you there. Let’s meet for lunch over in the VIP restaurant at about one o’clock. Here’s a map. Have fun, and remember: behave – especially you, Orlando. You’re wearing Buttons and Bows badges so you’re representing the magazine.”

  “We promise we’ll be good,” chimed the children.

  “Now, Orlando,” called Bryony, “if you are good, we’ll watch a super-hero movie in the hotel later! Come on, Saffron, we should get going.”

  Berry rolled her eyes. “I never get to see any date movies!” she complained.

  “That’s because you never get asked on any dates,” retorted Orlando.

  “Yes I do, but I certainly wouldn’t tell you about them!” Berry fired back.

  “Eeeurgh. Dating makes me feel sick!” said Orlando, pretending to choke and eventually falling to the ground, clutching his throat and throwing his legs straight up in the air.

  Poppy laughed. But this was the worst thing to do with Orlando, because it encouraged him to keep doing the ‘funny’ thing over and over again, until it was no longer funny at all.

  Saffron kissed Poppy goodbye and dashed off after Bryony, leaving the three new friends trying to decide what to do and where to go. Orlando started to try on a huge mother-of-the-bride style hat he found lying on a chair until Berry hissed at him to put it down before he got into trouble with its owner.

  “I know,” she said. “Let’s go and collect our Fashion Week goody bags from the sponsor. They’ve always got amazing stuff in them and it’s all free!”

  Poppy nodded keenly, while Orlando pretended to skip like a girl and said, “Oooh, yeah, our goody bags!”

  Despite the fact that Bryony had warned them about sticking to the main walkways, they couldn’t resist taking a short cut between two of the main tents. Orlando led the way confidently and they saw what it was like behind the scenes at Fashion Week, which the girls found absolutely fascinating. There were rails crammed full of outfits being wheeled to and fro, plus shoeboxes and make-up on trolleys. Crates of juice were lying around, as well as spare tent poles and generators used for heating and lighting the tents. People were agitatedly discussing timings, music was playing intermittently and seamstresses dashed about with measuring tapes round their necks and pins in their mouths. There were models everywhere. Then, as they were walking behind one of the dressing tents, they heard what sounded like someone sobbing so they decided to investigate.

  Chapter Five

  POPPY, BERR
Y AND Orlando peered in through the flap to see what was going on. They saw a very frail and rather familiar-looking girl. She was bent double, crying buckets.

  “I think that’s Tallulah!” whispered Poppy.

  They all crouched down to get a better look and saw that a very short man, skinny except for his pot belly and dressed all in black, was talking to her.

  “Pull yourself together, Tallulah. I’ve only decided that you’re not right for this show. I’m just not feeling your look for this collection, darling! OK?”

  “But you were totally feeling it yesterday when we had the final fittings and dress rehearsal,” sobbed Tallulah.

  “It is Tallulah. And that’s Ned Carew,” whispered Berry as the children strained to hear. “I bet Bryony wouldn’t admire him so much if she could hear him talking now!”

  Poppy nodded.

  “Well, I’m not feeling your look now, sweetheart,” Ned continued, seeming totally oblivious to how upset Tallulah was. “I’ve got a younger girl lined up – fresh from Europe. She’s so much more now. I just want what’s best for the collection and so should you. And right now, that’s not you! That’s all I’m saying. Don’t take things so personally, yeah? Get over it.”

  Poppy was shocked. She couldn’t imagine anyone in the world being more beautiful or perfect than Tallulah, and she was really young too. Poppy thought she was probably about the same age as Saffron, although she’d been a world-famous model since she was Daisy’s age.

  Ned strolled off as if he didn’t have a care in the world, leaving poor Tallulah in a crumpled heap.

  “I’m over. He hates me,” she said to herself. “What am I going to do?”

  Berry went in through the gap in the tent, followed by Poppy and Orlando. She walked up to the model and handed her a tissue.

  “We still think you look lovely!” she said shyly.

  Tallulah managed a small smile and sniffed. “Thank you! It’s just so awful that I’ve been dropped by Ned – he’s like God around here. No one else is going to want to work with me now.”

  “But he’s really wicked. Just forget him,” suggested Berry.

  “I’d like to but I don’t know what else to do. Modelling is all I know – I’ve been doing it since I was quite young,” explained Tallulah.

  “Don’t worry, Tallulah,” said Berry. “You’re better than he is – I’m sure you’ll work something out.”

  “You’re such sweet kids. Listen, I’d better go and call my agent. But thanks for being so nice,” said Tallulah, trying to compose herself. “I think you’re probably the only honest and genuine people around here.”

  And with that she pulled a phone out of her bag and went off to make her call.

  “That Ned guy is a right shark and deserves a taste of his own medicine. I’ve got an idea,” said Orlando as soon as Tallulah was out of earshot. “Quick, let’s follow him . . .”

  Poppy looked at Berry, who shrugged her shoulders and said, “Why not? He’s been horrid to poor Tallulah. I don’t care how famous or talented he is, he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with treating people like that.”

  Outside the tent, Ned Carew was untying his beloved little pooch, Chi-Chi.

  “Come on, Chi-Chi-kins, Daddy needs brunch,” he said, heading off in the direction of the restaurant tent.

  The two girls followed Orlando, who followed Ned Carew through a maze of tents all the way to the VIP hospitality tent. At one point they lost him, but he had just stopped to give an autograph to an adoring fan.

  “You’re just the king, Ned. We love your styles,” she told him.

  He smiled and said casually, “It’s what I do, honey.”

  Finally Ned Carew tied Chi-Chi to another pole and went into the lavish VIP tent.

  “I’ll have the full English all-day breakfast, and sharpish,” he demanded. “Extra mushrooms, eggs sunny side up, pancakes and hash browns – and hey, do me a side order of French fries. And I like organic maple syrup. Get me a full milk mocha latte too, with sprinkles.”

  Poppy noticed that he didn’t say please or thank you, which she thought was very rude.

  “Gross. He’s so greedy!” said Berry.

  But Orlando wasn’t listening. Instead he was fumbling around in his bag.

  “Ah-ha! Just what I was looking for,” he said, pulling some things out. “We need to distract him for a moment when his food arrives. I’ve got some salt and vinegar sachets for his coffee, and hot chilli powder and extra-strong mustard powder for his fry-up, all courtesy of the Central Park Plaza Hotel. We can watch him from here and see his face screw up when he tastes his brunch with my special seasoning.”

  Poppy was starting to realize that she and Orlando had quite a lot in common. She liked the way he thought. “Cool idea, Orlando. He deserves it,” she giggled.

  When Ned’s vast platter of food arrived, Poppy was tasked with creating a diversion to make him look away from the table, giving Orlando the chance to put his plan into action.

  “What shall I do?” she asked as they saw Ned licking his lips in eager anticipation.

  “Just think of something. Quickly,” instructed Orlando.

  The only thing Ned seemed to care about was his little dog, Chi-Chi, so Poppy decided to untie the fluffy white pooch and carry her in to Ned as if she had just found her roaming about looking for her master.

  “Excellent plan, princess!” said Orlando. “Off you go.”

  Poppy stroked the sweet little dog and undid her leash, then popped her into her large shoulder bag and carried her undetected through the entrance of the hospitality tent. No one stopped her, probably because they thought she was the daughter of a designer, and she made her way over to where Ned was sitting.

  Chapter Six

  CHI-CHI YAPPED FRANTICALLY when she saw Ned, and he jumped up as soon as he saw her peeking out of Poppy’s bag.

  “What you doin’ with my dog, kid?” he barked at Poppy.

  “Sorry, sir – she was lost and someone said she belonged to you,” said Poppy, desperately trying not to laugh when she caught sight of Berry and Orlando pulling faces and giving her the thumbs-up.

  Ned took Chi-Chi in his arms and kissed and hugged her.

  “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t allow pets inside the VIP tent,” said a waitress as she arrived at his table.

  “OK, lady,” said Ned irritably. “I’m just going to take her out and this time I’ll tie her up more securely, won’t I, Chi-Chi, darling?”

  As Ned made his way out to deal with the dog, Orlando moved in stealthily and smothered the fry-up with mustard powder and hot chilli pepper, and doused the pale mocha latte with lashings of salt and vinegar. When he was finished, he took up his position outside the tent with Berry again. By the time Poppy ran round to join them, Ned was sitting down once more, greedily eyeing his enormous brunch.

  As soon as he took a mouthful of food, his face began to crease up and his lips pursed together in an expression of disgust. He looked as if he was going to explode. He spat the mouthful of food back out onto his plate and quickly took a gulp of coffee to put out the fire on his tongue, only to choke and splutter, and eventually spit that out too. Then he began to sneeze and cough, gasping for breath, his face growing redder and redder as he undid his collar and flapped his hand in front of his mouth like a fan. Berry, Orlando and Poppy could hardly contain their giggles.

  “Someone is trying to murder me before my big show! Help! Call the police. Call nine one one. I’m dying!” Ned spluttered as the other diners looked on in horror.

  A whole bevy of waitresses swarmed around him, but no one was able to calm him down. He was calling for water, ice and a full investigation into who had poisoned him.

  “Job well done!” said Orlando, patting his trusty bag.

  “Let’s get out of here quickly,” said Berry sensibly. “Why don’t we go and check out some shows now? Oh, and we never did pick up those goody bags, did we? Shall we do it now?”

  “Yes please,” sa
id Poppy. “I can’t wait to see what’s in them – and to see a real fashion show.”

  “OK,” said Orlando, “but I’m not finished with him yet!”

  Berry rolled her eyes. “He won’t stop until he’s caught,” she said to Poppy. “He doesn’t believe in quitting while he’s ahead!”

  The goody bag was much bigger than Poppy had expected, and full of so many lovely things. There was a classic white T-shirt, funky jewellery, a brand-new type of perfume called Liberty, as well as a beautiful leather-bound design pad, pens and pencils. The bag was tied up with ribbon and had a fresh pale-pink rose attached to it.

  “Hey, a show’s about to start in that tent over there,” said Berry, looking at a notice board. “It’s Nick Lamont. His stuff is pretty weird but he puts on really great shows. It’s like being in a costume drama! Let’s go and check it out.”

  Poppy and her two new friends sat perfectly still as they took in the runway show from their front-row seats. Poppy was amazed to find that the theme of the show was “Aliens”. She didn’t think anyone in real life could ever wear any of the outfits; the models were quite scary-looking and had crazy hair and make-up.

  “What do you think?” whispered Berry.

  “Um, I think it’s a bit strange,” said Poppy, hoping her friend thought the same.

  “Exactly what I was thinking,” agreed Berry. “I mean, no one is actually going to wear this stuff.”

  Orlando was fast asleep but fortunately not snoring! Once the show was over, they woke him up and decided to flop on the grassy square in the main courtyard until it was time to meet Bryony and Saffron.

  “I know!” said Poppy. “Let’s sketch our own designs. They’ve got to be better than the ones in Aliens!”