“What about this?” Scarlett says, lifting one off the hook and turning with it against her. “It would look good with yourred hair.” It’s emerald green, with a big skirt. It looks like a grass-flavored meringue.
“Oh my God.” I feel a wave of panic. “I could never wear something like that.” I blow out a shaky breath.
“Do you need to put your head between your knees?” Lisa asks.
I’m actually close to hyperventilating, and I glance at Clara, wondering if she’s going to be smirking behind her head with the other assistant in the shop. But the other assistant is busy with some paperwork, and Clara’s expression is kind rather than being like the haughty assistants inPretty WomanI’d dreaded so much. She’s in her forties, tall and elegant, and she comes up now with a gentle smile and says, “That’s okay, it’s good that you’re clear about what you’d like. So you don’t want a traditional ballgown skirt. And you’d prefer a less vivid color?”
I nod. “I don’t want people looking at me.”
Her lips quirk up. “With that hair, my dear, you will always have people looking at you.”
I touch my ponytail self-consciously. “You mean the color?”
“Yes, and it looks beautifully soft. I think you should wear it down for the ball.”
“I never wear my hair down.”
She looks astonished. “Why not?”
“It draws too much attention. I used to dye it.”
Her jaw drops. “My dear, women would kill to have hair that color.” Then her expression turns kind. “But I understand you’re uncomfortable being in the limelight. We need to find you a gown you feel comfortable in. Something that makes you want to show yourself off rather than hide away.”
Privately, I can’t imagine a dress exists that would make me want to show myself off, but I don’t say so.
“We’ll try a variety of styles,” she says, “until you find one you like.”
Leaving the other three to sit and chat with the champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered biscuits, Clara and the other assistant collect a dozen gowns from around the shop and take me into a huge dressing room.
I know precisely zero about fashion, and I hadn’t realized there were so many silhouettes, as she calls them. A-Line, Mermaid, Trumpet, Fit-and-Flare, Slip, Sheath, Column, Empire, High-Low, Drop Waist. She goes through them all, taking her time. God knows how much Kingi has paid her for our appointment.
I try on all the different styles, parading the results in front of my friends, who are having the time of their lives. Gradually, I begin to whittle the style down. I don’t like anything with a flowing skirt, and surprise myself by preferring the close-fitting styles. I feel they suit the fact that I’m on the shorter side, and even though I don’t have a small bust, and I don’t normally like drawing attention to my figure, I much prefer the simple Mermaid, Column, and Slip-style dresses.
The color is more difficult. Everyone wants me to wear bold tones like bright red, emerald, and sapphire, but I’m not comfortable in those. They’re too gaudy, in my eyes. They scream that I want to be looked at, and I really don’t.
“Can’t I wear black?” I ask.
“Nooooo,” they all say together, and laugh.
“I need something more subtle,” I beg the two assistants. “Please.”
“Oh,” the other assistant says suddenly. “I have an idea.” She whispers to Clara, who nods and smiles, then walks over to a rack and brings out a dress.
“Oooh,” the girls all say.
My jaw drops. “I can’t wear that,” I whisper. But even I can hear the longing in my voice.
“Why don’t you just try it on,” Clara suggests with a smile.
So I do.
And it’s perfect.
*
Thirty minutes later, we’re done. I have the gown, and I’ve been talked into buying new underwear, pretty sandals, a clutch bag, and jewelry. I have everything in several bags which are almost as beautiful as the items inside, except for the dress, which remains in the shop. Clara has booked me into the hairdresser’s next door on Saturday afternoon, and then I’ll be going to the spa to meet a beautician who’ll do my makeup for me before I finally put on the dress.
I thank Clara and the other assistant, and then we leave the shop and stand in the mall. I feel a little dizzy after all that.