Order really lives like this?” Audrey asked, taking a big gulp of wine while clearly trying to piece together the unusual ways they had always known.
“We really do. And I think you’ll find once you get to know the other families that it works remarkably well. We don’t always get along with everyone here, but the way we live is precious to us. There is so much more love, and our women are taken care of the way they should be,” Max replied, a hint of pride audible in his voice.
She paused for a moment and then replied to his explanation with a grin.
“I have to admit,” she said slowly, “I find it all fascinating. I never expected to uncover the heart of American fashion in a place…such as this.”
Silas thought about it for a long moment and then found the best explanation he could. “It’s the perfect place for it. Our people came here to find the ultimate freedom. Our grandfathers started this town because they loved being close to the land and they didn’t want anyone telling them how or why to live their lives. Maybe they weren’t striving to live the life of an artist, but isn’t that exactly the same intent?”
She nodded, listening attentively. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes told him to continue.
He cleared his throat and looked at Max, afraid of making a misstep and uncovering something he shouldn’t. “And that’s why we want to bring it to Europe. We are in…discussions…about it, but we have an ambitious plan to open a global network of our stores, starting with Paris by 1929.”
Max looked like he wanted to punch him in the face. Yes, he was revealing a lot. But who better to turn to for advice on the matter?
“It’s an interesting idea,” she finally said after they sat for several moments in silence.
She seemed to turn the thoughts over in her head, taking a moment to savor the clearly unfamiliar southern flavors on her plate.
“May I respectfully disagree with your business plan?” she finally concluded.
Max looked first to Silas and then to Audrey as she paused, awaiting their instruction. “Why?” his big brother inquired, clearly trying to maintain his temper.
If you say anything about women not knowing anything about business, I swear…
“I don’t think you want to know my answer,” she retorted, the challenge to Max officially issued.
“Of course he does,” Silas butted in, attempting to shift the sudden weight in the room.
“Europe is not safe for business, and it certainly not safe for the likes of me and you. War and fashion do not mix, mes chers amis . It will all fall apart again, this time worse than before. But here, in these wild lands, everything will stay safe. I truly believe that this century will be ruled by the Americans, for precisely the reasons you’ve already so eloquently described, Silas.”
The Abramses looked at one another, silent. She was speaking a lot of sense, and Silas couldn’t help but fall immediately into her train of thought.
“Forget about the old guard, gentlemen. You have an empire to build and it’s right under your noses, waiting for you. Imagine this—a store in every state. In every city. Every American, big and small, coming to you for all their needs.
“It begins with menswear, it’s true. The luxurious experience of shopping at Jaqueline’s cannot be for women alone. I am talking about building an empire here, gentlemen, a new store for a new age. And what could be more American than that?”
* * * *
They lingered for hours over the meal, the conversation continuing to flow as Silas poured glass after glass of wine into all of their tumblers. They scribbled down a vast array of ideas and imagined a wild variety of business ventures.
Max had never met anyone as brilliant as this, man or woman. He couldn’t believe that the object of his freshly awakened desires could incite such powerful ideas in him as well. He felt confident they could debate anything for an eternity, and the thoughts
“We really do. And I think you’ll find once you get to know the other families that it works remarkably well. We don’t always get along with everyone here, but the way we live is precious to us. There is so much more love, and our women are taken care of the way they should be,” Max replied, a hint of pride audible in his voice.
She paused for a moment and then replied to his explanation with a grin.
“I have to admit,” she said slowly, “I find it all fascinating. I never expected to uncover the heart of American fashion in a place…such as this.”
Silas thought about it for a long moment and then found the best explanation he could. “It’s the perfect place for it. Our people came here to find the ultimate freedom. Our grandfathers started this town because they loved being close to the land and they didn’t want anyone telling them how or why to live their lives. Maybe they weren’t striving to live the life of an artist, but isn’t that exactly the same intent?”
She nodded, listening attentively. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes told him to continue.
He cleared his throat and looked at Max, afraid of making a misstep and uncovering something he shouldn’t. “And that’s why we want to bring it to Europe. We are in…discussions…about it, but we have an ambitious plan to open a global network of our stores, starting with Paris by 1929.”
Max looked like he wanted to punch him in the face. Yes, he was revealing a lot. But who better to turn to for advice on the matter?
“It’s an interesting idea,” she finally said after they sat for several moments in silence.
She seemed to turn the thoughts over in her head, taking a moment to savor the clearly unfamiliar southern flavors on her plate.
“May I respectfully disagree with your business plan?” she finally concluded.
Max looked first to Silas and then to Audrey as she paused, awaiting their instruction. “Why?” his big brother inquired, clearly trying to maintain his temper.
If you say anything about women not knowing anything about business, I swear…
“I don’t think you want to know my answer,” she retorted, the challenge to Max officially issued.
“Of course he does,” Silas butted in, attempting to shift the sudden weight in the room.
“Europe is not safe for business, and it certainly not safe for the likes of me and you. War and fashion do not mix, mes chers amis . It will all fall apart again, this time worse than before. But here, in these wild lands, everything will stay safe. I truly believe that this century will be ruled by the Americans, for precisely the reasons you’ve already so eloquently described, Silas.”
The Abramses looked at one another, silent. She was speaking a lot of sense, and Silas couldn’t help but fall immediately into her train of thought.
“Forget about the old guard, gentlemen. You have an empire to build and it’s right under your noses, waiting for you. Imagine this—a store in every state. In every city. Every American, big and small, coming to you for all their needs.
“It begins with menswear, it’s true. The luxurious experience of shopping at Jaqueline’s cannot be for women alone. I am talking about building an empire here, gentlemen, a new store for a new age. And what could be more American than that?”
* * * *
They lingered for hours over the meal, the conversation continuing to flow as Silas poured glass after glass of wine into all of their tumblers. They scribbled down a vast array of ideas and imagined a wild variety of business ventures.
Max had never met anyone as brilliant as this, man or woman. He couldn’t believe that the object of his freshly awakened desires could incite such powerful ideas in him as well. He felt confident they could debate anything for an eternity, and the thoughts
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