Fashion Academy by Sheryl Berk

other clothing line?
    Zara: Everything! We are not just another clothing line. We consider the Zara Terez brand to be a lifestyle. We encourage freedom of expression through fashion, individuality, and positive living. We are 100 percent made in the USA, and a big focus of ours is quality . We want to provide our customers with a product we are proud of and a product they feel amazing in. Nothing is more important than feeling good about yourself.
    Carrie: What advice do you have for children who want to become fashion designers when they grow up?
    Zara: You go for it! Reach for the stars. Never doubt yourself. The sky is the limit. Anything is possible.
    Carrie: What is your favorite part about being a fashion designer?
    Zara: Getting to see my designs walk down the street! It’s incredible to know that they chose my design over anyone else’s that day and that the garment I worked so hard to create is how they have chosen to represent themselves in that moment.
    Carrie: What have you learned from being a fashion designer?
    Zara: Making mistakes is okay as long as you learn from them. No one is perfect, and things aren’t always going to run smoothly, especially in a business like ours. But by keeping an open mind, working your butt off, and making sure you stay organized, focused, positive, and true to yourself, anything in the world can be done.

Many thanks to all our friends and family:
    Daddy/Peter: you always make us smile—especially with your crazy party shirts!
    The Kahns, Berks, and Saps: love you to the moon and back!
    Kyle Rothstein: Now a Bar Mitzvah! We’re so proud of you!
    Lizz Errico: Carrie came up with the idea for this book in your fifth-grade class at PS6! Hope you love it as much as we do.
    Ally Lax, Annabelle Haroche, Gaby Hirsch: hope you like seeing your names in print ;-)
    Ms. Archer, Carrie’s English teacher at TDS: thanks for teaching her this year and helping her make her writing shine.
    A big thanks to the fashionably fabulous Zara Terez for her interview and to Stephanie Goldstein of Stoopher and Boots (our fave store for cool clothes!) for introducing us!
    The folks at Sourcebooks, especially Steve Geck, Kate Prosswimmer, Alex Yeadon, and Elizabeth Boyer. We love how enthusiastic you always are about our ideas! Love working with you all.
    Katherine Latshaw and Frank Weimann at Folio Lit: thanks for all your hard work and support.



Mr. Kaye was quite the master at inventing original—and perplexing—fashion design challenges for his students. Mickey had come to accept that she would never know what to expect when he walked through the studio door and drew a number on the SMART Board. Today, it was the number three.
    â€œClients can be extremely difficult,” he began. “And part of becoming a successful designer is learning how to interpret what they want and give it to them.”
    Gabriel gulped. “I don’t have a good feeling about this,” he whispered to Mickey.
    â€œI’d like you all to meet your client.” A little girl strolled into the room and stood facing the students. She was dressed in an adorable smocked pink dress, white ruffled socks, and shiny black Mary Janes.
    â€œAww, she’s so cute!” Mars cooed. “Hi, ya sweetie!”
    The child stuck her tongue out and stomped her foot. “I am not cute. Cute is for babies! And don’t call me sweetie! You’re a dum-dum!”
    The class erupted in laughter. “You tell her, kid!” Gabriel said, applauding.
    â€œYou’re a dum-dum too!” the tot fired back.
    â€œThis is Miss Cordelia Vanderweil,” Mr. Kaye said, trying to calm everyone down. “If we could keep the name-calling to a minimum, Cordy, dear?”
    â€œAs in Victoria Vanderweil? The famous fashion designer who practically launched the designer jean craze in the seventies?” Mickey gasped.
    â€œThe one and only. This young lady is her