could probably find a place for him at Oak Hill.”
Sudden applause drowned out anything more Georgette had to say. Then a spotlight flicked on, the music dipped low, and Delaine walked out onto the runway. She paused in the bright circle of light, looked around, and put a microphone up to her mouth.
“Friends,” Delaine began, “I’m absolute
thrilled
that so many of you turned out for my annual Clothes Horse Races. As you know, many of your favorite designers have donated some amazing fall preview items for you to appreciate and bid on. So enjoy the show, pick out a few garments, and please be generous. All of the money earned here today will go to the Loving Paws Animal Shelter. So remember, there are sweet dogs and kitties who are counting on you!”
With that, the room went dark. The crowd seemed to hold its collective breath until the music crashed on and the lights came on. They were colorful and incredibly bright, focused directly on the Mylar runway. The music was the DJ’s mash-up of Marilyn Manson’s version of “You’re So Vain” and Beyoncé’s “Run the World
.
”
And then the dizzying parade of models began. The first few models wore filmy, flimsy cottons and silks, the kind of flowing slacks and dresses that you could enjoy and wear right now. Then the show segued into a more autumnal theme, with gilded jackets, skintight pants, flowing skirts, and lightweight suede. The models pranced their way down the runway like Tennessee walking horses, lifting their knees unnaturally high as they remained aloof and unsmiling.
The next grouping of fashion featured evening wear. Black lace gowns, burgundy and dark green dresses, and even some smoking jackets, all worn with multiple strands of beads and opera-length pearls.
To Theodosia’s eyes, the fashion show was glitzy, high-energy, and fast-paced. Lots of expensive clothes showed off to perfection by a bevy of attractive, underfed young women.
“Will you look at that ruffled cocktail dress,” said Georgette. “Really amazing.”
Theodosia turned her attention to the waves of blue ruffles that made up the short flouncy skirt, and then was stunned beyond belief when her eyes traveled upward and she suddenly recognized the model! It was Tanya Woodson. Drew’s girlfriend. Or ex-girlfriend, as matters now stood.
Sitting through the rest of the show was difficult for Theodosia. She squirmed and fidgeted, thinking about how strange it was to run into Georgette Kroft and then to see Tanya walking the runway!
When the show came to its grand conclusion, lights blazing and music blasting, all the models came back out and took their final walk down the runway and back. Then Delaine reappeared to make a final plea. She was carrying a little white dog with a curly coat and shiny oil spot eyes.
“Please,” she said, holding the wiggling little dog up for the crowd to see, “fall in love with some of the amazing pieces you’ve just seen here and fall in love with this little guy, too. Then dig deep into your pocketbook and buy. And remember, every penny goes to charity!”
“I just have to have that ruffled cocktail dress,” Georgette enthused as she jumped to her feet. “What about you, Theodosia? Did you pick out a few things that you just have to have?”
“Absolutely,” said Theodosia, though she really hadn’t. She had one eye trained on the runway, watching the models—Tanya in particular—and saw that they were all now carrying little order sheets. Instructed, no doubt, by Delaine to circulate through the crowds, which were surging back toward the champagne bar and all the racks of clothes.
“In fact, I’m going to put my order in right now,” said Theodosia.
“You go, girl,” said Georgette.
Theodosia jumped up on the runway, ran to the end of it, and jumped down, pretty much heading off the surging crowd. “Tanya! Tanya!” she called after the waiflike model.
Tanya heard her name called, glanced around, and saw Theodosia. A
Sudden applause drowned out anything more Georgette had to say. Then a spotlight flicked on, the music dipped low, and Delaine walked out onto the runway. She paused in the bright circle of light, looked around, and put a microphone up to her mouth.
“Friends,” Delaine began, “I’m absolute
thrilled
that so many of you turned out for my annual Clothes Horse Races. As you know, many of your favorite designers have donated some amazing fall preview items for you to appreciate and bid on. So enjoy the show, pick out a few garments, and please be generous. All of the money earned here today will go to the Loving Paws Animal Shelter. So remember, there are sweet dogs and kitties who are counting on you!”
With that, the room went dark. The crowd seemed to hold its collective breath until the music crashed on and the lights came on. They were colorful and incredibly bright, focused directly on the Mylar runway. The music was the DJ’s mash-up of Marilyn Manson’s version of “You’re So Vain” and Beyoncé’s “Run the World
.
”
And then the dizzying parade of models began. The first few models wore filmy, flimsy cottons and silks, the kind of flowing slacks and dresses that you could enjoy and wear right now. Then the show segued into a more autumnal theme, with gilded jackets, skintight pants, flowing skirts, and lightweight suede. The models pranced their way down the runway like Tennessee walking horses, lifting their knees unnaturally high as they remained aloof and unsmiling.
The next grouping of fashion featured evening wear. Black lace gowns, burgundy and dark green dresses, and even some smoking jackets, all worn with multiple strands of beads and opera-length pearls.
To Theodosia’s eyes, the fashion show was glitzy, high-energy, and fast-paced. Lots of expensive clothes showed off to perfection by a bevy of attractive, underfed young women.
“Will you look at that ruffled cocktail dress,” said Georgette. “Really amazing.”
Theodosia turned her attention to the waves of blue ruffles that made up the short flouncy skirt, and then was stunned beyond belief when her eyes traveled upward and she suddenly recognized the model! It was Tanya Woodson. Drew’s girlfriend. Or ex-girlfriend, as matters now stood.
Sitting through the rest of the show was difficult for Theodosia. She squirmed and fidgeted, thinking about how strange it was to run into Georgette Kroft and then to see Tanya walking the runway!
When the show came to its grand conclusion, lights blazing and music blasting, all the models came back out and took their final walk down the runway and back. Then Delaine reappeared to make a final plea. She was carrying a little white dog with a curly coat and shiny oil spot eyes.
“Please,” she said, holding the wiggling little dog up for the crowd to see, “fall in love with some of the amazing pieces you’ve just seen here and fall in love with this little guy, too. Then dig deep into your pocketbook and buy. And remember, every penny goes to charity!”
“I just have to have that ruffled cocktail dress,” Georgette enthused as she jumped to her feet. “What about you, Theodosia? Did you pick out a few things that you just have to have?”
“Absolutely,” said Theodosia, though she really hadn’t. She had one eye trained on the runway, watching the models—Tanya in particular—and saw that they were all now carrying little order sheets. Instructed, no doubt, by Delaine to circulate through the crowds, which were surging back toward the champagne bar and all the racks of clothes.
“In fact, I’m going to put my order in right now,” said Theodosia.
“You go, girl,” said Georgette.
Theodosia jumped up on the runway, ran to the end of it, and jumped down, pretty much heading off the surging crowd. “Tanya! Tanya!” she called after the waiflike model.
Tanya heard her name called, glanced around, and saw Theodosia. A
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