When Jiang Jianhuan was embraced by You Yan with a smile and great affection, she couldn't help but get goosebumps. The faint scent of perfume lingered in her nose, and she felt as if she were holding a beautiful snake.
The first theme task was released that same day.
Who is the fairy?
The topic is easy to understand. As the name suggests, it is to develop in a very ethereal direction. After the theme is announced, it is time for everyone to discuss. The celebrity guests and designers are in a separate space to express their ideas and concepts.
Jiang Jianhuan and You Yan sat facing each other. She wore a red off-shoulder dress, her long chestnut-brown curly hair cascading over her shoulders, and a string of sparkling earrings dangling from her earlobes. She was radiant and beautiful with fair skin.
In contrast, Jiang Jianhuan, dressed only in a thin suit, shirt and shorts, appeared very elegant. Her makeup was also very light, with black eyes and black hair. She was delicate and beautiful, without any hint of overshadowing the host.
You Yan was slightly satisfied, and her smile became even sweeter as she faced the camera.
"I think a fairy should be beautiful, um... a little ethereal, like a white tulle dress, that pure and fairy-like feeling is something to consider." She finished speaking in an unquestionable tone, then, as if remembering something, casually asked a question.
What do you think?
Jiang Jianhuan hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "Actually, most people think of this when they hear the term 'fairy,' so the other groups probably think the same way..."
After she finished speaking, she looked directly at You Yan, her tone calm.
"I think Ms. Yan Yan's temperament might be more suited to more glamorous elements."
"Hmm? For example?" She seemed to have become interested, raising her eyes to look at her.
"I wonder if Teacher Yanyan has any impression of the flying apsaras in the Dunhuang murals?" Jiang Jianhuan asked after thinking for a few seconds. You Yan hesitated upon hearing this, seemingly lost in thought.
"But..."
When you think of the flying apsaras in the Dunhuang murals, the first image that comes to mind is their graceful flight, draped in colorful shawls and flowing robes. In terms of ethereal beauty, their magnificent and retro style is even more striking.
"Doesn't this fit the theme of 'little fairy' a bit too much?" she frowned, but Jiang Jianhuan remained calm.
"I'm just suggesting a general direction; I'll definitely make improvements when the finished garments are released. By the way, regarding the material, I plan to choose flowing, colorful gauze, along with a shawl. For the runway, we can discuss with the director about a high-altitude entrance, such as someone floating down from mid-air on a long ribbon, or using props like a swing..."
Based on her description, You Yan imagined it, and her eyes gradually brightened. Just thinking about it was enough to imagine how stunning she would be when she appeared in that colorful gauze dress and shawl.
Moreover, in terms of ethereal beauty, she is probably unmatched.
"Then I hope your final product won't disappoint," You Yan said with some satisfaction. Jiang Jianhuan nodded in agreement.
"I will do my best."
The recording ended here, and the guests could leave. What remained was the segment where the designer made the garments in the workshop. The staff removed the recording equipment and cameras. You Yan stood up, and as she brushed past her, she deliberately paused for a moment.
"You do have some interesting qualities. It was worth asking the production team to replace Chi Lan with you."
This sentence contains so many meanings.
It's a show of force, a warning, and carries another layer of meaning.
—You owe me a lot for being able to participate in the show; one should know how to repay kindness.
Jiang Jianhuan didn't answer, standing there straight. You Yan paused, then, finding it uninteresting, left.
The assigned workspaces were in the same building as the recording studio. The designers first went to select fabrics, a process that was kept secret to ensure that no one knew the other's ideas until the finished garment was completed.
As soon as Jiang Jianhuan finished recording, he buried himself in drawing. Before he knew it, it was getting dark. A staff member brought him dinner. The food was very good. After eating, Jiang Jianhuan did some light exercise and then continued with the unfinished design.
The workspaces are all individual, with cameras installed in every corner. There's a rest room in the back, fully equipped with toiletries. You'll be staying here for the next two days, and your activities are limited to this building. You're not allowed to go out without permission. In special circumstances, you need to get permission from the production team. This is to prevent plagiarism, borrowing, or outside help from others.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Jiang Jianhuan basically didn't go out and avoided meeting other people. A day passed in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Jianhuan stayed up until dawn without stopping. Finally, the clothes began to take shape.
This is an ethereal dress.
The skirt is made of pleated colorful tulle that reaches the instep, flowing and light. The upper body is a slightly plain moon white with a straight neckline that reveals a large expanse of skin around the collarbone. The sleeves are wide and made of an even lighter material, partially concealing the fair arms underneath.
The shawl consists of three strands, each a different color from the skirt's hem. The fine gauze is very thin and soft, and the three strands together are just right. As you walk, each strand flutters with your steps, creating a light and ethereal effect.
During the ready-to-wear design process, celebrity guests would visit the set to capture footage of the two of them discussing and sharing their opinions. When Jiang Jianhuan's garment had a rough outline, she contacted You Yan.
Actually, if they're busy, they can add more shots later, especially for people like them whose schedules are booked until next year, they can almost always postpone them.
However, when You Yan saw the photos Jiang Jianhuan sent her, she came over in person without saying a word.
Both were very satisfied with the fitting results, but there were a few minor changes that needed to be made. Jiang Jianhuan noted them down one by one, and then the production team communicated with You Yan about the appearance arrangements.
On the day of the runway show, it was a chaotic scene compared to the calm and peaceful recording beforehand. There were scattered props, hurried staff, and a director directing people around with a megaphone.
Everything was ready. Guests, judges, and audience members were all in place. The lights were on, the venue was quiet, the host came out first to warm up the crowd, and then it was time for the celebrities to showcase their talents.
The first to appear was Wen Sha, a female celebrity who has never been very popular. To put it nicely, she has a pure and innocent look; to put it bluntly, she is plain-looking. However, she is pleasing to the eye. After makeup, her eyebrows and eyes are more refined, making her stand out from the average person by a large margin.
Ethereal music rose from all directions, and wisps of white mist rose from the stage. Wen Sha appeared in a white gauze dress, her long hair flowing, and she waved her sleeves lightly, like a fairy descending from heaven, untouched by worldly affairs.
Her natural elegance couldn't overpower the glamorous outfit and makeup; they complemented each other perfectly, perfectly capturing the theme of the day.
As expected, thunderous applause followed, and the judges gave her a very high score, but because she was the first to perform, they were still somewhat restrained. The fact that the first performer was so eye-catching puts those who followed in a difficult position; without a truly outstanding performance, they might be overlooked.
The second was another female celebrity, Rui Rou. As Jiang Jianhuan predicted, her outfit also incorporated white gauze elements. Although it was very different from the previous one, it didn't look as stunning. Compared to the previous one, it seemed quite ordinary.
The order was determined by drawing lots, and it was also her bad luck. If she had been separated from two other people, her score wouldn't have been so low.
Jiang Jianhuan glanced at Rui Rou and her designer; neither of them looked too happy.
The following contestants each had their own highlights, some were cute and pink, others were quirky and eccentric, etc... but none of them scored higher than Wen Sha, who ranked first.
It's worth mentioning Chi Lan. Her idea is somewhat similar to Jiang Jianhuan's. She uses bright colors and takes the route of a 'flower fairy'. Her skirt is embroidered with hand-woven flowers, and even her head is adorned with a flower wreath.