Designed for Disaster (7 page)

Maybe it's just happy laughter,

Nancy thought as she continued to smile and walk the way Nicole had taught them.

When Nancy was almost to the end of the runway, though, she was sure they weren't laughing with her.

At the end of the runway, out of most of the bright lights, Nancy could now see into the audience. People weren't just laughing, they were pointing, too!

You don't understand fashion,
Nancy thought. She held her head high. She was glad she was part of this international fashion show.

Nancy made her turn to head back to the stage, and right away she knew what was making everyone laugh. Bess, George, Quincy, and Deirdre all had bright orange faces! They looked like pumpkin heads. Nancy was sure she looked like one too!

How did this happen?
Nancy wondered.

Then all of a sudden the pieces of the puzzle fit.

Finally Nancy reached the opening in the curtain, went through it, and, when she was totally out of sight of the audience, exhaled.

What a mean, terrible thing to do!
Nancy thought.

As the rest of the show continued, Bess, George, Quincy, and Deirdre rushed over to her.

“Why are our faces orange?” Deirdre demanded. “My career is ruined!”

“You were right, Nancy,” George said.

“I still can't believe it,” Bess added.

“What are you two talking about?” Quincy asked.

Just then Nicole came over to them. “Oh, I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened. There must have been some mix-up—or maybe the makeup is just old!”

Nancy and the Crew Clue just looked at her for a few moments, and then Nancy said, “Really? I don't think that's it at all, Nicole. I think you did it on purpose. The only question is
Why.
”

“What do you mean?” Nicole said. “Are you accusing me of all the pranks?”

“That's exactly what we're doing, Nicole,” Bess said.

“We had already searched those lockers where you found the missing clothes,” George said. “That couldn't have been where they were hidden.”

“That gave you away,” Nancy added, “but I guess we just didn't want to believe it.”

“Well, I … I …,” Nicole started to say, and then she burst into tears. “It's not my fault. My
mother is a wonderful designer, and Juliana won't …”

“Girls! Girls! It's incredible!”

Everyone turned. Juliana was hurrying toward them. With her was Mrs. Corwin, Mrs. Ramirez, and a woman Nancy didn't recognize.

“We're sorry, Juliana,” Nancy said. “We were just talking about …”

“Sorry? Sorry for
what
?” Juliana said. “This was the grandest fashion show I've ever put on! Several buyers from stores around the world are going to carry my Rhes! line of clothing.”

Nancy and the others looked at one another.

“Really?” Nancy said.

“But what about the orange makeup?” Deirdre asked.

“That was a fantastic idea,” the woman said.

“Oh, I'm sorry, students. This is Sophia Napoli,” Juliana said. “She's the editor of
Fashion Plate
magazine, and she's going to do a story about my Rhes! designs.”

“I thought the orange makeup really went
well with every outfit,” Sophia said. “In fact, that's going to be the focus of the article: ‘Why can't we wear different colors of makeup if we feel like it?'”

“That's what I'm saying!” Deirdre said.

Everyone laughed—including Nicole.

That night everyone connected with the fashion show met at Nancy's favorite pizza parlor for dinner. They took up several tables.

In the middle of the meal, Nicole stood up and said, “I want to apologize to everyone for the things I did. I hid the designs, I hid the clothing, I hid the personal belongings of the other models, and I substituted the orange makeup for the regular makeup. It's just a light shade of orange until the runway lights hit it, and then it turns really bright!” She looked at Juliana. “I'm sorry. I was angry that you didn't use my mother's designs—because she's a wonderful designer.”

“Oh, Nicole!” Juliana said. “I
am
going to use
your mother's designs!” She shook her head. “It's just that I've been so busy getting ready for the River Heights show, I hadn't said anything about it.”

“Juliana! Mother will be so happy!” Nicole said. “I'm so sorry. That was
very
unprofessional of me!” She smiled. “But I think the River Heights models were as professional as any models I've ever seen.” She turned to Felicity, Elizabeth, Marissa, and Cory. “Don't you agree?”

This time, they all nodded and smiled.

“Oh, I just knew this was my career!” Deirdre said.

“Well, I never thought about a career in modeling,” Nancy said, “but it really was fun!”

“I have an idea,” Nicole said. “Anytime you want to come to New York, you can stay with me and my mother, and we'll take you to some of the famous fashion houses.”

Deirdre gasped. “Do you think when they see me they'll want me to model for them?”

“You never can tell,” Nicole said.

“Here's to a successful fashion show—and a successfully solved case,” toasted Juliana.

Everyone cheered.

You're going to become a famous fashion designer and hit the catwalk!

You will need
:

Paper

Colored pencils

Magazines and catalogs for inspiration

Let's get started!

Sketch a body template onto a blank sheet of paper. Make as many photocopies of this template as you want so you don't have to redraw it when you make a new design.

With the colored pencils, create a variety of outfits. You can draw them all for one season (like fall) or for one activity (like ballet).

When you've finished, print or sign your name
on the design so that people will know you are the designer.

Finally, tape up the designs around your room, and invite family or friends to see your latest collection!

Be creative. Draw the kinds of clothes you want to wear yourself!