“You could also make a stand, in whatever way you felt comfortable, to show inclusiveness and acceptance.”
She locked eyes with him. “Do you feel the royal family is not inclusive?”
He spoke carefully. “I think the perception is often that, Your Highness. However, if the reality is different, then much could and maybe even should be done to show it.”
He gestured to the cover image. “A press release, or even aclothing line, may be a good first step, but it’s not a lasting one. Continued, visible action and commitment is what’s needed.”
“And your job as a stylist, if you were to style me, would be to ensure I promoted inclusivity?”
“No, Your Highness. My job as a stylist, regardless of the client, is to ensure they are confident in the clothes they wear, no matter what those clothes are. On a personal level, I believe all clothes make a statement about the person who wears them. As I often dress those in the public eye, their clothes can also emphasize the causes and concerns most dear to them.”
He’d spoken diplomatically, but she wondered how he truly felt politically. If he turned out to be an anti-monarchist…yet his background and security checks came out clean. And she did appreciate his measured honesty. A princess—or queen—and her stylist must always be honest with each other. “If I were a more standard client, how would you typically begin?”
“Before I take on any new client, I ask them these questions: what’s your most favorite item of clothing you’ve ever worn and why, what’s one thing you wish people knew about you, and what is the last kind thing you did for someone else. All these questions tell me exactly where the client is, and where they’d like to go.”
“Well, I’ll answer those, and tell you a little bit more about what I need. Does that sound good?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“My favorite item of clothing I’ve ever worn is tough, because I loved the dress I was married in, but another answer could also be a simple black dress which I wore on my first date with my now husband. It had thin straps and a flared skirt.
“Hmmm…one thing I wish people knew about me is that I hope to use my position in the monarchy to do real, actual good for the people in Valleria, and even beyond our borders if we can.
“The last kind thing I did…that’s also hard because a royal life is a life of service to others, but then also helping others in the family more personally. So, what do those answers tell you about me?”
He smiled, relaxing a little. “Quite a lot, Your Highness. You like simple, classic, elegant designs, but not necessarily modern ones. You’d do well to integrate some vintage pieces into your wardrobe, or pieces from newer designers that feature a vintage flair. You may prefer to keep your colors generally neutral or your dresses, for example, in solid colors, but you could also add some occasional bold prints or colors, even if only in accessories, to accentuate those looks. I also know, though I’d guessed already, that you’re very kind, and someone I’d very much like to work with.”
She smiled back. “Well, who knew I’d just revealed so much? I’ve liked a lot of what you’ve said, and would need to discuss the rest with you if we proceed, but let me tell you about the position. I’ll remind you first that you’ve signed the NDA, so anything we say here is completely confidential.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
She nodded once. “Good. Prince Alexander and I will be doing a royal tour in the United States. I want all the outfits, including backups, and backups tothosebackups, planned before we leave. We’ll be there over a week and we’ll be visiting three cities, often several events in each city requiring multiple outfit changes even within the same day. I’ll have my regular lady’s maid who will dress me, along with a backup, as well as my makeup and hair stylist with me. You understand that, if selected, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to be in my dressing room. But I’d like a formal stylist traveling with me who also understands American sensibilities and could manage if outfits need to be quickly changed or new ones bought. You lived there for a time, did you not?”
He tensed a little. “I did, yes, Your Highness. For a time. I was born in Valleria, however, and was raised here and have lived the majority of my life here.”
“You attended the Fashion Institute of New York City?”
“I-yes, Your Highness, for two years. I had to leave during my third once my father became ill, and I returned home.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. How is your father now?”
“Still ill, Your Highness, but he has a team of doctors and nurses looking over him. I don’t see an issue with my being able to travel while he’s ill.”
“Okay. And you never thought to go back into design?”
“Every turn in a path leads you somewhere new, Your Highness, and I enjoy styling people quite a lot. I don’t want to turn back towards the path of a designer, at least not now nor in the near future.”
“Do you have staff? Others you may want to bring with you, if you’re selected?”
“No, Your Highness, I don’t have any staff at present. It would just be me.”
“If selected, you’d need to be back here in Valentia as soon as possible until we depart for the trip, and likely a week or so after the trip to debrief. Prior to the trip, you’d undergo extensive protocol training, more extensive background checks, as well as onboarding since you’d be hired as staff for the duration of the trip for a variety of reasons. The monarchy is an institution, after all and, as such, we have a human resources department just like any other company. Would that timing be an issue for you?”
“Would I be able to keep my other clients, Your Highness?”
“Hmmm. Likely not, since you’d be an employee of the palace. If there’s something you would need to take care of, we could try to work around it, through an addendum to your employment contract perhaps. I’d have to consult our legal department before confirming.”
“If we could work it out, then no, the timing shouldn’t be an issue for me, Your Highness.”
