Welcome to the #RRBC October-Ween Block Party
Welcome to Rave Reviews Book Club's BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER BLOCK PARTY
From Grey to Pink
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Today, I Am Giving Away:
One (1) e-book copy of No Distance Between Us; a novella by Author Young
One (1) e-book copy of The Boy Who Wouldn���t Grow Up; a novella by Young
One (1) e-book copy of The Truth Will Set You Free; a novella by Young
# of Winners for this stop: 3
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I like to introduce you to my blog and autobiographical 5-book series:
A Harem Boy's Saga; a memoir by Young
Synopsis:
This provocative story spanning 4 decades, and 3 continents is about a boy who was sent to a very exclusive English boarding school in the 1960s where he was initiated into a clandestine society and then spirited away to serve in wealthy and elite Middle Eastern harems.
An Excerpt from
A Harem Boy's Saga - Book II - Unbridled; a memoir by Young
From Grey to Pink
���The summer of 2014 will be pure gray, 50 Shades of Grey. That was the big statement for that summer. But then we have 101 shades of Arabian pink, from ���Initiation��� Pink to ���Unbridled��� Pink. These are fashion statements for all seasons.���
Bernard Tristan Foong (aka Young)
1967
At Valentino Garavani, Rome, Italy
Early the next morning, Mario joined us for breakfast before two limousines drove us to 24 Via Gregoriana, Valentino Garavani���s atelier. A separate Rolls Royce ferried Gabrielli, Oscar, Devaj, and the three Arab males menswear shopping. Like at the Parisian couture Ateliers, our entourage was received with great enthusiasm as we proceeded to the third floor for Val���s haute fashion presentation. Instead of day dresses, the designer presented a mini evening and bridal wear collection for the Sekham ladies��� purview. After the private showing, the head venduse sat with the women and me, discussing the styles we selected to add, alter or take in to ensure that the designs were suitable for Mais��� wedding trousseau. Naira, Sabiya and I thought a soft vanilla pink would look fabulous on the bride���s skin tone, though the designer suggested a pastel sugar candy pink. Abu Dhabi being hot and sunny, Thabit���s wives advised a magenta color for one of the reception dresses, with which I agreed full-heartedly. After battering back and forth for several hours, a unanimous decision was reached; a blush bluish-pink gown and a magenta-colored reception dress were the order of the day while an ethereal snowflakes ivory pink for her wedding ensemble. Mais wanted an all-pink wedding, and that was what she got.
Zeba and Ula insisted that gold be incorporated into her ivory-colored wedding dress. As much as Mais wanted a pure white ensemble, she was outnumbered by the women���s votes. Personally, I agreed with the women that ivory and gold was a much better color choice for a gala wedding than brilliant white. Secretly, I was glad the women won the color vote of the day.
Mario, a friend of the designer and his business and life partner Giancarlo Giammetti, acted as our professional fashion consultant, while our accompanying cultural attach�� spoke Italian to the two venduses, who were servicing the ladies.
Seeing my curiosity to explore the atelier, the Count pulled me aside and said, ���I know you are interested to see the workroom, right?���
���That would be nice. I like to learn about the design and manufacturing aspect of high fashion.���
Overhearing my dialogue with the Count, Signor Giammetti said with a strong Italian-English accent, ���Young man, the business of fashion is equally important. A great design talent requires an excellent business mind behind the company. Fashion, like all businesses, is teamwork. Just as we have gathered an excellent team of pattern makers, seamstresses, craftsmen, and women to complete an exquisite collection, we also have an excellent team of able staff in our various departments from marketing, promotion, and publicity to the hospitality service personnel; all these are crucial in order for our enterprise to run smoothly.���
Mario and Giancarlo���s conversation switched from Italian to English as we conversed. The fashion photographer asked, ���Possono Giovani hanno un tour del l���atelier? Egli �� affascinato da vedere come abiti sono abiti haute couture sono costruiti (Can Young have a tour of the premise? He is fascinated to see how haute couture gowns are constructed)?���
���I���ll be glad to show the young man. Come with me while they (he indicated Valentino, the attach�� and the women) are busy discussing styles and models to order.���
Andy, Mario, and I followed Valentino���s business partner to the workshop. Similar to the Parisian ateliers, I was able to catch a glimpse of the workings of an haute couture sample room, affirming my determination to be a fashion designer after graduating from boarding school.
Little did I realize while we were touring the premise, Sabiya was secretly gathering fashion information for her own betrothal to none other than Gabrielli, my professor...
...By the end of the day, I had more than enough shades of pink coming in and out of my senses. I was happy to be back in the mundane world of white, beige, cream, gray and black.
The best fashion lesson I learned during my visit to the Italian couturiers was the geodesy of teamwork. Spick-and span the ateliers functioned because every team member performed his or her integral task with precision, professionalism, and love. As much as a designer makes a fashion company, without a robust team of artisans and craftspeople, good designs will be wasted with shoddy construction and disconsolate attention to details. Over the years, I had the good graces to learn from many grandmasters that great designs equate extraordinary teamwork.
Thank you for stopping by and don���t forget to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this post. Good luck on winning my giveaways! I���ll see you at the next stop of this awesome BLOCK PARTY!
WELCOME TO THE #RRBC 2019 OCTOBER-WEEN BLOCK PARTY!
