chapter418

Thankfully, there were only thirty minutes left until the competition was over. Any chance of catching up with Blake would have to wait.

Soon, it was her turn to give her critique. Jenny and Evalina were still tied for the top spot. Lydia's vote would decide everything.

Every time she ended up in a situation like this, Evalina wanted to kick herself. Why had she stuck her neck out for Minnie before the competition even started? If she had just stayed quiet, or better yet, taken Miss L's side, Miss L might have seen her in a better light and given her the vote.

Lydia started her critiques, moving down the list. Finally, her sharp, thoughtful gaze landed on Evalina and Jenny, moving back and forth between them.

Evalina looked at Lydia, her eyes full of hope. She was desperate for Lydia to let go of the past and give her a chance. Winning first place meant everything.

"Miss Evalina, your design fits beautifully, and the craftsmanship is truly impressive." Under the bright stage lights, Evalina stood in the center of attention, wearing her own creation. For a moment, her eyes sparkled.

Lydia went on, "Your dress is like a piece of moving art, stylish and one-of-a-kind. The silver-gray color makes it feel futuristic, a little cold and full of high-tech energy. It's more than just clothing. It's a perfect mix of fashion and technology, art and creativity. It breaks through tradition and looks ahead to where fashion is going."

Evalina's heart soared at the praise.

Lydia paused, letting the words hang there before changing her tone. "It's a fantastic piece of art, but it would never sell out in stores."

She didn't sugarcoat it. The dress was great, but it just wouldn't work for the market. Evalina's expression froze.

"Maybe you think I'm being too practical, but a fashion designer can't only focus on their own artistic vision and ignore what the market actually wants. If your design is too out there for most people, or doesn't match what your target customers like, how they live, or what they can afford, it just won't succeed in the real world. Your work is amazing, your ideas are fresh and bold, but you've been chasing uniqueness without thinking about how wearable it is for daily life. That means your pieces stay on the runway and never make it into people's closets. Without market research, without keeping up with trends, what buyers want, or what your competitors are doing, your designs end up stuck in their own bubble. Fashion changes fast, and only by staying connected to the market can you create clothes that are both creative and in demand. You wanted to know why I'm voting for Jenny and not for you. That's the reason. I hope this helps you."

Evalina realized she'd been too caught up in herself. She was convinced her designs were unmatched, that no one else could wear them on the runway like she could, so she deserved to win. But Miss L was right. No matter how good her work looked, if it couldn't self, it would just collect dust or be worn once by a celebrity and forgotten.

So what was the point? Was it really just about making something no one else had made before?

All at once, she saw where she had messed up. She shouldn't have let her own pettiness cloud her

judgment, especially when it cam

to someone as professional as Miss L? sw?ovels