It wasn’t her first time going to something fancy. Thanks to rich Palestinian churchgoers and her parents’ Ivy League faculty–invitation soirées, these gala-type events were just another dime in the bag.
Except this one was different.
“I’m wearing a little black dress,” Elly was saying to Spencer. He was all up in arms that she dressed her best—spend more money than necessary on a new outfit.
“Like the one your mom gifted you five years ago for Christmas? The one you distinctly said was from Marshall’s, and also the one you wore on our first date?”
How did he remember this stuff? It was as if he was a character written for a manic woman’s novel exposé. Some part of her—the one deep down, knew she would be making a revengeful twist on him in a future novel, if she ever got there.
But the thought dissipated as she considered what she was going to say next.
“Coco Chanel believed adamantly in the little black dress. And theologically, philosophically, sociologically, neither of us can argue with her. She came up with the idea after being taught by nuns.”
She paused for emphasis. Sometimes, Elly could be a charlatan too.
“And what do nuns typically wear? A black dress or garb, if you want to be specific. It’s the pinnacle of attire. Almost all major fashion designers wear entirely black when making debuts. Why do you think it’s called a black-tie event?”
She was rambling drunkenly in protest, and Spencer finally relented.
“Pearls, too?” She could hear Spencer’s eyes rolling.
“Ye—yes!” She was getting somewhere with him. All she needed was some nice accessories, like that Tiffany’s necklace Fr. Ewan — or Ewan had given her randomly after one of her informal, pining social media posts about Humanity Majors affording luxury jewelry.
It felt like cheating to wear it, but then again, if there was any time, this event would be the event to make its first appearance. And then, of course, she completed the look with a pair of matching earrings as a gift to herself.
Elly had not bothered to wear the jewelry. They stayed put like some menagerie of what she wanted her future to be, even though she was constantly following penniless writers for what seemed like reasons to drink herself to death.
Whatever direction—she was willingly gambling for the former.
“Purse. You need a fun purse. Don’t go Betsey Johnson. Too economical.”
Spoken as if he was Bret Easton Ellis.
It was conversations that flowed like this that made Elly feel like they were made for each other. No one else connected with her like this—these micro-shifts in references.
“My mom gave me a Kate Spade purse that’s shaped like a boo—”
“Does your mom buy you all your clothes?”
He asked for the umpteenth time.
Talking about her clothes made Spencer feel less like a boyfriend and more like a girlfriend.
Why was he like this?
“Yes, like a good suburban mother.” Her eyes rolled alongside his. She felt like a Celeste Ng protagonist—except she wasn’t part Asian. “No, it was actually on Mercari for one-fifth the price.”
“Not Poshmark? Or Ross? You can buy her bags at Marshall’s, too.”
She couldn’t remember who was speaking. The line blurred with the last sip of wine. Maybe she had not been talking to Spencer at all.
What was clear was that she would probably look underdressed, just like the failure of a Dostoevskian wannabe she was attempting to be.
Beauty and the Beast was sewn across the black date purse.
It wasn’t Vendula, nor was it Vera Wang.
But, it was catchy. It was Eleanor Hill.
And, the dress was classically simple.
It was more Breakfast at Tiffany’s—if she dared to put herself in the shoes of Audrey Hepburn. And for the night, she could actually walk in the black heels. They made her thin, tall Scandinavian physique even more ethereal and model-like.
Although Spencer wanted a more Crazy Rich Asians-vibe, there was no way she would be able to climb that mountain.
Especially on her lack of a dime.
Which was why she ended up spending absolutely nothing in her attire.
Thankfully, she was not some character whose whole persona relied on the readers being impressed with her outfit. Instead, she was who she was: a famously budding author, being celebrated.
If it wasn’t a celebration, would she have been invited?
I’m at the party. Going in. Pray for me.
Nothing romantic. She cringed at not saying something mushy-gushy, but this felt safe—especially for the professional setting.
You look sexy. No cheating on me, toots. 😉
Playful. Always when she least expected it.
Elly’s lips pressed together. The moist lip-gloss and lipstick combination rubbed her tongue. She felt her cheeks brighten.
The iPhone slipped into her purse, and she carefully put her gloves on.
Gloves were classy and different, right?
Maybe she was following the letter of the law too deliberately. It wasn’t the first time.
Wrists were sexy, according to Memoirs of a Geisha. Should she be modest or sexy?
She pulled the gloves more snugly. Spencer’s text dictated her. Mysterious was sexy, anyways, right?
Just like how her name even got put on the list at the door.
The event was a huge spectacle, larger than she had anticipated. Upon entering, she couldn’t remember if she had said her name to the doorman or guard or bouncer or whatever that guy was — maybe a combination of all three — or if he already recognized her.
Was the person even a man? Maybe the door had been opened by a woman.
The lights and music bounced like a rave, but the room danced like an event Elon Musk was going to slam on X solely not being invited.
A champagne glass was practically handed to her by one of the servers. It sat on a nice serving tray and came with one of those fancy paper napkins that could have been specially designed for the party.
By the time the speech was made, Elly was finishing her second glass. She knew she had to slow down. Besides, she’d had a glass or two before heading over.
Her nerves wouldn’t settle, like her hair, pulled elegantly into a tight bun, held together, secretly by gel, hairspray, and hairpins. She could function professionally, but she needed help.
Right now, everything was blurring together, just like her books. Yet there was a visible, crystal-clear path right in front of her.
It matched the diamonds on the other attendees’ ears.
All she had to do was listen more than she talked.
Very traditional. Very attainable. Very Eleanor Hill.