Unique, Chic, Magnifique!
Unique, Chic, Magnifique!
The inimitable designer, Rarity, is interviewed by Times correspondent Baskerville Slant.
Originally published in the Manehattan Times Lifestyle Section, September 9th, 1216
Catapulted to success on the back of the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the designer Rarity is these days synonymous with style, flair and exquisitely exacting professionalism. Working from her exclusive boutique in the fashionably remote rural district of Ponyville, Rarity is no stranger to controversy in a career that saw her at loggerheads with fashion artiste, Photo Finish, and in a very public spat with none other than Prince Blueblood.
In fact she seems to court controversy and intrigue rather than avoid it. Her latest move, providing the ensemble for what everypony is calling ‘The Wedding of the Century’, an event sure to outshine even Princess Cadenza's lavish ceremony, places her square against much of Canterlot’s fashion elite.
“But of course I’m not remotely concerned about any of that, darling,” she loudly declares as she leads us into the hidden depths of the Carousel Boutique. Rarity’s lack of worry seems to be written on her every movement as she prepares tea for the two of us, casually yet gracefully stepping around the broad expanse of her workroom. “You’ll have to excuse the mess too, darling. I was rather in the zone when you arrived, otherwise I would have entertained you somewhere more fitting.”
Profuse apologies for interrupting her work are dismissed with a casual wave of her hoof as she declares she was going to take a break anyway, before launching into a flurry of activity around a half-completed costume in the centre of the room.
At first her workroom appears chaotic, a sharp and glaring contrast to the public persona that has repeatedly taken Canterlot by storm. And yet within the chaos there is a strange order, the feeling that, at any moment, the work of a lifetime would emerge, whole and complete, from the scattered swatches, tools and apparently haphazard piles of jewellery.
She calls it “organised chaos” and considers it a part of her unique image. Does it not conflict with her fastidious reputation?
“A reputation well-deserved! Not a single item is out of place, and every one is where I wish it to be. The skill of a true artiste is to know when to pull tight and when to let the fabric flow, when the cut, when to fold and when to let the dress speak for itself. You could say the discovery of such precious moments is my special talent.”
The casual way it’s said belies something deeper. By now Rarity’s journey to adulthood is a well-known story, one she seems to love retailing whenever she is able. To so easily contradict herself now seems a little gauche, doesn’t it?
“But of course not! Once, I thought my special talent was finding jewels, until I realised that nature had played a rather mean trick by making my marchio dell’anca so obvious, even if it is positively gorgeous. It’s only when I noticed that the mark of a dear friend’s daughter was similar, despite her having no talent at all for finding gems of any sort, that I realised that jewels are merely the most obvious expression of what I do. My talent is to find beauty, dear. That and the ability to extract the thing I need, exactly when I need it, whether that’s a stash of gems, a pair of scissors or the perfect inspiration for my latest fashion line.”
As she continues to work, Rarity explains that the line she’s producing for the wedding won’t even be designed for several weeks. She wishes, she says, to keep it secret and ensure that she’s not behind the latest fashion trends, or even merely following them. Leading the herd is her only goal.
“Less chance for criticism that way,” she adds, finally letting her work rest once again. Where previously a rough collection of cloth patterns lay, the definite skeleton of another masterpiece now coils elegantly about the idealised form of pony perfection. Yet Rarity refuses praise for the item, declaring it “merely adequate”.
She’s saving her best work for the wedding, a subject to which we return again and again. Does she have reservations about working on something so controversial? The question seems to stump her for a moment.
“Some ponies seem to think I should. The sort of ponies that would abandon their own mothers to a hydra to make a few extra bits or catch a little fame. I have principles, darling! And besides, I’m the only mare Lero trusts to make his clothing these days. He’s really quite lucrative.”
And, as she goes on to explain, controversy is her bread and butter. “If I’m not making tongues wag with my work I’m not doing it properly. One supposes one could rest on one’s laurels for a while, but a while soon becomes the rest of your life. Or I could exploit the fame of being an Element of Harmony, or the fact that I’m just two degrees distant from the throne of Equestria, or just hoard jewels like some dragon and be wealthy that way. But where’s the excitement? That’s not success, darling, it’s just acquisition. So uninspired.”
As someone who sought controversy, then, would she have considered courting the human?
“Absolutely not. He’s really not my type at all. Besides, it seldom does to mix business and pleasure. Of course, in my case, my business is my pleasure so perhaps that isn’t the best advice to follow.”
Our talk is interrupted by another flurry of activity as Rarity returns to her work. She’s still on a break, she insists, but nevertheless the dress continues to take form. Who the piece is for remains a closely guarded secret, with Rarity only willing to concede that it will shortly grace a duchess of some repute.
The obvious question becomes, then, has Rarity seen her business in Canterlot drop off as her stance on the wedding has become more widely known?
As you might expect by now, she shows little concern. “If they choose to go elsewhere that is their business, of course, but they’ll not be able to find anypony up to my standards, and I would rather lose their business than abandon my friends.”
And her friends amongst Canterlot’s nobility who might disagree with her stance? “I have few true friends to begin with. Fancy Pants, the Sparkles, Princess Celestia of course, but few others. Lero in fact has more than I, not least that he moves in circles I’ve yet to enter thanks to those hands of his. Apparently friendship is something many a noble must sacrifice in order to be noble. It seems to be a rather sad life, even if it was one I once sought with all my heart. And no, before you ask, I wouldn’t dream of exploiting my friendship with Lero to gain more business. Now darling, if you’ll excuse me, I have a client arriving shortly.”
With an easy smile and a gentle hoof she leads the way to the shop floor of the Carousel Boutique, where incredible works of art grace are scattered almost haphazardly about the broad expanse of the floor. No sales counter, no waiting staff mar the scene. It is difficult to believe that such demure beauty could do what she has done, that such a pony could have saved Equestria countless times and still find room to create such magic. Only the sight of an unusual shop dummy in the background, towering over its counterparts in an awkward, upright pose, reveals anything remotely unusual about this elegant mare, who courts such controversy and risks so much of her life and business for the sake of her friends.
Baskerville Slant
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Screw weekly updates, I want attention! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Twilight_crazy.png
This is a very nice compliment to Xenophilia. Seeing the world and story through the eyes of the ponies are Lero and his herd.
I cannot wait for more.
Good stuff, and you capture Raritys personality nicely I think
The "Sparkles"? Does that mean Lero's herd, or Twilight, Shining, and their family?
You want attention, you got it.
Sir.
*quirks his eyebrow* Retailing it? Like, she sells it at her storefront? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Did you perhaps mean "retelling"?
And you shall have it.
Whoo! I really like how you're managing to keep the chapters both interesting, and fairly unique from one another, at least in terms of formatting so far. Also, I have to wonder if AJ, Spike, or Dash saw the article and took offense at not being mentioned?
1533823
You got my attention.
You've done a really great job continuing the story in a very unique way. This is definitely Spike approved.
Love the world and setting Xenophilia created and I love how you're continuing it. Please, do proceed.
*gives attention*
Lero comes out of nowhere in this conversation. Am I missing something or is a piece of text missing somewhere?
HAHA, a "duchess of some repute" aka the most awesome pony ever?
Keep the chapters coming!
1533823
This attitude, I like it. Keep up the solid work.
1533953 No, I'm being terribly cruel and not providing context. Lets just say that this isn't the wedding you're thinking of.
Ok guys, I've edited it just a fraction, I hate to disappoint you. but Lero doesn't get involved in the invasion of Canterlot. He gets involved in something far worse: Canterlot politics.
Fate worse than death, I'm telling you...
Still great. Keep it up.
good story i think this story deserves a trequil where it is back in the view of Lero and RD and all that jazz
Another great chapter, though I did see one thing that bothered me a little bit. For some reason, I just can't see Rarity using 'hankered', especially while talking to a reporter. But I could very well be wrong. Overall, she seems very in character though.
1534508 I had a look, decided you were right, it really doesn't fit her. So now it's gone~
1533823
Works for me, I'm not gonna complain.
Not bad.
Baskerville Slant? Bah. If he isn't hounding somepony for an interview, he's projecting his own bias on what they say.
Definitely an interesting perspective and medium. I really like the scrapbook feel.
Excellent. This kind of worldbuilding was exactly what I enjoyed about Xenophilia.
1533843 Twilight family. Father, mother and brother. Herd of Lero is called... Bellesomethingsomething ;]
1534006
That wedding wouldn't have been controversial. I think the wedding might be Lero's. Back in Xenophilia I remember it being mentioned that weddings are traditionally done only by the nobility. Having an alien getting a wedding would rustle more than a few jimmies. And Rarity making the clothes for such an occasion could hurt her connections to Canterlot.
EDIT: Especially so that because Twilight is going to be involved, Celestia is probably going to have it at the castle.
1534881
So then Shining Armor's full name is Shining Armor Sparkle?
1534881 Bellerophon, named for the ancient Greek hero who tamed Pegasus and slew the Chimera.
1533849 Well, if you think about it, a good storyteller doesn't just TELL a story, they 'Sell' it to the audience, makes them really believe it. I don't know which way the author was going for, but that's how I saw it.
I'm sorry, but, what does this chapter have to do with anything?
1533823
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1535187 Yes boss!
1535074 Nothing. Everything.
1534910
Poor Shining. The teasing he must have endured... 
1533823 Screw weekly updates, I want MOAR!
Look, pal, you want attention? I can get you attention! Pure Columbian attention, uncut! By the kilo! Just write moar!
1535254 oh that makes a lot of sense actually heh canterlot elite think there so good xD what a sad bunch and its great to see rarity not interested on there attention if it means losing her friends and as always fancy pants is just being studly about the whole situation and is behind rarity on all this
ALL OF MY ATTENTION!
1533823
And you shall have it! Don't stop!
1533823
Calm down, you'll keep having my attention as long as you deliver what you promised in the cover blurb... while (I hope) letting wedded bliss (of whatever flavor) remain discreet.
1534910sounds like an attack from sailor moon
Interesting stuff, please go on!
How did I not already know about this?
I do like how you are continuing the world building. I was very sad when Xenophilia ende so this is a nice addition. I am hoping you will elaborate more on what brought Lero into the world as well as the complications on the herd when the question of 'foals' starts to rise.
Also something I am curious about. are Human lifetimes equal to Equestrian Lifespans?
1534532 I only noticed it for two reasons. First, I've been digging through and editing my fic in an attempt to keep the characters in character and in voice, and hadn't quite gotten out of editor gear before reading this chapter. (My normal speaking/writing voice is pretty much the midwestern version of Applejack's, I did a whole chapter of dialogue between the main character and Rarity just to take myself out of my usual.) The second is that everything else was done so well that the one exception really stood out.
By the way, if you feel like picking my fic apart, go for it. (end shameless underhanded self promotion
)
And then they bucked.
Every story is better with that finisher. Baskervarity OTP!
Shipping goggles engaged! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Rarity_lolface.png
ATTENTION HAS BEEN HAD!!! now, MOARRRRRR!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter, good job, and thank you!
Great work once again. I am a sucker for world building, and this story more than delivers on that front.
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Me gusta MUCHO!
you got it
keep it going