The reasoning was simple.
Anson had collaborated with Dior for an entire year, turning Dior menswear into an industry leader. Whether in sales or brand image, they were far ahead of the competition.
This was great and important.
But all of that was in the past.
Dior no longer believed Anson could take their brand to the next level, or perhaps they believed he could, but Anson decided to end the partnership. Therefore, their marketing strategy had to change, seeking new promotional avenues.
As a result, Anson was no longer a priority.
If Anson chose to wear Dior to important events, they'd welcome it. But if he didn't, they wouldn't be upset.
After all, it was just business.
As the brand's design director, Eddie was doing his best to sell his design concepts and the added value of Anson's image, but his reasoning was purely artistic.
Even though Eddie tried to emphasize how important this step was for the future, Dior's executives believed they had already fully exploited Anson's value. Now it should be Anson hoping to wear Dior to Cannes, not Dior begging him to choose them.
Eddie's efforts were unsuccessful.
Eddie looked at Anson, who had a slight smile on his face, and couldn't hide his frustration.
"Anson, I'm sorry."
Anson laughed, "Haha."
"Eddie, tell me, why are people so afraid of wearing the same outfit as someone else?"
Not just celebrities, but in everyday life too.
Eddie was confused, not sure why Anson had brought this up out of nowhere.
Anson continued.
"Essentially, people are afraid they're not unique enough."
"On one hand, it might make them feel like they have bad taste, the same as everyone else. Everyone wants to have something unique."
"On the other hand, they're afraid of exposing their weaknesses. Some people fear being called copycats, some worry they'll be seen as lacking taste, and some are concerned they'll be compared unfavorably to others."
"There are many possible reasons. Everyone has their own insecurities, but ultimately, it all boils down to the fear of not being special enough."
"Isn't that an interesting paradox?"
"The essence of fashion trends is that everyone follows them. When I wear a shirt and everyone else starts wearing it, that's when it becomes a trend. But at the same time, people fear getting lost in that trend, desperately trying to maintain their individuality."
"So, it creates this contradictory situation."
"We're always making things harder for ourselves."
Eddie paused, his tension easing. He couldn't help but smile. "Anson, do you think everyone is like you?"
"Most people don't even realize this, let alone think about it. Not everyone is confident enough to believe they're making the right choices. They fear being compared and exposing their true selves."
Anson snapped his fingers, "Exactly, that's the right answer."
"Whether it's confidence or insecurity, the fear of matching outfits is really the fear of comparison."
"Take a simple t-shirt and jeans. Some people can wear it and look fresh and natural, while others just blend into the crowd. That kind of stark contrast in matching outfits is terrifying."
"Insecure people fear comparison; confident people reject it."
"On the red carpet, everyone wants to be the unique star of the show, so they'll do whatever it takes to avoid matching outfits."
"And in daily life, bumping into someone with the same outfit can make whoever is insecure feel awkward."
It was all so complicated, yet so simple.
Eddie didn't respond immediately, pondering for a moment before hesitantly asking, "So, what are you saying?"
Anson spread his hands, "If we match, we match. I'm not afraid, and I'm not embarrassed."
Eddie: …
He was speechless. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you saying you're okay with matching outfits with Monica Bellucci?"
Anson smiled, "Technically, it's matching colors, but that's not the point."
Eddie was so surprised, he couldn't react for a moment. A smile crept onto his face.
"You're saying you want to go head-to-head with Monica Bellucci and see who pulls it off better?"
Anson was calm, "I think it's an interesting idea."
"Look, she's a woman, I'm a man. She's in a dress, I'm in a suit. She's the host, I'm the guest. We're competing on different tracks, so there's nothing to worry about."
Anson's reasoning calmed Eddie down a bit.
"A head-to-head competition?"
"Hmm… that could work. Maybe you could even outshine Monica Bellucci. I might need to come up with some bold designs."
"And then we'll end up offending both the Cannes Film Festival and Dior, right?"
Eddie shook his head, exasperated at the thought of going toe-to-toe with Monica.
If they lost, they'd be media fodder. If they won, Cannes and Dior would be furious.
In other words, it was a no-win situation. No matter the outcome, Anson would lose.
But Anson didn't seem to care, laughing openly. "Haha, relax, Eddie, it's Cannes, not the end of the world."
Eddie took a deep breath, then another, regaining his composure.
"Anson, we need to strike back."
Sure, they might not be able to fight against the power of capital, but in the world of art, other things can shine brightly.
Like talent.
"The good news is, we still have a second, third, and more options."
Since the strategy was to build Anson's fashion image, Eddie naturally had backup plans.
Anson blinked, "So, what's the bad news?"
Eddie replied, "You'll need to try on more outfits."
Anson let out a groan.
But Eddie wasn't listening—or maybe he was but didn't care. He was already scanning Anson, his mind racing with ideas.
For Eddie, this was a challenge, a provocation, an attack, a sign of disdain. Sure, in the face of capital, they were just pawns. They couldn't even speak up, let alone fight back. But that didn't mean they couldn't make some noise.
And he was going to make sure they heard it, in his own unique way.
Now fully in battle mode, Eddie's creativity was burning bright.
Watching this, Anson exhaled deeply.
Though he wasn't particularly bothered by matching outfits, or whether the fashion image plan met 100% of expectations, he was satisfied with where things stood. After all, he was here for the Cannes Film Festival, and the premiere, the red carpet, and the outfits were secondary. The movies were what excited him most.
But now, seeing Eddie's enthusiasm, Anson decided to put aside his laid-back attitude and fully cooperate.
With a friend so eager, how could Anson say no?
So, they might as well take the risk.
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