The New Look
February 1947
Isla was glad to be home in her small apartment in Paris after another grueling rehearsal preparing for the opening of The Night Shadow ballet. In a week's time, she would be returning to New York City where the new Balanchine work would premiere with the Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo. She was dancing the very demanding role of the Sleepwalker and each day she soaked her feet, first in ice water, then in a pan of warm water and Epsom salts. Following the production, the plan was to remain in New York and dance for Balanchine's newly formed company. She couldn't wait to be closer to Mark and her family.
They had announced their engagement to their families at Christmas to much joyous acclamation and excitement. Both families were beyond thrilled and of course, everyone had known the two of them would end up together. Then came the seemingly endless conversations with both mothers about the wedding.
Hitch and Isla would have preferred something small and quiet, but they knew both mothers had other plans in mind. After the grief Hitch had put his mother through over enlisting in the army and Isla refusing to participate in the debutante season, becoming a Rockette instead and then going off with the USO, they knew they owed their mothers big time. If having a larger wedding and letting them help plan it would help soothe past disappointments, they were willing to give them some leeway.
She was surprised when someone knocked at her door. She wasn't expecting anyone and hoped to simply curl up on the sofa with a good book and make it an early night. Opening the door, Isla was surprised to see both her mother and Hitch's standing in front of her.
"Mum, Aunt Nora," she was astonished.
"Hello, dear," her mother kissed her on the cheek as she entered the apartment.
"Now Isla, we said no more Aunt Nora; just Nora," Hitch's mom said as she too kissed her cheek.
"Nora," Isla repeated. "It's going to take some getting used to," she admitted. "What are you doing in Paris?"
"We're here for several fashion shows," her mother, Moira, explained. "Christian Dior is presenting his own line this year and we have invitations."
"We've come to kidnap you for the show on Wednesday morning. We thought it would be a good time to begin shopping for your trousseau," Nora finished.
"But I take class every morning," Isla began to protest but in her heart she was thrilled at the idea of Dior launching his own fashion line. She had admired his creations for Lucien LeLong for years and she was so tired of utility garments.
"I've known you to skip an occasional class here and there," her mother chided. "This is a special occasion, and we won't take no for an answer. Your father and Matthew have given us carte blanche to spend whatever we want." Isla protested for a few more minutes but eventually gave in to their request. She was elated at the prospect of attending the fashion show. It had been so long, and she was now mature enough to wear a lot of the fashions. Her last show had been before the war when she was still a teenager.
"And we thought we'd check out Bruyere and several others. We're going to pass on Chanel this season since we've been reading she may have collaborated with the Germans during the war," Nora added, "but we can work around your schedule to see their collections. Right now, we're taking you for dinner so we can discuss some wedding plans."
"With all your preparations for the new ballet and coming back to New York, you don't have time for all the details. You just tell us your vision and we will do the grunt work," her mother said.
Isla knew better than to fuss so she changed into a suitable dress, hat, coat, and gloves and grabbed her handbag. Maybe she should speak with Mark again about eloping. Actually, if she was going to trust her wedding planning to anyone, it would be these two women, who would undoubtably consult with Granny Mac. Between the three of them, they could conquer any obstacle with impeccable taste and grace.
On Wednesday, they were ushered to their seats for the Dior show. Isla felt like a kid attending the circus for the first time. The air was electric with anticipation. As the show began and the first mannikin walked out, the intake of air was audible, When the Bar suit with its straw hat appeared, Isla placed her hands on both the mothers sitting next to her and whispered, "I must have that suit!" They noted it with several other designs.
About halfway through the show, an assistant hastily approached Isla and softly asked in French, "Mademoiselle MacGregor, would you please come with me?" With a quick glance at her mother and Nora, and a shrug of her shoulders, Isla followed the assistant who led her behind the scenes.
"Mademoiselle MacGregor," the stage manager said, "One of our mannikins has sprained her ankle and we need someone to wear one of the evening gowns. Monsieur Dior wondered if you could help us out We believe it will be a perfect fit for your height and figure."
"Of course," Isla said and was bundled off by several assistants to change. If she was excited before, she was overjoyed now. Both mothers were stunned when she came out modeling an off the shoulder evening gown and quickly made note of the design. She mimicked what the other models had done but she was more graceful and truly looked as if the dress had been made for her.
Following the show, Monsieur Dior thanked her and made her a gift of the dress she modeled. The Americans ordered several outfits from the collection for each of them and had their measurements taken so their selections could be made to fit. After a late lunch, they dropped Isla at the theater for rehearsal.
"I feel like Cinderella after the ball," she said, getting out of the taxi.
"It's not over yet, by a long shot," her mother said. "We'll be back tomorrow between class and rehearsal, so get some rest tonight."
"It's like having two fairy godmothers," Isla blew them a kiss and entered the theater with her dance bag.
"The third one is going to be angry we didn't bring her along," remarked Moira thinking of Granny Mac's reaction when she discovered she had missed out on the fun.
Two weeks later, the MacKenzies, Hitchcocks, Pettigrews and Moffitts were in the audience watching Isla dance in The Night Shadow. The performance was immensely successful, and it was a role she would dance on numerous occasions. Her skill and control were incredible, and she established herself as one of Balanchine's discoveries.
"Just when I think I couldn't be more proud of you, you raise the bar," Hitch said, kissing her after the performance. "You take my breath away every time I watch you dance."
"Keep that in mind when you see how much I spent in Paris," she teased.
"Doesn't matter," he said, kissing her again. "Our moms were footing the bill for that shopping spree." Just then they heard Granny Mac address Moira and Nora,
"What's this I hear about your going to Paris for the Dior show and not telling me? And my granddaughter modeled one of his fashions in the show?"
"Let's just walk away," Hitch suggested taking Isla by the arm. She nodded and followed. "I dealt with enough explosions during the war, I don't need to see another."
INFO: Models were originally referred to as mannikins and carried themselves rather stiffly like an actual mannikin. The Bar Suit was one of Dior's signature designs and many pictures are available on the internet. I had to give Isla a story of her own but more with the Rats are coming.