Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 120: Displaying the Skills

"Sorry for keeping you waiting." Melvin briskly descended the stairs, wearing a polite smile on his face. At a glance, he saw Andy with a beaming smile and the young man sitting beside him.

Wearing a cream-colored T-shirt paired with iron-gray jeans and black Vans skate shoes, he looked clean from head to toe, devoid of tattoos, bracelets, or rings, simple and neat. His golden-brown curls were slightly messy, showcasing handsome features. There was a relaxed and confident demeanor between his brows, with a hint of youthful fearlessness. On the coffee table beside them were a cup of milk and cookie crumbs. The warm milky fragrance wafted in the air, contrasting with the surroundings.

Melvin quickly made a judgment in his mind. There were too many young people like this in Europe. The top models nowadays were mostly discovered and groomed in this manner—handsome boys and girls from Northern or Central Europe, unexpectedly discovered, then transformed and sent onto the runways, becoming the darlings of major fashion brands. However, in terms of their own essence, they lacked depth. Most of them were inexperienced high school dropouts, invincible in their youth, but soon to be eliminated by the passage of time. If the modeling world was like this, then the world of actors was even more competitive—

At least in the modeling world, having the looks and physique was enough to secure a place, even if it was as fleeting as a shooting star. But in the world of actors, one might not even qualify as a vase, drowned in the sea of countless talents, with no hope of emerging.

The Emmy Awards? They were just TV dramas. There would never be a shortage of newcomers or shooting star TV dramas, crowded to the point of suffocation.

Since he was an insignificant newcomer, it was best to quickly finish this job. After a brief introduction, Melvin immediately got to the point, "So, let's get busy. Does this young man need a suit, right?" Melvin snapped his fingers, and two blonde girls pushed a clothing rack over. It was placed in the center of the hall, displaying a dazzling array of clothes.

Renly scanned the rack briefly. He even saw leopard prints, big flowers, and tie-dye—such a rebellious style was a bit overwhelming for him. However, the styles were quite comprehensive, ranging from single-breasted to double-breasted suits, with vests, shirts, and jackets all available. Renly knew that one couldn't judge a suit by sight alone; each suit had to be tried on, as the fit could vary greatly.

This was why nobles and elites always favored bespoke tailoring. It wasn't necessarily because of outstanding styles or innovations. In terms of fashion, Savile Row's high-end tailored suits had fallen behind the times, but each bespoke suit was the most fitting, completely tailored to the individual, even unique, suitable for different occasions and situations.

"Young man, come over and stand in the center. I'll assess you overall first." Melvin glanced at Renly, who was still sitting motionless. He knew that the latter must have been intimidated by the setup. Such arrangements were indeed uncommon, which made him smile, reminiscing about his own bewilderment and shock when he first started out.

Renly furrowed his brow. What was with the attitude towards him as if he were a child? But considering he was only twenty years old in this life, he could only resign himself to it. With a sigh, he left his seat and walked to the white cylindrical pedestal in front of the dressing mirror, raising his arms relaxedly to showcase himself.

Melvin scrutinized him up and down before circling him twice. He muttered to himself, "With this build, a medium size should suffice. If it's small, the shoulders might be too narrow. Let's try it on first." Then, he walked to the clothing rack, giving it a cursory glance before carefully examining the options.

Unless an artist had signed with a fashion brand and become an exclusive endorser, stylists usually contacted major luxury brands before formal work began, requesting a batch of upcoming or just released items for selection and coordination. The wider the network and the higher the reputation, the more and better sponsorships one would receive.

"Try this one on first. It has a slightly decadent style within its slimness." Melvin handed Renly a suit. Renly glanced at Andy with a questioning look. Andy raised his voice half-jokingly, "I know you're not used to wearing suits, but it's part of the journey."

Renly smiled faintly, saying nothing more, and took the suit before entering the fitting room.

It was a Dior.

After the 21st century began, Dior's menswear department underwent a reform, truly overturning the centuries-old tradition of men's suits. In Hedi Slimane's designs, suits became slim, fitted, sickly, and decadent, taking the narrow-cut classic tailoring to the extreme, suitable only for lean figures akin to addicts, yet exuding an extreme fragility and melancholy, with a hint of hidden rock punk.

Many top designers around the world started to lose weight to fit into Dior—not just women anymore, but also men.

However, Hedi left Dior in 2007. After that, Dior's designs became more restrained, losing their previous vitality and uniqueness.

Renly put on the suit and shirt, then opened the curtains, drawing the attention of both Andy and Melvin.

Andy couldn't help but be slightly amazed. Indeed, clothes made the man. With this new suit on, Renly's demeanor subtly changed. Between his slimness and fragility, there was an indescribable sense of melancholy, reminiscent of the gloom and vicissitudes unique to London, evoking thoughts of Eugene Schlach in "The Pacific". Andy couldn't help but imagine the effect with a beige trench coat added.

Melvin also seemed very satisfied, nodding approvingly. "I knew you could pull off this style very well." When he saw Renly's rebellious and rock spirit revealed in his jeans and skate shoes earlier, he chose Dior.

Renly, however, shook his head. "The shoulders are slightly tight, and there's tension around the ribs, but the waist fits snugly. However, the suit part is relatively loose."

Dior's design was very slim, like a utility pole, from the shoulders to the waist. But Renly's shoulders were broader, and his chest fuller, so when the shirt accommodated the waist size, the shoulders and upper body felt too crowded. Choosing to accommodate the shoulders would result in a loose waist cut.

In short, it didn't fit.

Melvin checked again, surprised by Renly's keen observation. "I didn't expect you to be so sensitive. Are you a perfectionist?" He teased without much thought, then selected another suit. "Try this one. It has a more dignified style."

It was Armani.

Renly didn't say much, just changed into it. Armani had been the top choice for Hollywood actors for decades, for one simple reason: safety. Armani's suit cut wasn't too trendy or too old-fashioned. The design style wasn't too abrupt or too conservative. It always adhered to the style of the golden age of retro classics, receiving countless praises, especially from men like George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who always managed to bring out the Armani flavor.

But it didn't suit Renly. Although Renly's mental age was over fifty, his physical age was only twenty. Armani's suit hem was too long, even covering his buttocks, making him look too old and too retro, even resembling a child wearing his father's suit.

Melvin circled twice before nodding, "Very good, I think this one is perfect!"

Renly was puzzled, a question mark written all over his face. Did he hear it wrong?

"Your shoulders are broad enough to support the suit's frame. Your height is tall enough, and your overall demeanor is outstanding. However, the waist is a bit loose, so we can adjust the size or add a vest to make it a three-piece..." Melvin immersed himself in his world, nodding continuously, thoroughly satisfied with his choice this time.

Listening to Melvin's explanation, Andy nodded lightly. Although he had no understanding of fashion or suits, he couldn't help but think of the top male actors of Hollywood's golden age.

At that time, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, and others exuded a fatal charm that was awe-inspiring. The primitive technology at the time couldn't disguise or enhance, presenting the actors' true faces. Besides their appearances, the temperament they exuded was the eternal classic on screen.

But now, that golden age charm was gone. People adored George Clooney because he exuded this kind of retro mature charm.

Now, looking at Renly in the Armani suit, Andy felt that he could vaguely sense a similar feeling. However, it was contradictory because Renly was really too young. The maturity accumulated through years of experience was displayed with a taste that didn't match his age.

So, Andy wasn't sure if this was a good thing. But if Melvin said it was "perfect", then it should be.

Renly raised his right hand high. Generally, a well-fitting suit would be relatively restrictive. Raising the hand above the shoulder line would feel tight, and the hem would reveal the belt and shirt underneath, which was too rude. But now, Renly raised his hand higher and higher until it was above his head, and his elbow remained unimpeded—of course, the shirt was still visible.

He looked at Melvin, puzzled. "Isn't this a sign of it being too big?"

Melvin's smile froze slightly on his face.