Luz Estrada

Luz Estrada, a character in the Hot Couture series, is both a co-worker of yours and your best friend. She is also one of your love interests. She is first seen in Chapter 1.

Appearance
Luz has brown eyes, wavy long dark brown hair, and tan skin. She wears a v-neck long-sleeved orange blouse and dark blue slacks with black belt. She wears a triple stranded necklace, bracelets, and a black analog watch on her left wrist. If you decide to give her a make-over in Milan, she wears contact lenses instead of her glasses.

Personality
Luz knows her strengths lie in her intellect and is proud of who she is. She thinks fast and is good with numbers. She calls herself economical and speedy, and admits to not enjoying the process of shopping for herself. She would much rather put together the showroom than go through the garments for herself. Flattery makes her feel uncomfortable because she is not used to the attention.

Hot Couture

 * Chapter 1: Model Behavior
 * Chapter 2: Life of the Party
 * Chapter 3: Making a Splash
 * Chapter 4: In Hot Water
 * Chapter 5: Flashing Lights
 * Chapter 6: It Girl
 * Chapter 7: Ramping Up
 * Chapter 8: Benvenuto a Milano
 * Chapter 9: Sabotage
 * Chapter 10: The Devil Wears HB
 * Chapter 11: Crossroads
 * Chapter 12: All Sewn Up
 * Chapter 13: Bring Down the House
 * Chapter 14: Allure
 * Chapter 15: City of Lights
 * Chapter 16: A Star Is Born

Your Character
You are Luz Estrada's best friend from college. She works at Hazel Boutique as a Junior Business Development Representative and got you an interview by pulling some strings at Human Resources. Throughout the book, Luz helps you with her knowledge of the fashion industry and remains your best friend. She is also one of your love interests if you decide to pursue her.

If you pursue her as a love interest, she is flattered and a little shy and embarrassed at compliments you bestow on her. She is not used to the attention because she is usually behind-the-scenes. Even though she thinks you're beautiful and could make a paper bag look good, she blushes when you try to boost her confidence.

In Chapter 8, when you both arrive in Milan and run into Bridgette Gardner, Cleo Burbank, and Francesca Mazzini, Francesca insults her wardrobe, not truly believing that Luz works for a fashion house. This naturally makes Bridgette happy, but Luz is distraught by the exchange. You can decide to give her a premium fashion makeover if you choose to. If you do, Luz takes off her glasses and puts on her spare contact lens (that she keeps with her for emergencies).

In Chapter 11, when you decide to host your own fashion show, Luz comes up with the idea of an open house. When your friends rally around you, she explains that as long as you don't pay them, it won't invalidate their contracts with Hazel Boutique and because they want you to succeed, they're willing to volunteer. She helps you with the business aspect of your new business and by the end of Chapter 16, she has become your company's Chief Financial Officer.

Jimmy Bae
Jimmy Bae is one of her friends from college. With the three of you, she calls your group 'The Three Musketeers' trying to make it in New York City. However, when Jimmy betrays you, she kicks him out of her apartment and ignores him. It is not shown what happens between Luz and Jimmy later when he apologizes and if you forgive him. She only knows through the grapevine that he has become a paparazzo and still has not hit it "big" and become a fashion photographer himself.

Trivia

 * She shares the same forename as Luz Mendez from Mother of the Year.
 * She thinks giraffes are the most adorable creatures on the planet.
 * In Chapter 16's bonus scene, Francesca Mazzini offers Luz a job as a Senior Assistant Merchandise Planner in her company; Lancelin St. Claire also expresses interest in hiring her as well. However, it is assumed she turns down both offers to work with you to build your company and brand instead.