Friday September 10th Los Angeles Celebrates Fashion's Night Out: Nick Verreos Films a PSA and "Unveils" T-Shirt!

City of Angels Fashion's Night Out: Shopping, Fashion Shows and Much More...

Fashion's Night Out L.A. Winning T-shirt Designer, FIDM Graphic Design student Marc Blaskovits, and Nick Verreos

As many of you fashionistas know, last year was the first installment of Fashion's Night Out, a shop-till-you-drop Retail EXTRAVAGANZA created by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. But it was ONLY in NYC. Well, it was a big success and the Fashion's Night Out "bug" caught on and now will be held all over the world and in other major US cities: On Friday, September 10Th, Los Angeles will also have it's very own Fashion's Night Out...

Posing Divas: Marc Blaskovits, Nick Verreos and Cynthia Ruiz

The AMAZING Cynthia Ruiz, City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioner and President, is the brain-trust of LA's Fashion's Night Out 2010 and she has been working her fitted sheath dress-wearing-self OVERTIME to make sure L.A. BRINGS IT ON!!

T-Shirt Happy: Nick Verreos and FIDM Graphic Design Student Marc Blaskovits pose with the Fashion's Night Out L.A. T-shirt

The "Home Base" will be at the Beverly Center, and at 5PM, will hold it's Opening Ceremony to all the shopping festivities as well as a fashion show featuring the designs from L.A.'s top designers including myself and my line NIKOLAKI. Over 300 stores will be open late--and shuttles will be able to take you from the Beverly Center to all the nearby shopping meccas like Robertson Blvd., Melrose Avenue and West 3rd Street. A Fashion's Night Out L.A. T-shirt Design Contest was also commissioned and the winning designer was Marc Blaskovits, a Graphic Design Student from FIDM.

T-shirt Couture: Nick Verreos--at his Nikolaki Studio--wearing the winning Fashion's Night Out L.A. t-shirt designed by FIDM student Marc Blaskovits

Last week, Cynthia asked me to film a Public Service Announcement for Fashion's Night Out City of LA, and of course I said SI! We filmed it at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM (which was perfect since the Winning T-shirt designer is from FIDM-and I'm also an Instructor there). After the filming, I procured an EXCLUSIVE Interview with Marc on what inspired his winning design. I'll put up the PSA I filmed when it's done and edited but for now...

Click BELOW for my Exclusive Interview with the Winner of the Fashion's Night Out LA T-shirt Design Contest:


*The T-shirt is FOR SALE at the FIDM Store at the FIDM Campus, 919 South Grand Avenue, L.A. 90015

*For more on Fashion's Night Out L.A. Events, click HERE

Nick Verreos Attends "A Celebration of Valentino"/Paper Bag Princess Fashion Show!!

Vintage Couture at Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Nick Verreos with Leanna Lewis (in Elizabeth Mason Couture)

Last Thursday night, I was invited to a very special fashion show presentation as part of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week. The show, entitled A Celebration of Valentino, The Last Emperor was "curated" by Elizabeth Mason, stylish owner of vintage couture boutique The Paper Bag Princess and designer of her namesake Elizabeth Mason Couture line. The event was the official presentation of the Los Angeles Spirit Award For Style & Substance to actress and humanitarian (and style DIVA) Maria Bello.

Hourglass: Actress Maria Bello (in Elizabeth Mason Couture) at the "A Celebration of Valentino, the Last Emperor"

As we entered MOCA, I spotted my friend, Christopher Ciccone as well as LA City Department of Cultural Affairs and Style Ambassador, Cynthia Ruiz, my friend Raymundo Baltazar and Downtown LA Fashion Week co-organizer, Leanna Lewis (wearing Elizabeth Mason Couture, she confided). City of LA Lady In Red: Cynthia Ruiz flanked by Raymundo Baltazar and Nick Verreos

We chatted and enjoyed some yummy cocktails before the show. As my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul and I sat down, I realized I was seated two seats away from actor Lukas Haas and spotted the "Latin Fabulous" Daisy Fuentes (I said "hello" and she was so beautiful and so sweet!) as well as actress Garcelle Beauvais, whom I co-hosted the Gen Art Fresh Faces of Fashion a couple of years back, across the runway.Justin Timberlake Who? My new obsession, singer Matt Goss, opening "A Celebration of Valentino, The Last Emperor"

A surprising highlight of the entire show was a show-stopping performance by my new favorite HOTTIE, singer Matt Goss, who has been dubbed "The New Frank Sinatra". He also just happens to be Daisy Fuentes' fiance (that's why she was there!). He poured his heart, soul (and singing pipes) into his show, backed by Robin Antin's Pussycat Dolls Las Vegas Dancers. The jaded LA fashionista audience barely blinked an eye when he finished but Lord knows I was hootin' and hollerin'. I didn't care. This guy is really good! You are one lucky girl, Daisy!A Vodka Martini, please: A 1960s chic one shoulder black silk chiffon caftan gown with feathers

The fashion show began, and curiously enough, there were no Valentino gowns in this fashion show. Elizabeth Mason explained in her run-of-show notes, that "after my 15 years as a couture vintage purveyor, I have less than a handful of vintage Valentino gowns...once acquired, they are forever cherished and rarely, if ever dispensed of". LA-Greek God: A 1980s James Galanos blouson sleeved gown

The show was her ode to Signore Garavani and his creations--and love of red. There were great vintage dresses and gowns--mostly in black --spanning the 1930s, 40s and 80s, featuring the creations of Irene, Adrian, Nolan Miller, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, and one of my favorites, James Galanos. Walk Slowly: Spring/Summer 2010 Elizabeth Mason Couture red "Maria" gown

Included in the show were pieces from Mason's own line, Elizabeth Mason Couture, such as red silk taffeta wraps, and some VERY fitted (like a glove!) siren gowns (Maria Bello was wearing one). I can't imagine the knee sweep (Advanced Fashion School terminology, sorry kiddies) on them but trust me, these are gowns to stand and hold Martinis in--not to sit. Which is how it should be!

Click BELOW for a video of the final model exits, Elizabeth Mason Couture/Paper Bag Princess Fashion Show: