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:

Nick Verreos Judges with Jeffrey Sebelia at the Donwtown L.A. Emerging Designers Competition

Emerging LA Designers get judged!The new Michael, Heidi, and Nina? Jeffrey Sebelia, Noni Tochterman and Nick Verreos

This week, I was invited to be one of the "esteemed" judges for the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Emerging Designers Launch and Runway Show, a "Search for the Next Great LA Designer" contest which is being organized in conjunction with City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Program. Along with Leanna Lewis and Barbara Graff of the Downtown L.A. Fashion Week Committee, D.C.A. Olga Garay was on hand to welcome us to the "Judging Day". Leanna Lewis of Downtown LA Fashion Week

My co-judges included Project Runway Season 3 Winner Jeffrey Sebelia, Nony Tochterman of Petro Zillia (looking UBER fabulous, as always!), Louis Verdad, designer and red carpet host, Randolph Duke (a FIDM Alumn), and event designer and contestant from the new "Launch My Line" reality show, Vanessa Gonzalez. Hundreds of Southern California designers submitted their designs, portfolios and press kits and then they were narrowed down to about ten and then it was our job, as the Final Judges, to select our favorite "Top Three".Vanessa Gonzalez (far left), Randolph Duke and his pr agent, Diana Bianchini, enjoying the ceviche hors d'oeuvres at Provecho Restaurant

The Official Judging Day began with a DELICIOUS lunch at Provecho Restaurant in Downtown LA. We began with appetizers from the "Raw Bar" menu with such delights as halibut with black truffle (amazing!), spicy tuna tostadas, and marinated rock shrimp ceviche. In addition to this, we were also served shredded chicken, fish and al pastor beef soft tacos and Fideo con Queso with jalapenos (it's like a mac-and-cheese on Ecstasy!). And if that wasn't enough, we finished with the most incredible Churros! Note to self: Will have to come back to Provecho Restaurant and have dinner--and put in an extra hour on the tread mill!
Petro Zillia Harem: Designer and founder of Petro Zillia, Nony Tochterman strikes a pose (love her harem pants--she told me she has them in like ten colorways!)

After all that, we all needed a Siesta, but instead we had to get down to "business": We headed to the adjacent Remedy Lounge nightclub to begin our judging. Young "emerging" Ford models modeled the designer's clothes as we surveyed their portfolios and filled out our judges' scorecards. There were definitely some designers that got our attention and we scored them accordingly!
Gucci Love: Close up of Nony Tochterman's necklaces, which included a vintage Gucci perfume mini pendant (which I wanted to steal from her!)

The Emerging Designer Winners will show their collections during Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week, which will take place at the Geffen Contemporary MOCA, Oct 13-15TH. I am looking forward to their shows and hope you can join us too. If you love fashion and want to support LA fashion designers, this will be a must-see event. Hope to see you there--and hope you liked who we chose!