Project Runway Casting Special "Road To Runway" Video--featuring Nick Verreos Judging the LA Castings!

Casting...to Runway



Three weeks ago, Season 9 of Project Runway premiered and before the very first episode, Lifetime Network featured a Project Runway Casting Special "Road To Runway", hosted by the one and only Tim Gunn. It is an inside scoop on the behind-the-scenes casting selection process of which I, yes I, was part of. For the Lord-knows-how-many-seasons-now, I have been honored (and humbled) to be invited as a Casting Selection Judge.

Marie Claire's Senior Fashion Editor Zanna Roberts Rassi, Seth Aaron Henderson and Nick Verreos

This time around, I was joined by Marie Claire's Zanna Roberts-Rossi, as well as Season 7 Winner Seth Aaron Henderson--who was the "Head Daddy" at all of this season's castings. I think he racked up MANY Frequent Flyer Miles on this gig (so jealous!). During the LA Castings, we picked TWO of this season's final cast members:



Bert Keeter--the "102 year old" designer who's worked for Halston, Arnold Scassi, among others. His story and well "come back" of sorts, got Zanna, Seth Aaron and I all verklempt during the Casting Day.



As well as Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM's Joshua Christensen. Joshua is a current student in the Advanced Fashion Design/Debut Program and was unfortunately eliminated last week during the "Haute Pee Pee" Challenge, as I call it. But Bert, well, he's still "in it to win it".



In case you missed the Project Runway Season 9 "Road To Runway" Special, click HERE !

Nick Verreos Judges Los Angeles Castings of Season 9 Project Runway: A Snapshot!!

Did we find the Next Project Runway Winner in LA??

Judging Ensemble: Nick Verreos judging the LA Castings of Season 9 Project Runway

One week ago--last Monday to be exact--I had the honor and privilege of being asked to take part in the LA Castings of Season 9 Project Runway and be a Judge! This was my 7th season being part of the casting panel and of course, I was happy to be part of it again. I donned my newest ASOS jacket, one of my vintage Hermes ties and my bubblegum pink Adidas watch (I'm dropping labels left and right!), took my notepad and pen, and I was READY!

As you may already know--those of you who might in the "up and up" on all things Project Runway---the producers of the show have begun the Pre-Casting process, and have held Casting Sessions to find the next season's cast of designers in places like NYC, Chicago and Seattle. This time , it was up to Los Angeles to "bring it"! I had a great time seeing a very diverse (!) group--from just-out-of-design-school "kids" to very seasoned veterans of the fashion industry--from San Francisco, LA, San Diego and everywhere else in between!

I'll be very curious to see if any of the "Very Best" from LA made it through... Stay tuned and make sure to watch lifetime Network and the next season of Project Runway airing this summer!!!

Nick Verreos' Vision for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown...Watch The Today Show TOMORROW Morning!

Project Runway Goes To A Royal Wedding...on The Today Show!!!

Don't miss the "Today Show" TOMORROW MORNING on NBC! Why? Well, you'll get to see FIVE Wedding Gown creations by Project Runway past winners--and alumni--including ME!!! Read on...

The Blushing Royal Couple: Prince William and Kate Middleton

As you may remember, about a month ago, Lifetime TV asked many Project Runway designers--including moi--to submit fashion sketches for "their vision" of Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown. The sketches were shown on Lifetime TV's Website and generated a HUGE buzz (a little Birdie told me they received OVER A MILLION hits the day the sketches came out!). HERE was my sketch.

Then, ONLY a week ago, I was contacted by the Lifetime TV Execs, to see if I would be one of the five hand-picked designers who would actually CREATE their vision of the gown, which then would be shown LIVE, on the Today Show, in anticipation of the Premiere of Lifetime's "William & Kate" movie (which debuts tomorrow night, 9pm e/p ). The other designers include Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall, Season 6 Winner Irina Shabayeba, Emilio Sosa (Season 7) and Johnathan Kayne (Season 3).


Less than a week to make a full-on Custom NIKOLAKI gown? Sure. It's "Make It Work" time! And so I did. I decided to "change it up" a bit and created a brand new gown--a little different from my original sketch. My NIKOLAKI Studio was workin' OVERTIME this past week to get it done and delivered to NYC just in time (it arrived early this morning at 2:45AM! Thank You Fed Ex Same Day Delivery!!).

Here's a "Sneak Peak" at the new gown--well, in sketch form:

Tune in TOMORROW MORNING, Today Show, on NBC, between 9-10AM and see my gown--as well as the other designers' gowns.

*According to the latest update, the segment will be on around 9:30AM--(it was changed since, as of yesterday, the segment was going to be around 8:45AM--but as you know it's "TV Land" and changes happen!!)
To make sure, just DVR/TiVo the ENTIRE show if you can, I will!!!

Don't Miss the Project Runway Kate Middleton Wedding Gown "mini" Fashion Show!!!

My Girl Heidi Klum and her "Seriously Funny Kids" Lifetime Network TV Show!

Heidi and The Funny Kids!

Heidi Klum and Nick Verreos

As you may know: I LOVE me some Heidi Klum--Not only is she DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS and like I've always said looks like a German Barbie Doll come to life. But she's also hysterically funny and is an AMAZING Mommy! Oh, and did I mention she's worn some of my NIKOLAKI dresses!!?? Hello: LOVE! Well, she also now has this GREAT new show called "Seriously Funny Kids" which I LOVE!!! Seriously!

Heidi Klum, on the set of her hit show "Seriously Funny Kids"

In the next episode of her new hit series Seriously Funny Kids, Heidi talks to a seriously funny six-year-old Lakers fan about his favorite player Pau Gasol. When she teases Gasol’s appearance at the snap of her fingers, the kid thinks she’s pulling his leg. He's astonished at Heidi’s super powers when Gasol makes a very special appearance. Heidi said "We had a huge Laker fan, this six-year-old little boy and we had him meet his ultimate Laker player, so we kind of like fulfilled some dreams to these children, too."

Make sure to catch her Supermodel Lakers Ensemble: Lakers muscle Tee, cropped skinny jeans and 5 inch heels--oh and a Lakers cap of course. Only Heidi Klum can make a "Lakers Uniform Outfit" look Runway/Red Carpet Ready!

Catch the next episode of Seriously Funny Kids this Tuesday--TONIGHT!!!--at 9 pm on Lifetime.