Postcard: New York City August 2011--McQueen Exhibit, Dream Downtown Hotel

A Pool in a Manhattan, a balcony in a NYC Hotel, a 2 1/2 hr Wait for McQueen and DELICIOUS Pizza? Read on...

Nick Verreos, Dream Downtown Hotel Pool NYC

A couple of weeks ago--between my crazy schedule of co-running my NIKOLAKI design company, designing, draping and making patterns for the next collection, filming TV Show Pilots, and trying to AVOID answering questions of "Why Are You Not on Project Runway All Stars?"--I had to fly to NYC with my design-and-business partner David Paul for an important business meeting. Well, let's just begin with how much I love NY. Love. I have many friends there so I can't wait to arrive. But I was a little bit scared since, well, for the last few weeks, it had been like 10,000 DEGREES HOT. I don't do HOT HUMID WEATHER very well! My T-zone doesn't "likey". But--thank goodness--the weather had "cooled" down--to a respectable 80-something degrees. I really didn't have an option, since this was the only time we could have this business meeting.

Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum NYC

Also, I remembered that the FAB Metropolitan Museum Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibition was going to close soon and my partner, David, had not gone...so, this would be the PERFECT opportunity!



David and I booked ourselves into the newly-opened Dream Downtown Hotel, which is located near the "Meatpacking District"/Chelsea area. It had a pool. Enough said. Done and done. Upon arrival, we went to our Deluxe Room and I just about SCREAMED...



We had a balcony! (above photo) Who has a balcony in a NYC Hotel? Well, we never had. It even had a little chair as well. Yes, it was a vertiginous balcony about 18" wide but still, it was a balcony. The room was spacious--for NYC standards.



The room also had a interesting "Girl Scout" painting which I was obsessed with. But the "piece de resistance" (besides the balcony, pool, painting), was that there were ETRO bath and grooming products in the bathroom:



I LOVE me some Etro! After our business meetings, we returned to our hotel and enjoyed a day in the Pool:

Dream Downtown Hotel Pool

Dream Downtown Hotel Pool Beach area

The next day we headed off to the Metropolitan Museum to see the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit. I had been to it when it first opened but David had never been. And it was THE LAST WEEK!!!! So, No Should've, Would've, Could've...Just Do It!!!

Metropolitan Museum Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibition, Final Week lines

Metropolitan Museum NYC

We braved a 2 1/2 hrs wait (when I first went, I barely waited in line!) hanging out in the Met's immense entrance upstairs balcony area (in line of course!). Finally, we made it in. It was PACKED and not so comfortable of an experience (for both David and I) to be 10 people-deep from the actual clothes and trying to read what they were.

Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit, Metropolitan Museum NYC

Since I had already "been there, done that", I really didn't care. But, yes, I felt bad for David. He even rented the Audio Equipment (my suggestion) which well, if you can't even see the displays, what's the point?

Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit, Metropolitan Museum NYC

After it was all said and done, we did it, and more importantly, David got to see (kind of) the

Exhibition: The dresses, gowns, shoes, videos...were AMAZING!!! (the accompanying book is A MUST BTW!) We will really be PISSED if it comes to Los Angeles and the almost-three hour wait and barely-seeing-anything (for David) was for nothing!!

David Paul and Taylor Schultz, Maritime Hotel La Bottega NYC

After our trip Uptown to the Exhibition, we capped off our time in NYC with drinks and dinner with our very good friend Taylor--first at the Maritime Hotel's "La Bottega" for cocktails and then Artichoke Pizza: Yum and Yummier...





PS: I LOVE NY!

Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala Red Carpet: Divas and A-Listers

Red Carpet Royalty.....

Diva Supreme!
(and I'm not talking about Ms. Andre Leon Talley trying to upstage her from behind!!)
Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture

Monday Night was the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala honoring the memory and amazing work of the late Alexander McQueen. This event happened only days after the House of Alexander McQueen ( headed by Sara Burton) was revealed as the designer of Katherine Middleton's Wedding Gown. So you can only imagine the excitement already swirling around in the air.

The Met Gala is always such a fun Red Carpet, because it is thought of as the "Academy Awards" of the Fashion World. The Oscars are often given the label of being safe and cookie cutter by the fashion world, so this is their opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and really give us something to talk about!!

But before we get to some of the more crazy ensembles, I thought I would highlight a few of the A-listers and Divas that really looked great on the RC.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu: She looks breathtaking and very Old Hollywood Glamour. Love how she is workin' the slit and also the return of the strappy, more delicate heels.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Topshop Unique: Love the color and Ginnifer always knows how to highlight that fabulous face. She accented it well with that STUNNING Van Cleef and Arpels necklace.

Madonna in Stella McCartney: While I am not a huge fan of this dress, Madonna is certainly vibe-ing 1930's Hollywood Glam. We are seeing a return of the Silk Charmeuse Gowns lately and there is no doubt that Madonna is looking flawless in the close-up image above.

Ashley Olsen in Vintage Dior: Love the unexpected quality of the dress on Ashley. While she stayed within her color comfort zone (black and white), it is great to see her reveal a bit more skin and style her hair in an up-do. She looks like a Parisian Chanteuse!

Mary Kate Olsen in Vintage Givenchy: Those Olsen Girls love their vintage! Love the color and ethereal quality. The Emerald jewelry is a perfect accent.

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci Fall 2011: Love this Gucci Collection and love Jennifer in this 70's inspired chiffon halter dress. Not everyone can pull off that floral bolero, but Jennifer, always the Diva, makes it work effortlessly.

Kerry Washington in Escada: Who knew her body was this amazing?! Love the color, cut and fabrication of this gown. If only she could have stopped the hairstylist from making her look like a poodle! When in doubt, pull the hair back into a Chignon!!

Ashley Greene in Custom Donna Karan: Shoot me now, but I have actually never seen a Twilight Movie, so I wasn't completely familiar with Ashley. But she certainly made an impact on me with this gorgeous Custom Donna Karan Gown. Not a style you would normally see from DK, but she looked absolutely radiant in the dress.

Up next....The Wacky, Crazy and "Oh No She Didn't!" of the Met Gala Red Carpet!...

Project Runway Season 7 Nick Verreos Recap: Museum Queens

Museum Queens...One Ego is Better Than Two...and a Homeless Statute of Liberty?This week's episode was the dreaded Project Runway "Team Challenge" where two designers are paired up--randomly (or so they say!)--and the producers and fellow Cameramen get some GOOD TV for y'all. For Season 7, the kids headed to the grand Metropolitan Museum of Art where "Couture Curator", Tim Gunn, stood framed by some of the most beautiful Couture garments from the 20th Century from designers like... Balenciaga (1954-55 Cocoon Silk Faille Coat above, a Gift from the Baroness Philippe de Rothschild), as well as... Madame Gres (silk jersey gown above). It would be interesting to have a "Fashion History Test" with the contestants to see how many of them even knew who Madame Gres was. Just sayin'...The Challenge this week was to design a look worthy of a Museum Couture Piece (with $500!) and then (of course there was a twist)-- they later discovered-- they also had to design a "budget H&M-like version (with $50) of another team's design. I know, I was like "Say what?". I'm sure it sounded good in the "pitch meeting" but it lead to a rather confusing episode; too much packed in just an hour episode for the viewer's mental and visual capacity. Of course, there was conflict when it came to the teams, especially with Kooky Ping and Matinee Idol I'm-an-Actor Jesse. He just wanted to do his job and Ping Wu just wanted to be Kooky--and look for her missing shoes! Mila Hermanovski and her partner Jonathan Peters were also an interesting couple. Jonathan--intelligently enough--let her be "The Boss" and boy was she. I would not want to mess with that severe bob either. Not surprisingly, when it finally came to the Runway Show, it was one great garment and one pretty bad outfit.

To begin with, I liked Jesus Estrada and his partner Amy Sarabi's design: You could TOTALLY tell that it was all--or at least mostly-- Amy. That pleated-fan bolero was spectacular and so Amy's style! I also liked Maya Luz' design...
It was edgy, a modern take on Museum-worthy Couture. I concur with Nina Garcia: The open side was very chic. I can see many people saying "I just don't get it...I would never wear that!" But wear-ability was not really the point for this half of the challenge.The winner ended up being Mila's color-blocked kimono coat and skinny pant look which was very 1960s Courreges/Pierre Cardin with a definite nod to Narciso Nodriguez. To be honest, it wasn't my favorite but leave it to Kors and Garcia (Champions of NY-American sportswear and separates) to chose this. But now, onto the messes:This look from Jesse LeNoir, Ping's team "assistant" was so bland, I almost fell asleep as it came down the runway. Cheap "fast fashion" doesn't have to be boring. It was Banana Republic...from 2001! And Jonathan and Mila's design...Based on Anthony Williams' bad ball gown (what was that bustier???).. It was mainly the severe Baby Doll silhouette, and that gathered tulle accent on the halter neckline that bothered me. I just wanted to get my seam-riper and take that black tulle accent off! Jonathan seems to be more talented than this--maybe it was a time restriction. I have been there huney--did you see my crazy design for the Santino-and-Nick Banana Republic Team Challenge? In other words: I understand.

But of course, Ping's "Homage" to a Homeless Statue of Liberty took the Worst Museum Couture Piece this week. As I said previously, I was surprised she wasn't "auf'ed" last week and we were all just counting down the days until her demise. Ping made for great TV but that can only take you so far in a show that is based on talent and craftsmanship--not to mention 10 cameramen and an entire production crew looking over your shoulder. The lace top looked matronly and the side cowl draping was heavy-handed and was neither Museum-worthy or qualified as anything a woman of this Century would want to own. Maybe a character from HBO's "Rome", but even then, she would be the recently-freed Roman Slave--certainly not the Mistress of the house!
Out with Ping...in with the rest...now onto more important matters: When are we going to see Jesse shirtless? Until next time kiddies.