Haylie Duff Wears Nikolaki Gown to Final Destination 4 Premiere!!!

Aphrodite Haylie
Red Carpet Pose: Haylie Duff wears NIKOLAKI gown to "The Final Destination" Premiere

The gorgeous Haylie Duff came to our showroom/studio and we had a fun "Let's Play Dress Up" fitting session. She arrived with her stylist on Wednesday (things move fast in Hollywood!) and was looking for something for her to wear to her boyfriend's movie premiere. In case you are wondering, her boyfriend is HOT (OMG, look at those abs of his!) Nick Zano and the movie is The Final Destination. One Shoulder Goddess: Haylie Duff in NIKOLAKI Gown

Haylie was the sweetest (her body was OUT of CONTROL!) and even Benny, our dog, loved her! After trying on a lot of our gowns and dresses, she chose a wheat colored silk jersey one shouldered "Goddess Gown" with an attached black leather waist corset. May I remind you: Silk jersey!!! Of course, I think she look like Aphrodite! I know that I may sound like a 16 year old high school girl...but...I love you Haylie! (let's hope Nick Zano comes by when she returns the gown!).

FIDM San Diego Grand Opening: New Campus, New NIKOLAKI Collection!

Couture in San Diego....Nick's "Angels": Nick Verreos flanked by his models in NIKOLAKI

Several weeks back, I was invited to attend the grand opening of the beautiful and sleek new FIDM San Diego Campus. I had just returned from my week in The Bahamas, where I debuted my Spring 2009 Collection at the Islands of The World Fashion Week and I guess I was in a showing-my-gowns mood. Because I also decided to bring an amuse bouche of my brand new collection to Southern California, and specifically to add some high fashion to this grand event. FIDM was wonderful enough to bring 3 of my favorite models from LA Models to San Diego especially for the event to model my beautiful gowns and dresses. As usual, no detail was spared.Trunk Show: Nick Verreos and models in NIKOLAKI gowns pose for photographers at FIDM San Diego Opening-Night Gala

Since David Paul--my "better half"--is from San Diego, and his family still live there, it's always a chance for him to have his family see us as well. So of course, we invited them to attend the opening party. The new campus is located in Downtown San Diego right next to ---literally, I am not kidding!---PETCO Park. PETCO Park is the new ballpark for the San Diego Padres.Classroom With A View: The View of PETCO Park from FIDM's new San Diego Campus

They also hold concerts there as well (Madonna just played there!). PETCO Park was built because previously, the San Diego Padres used to play where the football team--the San Diego Chargers--played but locals tell me that IT WAS A MESS. So they built a separate stadium for the Padres so the fans would be happy (OK, that's FAR TOO MUCH Sports Talk from me---I feel almost BUTCH!). Sitting Pretty: Model Amber sits and poses in a black silk taffeta tiered NIKOLAKI gown with jeweled encrusted feathered trim

The new campus sits in one of those shiny new office/condo buildings San Diego seems to have a lot of in that area, and it was designed by architect Clive Wilkinson. South Africa-reared, LA-based Wilkinson has also designed several other FIDM campuses , as well as for Google and Nokia. His strength is in creating livable and/or workable spaces that provide an organic, and almost seamless environment by the ingenious use of walls, glass, and loft-like elements. The new campus is modern, un-pretentious and a perfect reflection of what an up-to-the-minute directional design school should look like.
Raspberry Couture: Model poses in NIKOLAKI raspberry-colored silk duchesse strapless fitted gown with Japanese "obi-style" pleated detail and silk velvet ribbons

As guests arrived, they were greeted by an informal fashion show--trunk show style--of our NIKOLAKI Spring '09 Collection. As David was "behind the scenes" making sure the models changed correctly and had the right accessories and were zipped-up properly, I mingled with guests, took photos and showed off the gowns to attending guests. The models did several outfit changes; we began with some cocktail looks and morphed into full out GLAMOUR , as the evening's festivities progressed. Many women were overheard muttering "oooh, I love that" and "oooh, I really like that", and "oooh, how much is that?" followed with an "oooh, I can't afford that...". Generally, it was a nice showcase to give this "elite" San Diego audience a taste of NIKOLAKI, especially from a former FIDM student like myself (too many years ago, so don't even try and ask).
San Diego Mayor Talks Fashion? Mayor Jerry Sanders thanks Nick Verreos and the beautiful models for their participation in the festivities

The Grand Opening was filled with many of the "Who's Who" of San Diego, including it's Mayor, the honorable Jerry Sanders and his stylish wife as well as many of San Diego's artistic and business elite, including a San Diego Padres' executive/owner and also one of the beautiful local TV anchorwomen. Even it's architect--the aforementioned Clive Wilkinson-- was in attendance to survey his "baby". The party atmosphere culminated into high gear as
hors d'oeuvres and cocktails were passed around to the 200+ guests as the party moved to one of the top floors of the building, overlooking the immense PETCO Park and the gorgeous San Diego skyline.

Welcome to the Bahamas! Nick Verreos and Islands Of The World Fashion Week!

Islands Of The World Fashion Week: Here we come!!!

The day has arrived. After months and months of design, ordering fabric, draping, pattern making, muslin sample sewing, subsequent fixing of patterns, creating the final runway samples, designing runway make-up and hair ideas, runway-music mixing, model fittings, and many custom government delivery forms later, we are here.
Today, David Paul and I, depart for Nassau, The Bahamas to debut our NIKOLAKI Spring 2009 Collection. Over 6 months ago, I was invited to partake in the first ever Islands Of the World Fashion Week and showcase my newest collection---as well as make special appearances as part of the festivities, and ultimately judge the Fashion Week's Collections designed by over 30 designers from all over the world.
Above and below are some one-of-a-kind special illustrations I sketched to commemorate the occasion, and to give a "sneak peak" of what NIKOLAKI Spring 2009 will look like (save the Bahamas Carnival Costume!)

My collection will be about "Cinematic Glamour"--but a particular kind of cinematic glamour (more on that later!); decadent, elegant yet sexy, lots of Red Carpet-worthy designs. Hopefully, my readers can make it to the Bahamas--and if not, I will make sure to take lots of photos!!!
Wish me Luck and Bon Voyage!