Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos Goes to FIDM San Diego for 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"--The Recap!

Fashion in Sunny San Diego, Doggie Day Care, Visit from the Family...Oh and a Baseball Game!!!

Find The One Guy: Nick Verreos and the FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion" attendees

Last week, as part of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM's 2011 "3 Days of Fashion", I drove down to San Diego--along with my NIKOLAKI partner David Paul--to make my "Guest Appearance". First, we had to put our little doggy, Benny, in "Doggy Day Care" so he would have lots of play time, while his "daddies" went down to San Diego for the day. After an almost three-hour drive down (oh that LA to San Diego traffic!), we finally made it! Just in time...

The View: Padres Baseball game happening at the same time as FIDM San Diego's 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

The FIDM San Diego Campus is located right next to the spectacular Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. And wouldn't you know it: There was a Padres Baseball Game going on right at the same time!!! At first I didn't realize it and thought "Boy, are ALL these people with shorts and flip flops going to the FIDM 3 Days of Fashion???" I somehow forgot to see all their Padres caps, banners, flags and baseball jerseys!! Ooops...

But yes, once inside the campus, I got ready for my appearance. This was the last day of this event for them---and they had been in different workshops throughout the day, learning the intricacies of draping, sketching, trend spotting.

Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 black silk jersey tunic-gown, FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

But now, they were going to see some FASHION with a Capital "F"...as I brought one of my FAVE Runway models, Amanda Fields (who also drove down from Los Angeles), to show the "3 Days of Fashion" students--over 100 of them--some of my NIKOLAKI gowns and dresses.

Raise Your Camera-Phones: A scene from the NIKOLAKI "Mini" Fashion Show, FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

You should have seen all the camera phones go up as Amanda sauntered into the room each time with a different gown/dress. It was like "mini paparazzi"!!! Afterward, I gave away prizes (the most fun were the "Best Dressed of FIDM San Diego 3 Days of Fashion" prizes!) and of course, I signed bags, t-shirts, sweatshirts...you name it, I signed it!

Baby Blue Meets Pink: FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion" guest (she made her own dress!) and Nick Verreos

We also took great photos with the FAB Petco Park Padres Baseball Game going on in the back! An additional "special bonus" of coming down to San Diego was that David's mom and nieces--the super pretty Emilie and Samantha...

La San Diego Familia: David Paul, Nick Verreos with David's mom, Conchita and nieces Samantha and Emilie, FIDM San Diego Campus balcony

Got to attend the event as well--and spend some time with "Uncle David". The girls enjoyed my lecture I think--David's mom even said I should go into the business of being an "Inspirational Speaker"...Who knows, there's still time!!! After the event, David's mom, treated us to a delicious--yet quick--dinner nearby and then we were on our way (it was 7:30pm and we had only 2 1/2 hrs to make it back before the Doggy Day Care closed. In case you were wondering, we got there at 9:56!!! Just in time...

Australian actress Sharni Vinson wears NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 to "2011 Breakthrough Awards" Red Carpet

Little Black Dress Aussie Style!!!

Sharni Vinson Wearing NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 to the Australians in Film 2011 Breakthrough Awards

Earlier this week, the stunning Australian model/actress/dancer Sharni Vinson, attended the Australians in Film 2011 Breakthrough Awards at the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Sharni acted in the very popular Aussie soap opera "Home Away" as well as of course starred in "Blue Crush 2" and "Step Up 3D". My NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul and I were thrilled when we found out she wore one of our Spring 2011 dresses too the "2011 Breakthrough Awards"!!

It's a black silk-wool ziberline criss-cross draped dress with cascading skirt side folds. Of course, we here at NIKOLAKI, think she looks DIVINE!

Above is the dress Sharni Vinson wore from our NIKOLAKI Website Spring 2011 Look Book, worn by one of our models, Amanda Fields.

Carrie Underwood Wears NIKOLAKI on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"!!!

GORGEOUS Carrie Underwood!

Turquoise Winner: Carrie Underwood wearing NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

Guess who wore one of my dresses on the Ellen Show? Yep, the one only Carrie Underwood! Multiple Grammy Award winner, Golden Globe Award nominee, three time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, as well as (we all know!), Winner of the fourth season of American Idol, Miss Carrie Underwood wore a NIKOLAKI dress on TODAY'S "Ellen DeGeneres Show".

Chattin' Girls: Carrie Underwood (in NIKOLAKI dress) and Ellen DeGeneres, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

My NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul and I were ECSTATIC when we found out that Carrie would be wearing one of our fabulous cocktail dresses on TV yesterday (they taped the show a day before) but of course, we had to keep a secret until now.

Clap For Couture: Carrie Underwood (in NIKOLAKI dress) with Ellen DeGeneres, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

She was a guest today on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to promote the new film she is starring in, "Soul Surfer", which opens tomorrow. I think Carrie looked DAZZLING in our NIKOLAKI turquoise blue silk ziberline dress featuring a high pleated neckline, open back and contrast waistband. PS: Turquoise looks GORGEOUS on Carrie!!!

It's all about color-block dresses kids---and somehow, David and I knew this when we designed this dress many many months ago for our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection. You can see the dress from our Look Book on model Amanda Fields above.

Pleated Beauty: Carrie Underwood, in NIKOLAKI turquoise blue silk dress, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

After their initial sit-down interview--where they discussed everything from her new film to her doggie, her wedding as well as her husband's closet--Carrie and Ellen also didplayed a fun little game involving a couple of audience members and some Vitamin Water.

Le Back: Carrie Underwood, in NIKOLAKI dress (left), on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

What was great about this was that we actually got to see Carrie's dress from the back as she turned around and had to throw mini water balloons for the game...Miss Carrie, you looked AMAZING in NIKOLAKI and, as one of the designers, I give you a dozen kisses for choosing to wear it!


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Click Below for video of Carrie Underwood wearing NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show":

Nick Verreos Appearance at FIDM 3 Days of Fashion 2010 Orange County and Los Angeles!

High School Fashionistas: Bring It!!!OC Style: Nick Verreos and the audience at FIDM Orange County Campus' 3 Days of Fashion

This week was the beginning of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM 3 Days of Fashion. It's when high school (and above) students from all over the country come to see what FIDM is all about and check it out as a possible school to attend for those interested in the Fashion Industry. As many of you may know, FIDM is where I attended and got my Fashion Design Degree from, and it is also where I am an Instructor (and it's where Project Runway Season 6 was filmed!!!). I always love being invited to the 3 Days of Fashion and making special appearances at all the campuses.

First Up: FIDM Orange County: Nick Verreos and Amanda Fields pose with 3 Days of Fashion OC attendee

For 2010, I decided to bring my Nikolaki gowns and "star" models such as the fabulous Amanda Fields, who, besides being a muse and "House Model" of mine, she was also on Project Runway Season 3. We had a fantastic time in the OC (as I always do!). I even brought my "son", Benny. Yes, Benny made a "special appearance" and even did a quick catwalk down the FIDM OC 3 Days of Fashion Runway!

FIDM Los Angeles:
Work The Crowd: Nick Verreos and 400+ attendees, FIDM Los Angeles 3 Days of Fashion

Over 400 High School students (and their parents) came to the final day of FIDM Los Angeles' 3 Days of Fashion, and I was the "Grand Finale"(yeaaayyyy!!!). Again, I brought model Amanda Fields and some of my Nikolaki gowns for everyone to see and enjoy.
Flamenco Queen: Model Amanda Fields in Nikolaki black silk taffeta tiered-ruffle and sequined feathered gown

Miss Amanda WORKED the runway--and crowd--wearing a black silk taffeta "Flamenco" styled tulip-shaped gown. She looked UNBELIEVABLE in it and you could tell from the "ooohs" and "aaahs" from the audience.
Print Goddess: Model Amanda Fields in Nikolaki silk chiffon gown

I also brought one of my favorite gowns, a "Hibiscus"-print silk chiffon high-neck gown which has over 30 yards of fabric. Again, the crowd went "wild" when she sauntered onto the FIDM LA 3 Days of Fashion stage/runway and showed all the kids what a model in COUTURE should look like!
Say FASHION: Nick Verreos and Amanda Fields pose with FIDM LA 3 Days of Fashion attendees

After my speaking appearance and mini-Nikolaki Fashion Show, both Amanda and I spent over an hour taking photos and signing autographs (as we did in the OC!) with all the attendees. I hope everyone had a blast, enjoyed my talk (sorry I went overtime!) and best of all, were inspired.

Click BELOW for Video of both the OC and Los Angeles 2010 FIDM 3 Days of Fashion:

Actress Tasha Smith, from Tyler Perry's Hit Film "Why Did I Get Married Too?" Wears NIKOLAKI

Tasha Smith Gives You NIKOLAKI COUTURE!!!Fire Red: Tasha Smith in red silk satin-back crepe NIKOLAKI gown

The gorgeous actress Tasha Smith, who most recently starred in Tyler Perry's hit film "Why Did I Get Married Too", (with Miss Janet Jackson!) is featured in a photo spread with her sexy HOT co-star Michael Jai White.
Happy Couple: Actress Tasha Smith (in red NIKOLAKI gown) and Michael Jai White

The editorial, which was styled by Chaz E. Foley, and photographed by John Russo, is in the current Monarch Magazine Summer 2010 Edition. Statueseque: Actress Tasha Smith in hand-beaded bias cut georgette gown with silk zibeline corset NIKOLAKI gown

Chaz recently styled another shoot for one of my favorite Los Angeles models, the exotic Suwana Perry, wearing NIKOLAKI, of course. Kudos to Chaz, John and Tasha on some great images!

HOT Photo Shoot with NIKOLAKI Dresses!!!

Work IT!!!!Beyonce Fan: Model Suwana Perry in NIKOLAKI black matte paillette cowl-backed cocktail dress

Last month, my friend , celebrity stylist Chaz E. Foley came by my NIKOLAKI studio to take some dresses and gowns for a photo shoot he was doing-- Little did I know that they were with one of my favorite Los Angeles models, Bubblegum Princess: Model Suwana Perry in NIKOLAKI fuchsia pink silk duchesse plunging neck box-pleated cocktail dress

Suwana Perry, whom I've known for YEARS--she's modeled in some of my runway shows and also "helps me out" every now and then and has her perfect figure available as my "Fit Model" for my FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Fit Class.
Here are the results---enjoy!
Photos by Ray Christian

JUDY, LIZA...and Nick Verreos? The FIDM Debut Runway Show 2010!

LA Fashion Gala...FIDM Style!Presenting FIDM Debut 2010: Nick Verreos, Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)

Continuing with my FIDM Debut 2010 posting, here's THE BIGGIE: Last weekend I attended, made an appearance and even handed out awards at...the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's annual fashion gala, the Debut Fashion Show. Warhol-esque: Debut 2010 Background
(photo courtesy of Feliz Salzman and www.lookbookla.com)

Held at the MASSIVE Santa Monica Barker Hanger, the Debut Show has grown into an extravagant showcase of the creme de la creme of the school's top graduating students in the Advanced Fashion Design, Theater and Costume as well as Interior and Textile Design.Group Photo: Nick Verreos poses with the Debut 2010 Advanced Fashion Design Graduates

The show began with Chairing Styles--a collaboration between the Advanced Fashion Design, Textile Design and Interior Design students and generously supported by the Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated--in which they all design chairs, fabric for the chairs (assisted by Mimaki) plus a corresponding dress. This year's theme was "Garden Party".Somewhere Over The Runway: Judy Garland impersonator Denise Rose, FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of Feliz Salzman and www.lookbookla.com)

Next was the Theater Costume Advanced Design portion of the show. This year, the theme was "Tribute To Judy and Liza". The old-school "sistahs" in the audience were LOVING IT (moi included!). The young kids, however, didn't even know who these women were (shame on them!)--nevertheless, they were about to get SCHOOLED!!! Jazz Hands: Liza Minelli impersonator Suzanne Goulet in the "Cabaret" excerpt, FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of Felix Salzman, www.lookbookla.com)

This portion spanned through all of Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minelli's career in Hollywood and the effect they--and their movies--had on Theater and Motion Picture Costume Design. Students designed costumes for "The Wizard of Oz", "New York, New York", "Cabaret", "Meet Me In St. Louis" among others.Trophy Time: Mary Stephens, Nick Verreos and the Nikolaki Couture models onstage FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)

Afterward, I was honored to have been asked by my esteemed Mentor and Advanced Fashion Design Program Chair, Mary Stephens, to present the Debut Awards for 2010, in which we find out who next year's "best and brightest" are. Nick's Angels: Models Danika, Veronica and Tamara, backstage Debut 2010

As a special treat, I brought three looks from my newest NIKOLAKI Collection to be featured on the "trophy girls".
Model Danika Thompson working her NIKOLAKI Couture Fall 2010 Raspberry Silk-wool Zibeline "keyhole" Gown

The Awards Show portion was then followed by the Guess Design Challenge. Guess and the Marciano Brothers are HUGE supporters of FIDM and for Debut 2010, the Advanced Fashion Design Students (whom I mentored and guided for a bit), were asked to design a look for Guess, which then would be shown at Debut 2010, and Maurice Marciano was In attendance to chose the winner...GUESS Who Is The Winner: Brittany Vu winning the FIDM Guess Design Challenge

Brittany Vu, was the winner and was offered an Assistant Design position with Guess and would be able to oversee her design from conception to retail! (AMAZING!!!). Then it was the time for the Advanced Fashion Design graduates to show their individual collections. The collections ranged from extravagant evening gowns (Juan Carlos Fabian) to Kimono-inspired subdued elegant separates (Dominique David) to even a Little Girls Collection (a crowd favorite from graduate Meghann Fanara).
I was excited to see my MUSE (and fit model)--Project Runway Season 6 Model, Lisa Blades (in Juan Carlos Fabian) and...
Project Runway Season 7 Model, Brandise Danesewich (in Nick Gaska) who were both modeling in the show. The evening's fund-raising Debut 2010 Fashion Gala (to support the FIDM Scholarship Foundation) was a huge sold-out success!
I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Julian Bermudez for KPCC's "Off Ramp". That's my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul with us.
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)
And did a Prom Photo with The Bachelor Season 14 Runner Up Tenley Molzahn (photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)
Also at Debut 2010, was designer Tadashi Shoji
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com) and... The Mattel Barbie boys, Peter Helenek and James Holmes

It's all about COLOR kids!!!!! We look like the LA version of "The Jersey Boys"...or is it "Destiny's Child"? Don't answer that!

Click BELOW for a GREAT Debut 2010 Photo Slide Show from LookBookLa.com and photographer Felix Salzman:

K-State Fashion Madness: Nick Verreos Takes on the Kansas State University Fashionistas!

Purple, Wildcats, Cows and Eco Fashion? Yes, I'm in Kansas!Welcome to Manhattan Regional Airport: The plane I arrived in

Two weeks ago, I began my "Winter 2010 University Speaking Engagements" in the US Heartland: Kansas! I was invited to speak to the fabulous students of Kansas State University (home of the Wildcats!) located in Manhattan, Kansas. I took an LA to Dallas to Manhattan, Kansas flight--and arrived in one of the quaintest airports I have ever seen: The Manhattan Regional Airport. The plane I arrived in was the only plane in the airport and once we taxied and parked, it dropped us off right in front of the airport terminal door! Front Door Service: The entrance to the terminal as you get off your plane, Manhattan Regional Airport

It brings new meaning to Front Door Service! Students from K-State were there to greet me and they proceeded to take me to my hotel. En route, I spotted something that could not be dismissed: A HUGE COW STATUE! Well, I almost made the University student driver get in an accident as I YELLED "STOP!!!!!!!!!!...I need to take a photo!!!". And they did. And of course, I posed in front of this big ol' cow! I'm in Kansas less than 30 minutes and I am already LOVING IT!Kansas State University

I finally made it to the University's Campus and got ready for the evenings fashion festivities, entitled K-State Project Runway all organized by the great UPC/Union Program Council. The night would involve a special speaking engagement by yours truly, plus a great Eco Fashion Show featuring designs from Kansas State University Students.I spoke for about an hour an half about how I got into fashion and gave lots of dish on Heidi, Tim and how it felt to be a contestant on Project Runway. There was a great slideshow behind me, showing the latest gowns from my NIKOLAKI Collection (so the attendees wouldn't be bored just looking at me!). The Top Three Designs and Designers, K-State Project Runway Eco Fashion Show/Contest

Then the K-State "Eco Fashion" Contest began: Students from the Fashion Merchandising Major--as well some Architecture students--Undergraduate and Graduate, were given four hours to create Eco-friendly designs using materials such as paper, duck tape, markers, magazines, aluminum cans, etc. Each student showed their finished designs to a capacity-filled theater and to a panel of judges--including me! Yes, the entire show was done like a Project Runway Episode. I played the part of Heidi Klum (I was NOT Michael Kors, thank you very much!). And The Winner Is: Winning K-State Student Designer, her model and design, and Nick Verreos

After much deliberation, we all agreed on the winner. The student had created a one-shoulder cocktail dress, entirely out of paper folding it and pleating it in ingenious ways. It was very Alexander McQueen and we all loved it.Can I Have a Photo? K-State Students pose while waiting in line for photos and autographs

Afterward, I posed for lots of photos and signed lots of "Posters" of the event! It is safe to say--by the reaction of the students, the designers and all the attendees--that it was a VERY successful K-State Project Runway. And I was more than happy to be part of it!The following morning, I had to return to LA, but before leaving I had to get one last parting shot of what is now, my favorite little airport in all of the USA!!! Go Manhattan Kansas! And Go Wildcats Fashionistas! Hope to return soon!