Nikolaki Santa: Illustration by Nick VerreosSince 2008 is coming to an end, I thought it would be fun to do a "Best of" here on my fun little ol' blog site. I know it's very "Tyra" of me , but of course this Best of 2008 Recap is ALL ABOUT ME! Well, what I thought were all the highlights for me and what I had done throughout this past year. So without further ado, here goes my monthly Nick Highlights for 2008:
TV Guide Fashion Wraps with Lisa Rinna, Oscar's Pre-Show with Debbie Matenopoulos and Kim Kardashian; FIDM Debut 2008; NIKOLAKI gowns shine on actress Melora Hardin (NBC's The Office), Miss Alaska USA at Miss USA '08, as well as TV Guide Network's Rosanna Tavarez and Kimberly Caldwell at Amercian Idol Finale...
January---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the beginning of January, I got called in to do some "Red Carpet Fashion Expert" commentating for the TV Guide Network and specifically, to join the expert team on Fashion Wrap with Lisa Rinna post-red carpet show. First up were the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards in late January. I had a blast doing it and I guess the "powers that be" at TV Guide Network liked what they saw...February--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following month, I was asked to do E! Entertainment's Live Pre-Oscars Show. I joined the gorgeous (and long-lost Greek sistah) Debbie Matenopoulos as well as TV personality Kim Kardashian, at the Roosevelt Hotel E! Oscars Pre-Show Studio across from the Kodak Theater, and added a little bit of testosterone (just a little) to an otherwise all-girl line up. 
Debbie Matenopoulos, Nick Verreos and Kim Kardashian on E! Oscars Live Pre-ShowI also got to star in the first ever E! Oscars Fashion Show where we showed gown styles that might be seen on the Academy Awards red carpet, including one of my own NIKOLAKI designs (the turquoise silk gown to the right of the photo below). I even got to take a "final bow". The E! Pre-Oscars Coverage ended with Miss Debbie giving me a bouquet of flowers as I did the "Miss Congeniality" wave and pretend-cry.
Debbie Matenopoulos hands Nick Verreos his post runway bouquetOne of the best moments of 2008 for me was when Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin (Best Actress in 1988 for "Children Of A Lesser God") attended the 2008 Oscars and wore one of my NIKOLAKI gowns--a black and white silk duchess fitted gown from my Spring Collection.
Actress Marlee Matlin wears NIKOLAKI gown to the 2008 OscarsThis was the first time a Project Runway Designer dressed an Academy Award-winning actress at the Oscars. The gown was later featured in an issue of In Style Magazine, in their "Best Gowns of the 2008 Academy Awards" issue.
Consequently, I did a live taping for a BBC Morning Talk Show "Breakfast" and offer more of my expertise on Academy Awards fashion as well as do post-award show commentary once again for Lisa Rinna's Fashion Wraps for TV Guide Network. My time with Lisa and the rest of the red carpet fashion "crew" was not over, however, as I got called upon for one last award show fashion expert chat fest for the Grammy Awards.
Project Runway Season 3 Model, Amanda Fields models in FIDM Debut '08February was also the month for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) famed Debut Fashion Show. The annual show occurs at the massive Santa Monica Airport Barker Hanger. As the Spokesperson (and Instructor) of FIDM, I introduced the show in front of a packed house of 3000 attendees and then later posed with literally, hundreds of them, for their MySpace and Facebook photos. Fun times!
Nick Verreos takes photos at FIDM Debut '08April-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Along with my partner David Paul--who as you know, co-designs the NIKOLAKI Collection with me--we designed the custom gown for the reigning Miss Alaska USA, Courtney Carroll for her to wear at the Miss USA 2008 competition. It was a sexy 1930's inspired bubblegum pink silk crepe back satin gown with Swarovski crystal shoulder accents.
Miss Alaska USA in NIKOLAKI gown, Miss USA 2008 PageantWe flew to Las Vegas to attend the Miss USA as Courtney's "special guests" and cheer her on as she won the Miss Photogenic 2008 title (which she dutifully accepted in our NIKOLAKI one-of-a-kind gown live on the NBC telecast).
Nick Verreos and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo MoriDuring our visit to Sin City, I got to meet the beautiful Riyo Mori, the reigning Miss Universe 2007, from Japan and the stunning new Miss Venezuela, a lovely young model by the name of Dayana Mendoza. Five months later, Dayana won the Miss Universe 2008 crown in Vietnam.
Miss Venezuela (and future Miss Universe 2008), Dayana Mendoza and Nick VerreosDuring April, I was invited (thanks Absolut!) to attend the 2008 GLAAD Media Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Kathy Griffin (and her hilarious mom) opened the show. Janet Jackson was there.
Nick Verreos, GLAAD Awards red carpetSo was Cindy Crawford (who accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award for Herb Ritts). Even Tom Ford was in the audience, seated two rows behind me. I also got to say "hello" to actors Rex Lee of HBO's Entourage and Michael Urie of ABC's Ugly Betty, amongst others.
Actors Rex Lee (HBO's Entourage), Michael Urie (ABC's Ugly Betty) and Nick Verreos, 2008 GLAAD Awards
Actress Melora Hardin wears NIKOLAKI to host Elle Magazine event, New York CityDuring this month, the statuesque (and gorgeous) actress Melora Hardin (of NBC's The Office) wore my NIKOLAKI black ruffled neck fitted dress to an Elle Magazine event she hosted , along with Simon Doonan, Creative Director of Barneys NY.
Actress Melora Hardin (wearing NIKOLAKI) on The Morning Show with Mike and JulietMelora also chose one of my silk chiffon flower-printed gowns from my Spring 2008 Collection to wear for her appearance a week later on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in New York City.
TV presenter and singer Rosanna Tavarez, wearing NIKOLAKI gown to American Idol Finale tapingThe month ended in a NIKOLAKI coup d'etat when TV personalities (and hosts of TV Guide Network's Idol Chat, Idol Tonight and Reality Chat) Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez wore my elegant gowns to host the American Idol Finale.
Kimberly Caldwell wears NIKOLAKI to American Idol Finale tapingRosanna wore a white silk jersey Grecian Goddess gown and Kimberly wore two: A black silk duchess strapless gown for the Finale and a black and white cocktail number to interview the winner, David Cook (see video below). They began dating soon afterward. It was my dress I SWEAR! (ha ha)