This past weekend I made a special visit to Irvine California to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Orange County, to say "Hi" to all the future FIDM Fashionistas!! I always bring my doggie Benny and my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul, but this time, they had to stay back in LA at our studio (we have a very important custom gown deadline!). So naturally, I got there and EVERYONE asked "Where's Benny?" and then soon followed by "Where's David?". Hello? What am I "Chopped Liver?". LOL! 
What brought a big ol' smile to my face was being greeted by the two prettiest girls I "done ever seen", as I walked through the glass door of FIDM OC and through that Barbie-esque pink carpet.
FIDM Open House is a way for high-school (and beyond) students to "check out" FIDM and also for "I-Just-Got-Accepted" ones to meet-and-greet FIDM Alumni like myself. 
The theme of this year's FIDM OC Open House was "Meet Your Professors", and since I am one, I was there to give advice, valuable information about FIDM, the industry and what it takes to succeed. 
One Shoulder Cocktail Dress Meets Bow Tie Boy: FIDM Open House guest stands next to Nikolaki dressAs a "special bonus", I brought three of my NIKOLAKI cocktail dresses which have sold in stores across America. They served as a backdrop to my "appearance". I loved speaking with all the just-accepted students as well as with the "what advice do you have for me since I am thinking of coming here...."
Whose Fauxhawk is Higher: Nick Verreos poses with guests at FIDM OC Open HouseAt one point I was spending about 20+ minutes on one student and after I was done , I noticed a woman in the back--teary eyed--she came up to me and said "I'm one of the mom's and you are AMAZING!...such an inspiration..those words you said to him were life-changing..." I had no idea anybody else was watching or listening. Well, I am glad I got the mom going because I love me the moms!
Kellie Peterson, Nick Verreos, Tenley Molzahn, FIDM OC Open House 2010Another special treat was seeing all the FIDM OC Admissions Advisor Beauties , including the beautiful Kellie Peterson, who just happened to be Miss International Hawaii 2004, as well as the lovely Tenley Molzahn, whom you might recognize as one of the Finalists of this last season's The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love.
Turquoise Love: FIDM Advisor and ABC's The Bachelor Finalist Tenley Molzahn with Nick Verreos, FIDM OC Open House 2010Tenley is so sweet and so helpful to the FIDM OC students! (and that turquoise blue dress is soooo cute!), she is such an asset to the College. I had a really fun time in Orange County (even without my dog Benny and David!) and hopefully, with my advice--I might have made a little bit of a difference--to someone. Congratulations to all the newly accepted FIDM OC students and I hope to see some of you in my classes soon!