Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009 wearing Nick Verreos for Orbit GownRecently, I had the pleasure of designing and creating a custom gown for the most beautiful Miss Universe 2009, Venezuela's Stefania Fernandez. It was a collaboration with Orbit Gum. I have done several "Special One-of-a-Kind" Creations just for Orbit Gum to emphasize that ORBIT is the most Fashionable gum in the country!
Orbit On A Mannequin: The Nick Verreos for Orbit Gown for Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, Nikolaki Studio Los AngelesThey gave me one of the new prints for their gum wrappers and my design partner, David Paul and I had it custom printed onto chiffon--and then from there we created a one-shoulder "Goddess Gown". The gown was hand-delivered(!) to Stefania to wear at the People En Español 50 Mas Bellos event in New York. It was definitely a Project Runway-like "Make It Work" scene at my studio, since the Orbit clients gave me only two weeks from start to finish and Stefania was in Brazil and it took several days before we even got an "approval" on what style she liked (from my sketches).
Blue Muslin: Model Lisa Blades (in the "Stefania Fernandez Orbit Gown" mock-up) and Nick VerreosAlong with the printer First2Print (love them!), David Paul, my Nikolaki Design partner (as well as the official gown-cutter!), my wonderful seamstress, and my fit model, Lisa Blades (who substituted for Miss Universe when I couldn't be in Brazil to meet with Stefania) we got it done!
Click BELOW for some Behind-The-Scenes Footage from Our NIKOLAKI Studio while creating the "Stefania Fernandez Orbit Gown":