Wanted: Honest Opinion Please

So I bought these Prada shoes at Barneys when I was in NY a couple of weeks ago and I'm torn... which usually means I should return them, but I'm just not sure. I want to know what you guys think? Do you like them? Should I maybe just exchange them for the black version?

I dunno... I just don't have anything like them and I don't have any bone colored shoes. Hmmm. Help please. 

I've really been loving Prada lately by the way. Isn't it funny how one season someone just kicks ass and you're like- woah, where did you come from!? 

I got these babies on sale at Nordstrom and I seriously love them. The raw snake bows are the perfect mix of cute and exotic. I felt a little silly buying them since I already have THESE that are on the same bottom... but they're really completely different.  

The Focus Studio, Venice California: Summer Special!!

The Best Photo Studio in LA!!!

The Focus Studio, a photographic studio right on the beach in Venice, California, just announced that they are having a"Summer Special" with discounts for photographers, filmmakers, production companies, who would love to shoot by the beach! Janet Jackson:Shot on "The Focus Studio" Table

The 3000 square foot The Focus Studio is the only daylight photographic studio on a California beach and has been the location for many a celeb shoot, including the cover of Janet Jackson's 2006 album, "20 Y.O." as well as many others, including Brook Shields and Harrison Ford.Model Attention: Model Lisa Blades, in NIKOLAKI gown, gets prepped by designers Nick Verreos and David Paul, The Focus Studio, Venice California

It also, just happened to be the location for my last Spring 2009 Look Book and NIKOLAKI Website Photo Shoot, shot by fabulous LA-based photographer Evans Vestal Ward.Model Touch-Up: Model Lisa Blades, in NIKOLAKI gown, with Make-up and Hair Artist Melvone Farrell, The Focus Studio.

Take it from a fashion designer like myself, it was the ONLY PLACE I wanted to do a shoot and I was beyond-pleased-- and Lord knows I love me a "sale", so this "Focus Studio" Summer Special is FABULOUS!!!! If you need to have a photo shoot--fashion or celebrity-- or anything in between; or even need a location for a TV or film shoot that requires the ideal "Photo Studio", The Focus Studio is it.
Call 310-399-9400 for more information.

Nick Verreos Judges Cutest Dog at Artist Knox Luxury Grooming Pet Salon Party!!

Nick says Woof Woof!!!!Woof: Nick Verreos and his dog, Benny (wearing House Of Dog accessories) at the Artist Knox Luxury Pet Grooming Salon Launch Party

This past Saturday, I was invited to the Grand Opening Charity Party of Artist Knox Luxury Grooming Pet Salon, benefiting SPCA-LA. The weather in LA was a gorgeous (and very hot) 85 degrees, so I donned my dress shirt, vest and tie--and my silver sneakers--and threw Benny, my beautiful King Charles-Dachshund dog, in my car, and I was ready to go! OK, just to clarify, before I get any nasty emails--I didn't really throw Benny in the car--he sat on "Daddy" David's lap.Nick Verreos, Karen "Doc" Halligan and "Groomer Has It" Season 1 Winner, Artist Knox

Artist Knox, is the winner of Animal Planet's "Groomer Has It", and this is his salon, naturally! I was excited to go to a red carpet event where I could bring Benny, as opposed to leaving him alone tearing up my silk jersey gowns. Also, I wasn't just attending, I found out that I was also the Guest Celebrity Judge and Host (OK, so they were using the word "celebrity" very loosely!) for the party's Cutest Dog Contest. Drag Dogs: Wig-wearing (don't ask) dogs at the Artist Knox Luxury Pet Salon Party

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by Artist Knox and one of the judges from the show, Dr. Karen "Doc" Halligan. Dr. Halligan is currently the Director of Veterinary Services at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCA LA), where she oversees the health and well being of all the shelter animals and routinely performs surgical procedures.
Gremlins Cute: A party guest and her dog (love the tie!)

The pet grooming salon, located on Cahuenga Boulevard, right in the heart of Hollywood, was a buzz with lots of dogs of all shapes and colors, as well as their Haute Hollywood Mommy and Daddies. I immediately put Benny down and he went to town, smelling and getting to know all the other dogs. He loved hanging out with all the other dogs and had a fun time. Tu-tu's and Summer Dresses: Young guests and their colorful tu-tu wearing pets

There were lots of teen and pre-teen actors at the party, who brought their dogs too. I thought I was at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards but the bring-your-pet version! I ran into actress Kaycee Stroh, from Disney's High School Musical, as she approached me and told me how much she "loves" Project Runway. I told her I loved her too! High School Musical Meets Project Runway: Nick Verreos and actress Kaycee Stroh, of "High School Musical"

The party was catered by one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, La Velvet Margarita, which just happens to be next door. They also had set up a bar in the back in case guests felt compelled to have some afternoon cocktails. The Velvet Margarita back patio, also served as the "stage" for the Cutest Dog Contest I would be judging.
DJ Nick: Nick Verreos hosts and judges Artist Knox Luxury Grooming Pet Salon Cutest Dog Contest

There were lots of cute dogs for me to chose from. In true Project Runway form, I, of course, made the dogs--and their owners--do a runway strut, in front of all the guests. After much deliberation (Ok, it took less than 60 seconds) , I decided that actor Jorge Pallo's (who starred in "24") puppy was the winner! ...And The Winner Is: Nick Verreos gets licked by winning puppy

He was the cutest dog, besides mine of course (Benny was not eligible since I was the sole judge, thank you very much!). Congratulations to Jorge and his "Cutest" puppy! When I announced the winner , he (the dog) licked me all over! (see photo above). I think Benny was jealous because he was mean to me all day after that!

Nick Verreos and Heather Chantal Jones of "America's Next Top Model" on Video!!

FIDM Three Days of Fashion: Los AngelesGreen Microphone, Green Pants: Nick Verreos chats with host Blaine Vedros, and over 200 students at FIDM LA "3 Days Of Fashion"

Well, I just can't get enough of model Heather Chantal Jones! As you may have read in a previous posting, last week I was invited to San Diego to make a special appearance at the FIDM San Diego Campus and Cycle 9 "America's Next Top Model", Heather--I call her Chantal--Jones, drove down from Los Angeles, and joined me in the fun. This last Friday, neither her nor I had much to travel (since we are both Angelenos) when we reprised our 'Three Days of Fashion" appearance in the sunny Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM Campus.Next Up For Bid, A Turquoise Silk Jersey (20 yrds of it!) gown with Grecian draping, copper sequins and built-in bustier: Nick Verreos and model Heather Chantal Jones at FIDM LA "3 Days of Fashion"

Being that this event was in LA, everything is done on a "grander scale", and when I showed up to the stage, there were over 200 kids, plus parents and school administrators, crowding the expansive 5Th Floor "Conference Room". When I made my entrance , it seemed like EVERY student had their cell phones perched atop their heads taking photos. I was nearly blinded by the flashbulbs and trust me, this doesn't happen very often. Not for a little ol' designer like myself, and certainly not for a "Project Runway" reality show alumn.

I did a fun interview with cutie host Blaine Vedros (love him!) and then, of course, I brought out Chantal for some runway modeling of my NIKOLAKI collection. She wore the "Carrie Ann Inaba" silk jersey gown (which Carrie Ann wore on last season's "Dancing With The Stars") as well as other gowns. We even captured video of the event.
Below are the videos. Enjoy!

Model Heather Chantal Jones, of Cycle 9 America's Next Top Model, modeling NIKOLAKI dress worn by Carrie Ann Inaba:

Model Heather Chantal Jones, modeling NIKOLAKI Spring 2009 and Nick Verreos discusses his inspiration:

Harajuku Lovers brand's First Retail Store!

So I'm back and I have a bunch of stuff to blog about but I want to start with this! They just opened a Harajuku Lovers store in Taiwan and it is seriously cute. They carry the clothing line, the handbags, the fragrance line and of course... the shoes! Check it out.

Whoever did the store layout did an amazing job. It's like stepping into a giant HL perfume box or something. So cute. All the little details are like perfect little touches. And how cute it the staff?

I wonder if any more of these retail stores will pop up anywhere else? I'm sure Japan would be a logical place for one... There are like 15 Kitson boutiques in LA, I'm sure they could lend them one of those as a HL boutique. ha.

Well, I wish them luck!

Korea's Boys Over Flower Fashion Styles

Boys Over Flower, Korea's version of Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango has captured the hearts of many Filipinos. I must say that I am one of the viewers who regularly watched their Filipino-dubbed episode everyday. Aside from enjoying the storyline, I also love the fashion styles of the characters in the said tv series. They are so fashion forward and from what I have heard last Saturday, the wardrobe budget spent for the show reached Php 5 Million. According to a local news, the suits and dresses of the characters are designer's clothes and custom-made for each of them to achieve their perfect preppy look.



Here's some of the still images from Boys Over Flowers:








Photo Source

Menswear Collections--Spring 2010--Highlights and Runway Videos!!

Cowboys, Hot Camp Counselors, Italian Gigolos and Ripped Bleached Jeans...

It's Menswear Fashion Week!!!!

DSquared2:For Spring 2010, the Dsquared2 twins came up with a rompy "Camp" theme--not the kind of camping you used to do with your family however. This is "Going Camping" on another level! Lots of skin, lots of hot Fantasy Boy Scouts, and the sexiest Camp Counselors I've ever seen--My camp counselors at the Summer Camps I went to NEVER looked like this! Come to think of it, I never even went to a Summer Camp!If they did, I would have gone more often! Lots of shorts, boxers showing from under the shorts, torn-and-worn jeans, Wellies and Hiking Boots, and those ubiquitous Trucker Caps. When someone like Ed Hardy does Trucker caps, they look DOUCHEY, somehow, the Dsquared trucker caps still look HOT!

DSquared Spring/Summer 2010 Video (Highlights):

D & G:

For their lower "Contemporary" line, D & G, the Dolce & Gabbana boys were in a Western mood for Spring/Summer 2010. Sexy, slim cowboys, Western shirts fitted to a 1/4" of their fat-free male model bodies, cowboy boots worn inside out. This is the sexy Italian version of "Brokeback Mountain". And again, it's all about those torn/ripped and bleached-splashed jeans. I feel like I am back in 1984---and I kinda like it!

D&G Menswear Spring/Summer 2010 Runway Video:


Dolce and Gabbana:For their luxe high-end namesake line, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, continued on what they know how to do: Dress an Italian Gigolo. For Spring 2010, the silhouette was lean and mean (not a surprise). Elongated blazers (a departure from the current trend of cropped ones) are de rigueur for Dolce & Gabbana. But what the designers did show cropped were the pants. Gentlemen, you will be rolling and pegging your pants come next Spring/Summer. No socks and gorgeous Italian loafers. Yeah, it's Band-Aid time for the back of your feet kids! The show starred Madonna's latest boy toy, Brazilian model Jesus Luz--who was the second "exit" in the show-- wearing black "hot shorts" and a very open black shirt. Bless his heart, he can't walk the runway to save his life (he's rather bowl-legged, see video below), but huney, he looked HOT!

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2010 Runway Video:

Twilight's Edward Cullen and Bella Swan Barbie Dolls

Twilight series fans are going crazy over the upcoming "Twilight" Barbie dolls. In this collection, Barbie and Ken will be customized to resemble Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Although the Bella Barbie doll does not exactly look like the Twilight's main character, Barbie will be sporting Bella's famous jeans, sneakers, and gray jacket. On the other hand, the Edward Cullen Collector’s Barbie will have a pale skin and striking eyes.

Source

Nick Verreos at FIDM Three Days of Fashion: San Diego

Go Padres!!!!Lovin' The Stage: Nick Verreos speaks to San Diego FIDM Three Days of Fashion audience

This last week I went to beautiful San Diego to make a special appearance at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM San Diego campus, right next to PETCO Park for the FIDM Three Days Of Fashion. San Diego's Pacific Beach from the Catamaran Resort and Spa

David and I drove down to San Diego for the event and FIDM generously put me up at the Polynesian-inspired Catamaran Resort and Spa in the lovely Pacific Beach area of San Diego. Afterall, with traffic, the drive there can take up to 3+ hours (don't believe anyone who tells you it's just an hour and a half, not on this planet!). So, it was nice to relax before the appearance the following day.Photos With A View: Nick Verreos poses for photos at the FIDM San Diego Campus balcony

I love doing these events and appearances because I get to hang out with fun and very fashionable high school students who come from all over the country. The Three Days of Fashion is a three day seminar/workshop where high school students get to know FIDM. They go shopping, have trend seminars, even drape and sketch. Seriously, I wish I had known about this when I was in high school (OK, they probably did not have this "back in the day").San Diego Group Shot: Nick Verreos and model Heather Chantal Jones pose with FIDM San Diego Three Days of Fashion organizing staff

I love coming to San Diego, because this is where David Paul's (my design partner and Vice President of NIKOLAKI) grew up and his wonderful family still lives here. His mom even came to my appearance! Also, as you may know, I have a special place in my heart for San Diego, since it's where I showed my Spring/Summer 2008 Collection at the W Hotel San Diego. Here's a quick video of my NIKOLAKI Spring 2008 Show at the W San Diego, to refresh your memory:

Nick Verreos and Model Heather Chantal Jones, wearing the silk jersey gown Carrie Ann Inaba wore on ABC's Dancing With The Stars

Guess who also came down from LA? Model Heather Chantal Jones, from America's Next Top Model Season 9--and MY 50th Anniversary Barbie Model!!! She made a special trip to model some of my NIKOLAKI Collection for the kids. She was gorgeous and so sweet! We had a great time with everyone (I LOVE the FIDM San Diego staff--they're the sweetest and most accommodating!) and stayed for over an hour to sign autographs and take lots of photos!