Nick Verreos Hosts--and Judges--Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns at Style Week Orange County 2010

Driven To Couture!

Cadillac Runway: Nick Verreos interviews the "Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns" FIDM Designers, Style Week Orange County 2010 (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

As you may know--if you are a faithful NickVerreos.com reader--I had the pleasure of showing my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection, along with my design partner David Paul, a couple of weekends ago at the Third Annual Style Week Orange County in Irvine Spectrum Center.

Well, of course, there were other fashion shows happening and one of them was the First Annual "Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns", a contest sponsored by Cadillac, where 7 designers--all graduates from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--were asked to create a "Red Carpet-worthy" gown, inspired by--and even using materials from--Cadillac cars. And then, they would be judged for the best one.

Purple Pant Bachelorette: Nick Verreos with ABC's "The Bachelor" couple, Kiptyn Locke and Tenley Molzahn

The judges included Reality Show Contestants Tenley Molzahn and Kiptyn Locke from ABC's "Bachelor Pad", Garry R. White from Tustin Cadillac (of course, there had to be an actual Cadillac automobile expert) and myself. The winner would win a $4000 prize!

Style Week OC Hosting: Nick Verreos on the Style Week Orange County runway stage (Photo Courtesy of by Evans Vestal Ward)

I was honored to have been asked to host this competition, especially since I am a graduate of FIDM as well as an Instructor there. In addition, several of the designers for this "Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns" contest were former students of mine. So yes, I was a "Proud Poppa". The Contestants/Designers were...

Silver Bird: Clay Sadler Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Clay Sadler, who created a gray and silver ensemble inspired by the Cadillac CTS Coupe, featuring a jeweled bodice, dramatically structured sleeve and very dramatic over-skirt. My favorite part of this ensemble were the Tail Light hat and wrap around orange cuff bracelet created from an actual Cadillac headlight. Very Lady Gaga at the VMA's.

Lipstick Red: Natalia Romano Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Natalia Romano, who graduated last year and debuted her first collection at FIDM Debut 2009, created a red taffeta satin princess-seamed fitted gown with diagonal "Cadillac-leaf"-motif gold chiffon and leather strap detail. She even created a custom clutch adorned with a golden Cadillac emblem. Imagine that in the Cadillac Catalog!

Seatbelt Pretty: Grace Sori Hwang Cadillac Design (left) (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

FIDM Designer Grace Sori Hwang decided to also go the red taffeta route for her Cadillac Red Carpet Gown. It was a Mermaid/Trumpet-style princess seamed ankle-length gown featuring actual Cadillac seat belts as "bow/ribbon" over-bust details. The back also had a big ol' bow as well.

Let Them Eat (Cadillac) Cake: Adrienne Young Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

FIDM Advanced Costume Design-graduate Adrienne Young, was inspired by the big-and-bold Cadillac Escalade. And as you can see, also did a big-and-bold "Red Carpet" design. It was a high-low Marie Antoinette 18Th Century-esque gown featuring actual Cadillac seat belts as shoulder straps in the corset and a pointed mini hat featuring the Cadillac emblem. Her accessories were Auto-Couture: The earrings were actual keys and the necklace was made of car steel and washers. This was very Helena Bonham Carter meets Vivienne Westwood.

Silver Chic: Alejandro Ortega Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Alejandro Ortega's CTS-V Coupe-inspired design was silver-gray taffeta and had a very dramatic stiffened sleeve, princess-seamed fitted silhouette and sequined "Cadillac" emblem accents. Alejandro said that the gown was "made to walk" just like the Cadillac was "made to drive"!

Royal Blue Mermaid: Nick Gaska Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Orange County-native Nick Gaska, chose royal blue taffeta for his fitted Mermaid-style gown. As you can see from the photo, the Cadillac emblem was very prominently displayed as a waistband belt-buckle. Up close, the intricate seaming on this gown was fabulous!

But the Winner was (Drum Roll...):

Dark Goddess: Julia Nish Cadillac Design (Photo Courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Julia Nish's black fitted Mermaid/Trumpet-style gown (a very popular silhouette!) which prominently showed the Cadillac steel "Wreath" emblem on the front as well as the back. The top was made of actual Cadillac interior charcoal mesh fabric and she also created petals and rosettes for the bustier--as well as a clutch purse--of the same fabric.

It was our favorite and definitely the best representation of a "Red Carpet" gown. It was elegant, not too over-the-top, but yet still creative--and featured the Cadillac logo very well. I think her creative use of that aforementioned car interior material was also well-received by the rest of the judges. Congratulations Julia!

Click BELOW for a video of the Cadillac Couture Red Carpet Gown Contest and Runway Show, Style Week Orange County 2010:

And Stay Tuned for my Next Posting on Style Week Orange County and the 2nd Ezekiel "Needle and Thread Competition" as well as Style Week OC 2010 Wrap-Up!!!

Nick Verreos Does Good Day LA Fox 11 Morning Show--from the Irvine Spectrum: Style Week Orange County Begins!!!

Good Morning LA...from Irvine!!!!

Models strut fashions at Style Week Orange County Runway stage--including a gown from our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection (in the middle)-for Good Day LA Fox 11 Morning Show Live Segment

As you know, the Third Annual Style Week Orange County began last night at the Irvine Spectrum Center. The first year, Lauren Conrad--of MTV's "The Hills" showed her Collection (very apropos since she is from Laguna Beach after all!), and last year, I was invited to host--as well as judge the Ezekiel Needle & Thread Competition. This year, Ezekiel and the Needle & Thread Competition are back as well as a fabulous Project Runway-esque "Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns" Contest, where Fashion Design Graduates from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM designed seven gowns inspired by the sleek Cadillac automobiles. In addition, I had the privilege--along with my co-Designer David Paul, to debut our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection at 7PM last night kicking off Style Week OC!

Welcome To Style Week Orange County: Nick Verreos stands at the foot of the Runway

The show was AMAZING!!! I will definitely have a FULL RECAP with photos soon! But first:
Early this past week, I drove down to the Irvine Spectrum to shoot a LIVE Segment for Good Day LA Morning TV Show--one of the most popular shows in Southern California (I just LOVE me some Steve, Jillian and Dorothy!). The night before the morning TV appearance, the clients set both David and I up overnight at...

The Coliseum Pool at the Pelican Hill Resort

The INCREDIBLE Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast/Newport Beach so we wouldn't be late to the taping. It's LIVE kiddies so they couldn't take any chances! Last year, we stayed at this gorgeous Resort and were blown away by the surroundings (very Mediterranean-style Villa in Italy!) and all the VIP treatment. Speaking of VIP, take a look at what was waiting in our room once we arrived:

A delicious plate of bread, cheeses, salami, fresh berry jams, red wine...now, THAT'S a Welcome! I never get that when I stay at the Marriott or Hilton Garden Inn's!

Check out the little cart that took us to our appointed Bungalow! Thank Goodness, it's hiding the FIVE Garment Bags we brought with us JUST for a one-night stay (well, you can actually see one Louis Vuitton garment bag hanging on for dear life!)

Hello Good Day LA: Nick Verreos, Phil Shuman and Stacie Elis, Irvine Spectrum Center

The live Good Day LA Segment went without a hitch! Dapper reporter Phil Shuman was on hand moderating it all and the very stylish Stacie Ellis (love that faux-fur vest Stacie!) of Irvine Company joined me to describe all the goings-on for this weekend's Style Week Orange County

Behind The Scenes: Good Day LA filming at the Irvine Spectrum Center

We showed fashions from the Ezekiel Collection, Macy's (a cute Corey Lynn Calter printed dress), a burgundy Leon Max dress and of course, a strapless silk chiffon gown from our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection, modeled by the beautiful Anna Maria, originally from Sweden.

Nick Verreos and David Paul of NIKOLAKI at the Irvine Spectrum Center, site of Style Week Orange County

With a quick five-minute segment and mini-fashion show "Sneak Peak", we were done and as they say in the Industry: It's a Wrap! David and I packed our FIVE bags, checked out and headed back to our Los Angeles NIKOLAKI Studio to finish our collection. Oh, and yes, we forgot to Tivo it so no video--maybe GoodDayLA.com might put one up--who knows!

3rd Annual Style Week Orange County begins THIS FRIDAY NIGHT: NIKOLAKI Fashion Show, Cadillac Couture plus Lots More!!!

Fashion Week in the OC!!!

NIKOLAKI Designers Nick Verreos and David Paul, taking their bow at Islands of The World Fashion Week, Bahamas

Well kiddies, we are less than a week away from debuting our Tenth Anniversary NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection at Style Week Orange County! We finished our Model fittings today (they went well!), went accessory shopping, got a FABULOUS Shoe Sponsor--Michael Antonio--and now, we just have LOTS of alterations, minor fixings, and still some looks our "Petite Mains" seamstresses are busy working on--- But trust me--David and I will be ready! Our show--in case you have been living under a (fashion) rock, is this Friday, October 1st, at 7PM. Style Week OC is Open To The Public (which is just FAB!!!) so if you can make it to the OC on Friday night and want to see some fashion--head to the Irvine Spectrum darlings--No RSVP necessary!

Here's a "Sneak Peak": An Aqua Blue Silk Zibeline Gown with hand-beaded neckline--just perfect for getting that Martini at the Sao Paulo Brazil Country Club or a fancy Gala at the Pelican Hill Resort!

In addition to my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show--I am so excited to be emcee'ing the Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gown Fashion Show, right afterward (as well as Saturday night, Oct 2nd). Alumni from the Fashion Instute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM (where I am an Instructor, of course!) will show glamorous designs inspired by the car company's iconic design philosophy. Here are the fashion illustrations from the FIDM designers themselves:

Nick Gaska

Alejandro Ortega

Clay Sadler

Adrienne Young

Also, I will again host and judge the Ezekiel Needle & Thread Competition on Saturday night, October 2nd:

I hosted--and judged-- last year's Needle & Thread Competition at the 2nd Annual Style Week Orange County and I am back at it again! Last year, the Winner was FIDM Debut Graduate Adrian Manuel and since I was one of his Instructor's and Mentor in the Advanced Fashion Design Program, I was so proud of him!

And (Last Year's) Winner Is: Nick Verreos Announces Needle & Thread Competition Winner 2009, Adrian Manuel (left)

This year, there will be seven collection with 35 looks total--all from FIDM designers---and the winner will have their winning design featured in Ezekiel's Spring 2011 Collection! Very Project Runway-esque!
*Click HERE for the entire schedule!

*Also, HERE is my latest column for the Orange County Register's Style Binge Blog, which talks more about all the events happening this weekend at the Irvine Spectrum to celebrate Style Week OC!

See you at Style Week Orange County...and bring your Best Fashion Look because I may be giving "Nick Red Carpet" Mental Gold Stars!!!!