Royal Fashion Minute: Catherine Duchess of Cambridge Wedding Gown Exhibition at Buckingham Palace!

Bridal Exhibition:

Fit For a Museum: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton Custom Wedding Gown, Buckingham Palace Exhibit

Today, a new Exhibition was unveiled in London---in Buckingham Palace no less. I was just in London several weeks back and both my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul and I went by Buckingham Palace and saw that they were setting up for this--and we were going to visit the museum--however, it had closed just as we arrived.

White Gloved Train: Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the display, lays out the train of Catherine Duchess of Cambridge's Wedding Gown

Well, good thing, because we wouldn't have seen the now iconic Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Wedding Gown that Catherine Duchess of Cambridge wore to "The Royal Wedding of the Year" back on the 29th of April! Today was the "Unveiling" of the exhibit, and naturally, Catherine as well as her Grandmother-in-Law, Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II, were there to witness it all.

Royal Mother In Law: Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge

Catherine wore a blush-colored fitted dress with 3/4-length sleeves and matching pumps. No word yet on the designer. The Queen wore a silk flower-printed dress with her FAB pearls. It was overheard that she exclaimed (as she saw the exhibit of the gown on a headless mannequin): "Horrid, isn't it? Horrid and dreadful!" The Queen is known for having a "wicked" sense of humor...Love that!

Detail Shot: Catherine Duchess of Cambridge Wedding Gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Buckingham Palace Exhibit

The Exhibition--which opens tomorrow (Saturday), includes the aforementioned wedding gown, which the bride wore when she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey (we passed by there as well!!), as well as the earrings...

The shoes--also from the House of Alexander McQueen, were lace covered pumps (we barely saw them on TV during the wedding ceremony!) and have 3-4 inch high heels. Good to know. By the way, Catherine's waist size "Small", is all the curator would divulge. Yeah, I get that!

The Tiara she wore during the ceremony. This is the Cartier "Halo" Tiara that Queen Elizabeth received from her mother on her 18th Birthday. The Queen Mother had been given this Tiara as a gift from her husband, in 1936, the then-Duke of York.

The Bouquet: There is also an artificial version of her flower bouquet, designed by Shane Connolly and inspired by the favorite flowers of the Royal Family--as well as the Middleton's.

And of course, even a copy of The Wedding Cake is on display, which was a creation from the very posh-and sought after Fiona Cairns, Luxury Baking Queen!

The Exhibition begins TOMORROW, July 23rd. Click HERE for Ticket and Info.

Today Show Exclusive! Nick Verreos Wedding Gown Design for Kate Middleton!! Video + Photos and Sketch!!!

Fit for a Royal Bride...

Blushing Princess Bride: Model Kasie in my "Kate Middleton Wedding Gown" design, Today Show

This morning, on NBC's "Today Show", in the run-up to the upcoming Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding, the show had a fun & fabulous segment featuring original one-of-a-kind wedding gown designs by Project Runway designers.

As I noted in the previous posting, I was asked a week ago--along with four other Project Runway alumni, to create our "vision" for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown. The segment--hosted by Anchor Natalie Morales and Today Show Fashion Editor Bobbie Thomas--showed each of our designs as well as our corresponding fashion illustrations.

Wedding Sketch: Nick Verreos "Kate Middleton Wedding Gown" original fashion illustration

Here, I have added some screen-cap photos from this morning's segment, of the wedding gown I designed and created (with the AMAZING help of my NIKOLAKI partner-in-design-crime David Paul--and my INVALUABLE seamstress. I am also including the entire video of the segment at the end of this post, in case you missed it...

Le Pockets: Model Kasie in my "Kate Middleton Wedding Gown" design, Today Show

The gown is an ivory silk ziberline column gown with a "Mermaid" silhouette featuring a pleated high-neck, strong shoulders, cap sleeves, side-front pockets (a girl's gotta have her pockets!) and a full pleated back train. It features a waist detail with hand-sewn Swarovski crystal beading for a "dash" of sparkle.

Couture Torso: Close-Up of beaded waist trim and pleated Bateau neckline of my "Kate Middleton Wedding Gown" design, Today Show

Hint Of Back: View of back of my "Kate Middleton Wedding Gown" design, Today Show

I was inspired by Architecture and wanted to design a gown that was structured yet elegant. I also considered Kate Middleton's penchant for showing her great figure (it was fitted, and had an open back) but still remained "Future Queen of England" appropriate (covering the shoulders and part of the arms).

To finish off the entire look, I added a full tulle veil (above photo) to go with the gown. Of course, I also needed a proper crown/tiara. I found the perfect one with crystals-and-pearls at Berger Beads in Downtown Los Angeles (They were so helpful!). It was wonderful seeing the gown on my model, Kasie (Love you Kasie!), on the Today Show and so happy how it all turned out!

And by the way: Visit myLifetime.com for information on "The Royal Private Sale" to win my original "Nick Verreos for Kate Middleton Wedding Gown"--as well as the other 4 Project Runway designers' one-of-a-kind dresses. Proceeds will go to charity.

And don't forget, WATCH TONIGHT'S Premiere of the Lifetime TV Movie "William & Kate: Let Love Rule" 9pm e/p.

Watch Today Show Project Runway Kate Middleton Wedding Gown Segment Below:

Nick Verreos' Vision for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown...Watch The Today Show TOMORROW Morning!

Project Runway Goes To A Royal Wedding...on The Today Show!!!

Don't miss the "Today Show" TOMORROW MORNING on NBC! Why? Well, you'll get to see FIVE Wedding Gown creations by Project Runway past winners--and alumni--including ME!!! Read on...

The Blushing Royal Couple: Prince William and Kate Middleton

As you may remember, about a month ago, Lifetime TV asked many Project Runway designers--including moi--to submit fashion sketches for "their vision" of Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown. The sketches were shown on Lifetime TV's Website and generated a HUGE buzz (a little Birdie told me they received OVER A MILLION hits the day the sketches came out!). HERE was my sketch.

Then, ONLY a week ago, I was contacted by the Lifetime TV Execs, to see if I would be one of the five hand-picked designers who would actually CREATE their vision of the gown, which then would be shown LIVE, on the Today Show, in anticipation of the Premiere of Lifetime's "William & Kate" movie (which debuts tomorrow night, 9pm e/p ). The other designers include Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall, Season 6 Winner Irina Shabayeba, Emilio Sosa (Season 7) and Johnathan Kayne (Season 3).


Less than a week to make a full-on Custom NIKOLAKI gown? Sure. It's "Make It Work" time! And so I did. I decided to "change it up" a bit and created a brand new gown--a little different from my original sketch. My NIKOLAKI Studio was workin' OVERTIME this past week to get it done and delivered to NYC just in time (it arrived early this morning at 2:45AM! Thank You Fed Ex Same Day Delivery!!).

Here's a "Sneak Peak" at the new gown--well, in sketch form:

Tune in TOMORROW MORNING, Today Show, on NBC, between 9-10AM and see my gown--as well as the other designers' gowns.

*According to the latest update, the segment will be on around 9:30AM--(it was changed since, as of yesterday, the segment was going to be around 8:45AM--but as you know it's "TV Land" and changes happen!!)
To make sure, just DVR/TiVo the ENTIRE show if you can, I will!!!

Don't Miss the Project Runway Kate Middleton Wedding Gown "mini" Fashion Show!!!

Nick Verreos Wedding Gown sketch for Kate Middleton for Lifetime.com!!!

A Wedding Gown Fit for a (Future) Queen!

Nick Verreos/NIKOLAKI Design for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown

As part of a "promo" run-up to the Lifetime Network premiere of the much-anticipated "William & Kate: Let Love Rule" movie--based on the romance (of course!) of Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton...

I was asked, along with many, many Project Runway Alumni (over 50 so far!), to submit a sketch for "my vision" for Kate Middleton's wedding gown. After much thought--about two seconds--I said "Of Course!".

As you may know from reading my NICKVERREOS.COM Blog here, I LOVE me a Royal Wedding and I also love me a Royal or two. Reading one too many "Hola!" Magazines as a young child in Venezuela (and still to this day!!) leads to this syndrome I call "Royalty OBSESSED".

I sketched out my idea for Kate's perfect wedding gown which was: An ivory silk mikado fit-to-flare column high-neck drop-shoulder gown with hand-encrusted Swarovski crystals at the neckline, waist and hem of the gown. It featured a plunging back and a detachable train with stiffened cascaded folds for dramatic architectural effect.

My design also has a Chantilly Lace and silk tulle veil and of course, the same Spencer Crown worn by Princess Diana on her Wedding Day (above). White gloves and THAT engagement ring finish off the look.

Hope you like my fashion illustration and design vision for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown.

Click HERE to check out some of the other great designs the former Project Runway designers sketched for Kate's "Big Day".