FIDM Fall Open House Los Angeles--The BLOG Recap!

Fashion School Fabulous...

FIDM Bag Diva: Nick Verreos with Chloe (@Chloekinss), the Winner of the FIDM Fall 2011 Open House "Go Social" Contest

This past weekend was the fabulous FIDM Fall Open House, held at the Downtown L.A. Campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--the college where I am an instructor and a spokesperson--oh and yes, also my Alma Mater!

As part of the great Open House events, I was asked to host a FIDM Alumni Panel Discussion, which attendees of the FIDM Fall Open House came to. I put on my brand new TopMan pink-ish jacket and pink dress shirt, my Brooks Brothers pink-and-white polka dot pocket hankie, black jeans and YSL "Johnny" boots, and well, I was ready to go!

Packed House: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

I LOVED hosting this FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Alumni Panel event. First, I chatted with the audience--both the students and their parents. I also dished a little bit on this last season of Project Runway and being on the Lifetime Network "After The Runway" TV shows. And of course, I also did a little Nick "Runway Walk".

FIDM LA Fall Open House 2011 Panel: (left to tight) FIDM Alumni Denshai Lee, Brooke Cody and Allison Moehlis

Then, I introduced the three panelists: first, there was Fashion Design Alumna Denshai Lee (left), who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from FIDM (naturally) and currently is a production manager at a private label company that makes clothing for various retailers across the US. Brooke Cody (middle) was the next panelist. Brooke also holds two degrees from FIDM--an A.A. in Merchandise Product Development and a Bachelor's in Business Management. She now runs her own retail store in Pasadena, Kodi Boutique. Our third guests was Allison Moehlis. Allison is a FIDM graduate of the Merchandise Product Development department and is now Product Coordinator for UGG Apparel. After the Panel Discussion, I stayed around to meet everyone and take lots of fun photos--and autographed LOTS of the attendees handbags (it was a MAJAH signing trend this time!!). Note to self: must design & sell "Nick Verreos" handbags to sign at next year's FIDM Fall Open House!

Here are some "Post FIDM Open House Panel" fun photos:

Fashionable Ladies: Nick Verreos poses with attendees from Hollywood High School's "Fashion Club" stylish students

FIDM Open House Smiles: Nick Verreos with the GVHS/Golden Valley High School Fashion Club students and instructors

Boys Club: Nick Verreos and two of the most stylin' boys attending FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House event

Heeeeyyyyy!!!: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Attendees pose for my camera

Hope everyone enjoyed the fun & fabulous (and very informative) FIDM Fall Open House! I had a BLAST meeting each and everyone of you!

Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos at FIDM Orange County Open House Summer 2011

Fun In the OC...



This past Saturday, as one of my "duties" as the Official Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, I made a trip to the FIDM Orange County Campus for their annual FIDM Summer 2011 Open House. FIDM Open House is a chance for high schoolers (and post-graduates) and their parents to check out FIDM, its facilities, alumn, instructors as well as the curriculum--just in case they might be thinking of attending a fashion college.

FIDM Orange County Campus, Irvine California

I live in LA so I thought "heck, it'll take just 45 minutes to get there!" (it has before). Nope, try almost TWO HRS...On a Saturday morning! Yep, welcome to the world of LA Traffic. Finally, I made it and just in time for my first "Lecture/Special Appearance". FIDM OC invited members of the FAB Nordstrom Brass Plum (BP.) Fashion Board to come and check out FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House--and hear me speak!

Southern California Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board...and Nick Verreos, FIDM Orange County Summer 2011 Open House

Members of the Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board from all these different areas/local shopping centers were already waiting for me as I walked in and did "my thang"! I told them all about my recent Europe Trip and my new FAB red "Man Bag" as well as how I got into fashion, my love of sketching, talked about Project Runway, owning a fashion design business for ten years, as well as having celebs like Beyonce, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum wear my NIKOLAKI creations.

Nick Verreos Doing the "Hands on the Hips" pose with Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board members, FIDM OC

Afterward, I posed with EVERY Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board group and even met a BIG FAN--who was almost crying (well, a bit teary eyed) when she met me:

LOVE her!!! (look at my "Clutch my Pearls" face!)

Then it was onto my next Lecture at the FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House. These were general--but still VERY IMPORTANT!-- guests who came to the Open House to check out the Campus. I loved this group as well because there were several "Mommies and Daddies" in the audience, so you KNOW I had to give a couple "Mom & Dad" high-fives! There were also several attendees who GAVE some Fashion LOOKS!!! Naturally, I had to get some pics:

Funky Hair, Custom Tees and Stripes: Nick Verreos poses with two attendees at FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House

Blue Fashion Boys: Nick Verreos poses with a FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House attendee--with (almost) matching blue-colored H & M skinny jeans

Until next time FIDM OC!!! Bye for now!

Nick Verreos Special Appearance at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM San Diego's Open House 2011

Hello Sunshine!

Gather Around Kids! Nick Verreos--and Open House visitors at FIDM San Diego Open House (Photo-slide of my Gowns at the bottom left)

Last weekend, I drove from my pied-de-terre in Los Angeles down south--to the gorgeous city of San Diego (about a three hour drive--with, yes, traffic). As part of my duties as the Spokesperson for Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--and as an Instructor of the College and Alumn, I make "Special Appearances" at various Campuses during the year.

It's always great to go to the San Diego Campus. I've visited before, of course, (David Paul, my NIKOLAKI partner-in-design FABULOUSNESS is from there!) and always have a nice time seeing all the wonderful FIDM San Diego staff. The campus is located in Downtown San Diego, a stone's throw away from the glorious Petco Park. In fact, on one of the campuses "sundecks" , they have a "First Class" view of the park!

Petco Park Diva: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Campus, with Petco Park behind him

This particular Saturday was "Open House" day at FIDM San Diego, when people (from high school to post-grad) interested in studies within the Fashion, Interior Design, Visual Arts and Entertainment Industries fields, can come and visit the campuses and find out more about the school and all it has to offer, as well as meet current students, faculty, alumni, and get information on all the various majors and departments.

During the Open House, there are several classrooms set up to highlight some of the majors and departments including the Visual Communications "room", set up with a lot of projects from past and current students. I loved this Anna Sui Presentation above.

My "Special Appearance" involved mini-Lectures and a Meet-and-Greet--three during the three-hour time span I was there (one every hour naturally). Even though I knew it would be a gorgeous 80 degrees in San Diego, I decided to still "dress up" and wear my white Zara jacket, Hermes silk tie and boots. I did notice every other person I spotted as I made my way into Downtown San Diego was in shorts and flip flops!. No problem: I was GIVING them FASHION!!!

Boot Posing: Nick Verreos and an FIDM San Diego Open House visitor

This was the first time I had done an Open House in San Diego "muti-lecture" style, and it worked out so well!!! It was like a Universal Studios Tour, only it was me and the FIDM San Diego Campus. I spoke on how I "got to where I am", Project Runway and my time at FIDM as a student and how to maximize all the AMAZING knowledge a student can acquire from attending FIDM.

Dressed Up San Diego: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Open House 2011

I think everyone who attended all three of my Lectures really enjoyed it--the kids and the parents too (I "heart" the parents!). All in all, I had a fun time at the campus and at the end, was sad to leave San Diego--especially since it was 80 Degrees and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! There's something different about 80 degrees in San Diego and 80 Degrees in Los Angeles (where I reside).

FIDM Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and FIDM San Diego Open House 2011 visitors

Bye FIDM San Diego--for now--and please keep having the GORGEOUS shorts-and-flip-flop weather--even if I will probably still be the only man in a white jacket, Hermes tie and boots in the lovely city :)

Nick Verreos Pays a Special Visit to FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Diego's Fall 2010 Open House!

San Diego Fashionistas...

San Diego Posing: Nick Verreos at FIDM San Diego Open House

A couple of weekends back, I drove down to San Diego to make a "Spacial Appearance" at the San Diego Campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. I am an Instructor at FIDM, as you may know, as well as the Official Spokesperson for the last several years. It is always a joy to visit all the different campuses of the College and get to know prospective students , their parents, as well as high school students thinking about attending FIDM and beginning their studies--and eventual careers--in fashion.

I have been to the gorgeous San Diego Campus before--for its Grand Re-Opening two years ago, as well as other functions. This time, I was there for the Fall 2010 Open House. The Open House is a chance for students thinking about going to FIDM, to tour the school, meet alumni and advisers, and get information about all that FIDM has to offer.

Petco View: Nick Verreos (from a previous FIDM San Diego Appearance) and the View of Petco Park, FIDM San Diego Campus

I just love the new San Diego Campus: It's located in Downtown, just off the very hip Gaslamp Quarter and next to the immense Petco Park. The view from the College's balcony is INCREDIBLE!!! The space is designed by Architect Clive Wilkenson and showcases a Loft-like modern feel that mirrors what a Design School should look like!

A highlight for me is the FIDM San Diego Library/Resource Center (see photo above). I especially love it's Magazine Section (I wish my coffee table looked like that!).

Barbie On Top: Nick Verreos Barbie, FIDM San Diego Library

And they even have one of my Barbie's (see above photo). Yes, the one I designed for the "My Scene Barbie Project Runway Challenge" back in my Season (2) and was sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us for a very limited amount of time.

For FIDM San Diego's Fall Open House, I was invited to give a "pep talk" lecture to the students--and their parents--and I stuck around afterward to pose for photos, sign bags (provided by FIDM!) and even drawing some original fashion illustrations on their bags!

Fashion Illustration 101: Nick Verreos draws a fashion croquis on a student's bag, FIDM San Diego Fall 2010 Open House

The room was PACKED and they even had to bring in extra chairs I heard! I brought along a slide-show of my latest Spring 2011 NIKOLAKI Collection, as well as images of celebs wearing my gowns on the Red Carpet, for everyone to enjoy during my lecture. I had a really good time--as always , and cannot wait to return to San Diego! Good Luck and Happy Holidays to all the prospective FIDM San Diego students!!!

Nick Verreos Hosts Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2010 Open House!

Emcee...FIDM "Red Carpet" Commentator and a Panel of Alumni...

Open House Mic: Nick Verreos Emcees FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus

This last Saturday, as the Official Spokesperson for my alma mater, the Fashion Institute of Design& Merchandising/FIDM, I had the pleasure of visiting the LA Campus' Fall Open House. FIDM's Open House is when prospective students get to visit FIDM, learn about all the 20 creative majors, get advice from FIDM Alumni and Admissions Counselors, and much more.

Panel of FIDM Grads and student, FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus

One of the "much more" was meeting me--and three FIDM Grads and one currently-enrolled student, at a Panel Discussion which I hosted. The Grads had received their degrees in different majors including Apparel Manufacturing and Product Development. One of them was actually a student of mine, I am proud to say, Malorie Dempster (third from the left in black jumpsuit) who recently competed in the DECA FIDM Runway Challenge). The one current student (far left) was in the Fashion Design Major. Each spoke of their experience at FIDM and where they are working now.

Boot Happy: Nick Verreos poses with prospective students at FIDM Fall Open House

We also held a Q & A, a mini "Nick Verreos FIDM Open House Red Carpet " session where I pointed out the especially stylin' prospective students--and their moms and dads! Afterward, I stayed around for photos with all in attendance.

Can you See Me: I am somewhere in that group, posing and taking photos with everyone "in line". Once again the FIDM LA Open House was a great success; I had a great time with all the perspective new students and of course, the loving parents! Hope to see you in one of my classes (the students that is!).

Click Below for a Video of the Panel Discussion FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus: