FIDM Orange County Open House: Nick Verreos Makes an Appearance!

Pink Carpet!
This past weekend I made a special visit to Irvine California to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Orange County, to say "Hi" to all the future FIDM Fashionistas!! I always bring my doggie Benny and my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul, but this time, they had to stay back in LA at our studio (we have a very important custom gown deadline!). So naturally, I got there and EVERYONE asked "Where's Benny?" and then soon followed by "Where's David?". Hello? What am I "Chopped Liver?". LOL! What brought a big ol' smile to my face was being greeted by the two prettiest girls I "done ever seen", as I walked through the glass door of FIDM OC and through that Barbie-esque pink carpet. FIDM Open House is a way for high-school (and beyond) students to "check out" FIDM and also for "I-Just-Got-Accepted" ones to meet-and-greet FIDM Alumni like myself. The theme of this year's FIDM OC Open House was "Meet Your Professors", and since I am one, I was there to give advice, valuable information about FIDM, the industry and what it takes to succeed. One Shoulder Cocktail Dress Meets Bow Tie Boy: FIDM Open House guest stands next to Nikolaki dress

As a "special bonus", I brought three of my NIKOLAKI cocktail dresses which have sold in stores across America. They served as a backdrop to my "appearance". I loved speaking with all the just-accepted students as well as with the "what advice do you have for me since I am thinking of coming here...." Whose Fauxhawk is Higher: Nick Verreos poses with guests at FIDM OC Open House

At one point I was spending about 20+ minutes on one student and after I was done , I noticed a woman in the back--teary eyed--she came up to me and said "I'm one of the mom's and you are AMAZING!...such an inspiration..those words you said to him were life-changing..." I had no idea anybody else was watching or listening. Well, I am glad I got the mom going because I love me the moms!
Kellie Peterson, Nick Verreos, Tenley Molzahn, FIDM OC Open House 2010

Another special treat was seeing all the FIDM OC Admissions Advisor Beauties , including the beautiful Kellie Peterson, who just happened to be Miss International Hawaii 2004, as well as the lovely Tenley Molzahn, whom you might recognize as one of the Finalists of this last season's The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love. Turquoise Love: FIDM Advisor and ABC's The Bachelor Finalist Tenley Molzahn with Nick Verreos, FIDM OC Open House 2010

Tenley is so sweet and so helpful to the FIDM OC students! (and that turquoise blue dress is soooo cute!), she is such an asset to the College. I had a really fun time in Orange County (even without my dog Benny and David!) and hopefully, with my advice--I might have made a little bit of a difference--to someone. Congratulations to all the newly accepted FIDM OC students and I hope to see some of you in my classes soon!

JUDY, LIZA...and Nick Verreos? The FIDM Debut Runway Show 2010!

LA Fashion Gala...FIDM Style!Presenting FIDM Debut 2010: Nick Verreos, Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)

Continuing with my FIDM Debut 2010 posting, here's THE BIGGIE: Last weekend I attended, made an appearance and even handed out awards at...the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's annual fashion gala, the Debut Fashion Show. Warhol-esque: Debut 2010 Background
(photo courtesy of Feliz Salzman and www.lookbookla.com)

Held at the MASSIVE Santa Monica Barker Hanger, the Debut Show has grown into an extravagant showcase of the creme de la creme of the school's top graduating students in the Advanced Fashion Design, Theater and Costume as well as Interior and Textile Design.Group Photo: Nick Verreos poses with the Debut 2010 Advanced Fashion Design Graduates

The show began with Chairing Styles--a collaboration between the Advanced Fashion Design, Textile Design and Interior Design students and generously supported by the Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated--in which they all design chairs, fabric for the chairs (assisted by Mimaki) plus a corresponding dress. This year's theme was "Garden Party".Somewhere Over The Runway: Judy Garland impersonator Denise Rose, FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of Feliz Salzman and www.lookbookla.com)

Next was the Theater Costume Advanced Design portion of the show. This year, the theme was "Tribute To Judy and Liza". The old-school "sistahs" in the audience were LOVING IT (moi included!). The young kids, however, didn't even know who these women were (shame on them!)--nevertheless, they were about to get SCHOOLED!!! Jazz Hands: Liza Minelli impersonator Suzanne Goulet in the "Cabaret" excerpt, FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of Felix Salzman, www.lookbookla.com)

This portion spanned through all of Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minelli's career in Hollywood and the effect they--and their movies--had on Theater and Motion Picture Costume Design. Students designed costumes for "The Wizard of Oz", "New York, New York", "Cabaret", "Meet Me In St. Louis" among others.Trophy Time: Mary Stephens, Nick Verreos and the Nikolaki Couture models onstage FIDM Debut 2010
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)

Afterward, I was honored to have been asked by my esteemed Mentor and Advanced Fashion Design Program Chair, Mary Stephens, to present the Debut Awards for 2010, in which we find out who next year's "best and brightest" are. Nick's Angels: Models Danika, Veronica and Tamara, backstage Debut 2010

As a special treat, I brought three looks from my newest NIKOLAKI Collection to be featured on the "trophy girls".
Model Danika Thompson working her NIKOLAKI Couture Fall 2010 Raspberry Silk-wool Zibeline "keyhole" Gown

The Awards Show portion was then followed by the Guess Design Challenge. Guess and the Marciano Brothers are HUGE supporters of FIDM and for Debut 2010, the Advanced Fashion Design Students (whom I mentored and guided for a bit), were asked to design a look for Guess, which then would be shown at Debut 2010, and Maurice Marciano was In attendance to chose the winner...GUESS Who Is The Winner: Brittany Vu winning the FIDM Guess Design Challenge

Brittany Vu, was the winner and was offered an Assistant Design position with Guess and would be able to oversee her design from conception to retail! (AMAZING!!!). Then it was the time for the Advanced Fashion Design graduates to show their individual collections. The collections ranged from extravagant evening gowns (Juan Carlos Fabian) to Kimono-inspired subdued elegant separates (Dominique David) to even a Little Girls Collection (a crowd favorite from graduate Meghann Fanara).
I was excited to see my MUSE (and fit model)--Project Runway Season 6 Model, Lisa Blades (in Juan Carlos Fabian) and...
Project Runway Season 7 Model, Brandise Danesewich (in Nick Gaska) who were both modeling in the show. The evening's fund-raising Debut 2010 Fashion Gala (to support the FIDM Scholarship Foundation) was a huge sold-out success!
I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Julian Bermudez for KPCC's "Off Ramp". That's my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul with us.
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)
And did a Prom Photo with The Bachelor Season 14 Runner Up Tenley Molzahn (photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com)
Also at Debut 2010, was designer Tadashi Shoji
(photo courtesy of FIDM and www.berlinerphotography.com) and... The Mattel Barbie boys, Peter Helenek and James Holmes

It's all about COLOR kids!!!!! We look like the LA version of "The Jersey Boys"...or is it "Destiny's Child"? Don't answer that!

Click BELOW for a GREAT Debut 2010 Photo Slide Show from LookBookLa.com and photographer Felix Salzman:

Nick Verreos Appearance at FIDM Debut 2010 Fashion Club Party 2010!!!

Chocolate-covered Strawberries, Lots of Purple and a Bachelorette: Behind The Scenes at the Fashion Club Party 2010
Last week was the official kick-off to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM DEBUT 2010. To start everything off, FIDM held it's annual--and most popular Fashion Club Debut Pre-Party--in a HUGE tent adjacent to the Santa Monica Barker Hanger, site of the FIDM Debut 2010 Runway Show. Nick Meet Betsy: Nick Verreos flanked by Betsy Bloomingdale's Haute Couture Collection, Barker Hanger Foyer

Last year, if you remember it was a PINK Barbie Party, but this year's theme was a hint to the popular "Twilight" Movie craze. Think lots of moody black and purple decor and mock chandeliers, as if you were in a fun Transylvania castle. Fashion Club Gals: Nick Verreos poses at the "Celebrity Corner" with Fashion Club Debut Pre-Party guests

The party is annually held for high school students from California and beyond (Arizona, Washington, Utah, Nevada) who are fans of fashion design, members of the popular FashionClub.com site and are possibly thinking of attending FIDM after they graduate. There was a DJ spinning tunes, fun pink lemonade drinks with purple Jell-O ice cubes served in plastic Martini glasses!... a chocolate fountain to dip your strawberries into (I had to keep away from that one!), as well as... a fabulous make-up corner so the girls (and some of the boys) could get GLAMMED UP, courtesy of Smashbox Cosmetics and their expert make-up artists. As an instructor and spokesperson for FIDM, I was invited to make a special appearance to the party. The organizers set up a "photo booth" in a corner of the tent for all the guests to come by, and take photos with, yes, yours truly. They called it the "Celebrity Corner" (wink wink!). So many students (and their teachers!) lined up to take photos, and almost instantaneously, they got a "keepsake photo" to take home. I made sure to wear my skinny purple tie so I could match the decor! Where's My Rose: Nick Verreos and ABC's "The Bachelor" Season 14's Tenley Molzahn, Fashion Club Debut Pre-Party

The Bachelor Season 14 First Runner Up contestant, Tenley Molzahn--who works for FIDM Orange County in Admissions-- even came by to get her photo taken with me. Love her!
The party was followed by the first showing of the Debut Fashion Show where the Graduates of FIDM's Advanced Fashion Design and Theater Costume Design Departments got to show their first collections. Work the Runway: Nick Verreos sashays onto the Barker Hanger Runway Stage, Debut 2010

I ran from the Fashion Club Party and into the Barker Hanger stage, to do my "Nick Runway Walk" and to show the 3,000 guests a "preview" of my new NIKOLAKI Demi-Couture Fall 2010 Collection. I had a great time and can't wait for next year's Fashion Club Party. Hopefully next year, I will sneak in a chocolate covered strawberry...or two!