Style Week Orange County 2010-The Wrap Up: Nick Verreos Hosts 2nd Annual Ezekiel Needle and Thread Competition

Style Week OC 2010 Ends on a Sporty Note!

And the Winner Is: Nick Verreos with Julia Nish, the Winner of the 2nd Annual Neelde & thread Competition, Style Week OC 2010

Well kids, I am writing my last posting/recap of the AMAZING Style Week Orange County 2010! I started with the recap of the debut of our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection (of course), then I wrote about the very creative Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns Competition and now, it's all about the last evening of Style Week OC and the 2nd Annual Ezekiel and Active Ride Needle & Thread Competition, all of which occurred at the Irvine Spectrum.

Style Week Orange County 2010: Ezekiel Fashion Show

Seven designers, Nick Gaska, Grace Sori Hwang, Julia Nish, Alejandro Ortega, Natalia Romano, Clay Sadler and Adrienne Young--all graduates from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM-- competed in the Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gown Competition, and also for the prize money in the Needle & Thread Contest. Their task was to create a group of looks that would go well with the Ezekiel brand (active/surf sportswear for a hip teen-twenty-something customer) and the Active Ride (surf, skate, snowboard and everything in-between!) store.

Designs from Natalia Romano for the 2nd Annual Needle & Thread Competition, Style Week OC 2010

The Surf and Activewear business in Southern California is one of the hottest fashion markets in the country and this was a GREAT opportunity for these young designers to dive right in. (Pun intended!) They were given a certain amount of time, a budget and also had time to research the brand and even meet with its design team.

Winning Design: A look from Julia Nish's designs for the 2nd Needle & Thread Competition

The Winner would get the chance to have their winning designs included in the Ezekiel Spring 2011 Collection and then produced and sold! The winner was Julia Nish--who indecently ALSO won the Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gown Contest! (a double whammy for Ms. Nish!). The judges, who included myself, design director of Ezekiel womenswear and last year's winner, Adrian Manuel.

2009 Needle & Thread Design Contest Winner Adrian Manuel and Nick Verreos, Style Week OC 2010

We judged on whether or not it was in accordance to the Ezekiel brand, if it went well with the customer, did the clothes look like something the Ezekiel and Active Ride-shopping girl would like, wear and buy? All of that, plus, of course, was it cute? Julia obviously hit all the right notes.

Nick "Hearts" Active: Nick Verreos, Style Week OC Active Ride VIP After Party

Afterward, there was an Invitation-only Style Week OC After Party, at the Active Store in the Irvine Spectrum Center. There was VIP shopping (of course), a wine and Champagne Open Bar, and even an Active Ride Photo Booth.

OC Studs: Nick Verreos with the Active Ride Irvine Spectrum Center "crew" manning the "After Party VIP Guest List"

I got to film a fun "runway" segment with FIDM Productions, who were on hand to capture all the After Party fun. It was especially great to re-connect all my Active Ride "buddies" whom I had met last year when I hosted and judged the first "Needle & Thread Competition".

OC Step 'n Repeat: Nick Verreos, Rita Verreos and David Paul, Style Week OC 2010

My sister, mom, and even my precious niece (yes, the one I designed my Project Runway-winning Barbie for) were still in town and able to attend the second night of Style Week OC so of course, they came along for the "Style Week OC After Party" ride!

Uncle Nick: Nick Verreos with his niece, Casia Kennedy and sister Rita Verreos

They had a lot of fun and enjoyed all the fashion, as well as the gorgeous weather Orange County bestowed us! Here's to another fabulous and very fashionably successful Style Week Orange County!