In Memoriam: Costume Designer Nolan Miller--A Shoulder Pad GOD!

Praise to One of My First Design Gods:

Ruffles and Poufs: Joan Collins, John Forsythe and Linda Evans, "Dynasty" TV Show, Costume Designer Nolan Miller

Last Wednesday June 6th, American fashion designer and television costume designer Nolan Miller passed away, at the age of 79. Miller had been ill for a while and he finally succumbed to lung cancer. He was one of my first "Design Gods". As a young boy--who only DREAMED of being a Fashion Designer while looking at glossy Vogue magazines and shows like "Dynasty" back in the 80's (yes, I am aging myself and I do not care!), I was in awe of his designs and the world he created through his incomparable design eye.

Nolan Miller emphasized elegance, excess, glamour with a capital "G", and one word: DIVA. And yes, he was known for being the Emperor of the 80's Shoulder Pads. Of course, Miller is famous for being the Costume Designer for the TV Show "Dynasty" which aired from 1981-1989--spanning almost the entire decade. In case you may be "Fashion and Costume Design Illiterate", read on...and if you are a "Young UMS" born after 1990, studying to be a Fashion Designer and you do not know who Nolan Miller is, YOU BETTER!

Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere

 Lanvin designs by Alber Elbaz

Every other Fashion Designer worth his Croquis Salt is referencing him--whether they want to admit it or not, such as Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga and  Alber Elbaz of Lanvin (see photos above) as well as many, many others. Anyhow, here's a quick Bio on Mr. Nolan Miller:

Born in Texas, Nolan Miller studied design at the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Art Institute). He is best known for his costume design work for the long-running TV series "Dynasty" and especially for the looks that top stars Linda Evans, Joan  Collins and Diahann Carroll "featured". Miller exemplified the 80's Excess and Glamour Look.

Dynasty Divas: There were always LOTS of ruffles, lots of DRAMA, and yes, very, very STRONG SHOULDERS.

"The Colby's": Nolan Miller also designed for the "Dynasty" TV Show spinoff "The Colbys"--more shoulder pads, and more hand-beaded sequins darlings! Before he gained his "Shoulder Pad and Ruffle" TV Fame on that show as well as "Dynasty", Miller also was the Costume Designer for shows such as...

 "Charlie's Angels": Butch and Feminine Detective Chic

"The Love Boat": Hello Julie McCoy and her poly-jersey gathered off-the-shoulder "Cruise Ship" Dresses!

"Fantasy Island": Resort Glam

"Gilligan's Island": Ginger's sexy va-va-boom v-neck coral-colored sequined dress was designed by Nolan Miller

Branding and Licensing King:

Blouson Pattern: During the 80's, designer Nolan Miller also created McCall's Patterns--dresses, blouses and much more featuring those very shoulder-padded and BLOUSON'ed sleeves, nipped-in waists and over-all 80's "I-Got-Money-and-You-Don't" style--all based on "Dynasty" characters played by the ever-so-chic Joan Collins and Diahann Carroll.

Nolan Miller QVC: For 19 years, Nolan Miller was on QVC showcasing his fabulous "Nolan Miller Glamour Collection for QVC" jewelry and accessories; they were beautiful, colorful, costume-and Couture inspired and well, for 19 years, they did pretty well for him and QVC.  In 2011, he announced that he was retiring from QVC.

Nolan Miller on The Red Carpet:

Elizabeth Taylor in a Nolan Miller gown: Taylor wore it to the Golden Globes in 1985 when she received the Cecil B deMille Award for her Outstanding Contribution in the Entertainment Field. It went for $7,500 in the "Elizabeth Taylor Christie's Online Auction" last year.

Sophia Loren: Nolan Miller (left) and actress (and DIVA) Sophia Loren, wearing a Nolan Miller red gown at the 2000 Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Sketch Fab:

Illustration Fierce: Above are several Fashion Illustrations--including ones of "Dynasty" actresses and Muses Linda Evans and Joan Collins---Nolan Miller

Mr. Miller...

You will be missed. Thank you for inspiring a very young Greek-Venezuelan boy with a Dream!

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".

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from NIKOLAKI Nick Verreos, David Paul...and Benny!!!

HAPPY DIVA HOLIDAYS...and A FABULOUS 2011!!!Here at my lovely blog, we all wish you a very Happy Holidays and a FABULOUS and FASHIONABLE New Year! I'm off to San Antonio Texas to spend Xmas with my family but will return to Los Angeles to ring in the New Year! For 2011...

I promise there will be more NIKOLAKI Fashion...

More Red Carpet Coverage...

More Events, hosting and "surprise" appearances by moi...

More Figure Skating Fashion (of course!)...

More Euro-Royals Wearing Couture...

More Beauty Pageant Gowns, Slits and (hopefully), NO clear Lucite Stripper Heels to go with them...and more of EVERYTHING in between---

Happy New Year! xoxo Nick Verreos, David Paul...and our doggie Benny!!!

Nick Verreos and US Figure Skater Rachael Flatt

Ice Capades: Nick Verreos and Rachael Flatt, and his illustrations

Back in March, I attended the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles at the fabulous (and very cold) Staples Center. In case you have been living under a rock--or haven't seen my Season 2 of Project Runway--I love me some figure skating! It was kind of funny to go to this event because a lot of people there recognized me. I didn't realize how many fans of figure skating are also fans of Project Runway.

The night of the Ladies Final, as I was leaving, a group of people came up to me and introduced themselves. They were Rachael Flatt's family! Rachael Flatt was the Silver Medalist at the 2009 US Figure Skating Champisonships and placed 5th at the World Figure Skating Championships just moments before. They then proceeded to call her and handed me the phone so I could say "Hello" and "Congrats!". Get me a pen and paper: Nick Verreos sketches for US Figure Skating Silver Medalist Rachael Flatt

Then about a couple of months ago, I got a call from her PR person asking if I would like to come to Universal Studios where they were holding a special Media Event to promote American athletes for the upcoming Winter Olympics on NBC. Of course, I ran over there and finally got to meet Rachael (she looked so cute in apple green and flower print dress, very "Lily Pulitzer"). For fun, I proceeded to sketch some ideas for her costumes. We were both hoping I might design her costume for this current Olympic Season, but with both of our crazy schedules, it did not work out. But it was still such a pleasure meeting her and sketching for her---and giving her some dish on Project Runway!

Click HERE to watch a fun video of Rachel and the quick 30 second sketches I did.

ORBIT GUM Dress

Chicle! Chicle!

Last month, in the midst of design , draping and making all the patterns for my upcoming Spring 2008 Collection--which I am debuting at the W Hotel San Diego fashion show--I received an email from the Wrigley's Orbit Gum "people" asking me to come up with sketches/ideas for a "Concept" and "Red Carpet" dress based on the Mojito Flavor Orbit Gum. They said, if I was chosen, the new Latina Orbit Gum girl, the beautiful Raquel Jimenez, would then wear it at the upcoming Premios Juventud, the Latin version of the Teen Choice Awards.

Well, I was intrigued, to say the least. I sketched about 11 designs and after much client discussion--and a little bit of my input--they choice one of my more elegant yet still fun designs. I had done several, more costumey Miss Universe Parade of Nations Miss Dominican Republic-with-a-lemon/lime-on-her-head types of styles but I am happy with the one that was chosen. It reflected my sexy-yet-elegant sense of style, but was still an obvious nod to the Mojito Orbit Gum.

The budget to make this creation was very good but there was one catch: The Awards Show would be in a week!! Well, it became like another Project Runway Challenge for me. The model, Raquel was in Spain and therefore emailed me her measurements and would not be present for any fittings so I would have to just go by my years of experience to make this custom dress without an actual person and go by her measurements only. I kept hearing Tim Gunn in my ear saying "Make It Work!" Well, in the end, I did, with the aid of my partner, David, who painstakingly helped me in cutting the dress as well as making the fun ORBIT GUM pillbox hat AND Mojito scarf.

I then flew to Miami (former Miss Universe and Marc Anthony's ex, Dayanara Torres was seated 2 seats away from me!) and the next day would have an early morning fitting (it was perfect, thank goodness) and then attended the Premios Juventud and walked the Red Carpet (it was purple, go figure), amongst such Latin pop stars as RBD , Enrique Iglesias, and Daddy Yankee. The fans on the bleachers were so cute in that they were all screaming "Chicle! Chicle!" as we walked the carpet. I yelled back "Orbit Mojito! Orbit Mojito!". I was surprised that many of them were "Oh , you're Nick from Project Runway!!" Not surprising the show has a huge Latin fan base. I love me some Miami...as well as Orbit Gum too!!!!

Eva Longoria's Wedding Dress--My vision

Early this month, as everyone knows, actress Eva Longoria got married to sexy San Antonio Spurs basketball player, Tony Parker. A writer for the San Antonio Express News, Michael Quintanilla, contacted me to draw a sketch of what I, Nick Verreos, would design for Eva , if I was the designer doing her wedding gown. He was doing a story regarding all the craziness revolving her fabulous and ultra chic million-dollar wedding in France. Quintanilla wanted to include design visions from local San Antonio fashion designers , as well as a "celebrity designer" (I'm sure he was using the term very loosely!). Several years ago, Eva wore one of my NIKOLAKI designs to an event (in a photo captured here), way before she became the star of "Desperate Housewives".

I obliged his request with this illustration you see here. I wanted to do my "Nick" silhouette--very 1930's bias cut Hollywood Starlet with an asymmetrical cowl draped back (similar to what I designed for her costar, Brenda Strong for last year's SAG Awards. I envisioned it in a off-white silk crepe that would be hand-beaded--heavy to light-- throughout the gown. The finishing touch would be a French lace veil very reminiscent of the Mantillas the Spanish Duquesas wear, to give a nod to her Mexican-Spanish heritage. The sketch was published-along with the other San Antonio designer's visions in the aforementioned San Antonio Express newspaper the same weekend of Eva's wedding. She ended up wearing an amazing silk gazar gown from Venezuelan designer Angel Sanchez, who for years deigned all the gowns for the Miss Venezuela's and now has become a go-to guy for gorgeous wedding dresses. Good choice Miss Eva!

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's 35th Anniversary Gala

Tonight, Saturday, November 18th, I have been asked to present the Corporate Vision Award to Bravo's Andy Cohen at the LA Gay & Lesbian's Center's 35th Annual Gala and Auction. I will be joined by fellow "Project Runway" Designers, Andrae Gonzalo, Raymundo Baltazar and Jeffrey Sebelia, as well as the entire cast of Bravo's "Workout". This is an exciting and fun event.

As a bonus , the Center will be auctioning off a disposable camera, in which I took photos from recent events I attended, plus a one-of-a-kind original illustration I did of the winning "My Scene Barbie" outfit I designed for the Project Runway" Challenge on Season 2. Hope to see you there!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Costume Ideas by Nick Verreos

NPR--National Public Radio , asked me, as well as several Project Runway designers, to submit some Halloween costume ideas for their story on NPR.org. They asked for a costume idea for "Adults" and one for "Children". I jumped at this invitation, since I am a big fan and supporter of National Public Radio and I love to sketch so I wanted to show them what my ideas would be for Halloween.

Initially I wanted to draw Madonna in a Malawi costume with her new child, but thought that might be a bit controversial! Instead I chose to sketch "Flavor Flav" and his "lady-friend", "New York". The idea came to me because earlier in the week, I accompanied Andrae to the "Reality Remix Awards" in Hollywood. He was nominated, and won (of course) for "Best Crying Scene of 2006". It was a mess of an event with all those "reality show" stars, and I use the term loosely, from shows such as "Amazing Race", "Survivor" and "Meet The Carters". "Flavor Flav" and "New York" were there and I instantly thought "Oh, there's going be a lot of people dressing up as them for Halloween".
The thought was in my mind when I put pencil to paper and then sketched my idea for "Adult" costumes. I think they turned out quite fun!
The children's costumes were easy, simply because I thought that Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" was such a big hit that many kids would be dressing up as Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley's characters. And if I had my way, that's how I would dress my niece and nephew to go Trick o' Treatin'. The sketch is dedicated to them.
Click HERE to see the entire NPR article and all the sketches from the other Project Runway designers.