
Don't forget to tune in TONIGHT for the Golden Globes Fashion Wrap with Carrie Ann Inaba and her esteemed panel of experts including ME!
It is always a great show and we have the best time doing it. Don't Miss It!

Look Familiar? Zuhair Murad's Spring 2009 Couture Gown and Christian Dior's "Junon" gown from Fall 1949
Guitar Heroes: Jennifer Rade, Nick Verreos, Lisa Rinna, and Lawrence Zarian
Nick Verreos and Lisa Rinna dish, post Golden Globes Red Carpet
Nikolaki Santa: Illustration by Nick Verreos
In the beginning of January, I got called in to do some "Red Carpet Fashion Expert" commentating for the TV Guide Network and specifically, to join the expert team on Fashion Wrap with Lisa Rinna post-red carpet show. First up were the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards in late January. I had a blast doing it and I guess the "powers that be" at TV Guide Network liked what they saw...
The following month, I was asked to do E! Entertainment's Live Pre-Oscars Show. I joined the gorgeous (and long-lost Greek sistah) Debbie Matenopoulos as well as TV personality Kim Kardashian, at the Roosevelt Hotel E! Oscars Pre-Show Studio across from the Kodak Theater, and added a little bit of testosterone (just a little) to an otherwise all-girl line up.
Debbie Matenopoulos, Nick Verreos and Kim Kardashian on E! Oscars Live Pre-Show
Debbie Matenopoulos hands Nick Verreos his post runway bouquet
Actress Marlee Matlin wears NIKOLAKI gown to the 2008 Oscars
Consequently, I did a live taping for a BBC Morning Talk Show "Breakfast" and offer more of my expertise on Academy Awards fashion as well as do post-award show commentary once again for Lisa Rinna's Fashion Wraps for TV Guide Network. My time with Lisa and the rest of the red carpet fashion "crew" was not over, however, as I got called upon for one last award show fashion expert chat fest for the Grammy Awards.
Project Runway Season 3 Model, Amanda Fields models in FIDM Debut '08
Miss Alaska USA in NIKOLAKI gown, Miss USA 2008 Pageant
Nick Verreos and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori
Nick Verreos, GLAAD Awards red carpet
Actress Melora Hardin wears NIKOLAKI to host Elle Magazine event, New York City
Actress Melora Hardin (wearing NIKOLAKI) on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet
TV presenter and singer Rosanna Tavarez, wearing NIKOLAKI gown to American Idol Finale taping
Kimberly Caldwell wears NIKOLAKI to American Idol Finale taping
Resort Mentor
The Challenge was to be the Resort Challenge and instead of Paris where Season 3 of the American version of the show traveled to, these Canadian designers would be coming to Huntington Beach and then working at my alma mater, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Since I am an instructor there, it made perfect sense.
He recognized me right away while the rest, for the most part, either were too stressed to show emotion, or actually thought I was the Hotel's Venezuelan-Greek Concierge telling them they had to leave! As the day proceeded, the rest of the designers began "opening up" more and more to me, yet I still felt that a couple had this "You are NOT Brian Bailey, and don't even think of replacing him!" look on their faces.
We then traveled to Mood Fabrics where they had to shop for fabrics. Afterward, we went to FIDM, where their workrooms would be. This was to be their "home" for the next two days. They loved the FIDM workspace. They especially liked the Industrial machines we had. The workroom is the same one used in my Advanced Fashion Design class so I felt right at home there. The show follows the same "script" of its American counterpart and so does its mentor. I was asked to come and survey what they were doing and just give my "two cents". I tried to vibe my best "Instructor Nick", being helpful with my advice, giving my constructive criticism in a way that would not be hurtful. Since I already felt a bit of distancing from the designers because I was not the mentor they had been used to for all this time, I treaded carefully but added some fun to lighten the atmosphere which was palpably stressful.
I was excited to see their varying ideas come to life and after the second day, very surprised to see how much they had done and so quickly: They were obviously a very talented group. I thought Bidell's outfit for himself was a bit CRAZY. In fact, I dubbed it "Jedi Resort". The dress for his model surprised me in its prettiness, especially in that green "Tye Dye" fabric. But I somehow had this weird feeling that the judges back in Canada would think it was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S and would give him props for being original and creative.
I loved Stephen's and thought he hit the mark when it came to resort. I just feared they might think he looked a bit too "gay postman" with his own outfit. Marie Genevieve's was tres chic. And Shernett's seemed complicated in terms of its construction (especially for resort wear) but I appreciated her skills in tailoring. I especially loved the complicated fitted jacket she made. Lucien's was my least favorite.
I was worried for him. His own outfit was a bit "Eurotrash" to my liking (and I love me some Eurotrash!) and his model's dress was Cavalli five years ago. But I loved his draping! Somehow
I knew he would be in the bottom when judging came about. In the end, it was Shernett's time to go. Of course, I, along with all of you guys, had to wait to see who made it "In" and who "Just didn't cut it". I had no idea of the final conclusion to this Challenge.
In the end, I had an amazing three days working with these talented group of designers and being part of the show. I know you may not believe me when I say this, but I didn't do this to have "more camera time". I was just honored to have been asked and happy to do what I normally do twice a week at FIDM--teach and mentor my students. I am hooked on this show and can't wait for the Finale episode which has already been filmed at Toronto Fashion Week. I am dying to see who wins the first ever Project Runway Canada! Click HERE to watch the entire episode.


Just returned from my crazy week in San Diego where I showed a "preview" of my NIKOLAKI Resort/Spring 2008 Collection at an event at the W Hotel organized for me at their fabulous Beach Bar. As you know, I love telling a story and this was no exception.My collection was based on Cleopatra arriving in Rome to look for her Marc Antony, but in 2008! And these were the fabulous dresses she had in her Louis Vuitton trunks. Here are a couple of shots from the runway show, which went well: No models falling, no broken high heels, no ripped seams or broken zippers!
The model in the aquamarine silk gown is , in fact, my sister Rita, former Survivor: Fiji contestant, who flew out, along with my whole family , from San Antonio, Texas .The press, media and guests I spoke to said that it was a complete success. They loved the show and the collection. From backstage ,I could see people's jaw dropping and could hear the "oohs and ahhs", which I guess is a good reaction.
If I can't dress Angelina Jolie... I'll dress her look-a-like trainer's client!
Several months back , I was thrilled when I got a phone call from a good friend of mine,Meaghan Murphy, who besides being a writer for "Star Magazine", also helped me out over a year ago in designing my nikolakidesign.com website (along with my good friend Mike Lucas who also helped with the graphics for the Top Chef Apron). We arranged a "trade" of sorts: I would design a gown for her, in return for her help on the site.
Over a year passed and our hectic schedules never meshed. Until now. She told me that she was going to be on the Bravo hit show, "Work Out" , where she would be trained by Erika, the sexy Angelina Jolie-look-a-like trainer from Jackie Warner's "Sky Lab" gym.
Erika was going to whip her into shape and give her the body worthy of a Nick Verreos gown, or so she felt. The "Work Out" cameras caught everything, from the consultation to the final fitting. Our first meeting debuted in this week's episode (see Clip above).
You can also read an article about Meaghan's journey to a new and improved body (with a photo of her in the final gown) in this week's (April 30th edition) "Star Magazine. Look out for a more in-depth posting on Bravotv.com about my experience designing for Meaghan and my "brief" apperance on the show.
GUEST HOSTIN'
Last week, I got a call from my Mommy (yes, I still call her Mommy!) and she said "Neeeeeck...go pick up the TV Guide Magazine with the 'Lost' cast on the cover...there's a little photo of you". Of course, as a result of all my traveling (Chicago, Orlando and Phoenix in three weeks!), I had not gotten around to going to a newsstand. Finally when I realized I could just check one out at the airport terminals, I was a week too late! Thankfully Good Ol' Mommy saved hers and sent it to me.
In last week's edition, in their infamous "Jeers and Cheers" section, the writers decided to headline a photo of me while appearing on an episode of MTV's "The Hills" as their "Freeze Frame" Jeer of the Week. They were miffed that the viewers were only teased with my blink-and
Watch for me on tonights episode of The Hills. But don't turn away from the TV for too long or you'll miss me! It is a very brief appearance. I was Lauren Conrad's Instructor for a class she took this quarter at FIDM and they asked me to be a part of the show. I will do a more in depth posting on how this all came about and a little behind-the-scenes take on the whole experience!Just before the end of the year, I was called in to do a "segment" for E! Entertainment. Of course, I was extremely excited. Well, I was thinking, "Great, will I be commenting on Spring Fashion trends? Or will I be talking about Red Carpet trends? Or teaching non-fashion people how to tell the difference between a $100 dress and a $2000 one?" Oh, no I quickly found out that I was going to make commentary on the "30 Most Outrageous Celebrity Feuds". Some of the feuds, I must admit, I didn't even know were going on! I hoped that at least one of the fights dealt with Paris stealing a dress from Lindsay , or a famous fashion designer bitch-slapping another fashion designer. No such luck. Well, I tried to do my best "catty " Nick. I almost forgot I did this segment, until some students of mine approached me and said "Mr. Verreos, I saw you on TV last night... you were so funny!" I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, until I realized it was this show. I assumed that they had watched some old clips from Season Two.
Also, click HERE to read a "Shout Out" from the PR Gay Boys and watch a video that they dug up. I was invited to the Christian Audigier Melrose Store Opening (He was the designer for 'Von Dutch') and I asked Amanda (model from last season) to be my date and she wore one of my cropped gold linen jackets and jersey mini-dress from my Holiday NIKOLAKI line. She wore the mini dress over her own very skinny jeans and looked hot!
Continuing on with the Victoria's Secret theme, I was ready to call it a night and tuned in to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live after the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and was surprised to see myself! Jimmy's funny "parking security guard" was, I guess also backstage and doing his own "pink carpet" coverage and well, you guys will see...I thought it was cute and funny. Thank God they compared me to Cleto and not Guillermo!
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