NIKOLAKI at the Oscars: Actress Ali Landry Wears NIKOLAKI, TV Guide Network's Academy Awards Countdown Show!

Statuesque Gorgeous!!!

Mermaid Chic: Ali Landry--Actress and Host of TV Guide Network's Fashion Wrap" and star of the new show TV Guide Network "Hollywood Girls Night"--wearing NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul, TV Guide Network Academy Awards Countdown/Red Carpet Show

The 2012 Academy Awards occurred last Sunday and as you may know--from my last post, I was part of the TV Guide Network Academy Awards Live Countdown/Red Carpet Shows Hosted by Chris Harrison. Along with Tabatha Coffey of "Tabatha Takes Over" and TV hostess Maria Sansone, we gave LIVE hair and fashion commentary from right above the Oscars red carpet.

Best Dressed: Actress Ali Landry in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul gown, and Marc Istook, TV Guide Network Academy Award Countdown/ Red Carpet Show

Joining our team from a nearby "Penthouse" rooftop overlooking the Hollywood & Highland Theater were also the very handsome TV host Marc Istook and the always GORGEOUS, actress Ali Landry. Ali is one of the stars of the new TV Guide Network show "Hollywood Girls Night" and of course, she was our Hostess-with-the-Mostess for our Award Show Fashion Wraps this season.

I was beyond excited that for her Academy Awards TV Guide Network red carpet moment she wore one of my NIKOLAKI gowns!!! Amanda Jones, the TV Guide Network Wardrobe Stylist, brought her several gowns for her to wear for the Oscars and the filming, and after she tried my NIKOLAKI gown, I heard that Ali couldn't even see straight she loved it so much! She had no idea that it was one of my creations but when Jones told her, then it was "Done and Done"!

NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 dark raspberry silk ziberline sleeved mermaid-shaped gown

The gown is from our Spring 2011 Collection and is a Mermaid-shaped gown in a dark raspberry color of silk-wool ziberline (about 20 yards of it!)--a Couture fabrication my design partner, David Paul and I get from Italy. It features structured shoulders, cap-shaped mini raglan sleeves, a peek-a-boo cut-out in the front torso, open back and full pleated back train. Oh and yes, there are pockets (you know, to hide your lipstick and award show tickets!).

Raspberry Couture: Actress Ali Landry in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul

Ali looked STUNNING in our gown and like I said, I was so excited that she chose to wear it for such an important event. I heard that when she made her way to film her live segment with Marc up in the TV Guide Network "Oscars Penthouse" location, EVERYONE gasped and literally stopped talking! Afterward, the entire crew--from the grips, p.a.'s to the cameramen--came up to me and remarked how beautiful and fabulous (OK, they didn't say "fabulous", more like HOT!), Ali looked.

Now, you know it's good when BUTCH Straight men who normally could care less what gown an actress wears--are beside themselves saying Couture Compliments! And yes, I agreed 110 % with them. Ali: you looked stunning and made my design come alive! MY Best Dressed at the Oscars!!!

Nick TV Minute: TV Guide Network's Academy Awards Countdown and Red Carpet Shows--My Blog Recap with Photos!!

Academy Awards Balcony Viewing:

Nick Verreos, TV Guide Network Countdown and Red Carpet Show, Hollywood & Highland Center, Academy Awards 2012

Last night as we all know (unless you have been living under a rock!) was the Academy Awards! Not only is it the "Super Bowl" of Film...but also for FASHION!!! I was honored and humbled to be asked back to join the TV Guide Network Academy Awards Coverage Team and be the "Fashion Guy" and give my immediate and LIVE "Nick Two Cents" beginning in the Countdown Show as well as the Red Carpet LIVE show Hosted by Chris Harrison.

Fearsome Threesome: Tabatha Coffey, Nick Verreos and Maria Sansone, TV Guide Network Academy Award Countdown and Red Carpet Show

I was on the "Bridge" about 20 feet above the Academy Awards Red Carpet in the formerly-known-as-the-Kodak Theater with Tabatha Coffey--my Fashion Wrap Sistah!--as well as Maria Sansone. Maria was our "ringleader" and she was absolutely FABULOUS!! Loved her and her gold sequined gown! Speaking of gowns, of course, Miss Tabatha looked stunning in her black silk taffeta strapless Mermaid-shape ensemble. LOVED those pockets Miss Tabatha!! We were positioned next to ABC Local Oscars Coverage Team (with former Supermodel Roshumba Williams!) and Access Hollywood. Also up in the Balcony were EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, and CNN Showbiz Tonight, among others.

84th Annual Academy Awards Red Carpet--View from the "Bridge"

We had a PERFECT position atop the red carpet looking down at the entire "show". We were LIVE when Sacha Baron Cohen (as "The Dictator") dumped the "ashes" Ryan Seacrest, as well as having a bird's eye view when all the stars arrived, one after another. I can't even describe the excitement of being there--and especially being right ABOVE them!!! We filmed our Countdown and Live Red Carpet Show and before we could pronounce "Haute Couture"...it was OVER! Well, our filming was, but not our Red Carpet oogling!!

Tabatha Fierce: It was cold up there on our balcony location and soon Miss Tabatha Coffey got her fur mini-cape on! She looked fabulous and chic--and kept herself warm as well! How you say "You Go Girl!" in Australian slang???

Meryl Gold: If you look closely--and focus your eyes--you can see Meryl Streep in there--in her Custom Lanvin by Alber Elbaz draped gold lame gown--as she makes her way toward the theater, finishing her red carpet moment...

Gwenyth Column: Actress Gwyneth Paltrow--one of my Best Dressed of the Night in that Tom Ford silk crepe gown and floor-length cape--poses (with her publicist Stephen Huvane standing by)

Jennifer and Tim: A close-up (from my Balcony Location above the Red Carpet) of Jennifer Lopez--in her plunging, and semi-controversial, Zuhair Murad gown--being interviewed by my former project Runway Mentor, the one-and-only Tim Gunn

Penelope Meet Tim: I even captured a good shot of Spanish actress Penelope Cruz--in an Armani Prive gunmetal gray silk organza ball gown--also being interviewed by Tim Gunn

After we wrapped our TV Guide Network Countdown and LIVE Red Carpet filming--and the Oscars Red Carpet was done--I made my way to our "holding area" and guess who I ran into...

Say OSCAR: Project Runway Season 8 Finalist and Project Runway All Star Contestant Mondo Guerra, my former TV Guide Fashion Wrap host Lawrence Zarian , and Nick Verreos

I had a FABULOUS day doing the Fashion Commentary with my Gals up in the Balcony for TV Guide Network--Tabatha Coffey and Maria Sansone (and Carly Steel and Ali Landry up in the TV Guide "Penthouse")--as well as the Boys: Marc Istook and our Host Chris Harrison. It was yet another very memorable Oscars Sunday for me! Thank you to TV Guide Network and Thank you to EVERYONE who worked on the shows!! Y'all are INCREDIBLE!!! Oh and of course, Thank You to the viewers!! Hope you guys had as much fun watching us as we had getting all the Red Carpet DISH out for you!!

To watch clips of TV Guide Network's 2012 Academy Awards Red Carpet Coverage--Click HERE on TV Guide's YouTube Channel

Oscars TV Minute Reminder: Don't Miss TV Guide Network's Oscars Countdown & Red Carpet Show--Today 2pm PST/5pm EST

Rehearsals yesterday...The Oscars TODAY!!!!

Fearless Threesome: Tabatha Coffey, Nick Verreos, Maria Sansome, TV Guide Network Academy Awards Countdown and Red Carpet Pre-Show Rehearsals, Hollywood & Highland Center

Well, kids, Oscars NIGHT is almost upon us--in less than 24 hours!!! Today, I had rehearsals--at the Hollywood & Highland Center for my stint as the Fashion Guru on TV Guide Network's Academy Awards Countdown to the Red Carpet and Red Carpet Shows Hosted by Chris Harrison. I will be on the "Bridge" location about 20 feet above the Oscars Red Carpet--beginning at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST on the TV Guide Network--along with Tabatha Coffey and Maria Sansone. We had rehearsals today and they went really well!!!

I'm so excited to be doing the show with them--and of course, the rest of the TV Guide Network Academy Awards Red Carpet Coverage team, including our Host, the one-and-only Chris Harrison, as well as Mark Istook, Carly Steel and our "Fashion Wraps" host Ali Landry.

Hollywood Blvd. and the formerly-known-as-the-Kodak Theater was all abuzz today with lots of press, lots of other Entertainment TV Rehearsals (Tabatha and I ran into Kelly Osborne on our way to our bridge location!) and tourists galore (on the Blvd. naturally!).
Guess who I also ran into today?

Runway Reunion: Project Runway Mentor Tim Gunn and Project Runway Judge--and Marie Claire Fashion Director--and my Colombian Diva Fantasy Sister--Nina Garcia!!!! They were rehearsing just below us for their stint tomorrow afternoon on the Academy Awards Red Carpet

Rehearsal Ladies: Tabatha Coffey and Maria Sansone, Hollywood & Highland Center above the Academy Awards red carpet

Well--like I said--DON'T MISS tomorrow's Academy Awards TV Guide Red Carpet Coverage with ME (!!!) and those lovely ladies above--and Host Chris Harrison, Mark Istook, Carly Steel...beginning at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST. TV Guide Network. We will be DISHING the fashion, the hair and talking to the BIGGEST Stars!!!