Nick Verreos Special Appearance at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM San Diego's Open House 2011

Hello Sunshine!

Gather Around Kids! Nick Verreos--and Open House visitors at FIDM San Diego Open House (Photo-slide of my Gowns at the bottom left)

Last weekend, I drove from my pied-de-terre in Los Angeles down south--to the gorgeous city of San Diego (about a three hour drive--with, yes, traffic). As part of my duties as the Spokesperson for Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--and as an Instructor of the College and Alumn, I make "Special Appearances" at various Campuses during the year.

It's always great to go to the San Diego Campus. I've visited before, of course, (David Paul, my NIKOLAKI partner-in-design FABULOUSNESS is from there!) and always have a nice time seeing all the wonderful FIDM San Diego staff. The campus is located in Downtown San Diego, a stone's throw away from the glorious Petco Park. In fact, on one of the campuses "sundecks" , they have a "First Class" view of the park!

Petco Park Diva: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Campus, with Petco Park behind him

This particular Saturday was "Open House" day at FIDM San Diego, when people (from high school to post-grad) interested in studies within the Fashion, Interior Design, Visual Arts and Entertainment Industries fields, can come and visit the campuses and find out more about the school and all it has to offer, as well as meet current students, faculty, alumni, and get information on all the various majors and departments.

During the Open House, there are several classrooms set up to highlight some of the majors and departments including the Visual Communications "room", set up with a lot of projects from past and current students. I loved this Anna Sui Presentation above.

My "Special Appearance" involved mini-Lectures and a Meet-and-Greet--three during the three-hour time span I was there (one every hour naturally). Even though I knew it would be a gorgeous 80 degrees in San Diego, I decided to still "dress up" and wear my white Zara jacket, Hermes silk tie and boots. I did notice every other person I spotted as I made my way into Downtown San Diego was in shorts and flip flops!. No problem: I was GIVING them FASHION!!!

Boot Posing: Nick Verreos and an FIDM San Diego Open House visitor

This was the first time I had done an Open House in San Diego "muti-lecture" style, and it worked out so well!!! It was like a Universal Studios Tour, only it was me and the FIDM San Diego Campus. I spoke on how I "got to where I am", Project Runway and my time at FIDM as a student and how to maximize all the AMAZING knowledge a student can acquire from attending FIDM.

Dressed Up San Diego: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Open House 2011

I think everyone who attended all three of my Lectures really enjoyed it--the kids and the parents too (I "heart" the parents!). All in all, I had a fun time at the campus and at the end, was sad to leave San Diego--especially since it was 80 Degrees and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! There's something different about 80 degrees in San Diego and 80 Degrees in Los Angeles (where I reside).

FIDM Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and FIDM San Diego Open House 2011 visitors

Bye FIDM San Diego--for now--and please keep having the GORGEOUS shorts-and-flip-flop weather--even if I will probably still be the only man in a white jacket, Hermes tie and boots in the lovely city :)

Nick Verreos Hosts FIDM Open House Los Angeles!!

Hello High School Fashionistas...Moms, Dads, and Educators!!!

Welcome: Nick Verreos at FIDM Open House 2011 Los Angeles

Last Thursday began a Three-day Fashion Marathon at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, the College in which I am an Instructor and also the Spokesperson, and of course, as many of you know, the college I also graduated from YEARS ago!

This "FIDM Fashion Marathon" concludes with the very special "Debut " which is a HUGE fashion show at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar where the collections of the Advanced Fashion Design as well as Costume Design Graduates are shown.

But before that, there are other very fun events, one of which was the fabulous "FIDM Open House"--where high school students, just-accepted students, their parents, and educators come visit the FIDM campus and get to know the school, its facilities and the campus.

Fashion Director's Seats: Nick Verreos Hosts FIDM Open House 2011 Los Angeles--Hope Park, Downtown LA

FIDM has Open Houses in all of it Campuses, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Orange County. I was asked to host the Los Angeles Open House Panel Discussion, which I have done before and is always a lot of fun--as well as very informative to the audience.

Tented View: Nick Verreos and audience--FIDM LA Open House 2011

The panel included three Graduates and one current students, all from different majors: Kara Gaydosz (Merchandise Marketing graduate), Sarah Thompson (Visual Communications, Entertainment Set Design & Decoration graduate), Jonathan Gitlin (Digital Media graduate) and Erica Williams (Fashion Design current student).

Looking On: FIDM LA Open House 2011 Audience

Because it was the LA Open House, it was HUGE!!! The school set up an expansive tent--or tents--adjacent to the Downtown LA campus on Hope Park, where HUNDREDS of students, parents, educators got their lunch, and then sat down to hear or Panel Discussion. This was probably the BIGGEST Open House I had hosted so I was excited!!

Naomi Who: Nick Verreos (at end of walkway)--FIDM LA Open House 2011

So excited that of course, I had to do my "Nick Runway Walk" down the center aisle of the tented seated audience! Yes, that's me--above--trying to "give" RUNWAY--to kids and parents, from all over California and the US including Arizona, Florida, NY, Massachusetts, and even Mexico City!

Bow Tie Cheese: Nick Verreos and guest, FIDM LA Open House 2011

Afterward, I spent time taking photos and signing autographs for all the "FIDM Open House Los Angeles" attendants who wanted to. I had a great time hosting the event as well as getting to meet everyone (or most everyone) there!

Heyyyyy: Nick Verreos, posing with FIDM L:A Open House 2011 guests

But soon, I had to get back in my car, do a quick outfit change and head to the Santa Monica Barker Hangar to host the FIDM Fashion Club Party and make a special appearance at FIDM Debut 2011.

Stay tuned for those photos--That posting will be FAB for sure!

Until next time...

Nick Verreos Pays a Special Visit to FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Diego's Fall 2010 Open House!

San Diego Fashionistas...

San Diego Posing: Nick Verreos at FIDM San Diego Open House

A couple of weekends back, I drove down to San Diego to make a "Spacial Appearance" at the San Diego Campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. I am an Instructor at FIDM, as you may know, as well as the Official Spokesperson for the last several years. It is always a joy to visit all the different campuses of the College and get to know prospective students , their parents, as well as high school students thinking about attending FIDM and beginning their studies--and eventual careers--in fashion.

I have been to the gorgeous San Diego Campus before--for its Grand Re-Opening two years ago, as well as other functions. This time, I was there for the Fall 2010 Open House. The Open House is a chance for students thinking about going to FIDM, to tour the school, meet alumni and advisers, and get information about all that FIDM has to offer.

Petco View: Nick Verreos (from a previous FIDM San Diego Appearance) and the View of Petco Park, FIDM San Diego Campus

I just love the new San Diego Campus: It's located in Downtown, just off the very hip Gaslamp Quarter and next to the immense Petco Park. The view from the College's balcony is INCREDIBLE!!! The space is designed by Architect Clive Wilkenson and showcases a Loft-like modern feel that mirrors what a Design School should look like!

A highlight for me is the FIDM San Diego Library/Resource Center (see photo above). I especially love it's Magazine Section (I wish my coffee table looked like that!).

Barbie On Top: Nick Verreos Barbie, FIDM San Diego Library

And they even have one of my Barbie's (see above photo). Yes, the one I designed for the "My Scene Barbie Project Runway Challenge" back in my Season (2) and was sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us for a very limited amount of time.

For FIDM San Diego's Fall Open House, I was invited to give a "pep talk" lecture to the students--and their parents--and I stuck around afterward to pose for photos, sign bags (provided by FIDM!) and even drawing some original fashion illustrations on their bags!

Fashion Illustration 101: Nick Verreos draws a fashion croquis on a student's bag, FIDM San Diego Fall 2010 Open House

The room was PACKED and they even had to bring in extra chairs I heard! I brought along a slide-show of my latest Spring 2011 NIKOLAKI Collection, as well as images of celebs wearing my gowns on the Red Carpet, for everyone to enjoy during my lecture. I had a really good time--as always , and cannot wait to return to San Diego! Good Luck and Happy Holidays to all the prospective FIDM San Diego students!!!

Nick Verreos Hosts Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2010 Open House!

Emcee...FIDM "Red Carpet" Commentator and a Panel of Alumni...

Open House Mic: Nick Verreos Emcees FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus

This last Saturday, as the Official Spokesperson for my alma mater, the Fashion Institute of Design& Merchandising/FIDM, I had the pleasure of visiting the LA Campus' Fall Open House. FIDM's Open House is when prospective students get to visit FIDM, learn about all the 20 creative majors, get advice from FIDM Alumni and Admissions Counselors, and much more.

Panel of FIDM Grads and student, FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus

One of the "much more" was meeting me--and three FIDM Grads and one currently-enrolled student, at a Panel Discussion which I hosted. The Grads had received their degrees in different majors including Apparel Manufacturing and Product Development. One of them was actually a student of mine, I am proud to say, Malorie Dempster (third from the left in black jumpsuit) who recently competed in the DECA FIDM Runway Challenge). The one current student (far left) was in the Fashion Design Major. Each spoke of their experience at FIDM and where they are working now.

Boot Happy: Nick Verreos poses with prospective students at FIDM Fall Open House

We also held a Q & A, a mini "Nick Verreos FIDM Open House Red Carpet " session where I pointed out the especially stylin' prospective students--and their moms and dads! Afterward, I stayed around for photos with all in attendance.

Can you See Me: I am somewhere in that group, posing and taking photos with everyone "in line". Once again the FIDM LA Open House was a great success; I had a great time with all the perspective new students and of course, the loving parents! Hope to see you in one of my classes (the students that is!).

Click Below for a Video of the Panel Discussion FIDM Fall Open House LA Campus: