FIDM Fall Open House Los Angeles--The BLOG Recap!

Fashion School Fabulous...

FIDM Bag Diva: Nick Verreos with Chloe (@Chloekinss), the Winner of the FIDM Fall 2011 Open House "Go Social" Contest

This past weekend was the fabulous FIDM Fall Open House, held at the Downtown L.A. Campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--the college where I am an instructor and a spokesperson--oh and yes, also my Alma Mater!

As part of the great Open House events, I was asked to host a FIDM Alumni Panel Discussion, which attendees of the FIDM Fall Open House came to. I put on my brand new TopMan pink-ish jacket and pink dress shirt, my Brooks Brothers pink-and-white polka dot pocket hankie, black jeans and YSL "Johnny" boots, and well, I was ready to go!

Packed House: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

I LOVED hosting this FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Alumni Panel event. First, I chatted with the audience--both the students and their parents. I also dished a little bit on this last season of Project Runway and being on the Lifetime Network "After The Runway" TV shows. And of course, I also did a little Nick "Runway Walk".

FIDM LA Fall Open House 2011 Panel: (left to tight) FIDM Alumni Denshai Lee, Brooke Cody and Allison Moehlis

Then, I introduced the three panelists: first, there was Fashion Design Alumna Denshai Lee (left), who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from FIDM (naturally) and currently is a production manager at a private label company that makes clothing for various retailers across the US. Brooke Cody (middle) was the next panelist. Brooke also holds two degrees from FIDM--an A.A. in Merchandise Product Development and a Bachelor's in Business Management. She now runs her own retail store in Pasadena, Kodi Boutique. Our third guests was Allison Moehlis. Allison is a FIDM graduate of the Merchandise Product Development department and is now Product Coordinator for UGG Apparel. After the Panel Discussion, I stayed around to meet everyone and take lots of fun photos--and autographed LOTS of the attendees handbags (it was a MAJAH signing trend this time!!). Note to self: must design & sell "Nick Verreos" handbags to sign at next year's FIDM Fall Open House!

Here are some "Post FIDM Open House Panel" fun photos:

Fashionable Ladies: Nick Verreos poses with attendees from Hollywood High School's "Fashion Club" stylish students

FIDM Open House Smiles: Nick Verreos with the GVHS/Golden Valley High School Fashion Club students and instructors

Boys Club: Nick Verreos and two of the most stylin' boys attending FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House event

Heeeeyyyyy!!!: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Attendees pose for my camera

Hope everyone enjoyed the fun & fabulous (and very informative) FIDM Fall Open House! I had a BLAST meeting each and everyone of you!

Nick Verreos Hosts a "Designer Fabric Party" & Fashion Draping Event at FIDM Scholarship Store THIS THURSDAY Oct 27th

A Fabric Party!

A Designer Fabric Party! I am so excited to announce that I will be the "Master of Ceremonies"---OK, I'll be Hosting--this fun "Fashion Party" at the FIDM Scholarship Store this Thursday, October 27th--from 11:00am-2:00pm.

Nick Verreos Hosts "A Designer Fabric Party!" at FIDM Scholarship Store", this Thursday 11am-2pm

In case you didn't know, besides LOTS of Designer-brand clothing at steep discounts, store mannequins, dress forms, jewelry, and even magazines, the FIDM Scholarship Store sells fabrics, bolts and bolts of it! And at really, REALLY good prices. Like $2/yard good! As part of this "Designer Fabric Party", we will be presenting creative fabric ideas for Fashion, Holiday Parties, Home Decor, and much much more!

Along with yours truly, FIDM Advanced Fashion Design "Debut" Graduates Angela Avanesyan and Paul Hernandez will be on hand, showing many different ways of draping the fabric to the body forms to create dresses, gowns, bustiers, you name it! I'll also be draping and sketching and offering my "Nick" fashion consultations--just for YOU. And of course, I might be giving you some "INSIDE DISH" on the Finale of Project Runway and yes, signing autographs and taking Facebook Pics!!

Oh, and did I mention that ALL the proceeds from the purchases made from the FIDM Scholarship Store go to create scholarships for FIDM students!! Yep! So, come Thursday and BUY some FABULOUS FABRIC!

FIDM Scholarship Store

Here are the Details:

*WHAT: A "Fashion Fabric Party!" hosted by Nick Verreos

*WHEN: Thursday October 27, 2011 11:00 am-2:00pm

*WHERE: FIDM Scholarship Store, 919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90015-1421 Phone: 213-642-1200--ask for the "Scholarship Store".

*RSVP: None! Just come!!!

Disney Star Meaghan Martin Wears NIKOLAKI at 2011 Teen Choice PLUS Behind The Scenes of ACUVUE® 1•DAY Contest Webisode!

Teen Choice RADIANT!!!

Actress Meaghan Martin in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 silk dress, Teen Choice 2011 Blue Carpet, Universal City California

Last Sunday, the gorgeous 19 year-old Meaghan Martin, star of "Mean Girls 2" as well as Disney's "Camp Rock" and "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam", attended the 2011 Teen Choice Awards and wore one of our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 dresses!!! My NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul and I were so excited when we saw Meaghan in our dress. We had fittings over a week ago--before we had to leave for New York City for a business trip--so we still weren't sure if she was going to wear the dress (you know how it is in "Red Carpet Land").

The Dress from the NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Look Book

The dress is a silk-wool ziberline salmon-colored strapless dress from our Spring 2011 Collection featuring hand-beaded jeweled crystals and stones accenting the waist as well as diagonal pleating throughout the bustier and skirt section.



Meaghan got tons of press on Sunday night--with our dress--and BELOW is a little blurb from "Just Jared Jr.":



In case you haven't been keeping up with my little ol' BLOG here, Meaghan Martin was also one of the Mentors of the ACUVUE® 1•DAY Contest, along with teen personalities Sterling Knight, Charice, Joe Jonas and Allyson Felix. The contest made Dreams Come True for five kids who submitted YouTube videos.

A Dream Pair: Fashion Designer--and FIDM Instructor & Spokesperson Nick Verreos and Shawn, ACUVUE® 1•DAY Contest Winner (one of five), at FIDM

I filmed a fun (and very touching) Webisode for one of them, which involved Shawn, a 16 year old who's Dream was to be a Fashion Designer!!! Along with Mentor Meaghan and myself, we helped his Dream Come True. A commercial for it--featuring Shawn, Meaghan and myself) even aired ON the 2011 Teen Choice Awards Sunday night (it was THE FIRST ACUVUE® commercial of the night!!).



Behind The Scenes:

Think Pink: FIDM Design Room with pattern tables filled with fabric and forms with samples of Shawn's work-in-progress design, ACUVUE® 1•DAY Contest shoot

I was asked to be the "Fashion Guru"--or "GrandDaddy" to help Shawn's dream come true. We filmed at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--which as you know, is where I went to school to study Fashion Design as well as the school I am an Instructor and Spokesperson.

Vintage Portfolio: Nick Verreos College Fashion Illustration Portfolio circa (well, never mind that!)

Shawn had NO IDEA that A) I was going to be there to show him how to drape, sew and even make patterns (as well as bring my OLD Portfolio!!) and B) We would take one of his original sketches (he sketches really well!) and actually make his design come to life...and then be worn by none other than his ACUVUE® Mentor, Meaghan Martin, to the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival Closing Night red carpet event later that day!!!



And if that wasn't enough, FIDM gave him all the tools in order to continue making his dream a reality including a FAB FIDM tote bag filled with sketch pads, rulers, markers (see photo above) as well as a brand new SUPER-DUPER Fashion Designer Tool Box. Oh, and the best part is that FIDM gave him a Scholarship to attend the College when he was finished with high school!!! In the Webisode, you can see that he could BARELY breathe ( I think I counted about TEN "OMG's!!!")

Nick Verreos, Shawn and Meaghan Martin (in Shawn's design), FIDM Design Room

Afterward, we posed for photos (Look at Shawn's ear-to-ear smile!!!) at the FIDM Design Room where we made his sketch come to life on Meaghan--a pink and turquoise blue silk satin top and side draped skirt ensemble.



Cut to Sunday Night's Teen Choice 2011:

Cutest Couple Award Goes To: ACUVUE® 1•DAY Contest Winner Shawn (love the neon green high-tops!!), and actress Meaghan Martin--in NIKOLAKI, Teen Choice 2011 Blue Carpet

PS: In case you didn't see it yet, CLICK HERE for Shawn's ACUVUE® 1•DAY Fashion Designer Dream Webisode (it's just TOO CUTE!!!!)

Watch TONIGHT'S Teen Choice 2011: FIDM, Actress Meaghan Martin & Nick Verreos make a FASHION DREAM come true!

A Teen Choice Fashion Dream...


Watch tonight's 2011 Teen Choice and don't miss an exciting Webisode!

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM teamed up with ACUVUE^® 1•DAY Contest in order to make a fashion dream come true!

ACUVUE^® 1•DAY Contest Mentors: Sterling Knight, Meaghan Martin, Charice, Joe Jonas and Allyson Felix

See the excitement on FOX's Teen Choice 2011 show tonight, August 7th, at 8/7C and watch the winner's dream come true on the revealing video below!

Click Below to watch the entire webisode:

Watch TONIGHT'S Teen Choice 2011 on FOX 8/7C!! Why??

Teen Choice 2011

Tune in to my BLOG here by 5PM and I will tell you why!!! All I can say for now is that it involves THIS:

ACUVUE^® 1•DAY Contest

And THIS:

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM

Stay tuned...and don't forget, come back to my BLOG right here at 5PM PST!!!!

Byeeeeee!!!!! For now!

Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos Goes to FIDM San Diego for 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"--The Recap!

Fashion in Sunny San Diego, Doggie Day Care, Visit from the Family...Oh and a Baseball Game!!!

Find The One Guy: Nick Verreos and the FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion" attendees

Last week, as part of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM's 2011 "3 Days of Fashion", I drove down to San Diego--along with my NIKOLAKI partner David Paul--to make my "Guest Appearance". First, we had to put our little doggy, Benny, in "Doggy Day Care" so he would have lots of play time, while his "daddies" went down to San Diego for the day. After an almost three-hour drive down (oh that LA to San Diego traffic!), we finally made it! Just in time...

The View: Padres Baseball game happening at the same time as FIDM San Diego's 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

The FIDM San Diego Campus is located right next to the spectacular Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. And wouldn't you know it: There was a Padres Baseball Game going on right at the same time!!! At first I didn't realize it and thought "Boy, are ALL these people with shorts and flip flops going to the FIDM 3 Days of Fashion???" I somehow forgot to see all their Padres caps, banners, flags and baseball jerseys!! Ooops...

But yes, once inside the campus, I got ready for my appearance. This was the last day of this event for them---and they had been in different workshops throughout the day, learning the intricacies of draping, sketching, trend spotting.

Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 black silk jersey tunic-gown, FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

But now, they were going to see some FASHION with a Capital "F"...as I brought one of my FAVE Runway models, Amanda Fields (who also drove down from Los Angeles), to show the "3 Days of Fashion" students--over 100 of them--some of my NIKOLAKI gowns and dresses.

Raise Your Camera-Phones: A scene from the NIKOLAKI "Mini" Fashion Show, FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

You should have seen all the camera phones go up as Amanda sauntered into the room each time with a different gown/dress. It was like "mini paparazzi"!!! Afterward, I gave away prizes (the most fun were the "Best Dressed of FIDM San Diego 3 Days of Fashion" prizes!) and of course, I signed bags, t-shirts, sweatshirts...you name it, I signed it!

Baby Blue Meets Pink: FIDM San Diego 2011 "3 Days of Fashion" guest (she made her own dress!) and Nick Verreos

We also took great photos with the FAB Petco Park Padres Baseball Game going on in the back! An additional "special bonus" of coming down to San Diego was that David's mom and nieces--the super pretty Emilie and Samantha...

La San Diego Familia: David Paul, Nick Verreos with David's mom, Conchita and nieces Samantha and Emilie, FIDM San Diego Campus balcony

Got to attend the event as well--and spend some time with "Uncle David". The girls enjoyed my lecture I think--David's mom even said I should go into the business of being an "Inspirational Speaker"...Who knows, there's still time!!! After the event, David's mom, treated us to a delicious--yet quick--dinner nearby and then we were on our way (it was 7:30pm and we had only 2 1/2 hrs to make it back before the Doggy Day Care closed. In case you were wondering, we got there at 9:56!!! Just in time...

Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos Begins his FIDM "3 Days of Fashion" Tour in FIDM San Francisco!

City by the Bay Couture and Fashion School FAB-U-Lousnesss!!!!!

Nick In Heaven: Nick Verreos at the de Young Museum "Balenciaga and Spain" Exhibition San Francisco

Last week, I began my 2011 FIDM 3 Days of Fashion "Tour". As the Official Spokesperson--and Alumn of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, I travel to all the Campuses for their annual "3 Days of Fashion" EXTRAVAGANZA!!!! Three Days of Fashion is the event where high-school and post graduates:

• Discover new and exciting career options
• Take workshops such as Draping, Creative Thinking, and Product Development
• Learn how to sketch the nine-head fashion figure
• Find out what a Designer really does
• Meet FIDM Grads who have found success and are doing what they love
• Find out how the industry gets the latest information about trends
• Tour some of the best shopping spots in the world
• Get the answers to all your questions from the people who really know: the working professionals

My first stop was San Francisco:

I flew up to San Francisco from my home base in Los Angeles on Virgin America (my plane above)--one of my favorite airlines! The flight attendants are always so friendly and I love the ordering food and drinks from the TV screen thing--even on a one-hour flight!

Chic Airport: SFO Terminal 2

I landed in SFO's spankin' brand (almost) new Terminal 2. The terminal was outfitted with cool red "egg" chairs and an overall post-modern design aesthetic: Loved it! Reminded me of the Jet Blue Terminal at JFK. After getting my suitcase (I brought gowns kids!!!), I got to the City and checked into my room at one of my FAVE SF Hotels--the Kimpton Hotels' Hotel Monaco.

Kimpton Hotels' Hotel Monaco San Francisco "Welcome"

As always, there was a "Welcome Nick!" bottle of wine (Hello!) and glasses for me to enjoy. Sometimes there is a cheese-and-snack plate but not this time unfortunately. Maybe this was a "Welcome with a small 'w' ". But nevertheless, I was very THANKFUL for the wine but I saved it for later because besides making my FIDM SF "3 Days of Fashion" appearance, I had one other thing on my mind and that was:

De Young Museum: Balenciaga and Spain

Yes....going to the De Young Museum and visiting the "Balenciaga and Spain" Exhibition Hello??? My Northern California friend Didi Simon and I drove to the Museum (I ordered the tickets online beforehand) and we went and enjoyed EVERY single COUTURE Gown of it!

It was AMAZING!!! The Exhibition closes on July 4th and I will be traveling to Europe July 5th so this was the ONLY time I could see it!!! It was GLORIOUS!!! I absolutely LOVE , adore, admire Cristobal Balenciaga and his creations so to me, it was like being in Fashion Heaven! The Exhibition is organized into six "Inspiration" sections: Spanish Art, Regional Dress, the Spanish Court, Religious Life and Ceremony, the Bullfight, and Dance.

Gown Central: "Balenciaga and Spain" Exhibition, De Young Museum San Francisco

At one point, I gave an impromptu "Haute Couture Lesson/Tour" as I was describing all the intricacies of the Art of Haute Couture and construction/seaming to my friend Didi, and then I turned around and there were about TEN or so other exhibit visitors listening! And funny enough, many visitors recognized me and were very happy that A) I was there, and B) I was giving them a FREE knowledgeable mini-tour!

But soon, it was time to make my "special appearance" at FIDM SF's "3 Days of Fashion":

I always LOVE coming to San Francisco and the FIDM SF!!! They always treat me like a Star! Today was supposed to be the final day of their annual "3 Days of Fashion" and I was their "special guest star"!!!

FIDM SF 3 Days of Fashion Welcome

As part of the "3 Days of Fashion" events, FIDM SF organizers have a fun-and-fabulous "Project FIDM" fashion show, where participants get to "re-create" and "re-cycle" garments and then have a fashion show that is judged a la Project Runway.

Jackets Required: FIDM SF Alumna Julia A. Hill and Nick Verreos, FIDM San Francisco "2011 3 Days of Fashion"

For the 2nd consecutive year, I was joined by Clinton Kelly's (from TLC's "What Not To Wear") Executive Assistant and new Director of Design for his QVC line--FIDM SF Alumn Julia A. Hill as one of my co-judges of that aforementioned contest. She was looking VERY "NY Vogue Magazine Jr. Editor" in her pleated high-waist khaki trousers, lilac tank and black "Boyfriend" jacket.

Judges Judging: Julia A. Hill Nick Verreos and three Guest Student Judges discuss who the winners of "Project FIDM SF 3 Days of Fashion" will be

Model Rachael Sitz in NIKOLAKI red silk satin-back crepe backless gown with...

Swarovski crystal straps, gathered back and Godet-train

In addition to the Contest, I also brought several of my NIKOLAKI Red Carpet Dresses to show the "3 Days of Fashion" attendees. The dresses were modeled by Look Model Agency model Rachael Sitz, one of the BEST--and favorite--models in San Francisco!!

Model Rachael Sitz in the NIKOLAKI lilac hand-beaded lilac cocktail dress, FIDM SF 2011 "3 Days of Fashion"

I even brought THE "Katy Perry" dress--a lilac-colored hand-beaded one-shoulder sequin dress that Katy Perry wore to launch her Purr Perfume. Yes, kids, Miss Katy Perry wore one of my designs!!!

Say "Hi" San Francisco: FIDM SF 3 Days of Fashion Attendees, waiting for an autograph and a photo

Posin' Fashionistas: FIDM "3 Days of Fashion" attendees and Nick Verreos (center)--and a signed t-shirt

FIDM Goodie Bags:Nick Verreos, Julia A. Hill and Winners pose with their autographed FIDM bags, FIDM SF 3 Days of Fashion

All in all, I had a BLAST at FIDM San Francisco's "3 Days of Fashion"; the Contest, the fashion show, showing my gowns/dresses, I even stayed a coupe of hours afterward and signed autographs and took pics with each and every one of the attendees! (which I LUV doing!)

I was even asked to sign someone's iPhone!!! Someone's iPhone may end up on Ebay...

Thanks San Francisco and Northern California for a FAB FIDM "3 Days of Fashion"!! Can't wait to come back!!!!!