Style Week Orange County 2010-The Wrap Up: Nick Verreos Hosts 2nd Annual Ezekiel Needle and Thread Competition

Style Week OC 2010 Ends on a Sporty Note!

And the Winner Is: Nick Verreos with Julia Nish, the Winner of the 2nd Annual Neelde & thread Competition, Style Week OC 2010

Well kids, I am writing my last posting/recap of the AMAZING Style Week Orange County 2010! I started with the recap of the debut of our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection (of course), then I wrote about the very creative Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns Competition and now, it's all about the last evening of Style Week OC and the 2nd Annual Ezekiel and Active Ride Needle & Thread Competition, all of which occurred at the Irvine Spectrum.

Style Week Orange County 2010: Ezekiel Fashion Show

Seven designers, Nick Gaska, Grace Sori Hwang, Julia Nish, Alejandro Ortega, Natalia Romano, Clay Sadler and Adrienne Young--all graduates from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM-- competed in the Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gown Competition, and also for the prize money in the Needle & Thread Contest. Their task was to create a group of looks that would go well with the Ezekiel brand (active/surf sportswear for a hip teen-twenty-something customer) and the Active Ride (surf, skate, snowboard and everything in-between!) store.

Designs from Natalia Romano for the 2nd Annual Needle & Thread Competition, Style Week OC 2010

The Surf and Activewear business in Southern California is one of the hottest fashion markets in the country and this was a GREAT opportunity for these young designers to dive right in. (Pun intended!) They were given a certain amount of time, a budget and also had time to research the brand and even meet with its design team.

Winning Design: A look from Julia Nish's designs for the 2nd Needle & Thread Competition

The Winner would get the chance to have their winning designs included in the Ezekiel Spring 2011 Collection and then produced and sold! The winner was Julia Nish--who indecently ALSO won the Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gown Contest! (a double whammy for Ms. Nish!). The judges, who included myself, design director of Ezekiel womenswear and last year's winner, Adrian Manuel.

2009 Needle & Thread Design Contest Winner Adrian Manuel and Nick Verreos, Style Week OC 2010

We judged on whether or not it was in accordance to the Ezekiel brand, if it went well with the customer, did the clothes look like something the Ezekiel and Active Ride-shopping girl would like, wear and buy? All of that, plus, of course, was it cute? Julia obviously hit all the right notes.

Nick "Hearts" Active: Nick Verreos, Style Week OC Active Ride VIP After Party

Afterward, there was an Invitation-only Style Week OC After Party, at the Active Store in the Irvine Spectrum Center. There was VIP shopping (of course), a wine and Champagne Open Bar, and even an Active Ride Photo Booth.

OC Studs: Nick Verreos with the Active Ride Irvine Spectrum Center "crew" manning the "After Party VIP Guest List"

I got to film a fun "runway" segment with FIDM Productions, who were on hand to capture all the After Party fun. It was especially great to re-connect all my Active Ride "buddies" whom I had met last year when I hosted and judged the first "Needle & Thread Competition".

OC Step 'n Repeat: Nick Verreos, Rita Verreos and David Paul, Style Week OC 2010

My sister, mom, and even my precious niece (yes, the one I designed my Project Runway-winning Barbie for) were still in town and able to attend the second night of Style Week OC so of course, they came along for the "Style Week OC After Party" ride!

Uncle Nick: Nick Verreos with his niece, Casia Kennedy and sister Rita Verreos

They had a lot of fun and enjoyed all the fashion, as well as the gorgeous weather Orange County bestowed us! Here's to another fabulous and very fashionably successful Style Week Orange County!

NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection Debuts at Style Week OC

NIKOLAKI Goddesses Rule Over Style Week OC!

Designers Nick Verreos and David Paul of NIKOLAKI take their bow after showing at Style Week Orange County Spring 2011 (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

This past Friday night, the Irvine Spectrum--and its fabulous Ferris Wheel became the backdrop to the start of the 3rd Annual Style Week Orange County. I was honored to have been invited to show my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection--along with my Co-Designer David Paul. I was also asked to host the "Cadillac Couture: Red Carpet Gowns" and Ezekiel's 2nd Annual Needle & Thread Competitions, both of which featured original designs from graduates of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM (my alma mater and the college I am instructor at).

Showstopper: Amanda in raspberry Silk Zibeline raglan-sleeved fitted gown with keyhole neckline and full-pleated train (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

Our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection kicked off Style Week OC and by all the compliments and effusive praise we received afterward, it was a big success. Backstage, through all the madness of getting the models out, it was fun to hear all the "ooohs" and "aahhs" coming from the audience, even through the pumping Rihanna-Lady Gaga-Freemasons soundtrack. For Spring 2011, our Inspiration springboard was this stunning American socialite from the early 1900's, Rita de Acosta Lydig. A beauty of Cuban and Spanish descent (David and I loved that since both of us are half-Latino), she was, by all accounts FABULOUS and loved fashion.

Red Carpet Entrance: Brazilian-born Carla in a NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 lilac-colored silk chiffon sequined gown with peek-a-boo top detail; Model Holly Ridings seen in the back in creme silk jersey sequined epaulet draped dress (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

In addition, we were also inspired by the Amalfi Coast and the colors in the ocean and bougainvillea. We used raspberry, lilacs, turquoise, black & white and cremes as well as an abstract watercolor print. In terms of fabrications, we chose sumptuous and yes, very expensive fabrics such as Silk Zibeline from Italy, hand-beaded sequin Silk Chiffon as well as delicate silk jerseys and silk chiffons.

We kept the accessorizing and styling to a minimum, using a mix of Gold and Silver cuffs and bracelets. And the AMAZING heels all our models wore were from Michael Antonio.

Cocktail Hour: Eugena in a NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 strapless raspberry Silk Zibeline dress with asymmetrical mini side "pouf" and draped bust detail (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

We were excited to have some fabulous models walk our Spring 2011 Runway, some of which you might recognize, including the stunning Amanda Fields (who opened our show naturally) from Season 3 Project Runway, and the statuesque Holly Ridings from Models of the Runway 2/Project Runway Season 7. The beautiful Saleisha Stowers, Winner of America's Next Top Model Cycle 9, and Eugena Washington, Second Runner Up to Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model also modeled in our show.

Where's My Yacht: Mercedes Cornet (who modeled in our First Show back in 2001!!!), in a NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 printed silk chiffon one shoulder gown with high side slit (photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward)

With this collection, we were definitely making a "Red Carpet" statement--from the gowns to the cocktail dresses to the easy-breezy yet still elegant tunics. Every woman deserves to have their "Rita de Acosta Lydig Moment" and with this collection, we are allowing them to!

I will have more photos of the other shows, the "Special Guests", the scene at Style Week Orange County, on later posts, but for now...

Below is a complete Slide Show from our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection and for even more GREAT photos click HERE for a slide show from 944 Magazine:

Nick Verreos and David Paul Debut their Spring 2011 Nikolaki Collection at Style Week Orange County OCTOBER 1st!!!

DIVAS in the OC!

For the Tenth Anniversary of our NIKOLAKI Line, David Paul and I decided to debut our Spring 2011 Collection at the fabulous Style Week Orange County! Last year, I was asked to host...

The great Ezekiel Needle & Thread Competition, where FIDM Fashion Design Grads exclusively participated--as part of Style Week Orange County. Of course, I had a blast! After years spending many a Three-Day Weekend R&R time in beautiful Laguna Beach...who knew I would be back hosting a fabulous design contest and fashion show!

NIKOLAKI Designers Nick Verreos and David Paul, at Islands of The World Fashion Week, Bahamas

And this year, I will be showing at Style Week OC! David and I have been "busy bees" for the last four months working on our Spring 2011 Collection and now we are (almost) ready!

All I can say about our upcoming Spring 2011 Collection is that it will be full of Red Carpet Glamour and that, it was inspired by our recent Europe trip as well as...

Former socialite/fashion diva of the early 20Th Century Rita De Acosta Lydig and this...

Giovanni Bondini Panting of Mrs. Howard Johnston from 1906. That's all I can say for now--stay tuned for more soon! I'm so excited to be showing Friday October 1st! The Fashion Show begins at 7 PM and the wonderful thing about this show is that everyone can see it! It will be held in the center of Irvine Spectrum and can be viewed by all!

Here are the Details:
NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Fashion Show

Date: Friday October 1st Time: 7 PM
Where: Style Week Orange County Irvine Spectrum, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine California 92618
RSVP: No RSVP Necessary, just be there!
Media and Press: Please Email
Stacie Ellis at sellis@irvinecompany.com
Jane Gillespie at janegillespie@cox.net