Nick Verreos Hits Up Project Runway Season 7 Finale Viewing Party in LA!!

Project SHUT IT DOWN!!!!
I DIIIIEEE: Joey Maalouf and Nick Verreos, Project Runway Season 7 Finale Viewing Party, Eleven West Hollywood

Last Thursday-- as many of you know--was the Finale of Project Runway Season 7. The Angel Mafia and Project Angel Food--along with Finalist Mila Hermanovski, "Big Brother's" Marcellas Reynolds, and Designer Andrew Christian (famous for those sexy underwear) were hosting a Season 7 Project Runway Finale Viewing Party at the West Hollywood nightclub, Eleven. I had been in town just one day from my trip to Atlanta and the OC, and of course I decided I had to attend. Underwear Party: Designer Andrew Christian poses with his models, Season 7 Project Runway Finale Viewing Party, Eleven West Hollywood

I put on a mask, got a "Disco Nap" in and called my friends, John Wade (of Marc Jacobs and Project Runway Season 2) and Joey Maalouf (Rachel Zoe's Hair and Make-Up Stylist and co-owner of the Maalouf Salon) to be my dates. John had just returned from a ONE DAY/ONE NIGHT trip to Milan Italy (I know, FIERCE!) for the opening of the Marc Jacobs store (how he got through that Icelandic Volcano is beyond me!) and Joey is about to leave for NY for the Met and get Miss Rachel Zoe red carpet ready kiddies!). Blow Out: Hair and Make Up DIVA Joey Maalouf getting ready for the Season 7 Project Runway Finale Viewing Party

So I was happy to have them both for this one night!The party was in full swing as we got there. Soon enough, the Finale Episode was playing on the bar's flat screens and we actually stopped whatever we were doing to watch it (sometimes--OK, MOST TIMES--at these "Finale Viewing Parties" NO ONE gets to see anything!). We actually got to see the Final Episode and you could hear the crowd cheering and jeering for the winners and the finalists. Group Shot: Joey Maalouf, Nick Verreos, Andrew Christian, and John Wade, Eleven West Hollywood

In between, I got to "socialize" and ran into co-co-co-host, my good friend, Designer Andrew Christian, who even showed me sneak-preview photos of his new exclusive Andrew Christian Store (via his IPhone).I also got to chat with Palm Springs-based Designer Michael Costello, who was there with his model, the very blond Tracy Chapman, wearing one of his little cocktail dresses (above).I also ran into one of my fabulous "Muses", the one and only Runway Diva, Amanda Fields (from Project Runway Season 3) (above), who is filming a "secret show" and therefore got there a bit late. Better late than never as they say. Models Of The Runway: Alison Gingerich, Amanda Fields, Nick Verreos and Holly Ridings, Eleven West Hollywood

Speaking of models, there were LOTS of them that night, including Holly Ridings (wearing a long maxi black-and-white print dress, black leather jacket and sneakers--still the TALLEST GIRL in the room!) and Alison Gingerich from Season 7.Semi-Finalist Mila Hermanovski's Model, Brandise Daneswich was also in attendance, enjoying the Viewing Party, along with her designer.There weren't that many other Project Runway Alumn there (and no other Project Runway Season 7 Designers) however, we (John, Joey and I) get to hang out with Season 6 Designer Johnny Sakalis (above).Young Hollywood: Actresses Bella Thorne and Stefanie Scott, Eleven West Hollywood

One of the nicest moments of the night (besides seeing Seth Aaron Henderson win and his family give him a congratulatory hug) was meeting young actresses Bella Thorne and Stefanie Scott, who confessed their love of Project Runway and how they were "big fans"! Love them! Maybe one of these days, they will wear NIKOLAKI for a big red carpet event--who knows! They were SOOOO SWEET!

Nick Verreos and His Muse Attend FGILA's "The Designer and The Muse" Fashion Party

Cocktails, Gowns, and a Project Runway Designer-Almost-Without-A-Muse, at the Standard Downtown LA...Helloooooooo?!: Model Lisa Blades and Nick Verreos gossip on the phones at the Standard Downtown LA (Photo Courtesy of Tim Regas for Photomezzo.com)


Last Wednesday, on March 17Th, I was invited to the second annual Fashion Group International of Los Angeles/FGILA's "The Designer & The Muse That Inspires Them" party in celebration of LA fashion Week. This year's party and red carpet parade of Designers and Muses was to be led by the legendary Couturier James Galanos. Well, of course, I couldn't miss it! I was teaching (and giving Finals) that entire day at FIDM and afterward, rushed to my NIKOLAKI design studio to get ready and meet up with my friend--and Muse--the statuesque and oh-so-lovely, Lisa Blades. Lisa was my muse at last year's FGILA Designer and The Muse event and I just LOVE being with her so naturally, I wanted her to be my date again! For this year's event/party, she wore a pale blue and gold silk-wool zibeline, high-neck mini-dress with padded cap sleeves from our NIKOLAKI Fall 2010 Collection. The moment she tried it on, she looked AMAZING and it also made her legs look TEN FEET LONG!! (that's the part I loved).Natalie Cole and designer Lloyd Klein

The moment we arrived, we spotted the stunning Natalie Cole as she was leaving the party and slipping into her very VIP limousine. Inside, the lobby was jam-packed with fashionista guests, designers, and beautiful models mingling and enjoying cocktails. We were then whisked off to the the second level for some red carpet photo ops.
I was happy to run into Palm Springs designer, Michael Costello who was there with his model/muse, the exotic Suwana Perry. I also ran into my really good friend, designer April Mun of Stella & Jamie , who was there with her muse, actress Melissa Ordway .
Model Blocked: Brandise Danesewich, Mila Hermanovski, Nick Verreos and Lisa Blades, FGILA's Designer and The Muse Party

I knew that it would be only a short while before I would run into some Project Runway Alumn. First, Season 7 Model Brandise Denesewich spotted me from afar and we screamed like little girls (OK, I did!). She was there as the Muse of Season 7 Designer, Mila Hermanovski, whom I also had just seen at the Gen Art LA Alumni Party days before!Better Late Than Never: Lisa Blades, Nick Verreos, Althea Harper and Tanisha Harper, the Standard Downtown LA

And then, as Lisa and I were leaving (I had a very early morning flight to Texas the next day!), we bumped into Season 6 Finalist Althea Harper, who was in town for Fall 2010 LA Market Week. Althea didn't realize that she was supposed to bring a Muse (somehow she missed the "Muse" part of "Designer and The Muse") so she called her Project Runway Model, the beautiful Tanisha Harper. She left the party, met up with her, gave her one of her gowns to wear and returned to the party! You Go Girl! Althea and Tanisha both get my "Nick At-a-girl Fashion Stars" for the entire week!!!

Nick Verreos Takes The PLUNGE at the Gen Art LA Fashion Alumni Celebration at the Hollywood Roosevelt

Well...Welcome To LA FASHIIIIOOOONNNN!!!!!!!!!!Purple Daze: Nick Verreos walks the carpet, Gen Art LA Fashion Alumni Celebration, Hollywood Roosevelt Tropicana

Last week, on March 16Th, my good friend--and Los Angeles Fashion DIVA--Jennifer Egan, Vice President of Gen Art National Development, Marketing and the company's "IT" girl---invited me to attend the Gen Art LA Fashion Alumni Celebration, held at the Tropicana Pool of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Pool Party: Jen Egan of Gen Art holds court at the Tropicana Pool, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

The event/party was designed to give props to the LA fashion alumni who "have helped shape and influence the design community".
T-Zone: Jen Egan grabs Nick Verreos for a Clean & Clear "Prom" Interview, Hollywood Roosevelt Tropicana Pool

Jen was also holding court and doing some fun on-camera interviews for the party and the skincare company CLEAN & CLEAR, who were there promoting their CLEAN & CLEAR Skincare Makes Your Prom Beautiful from Start to Finish-Designer Dress Competition.
Prom Couple: Nick Verreos and Jen Egan of Gen Art, Hollywood Roosevelt Tropicana Pool

She just happened to grab me at one point--after I finally wheedled my little purple Top Shop-pants-wearing-butt into the party--to do one of those "prom interviews". Of course, I talked about how both guys and girls need to be matte-blotted both before and during their "prom fabulous" moments with some of their Oil Absorbing Sheets!
I was really excited to see my good friend--underwear and bathing suit KING--designer Andrew Christian (above) who was working his fitted gray shirt and skinny tie.
Wanted: Nick Verreos and Kit Scarbo, Hollywood Roosevelt Tropicana Pool

As I made it through the Hotel Roosevelt's Tropicana, it soon became evident that it was beginning to look like a Project Runway "Love fest" Reunion of sorts: Besides seeing Jeffrey Sebelia (Winner of Season 3) and Rami Kashou (Finalist from Season 4) briefly, I ran into Project Runway Season 4 Contestant, and Stylist to the Stars, the one and only Kit Scarbo. There aren't words enough I can write here on my blog to tell you how much I love me some Kit!
Color Blocked: Nick Verreos with Project Runway Season 7 Model Brandise Danesewich (left) and Designer Mila Hermanovski (center)

I also saw Season 7 Designer, Mila Hermanovski. The last time I saw Mila was many months ago when she stopped by my NIKOLAKI design studio (I had no idea that she was on this season's Project Runway) looking for gowns to fit on our good friend and client Carrie Ann Inaba--whom she was freelance styling at the time-- for last season's Dancing With The Stars show. She was there with her model, Brandise Danesewich, whom I happened to just see at the FIDM Debut 2010 Fashion Gala.
And speaking of models, I had a "Nick Model Orgasm" when I ran into Lifetime Network's "Models of The Runway Season 2", Alison Gingerich (left) and--one of my personal favorites-- AMAZONIAN Runway DIVA, 6 foot + tall Holly Ridings (right). Don't know what they were doing at the Gen Art Fashion Alumni Celebration party...but I didn't care! Look at the big ol' smile on my face. Nick HEARTS Models, Project Runway...and Gen Art!