Nick Verreos Judges Fashion Club's Prom Advice Scholarship Competition!!!

Nick Verreos Judges Fashion Club's Prom Advice Scholarship Competition!!!

Best Prom Line and Store...

Decisions Decisions: Nick Verreos Judging the Prom Advice 2011 Scholarship Competition

Yesterday, I had the honor of judging the FIDM FashionClub.com Prom Advice 2011 Scholarship Competition as part of my duties for the FAB PromAdvice.com site this year--which also included blogging on Prom Dresses, What Not To Wear, and How to Take a Good Prom Photo, as well even admitting what Prom Outfit Mistakes I made, back in the day...

I was also enlisted as the "Celebrity Judge" to chose the winner of the Scholarship Competition. High School Students from all over the country submitted their entries for two separate contests: The First, more geared for students wanting to go into Fashion Design, were assigned to Sketch a Prom Fashion Line of your own creation--three sketches, including fabric swatches plus a "Theme Board" for Inspiration.

The decor at the Fashion Club's headquarters, FIDM

And the Second, more for students wanting to go into the Merchandising or even Visual Display Majors, were tasked with designing an Imaginary Prom Attire Boutique, again using Mood Boards, showing layout of the store, special "Giveaways", maybe how the website for the store would look, and so on. The winners of each would get a Full Year Scholarship to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--my Alma Mater and the school which I am the Spokesperson for.

Fashion Club's Wall of Prom Fashion Goodies, Fashion Club Headquarters FIDM

I took my job as Celebrity Judge very seriously since I knew that the future of TWO students' lives---or the next year of the life--was at stake. I arrived ready to take a look at all the entries, all the boards, all the sketches and finally narrowed them down to my Top Faves.

Board Central: Take a look at some of the boards from entries received for the 2011 Fashion Club's PromAdvice Scholarship Competition

Then, after about an hour of deliberation--and some support from my two FashionClub.com girls at the office, I did it! I chose the winners!!! In the end, it was pretty obvious who the two Winners would be and I "signed off" on my decision. Soon enough the winners will be receiving "those" phone calls and/or Congratulatory emails Yeaayyyy!).

Congrats to the Winners--I'm not telling you now but you'll find out soon enough!---and Hope everyone had a great Prom Season 2011!!!!

Project Runway Recaps: "Project Breakdown"--Here's MY RECAP of this week's episode!

Project Runway Recaps: "Project Breakdown"--Here's MY RECAP of this week's episode!

Psychiatrist Tim, Breakdown Parsons, Little Black Dress Central and Much More...



What does This:

 "I'm SOOOOO Stressed Out!"

This: 

Too Many Little Black Dresses

And This:

 A High Fashion Funeral (fashion designer's Yves Saint Laurent's)

Have In Common? Read on kiddies...

Fifth Avenue Icon--Lord & Taylor

On this week's episode of Project Runway, the challenge was to design and create a dress for the first ever Project Runway Collection for Lord & Taylor, the exclusive retail partner of the show this season. JS Collections/JS Group was the manufacturer who would be assigned to help create the dress when it went to production--as well as provide the fabric for this challenge. The dress would be sold exclusively at the Fifth Avenue Flagship of the iconic department store and on their LordandTaylor.com website.

 Project Runway for Lord &Taylor Collection--Screen cap courtesy of tomandlorenzo.com (Thank you boys!)

The winning dress would join the nine other designs from Project Runway alumn (one designer chosen per season), including yours truly. In the episode, I got my first peak at my design (the cobalt blue halter-style dress in the top row, far right), as well all the others so it was--sorry for sounding like a ten year old kid--kinda "neat" (I have a feeling kids don't even say that word any more LOL!).



Here's my dress--with my original fashion illustration next to it:

Nick Verreos Dress "Project Runway for Lord & Taylor Collection"

A Bunch Of Stressed Out Designers: The nine remaining Project Runway Season 10 designers at Lord & Taylor NYC

The nine remaining Season 10 designers were very excited but soon after they began working, it was BREAKDOWN CENTRAL at Parsons with Tim Gunn as the head attending Psychiatrist trying to deal with all the crying, meltdowns and DRAMA...

Drama Queen: designer/contestant Elena Slivnyak (one of my favorites at the LA Castings which I judged) broke down, going on and on about how she's not used to "designing like this" (with price, fabric and silhouette restrictions) and lots more. My Darling Elena, here's a NEWSFLASH: This is what we designers do ALL the time. Until you have all the money in the world being thrown at you or are owned by a billion-dollar conglomerate a la LVMH, Gucci Group, etc. then and only then can you be "I Want to Do What I ONLY want to do!" (and even then, you STILL have restrictions). Oh these kids, they slay me...

 Breakdown Sonjia--Screencap courtesy of tomandlorenzo.com

Sonjia Williams also broke down, crying as she is unable to put her model into her dress, not finishing the hem, etc. What. Is. Going. On. With. These. Designers? Are the Project Runway producers not allowing these kids to take their daily Prozac pills? Are they being denied their Starbucks Vanilla Skinny Lattes? Now, granted I was stressed back in my season but it NEVER EVER got to the point of a meltdown. I don't think the work, challenges, or time restrictions are getting any more difficult than back in my season. So, what's going on?



The Runway, Designs, The Funeral Show...

Black Dress Chic: Celebs at the Alexander McQueen funeral

For some reason (even though there seemed to be other colors in the fabrics that the JS Collections/JS Group provided them), most of the nine designers chose BLACK or a close cousin of. I thought I was watching the YSL or McQueen funeral procession of red carpet guests. Well, I WISH. Those outfits were actually MORE fabulous--but then again, not really sellable at your local department store--and for only $200.



Take a Look at the BLACK Dress Parade:

Ven "I Hate Women Who Are Not Size 4" Budhu: a respectable sheath dress with his "Rose" pleating detail.

Fabio Costa: asymmetrical, exposed metal zipper dress...in BLACK. This was a nice effort. He thought of the customer; it was wearable for many sizes. I think that is why he was one of the "higher scores" in the bunch. I also liked the hard-and-soft aspect by adding the exposed metal zipper at center back. It immediately makes it ideal for the Contemporary Market.

Elena Slyvnyak: Elena's was also one of the "Top" ones--which made her break down AGAIN (she wasn't expecting)--I liked this pleated skirt dress with a harness-detail back and front. I actually wished there was a little peek-a-boo in the front as well (not as much as the back obviously). But yes, it was nice--at least it was a different shape. Very good Elena!

Le Bottom: The lowest scores went to these two BLACK dresses above--On the left is Alicia Hardesty's which was a (according to her) Chanel "homage" of sorts (careful saying that because Chanel's lawyers will sue you!). On the right was Gunnar Deatherage's dress made from a matte paillette lace and was short and BLACK. Miss Nina thought it was boring. DON'T. BORE. Nina.



The Non-Black:

Dmitry Sholokhov: Oh Happy Day--It's NOT Black! Yeayyyy, Dmitry created a very tight fitting gunmetal sheath dress with pin-tuck detail and semi-fishtail hem. It was one of the best--in my eyes--it was very sexy, and I could see Miss Heidi Klum's eyes watering with joy as the model--and dress--sauntered by.

Melissa Fleis: The judges LOVED Melissa's very high neck asymmetrical bronze-colored dress. It was different and NOT black but I did feel that it was a little too tight, there was odd side-boob-age going on, and well, too "fashion-y" for the mass market and a department store. I could see this in the window of a very directional Paris France boutique.  I LOVE this model by the way: gorgeous! And the askew braiding in the hair was FAB! A+ on the hair.

Christopher Palu: the one gown in the bunch--in nude/blush and black was from Christopher Palu--and he WON the Challenge. The gown was VERY proper, elegant, demure. He did his 'raw edge chiffon-and-charmeuse" thang and well, it did the WINNING trick.

Christopher: can't wait to see you--and meet you for the first time--next week at the official unveiling of the "Project Runway Collection for Lord & Taylor" during the Lord & Taylor Fashion's Night Out NYC event on September 6th! Congrats and sell LOTS!



So...here's my Recap of this week's "Meltdown/Too Much Black" Episode--Enjoy!!

Project Breakdown

Months ago, I received a phone call from
the producers of "Project Runway." They said that for the 10th
Anniversary season of the show they wanted to do a special "Project
Runway" Capsule Collection featuring one designer from each season.
Those dresses would then be sold at Lord & Taylor, the exclusive
retail sponsor for "Project Runway." I was asked to be the Season 2
designer. Jay McCarroll, Uli Herzner, Chris March, Korto Momolu, Gordana
Gehlhausen, Seth Aaron Anderson, Mondo Guerra and Bert Keeter were all
the illustrious designers to represent their seasons.



No More Ven ... Drama



One question remained, however: who would be the Season 10 Designer
to be featured in this exclusive "Project Runway" for Lord & Taylor
Capsule Collection? And that's where last night's episode began. As the
episode starts, there is — surprisingly — no mention or residue left
over from last week's "Ven Storm." Obviously, it is hard for the
producers to know just how strongly the audience will react to something
and thus edit accordingly. But it was strange for me, and I’m assuming
for many viewers also, to just move on and not remember that Ven had
basically dropped a bomb on Season 10! But as they say, the show — or
season — must go on!



Fifth Avenue Dressing



For this week's challenge, the designers are told to meet Tim at the
Fifth Avenue Flagship of Lord & Taylor. He is there, along with
Bonnie Brooks, president of Lord & Taylor and nine fabulous
mannequins in the dresses that we — the "Project Runway" alum —
designed. The designers are told that this is the Lord & Taylor
Challenge: to design a dress for the store. Bonnie then describes the
Lord & Taylor woman as being sophisticated, stylish, having good
taste and loves fashion, of course. My kind of woman! The winning design
would go into production, and sell for about $200-$300 at their
flagship and LordandTaylor.com
site and be prominently featured in one of their windows. All the
designs would be manufactured by JS Collection/JS Group, a company that
specializes in cocktail and "After Five."



I Have My Chiffonie Membership Card

My design (in the top row of mannequins) was a "Grecian
Goddess"-inspired halter cocktail dress that had draping in front and
back and was in cobalt blue..



Click HERE to READ the rest of my RECAP!!! 

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: The Little Black Dress

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: The Little Black Dress

"When a little black dress is right, there is nothing to wear in it's place." -Edith Piaf

During the 1920s Chanel created a little black dress which popularized black dresses for women. After her lover Boy Capel died in 1919, Chanel wore and made black dresses inspired by the women in mourning she had seen in the French villages as a child. In 1929 Vogue printed an image of one of Chanel's black dresses in their article on Parisian Fashion. Implying the popularity and instant long term appeal of the 'LBD', Vogue dubbed the dress 'the Chanel Ford', linking it with the popularity of Henry Ford's Model-T motor cars. 

Ford was known to have said "any customer can have a car painted in any colour that he wants so long as it is black". 

Practical, flattering and sophisticated, the little black dress could carry women from the afternoon through the popular cocktail hours. Made from crepe de chine, the 'Chanel Ford' dress featured a slashed neckline, a bodice that bloused slightly at the front and sides, a tight bolero at the back and diagonal pin-tucks across the front. It was simple, elegant and very in keeping with the modern way of life. Over time the dress grew to become a staple in the wardrobe, as women heeded Chanel's advice. 

"One is never over nor under dressed in a little black dress."

In 1961 the world went a little mad for the wardrobe of Holly Golightly, elegantly portrayed by Audrey Hepburn, dressed in Givenchy for Breakfast At Tiffany's. Personally this one is my favorite. Adopted each generation in a different way, the little black dress is synonymous as the essential item in a women's wardrobe. Today it can take you across any occasion, it can be styled simply or paired with accessories. I love that a black dress offers a reliable outfit in my wardrobe that I can turn to knowing I will have something to wear, no matter the occasion. Somehow, even wearing the same one again and again, (something a little taboo of a printed or coloured dress) is not an issue. Should you choose to wear a little black dress again and again, it is simple attributed that you have 'style', are 'classic' and elegant. 



Cue The LBD. New to Australia, The LBD is a manufacturer and online retail boutique with a unique concept certain to revolutionize how women source and select their perfect LBD. Finding the perfect LBD until now, could prove to be a challenge. Fit, price, availability and seasonal collection changes all conspire together to make it a challenge to find the right one for each woman. Over the past 12 months, the design team at The LBD have been crafting the capsule collection, built around classic, timeless designs to create a versatile foundation wardrobe. Each LBD is available in styles to enhance the individual customer's assets. These days the average Australian adult female is an average size 14, but the LBD designed to suit body shapes rather than label sizes. Adapting necklines, sleeve and skirt styles and hemlines, there is a whole range of silhouettes to choose from, each dress is made of trans seasonal high quality fabric for year round wear. The site also features a unique Dress My Shape Guide complete with a shape guide and calculator. Each dress has been sized against its counterpart, meaning the sizes remain the same no matter which style of dress you choose. I personally find the unstandardized clothing sizing system in Australia to be extremely frustrating. I am a size 8, no a 6, no a 10... or all three, depending on a garment or brand. Not with The LBD! I calculated my size, and it fit perfectly.   

I will share my outfit post in the dress I chose in the coming days, (below is one of my styling boards I have made up featuring it) but in the mean time, I thought I would share a link to The LBD so you can check it out. I can not stress enough how useful a little black dress is in building your capsule wardrobe! 

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

Facebook / Twitter

Tumblr / Pinterest

Instagram @jenellewitty

Nick Verreos Judges "Prom Advice's" 2011 Scholarship Competition!!

Nick Verreos Judges "Prom Advice's" 2011 Scholarship Competition!!

Win a One-Year Scholarship to FIDM! How? Keep on Reading...


It's Prom Season!! (in case you didn't know), and just in in the "nick" of time, FashionClub.com is announcing its 2011 Fashion College Scholarship Competition as part of their PromAdvice.com sister site. And guess who is their Celebrity Judge?

Celebrity Prom Judge: Nick Verreos

Yep! Me!! (Yeayy!). It's the most exciting PromAdvice.com Contest EVER!! Enter to win a full-year Scholarship to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. As you may know, I am the Official Spokesperson of FIDM, as well as an Instructor and Alumn.

Also, several years back, I designed an entire line of "Nick Verreos Prom Dresses" which were exclusively carried by Windsor Boutiques across the country! So, needless to say, I am so excited to take part in another Prom Season!

The Rules: Do one of the following:

1) Sketch a Prom Fashion Line of your own creation, OR...

2) Design an imaginary Prom Attire Boutique

All entries must be postmarked by May 16, 2011 (and that's soon!!)


Click HERE for more details and all the information you need to know. And I look forward to looking at all the entries and choosing the WINNER! Oh, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Why the World is Gravitating to Sid Neigum’s Golden Ratio

Why the World is Gravitating to Sid Neigum’s Golden Ratio

Following an introduction from Vogue Arabia, Fashion Forward invited award-winning Canadian designer Sid Neigum to showcase his Spring 2018 collection at Fashion Forward‘s tenth season at d3, Dubai. Canada may not be internationally renowned as a fashion hub, but it’s been churning out talent that has found success overseas—BOF‘s Imran Amed, Tank‘s Caroline Issa, editor Joe Zee, and photographer (and singer) Bryan Adams to name a few. And with homegrown designers like Beaufille and Sid Neigum making waves, the Great North’s talent is taking a large leap across the proverbial pond to showcase in the desert.

In a few short years, the Sid Neigum label—architectural, experimental, and androgynous—has been building steam and quickly. (It’s now sold on Net-a-Porter and Farfetch.) Backstage, Neigum spoke of  math as his starting point, specifically the golden ratio. Frequently found in nature, when used in design, this mathematical proportion creates an eye-pleasing effect.

Opening looks featured navy, blush, and gray viscose separates in loose, flowing fabric. The focus here was on line and proportion with a few surprises in the form of knots and hardware accents: a small chain featured on the hip of a minimalist skirt and a metal ring cinching trousers and the fabric on a black sweater. For women who have shied away from body piercings, on clothes, Neigum shifts the look from grunge to elevated, avant-garde.

The motion climaxed with the reveal of ethereal silk blouses and dresses shaped to ensconce the body like a delicate cocoon. No doubt, Dame Zaha Hadid would have loved it.

Sid Neigum is sold on Netaporter.com, Farfetch.com, and at Boutique 1 in the Middle East. 

Patricia Field Style and the City

Patricia Field Style and the City

Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte all had a not-so-secret friend who turned them from women speaking directly into the camera about their dating fiascoes (a rookie season one mistake) into style icons adored the world over. It has been years since the series ended and the last of the films graced the silver screen (breaking box office records) but women all over the world can still not get enough. With this in mind "Style and the City", an exhibition of beautiful gowns and outfits worn by these fictional but very real style icons has been cleverly curated by legendary costume designer Patricia Field and brought to Perth. Launching on Friday morning, the free exhibition will run until May 1st at enex100 and inside Myer at Forrest Chase.

At the launch Patricia shared stories from the set- how she met the actors and how they became family, posed for photos, met and chatted with some 100 women and men all obvious fans of her amazing work. 

Not only is Patricia Field the Emmy Award winning costume designer behind Sex and The City, but Oscar nominated designer behind films like The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and television series' Ugly Betty, Spin City, Cashmere Mafia, Hope and Faith, Six Degrees and Kath and Kim. Her boutique, which she opened in Greenwich Village in 1966 has been attracting fashion forward locals, internationals and celebrities for fifty years. Named in Time Magazines '100 Most Influential Fashion Icons of All Time', Field is a down to earth and fascinating woman. Her stories brought to life the experiences on set while demonstrating her design process, character analysis and relationship with cast members. 

Costumes from both the HBO television series and both of the Sex and the City films are on display, from the infamous Vivienne Westwood wedding gown (complete with bird!), Zac Posen wedding party gowns (the black worn by Charlotte was Field's pick for Sarah-Jessica Parker to wear in white but Parker chose the Westwood), the Versace ruffled gown Carrie was stood up in by Alexander Petrovsky during that last episode in Paris and a whole lot more. By a whole lot more, I am talking the Carrie necklace, the blue Manolo Blahnick's, that white dress with the gigantic orchid corsage, the Eiffel Tower bag etc etc etc… Patricia Field scoured dresses from across the globe to bring to Perth, just for us. Zac Posen dug into his New Jersey archives for the wedding party dresses, designers and collectors around the world were called, and the results are a stunning collection of 24 colourful, iconic gowns and costume pieces that you just have to see. 

xx Jenelle