Nick Appearance Minute: FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2012 Open House--The Recap!

Nick Appearance Minute: FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2012 Open House--The Recap!

An Alumni Panel, Fashion School Take-Away's and a

Mom-and-Dad Walk Off

Work It:  Nick Verreos doing the Runway---FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2012 Open House

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of MC'ing the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Fall 2012 Open House, held at the Downtown LA campus of FIDM, my alma mater and the fashion college I am the Official Spokesperson of.

It was a rainy Saturday morning/early afternoon in LA (I know! Rain in Los Angeles? What is going on??!!) but that did not keep a TON (about 800 people!) from attending this great event. I was scheduled to host two sessions of fun panel discussion with other FIDM Alumni (graduates of the college).

The audiences at these panel discussions are usually high school students--mainly juniors and seniors--as well as post-grad attendees interested in a career on Fashion Design, Textile Design, Graphic Design, Apparel Manufacturing, Product Development, Visual Merchandising, and all the other related majors FIDM has to offer.



Here are some photos from the FIDM LA Fall 2012 Open House:

Textile Design--FIDM Los Angeles--FIDM Fall 2012 Open House

Graphic Design--FIDM Los Angeles--FIDM Fall 2012 Open House

Fashion Design, Footwear Design, Film & TV Costume and Theater Design--FIDM Los Angeles--FIDM Fall 2012 Open House

FIDM Panel Fab: (left to right) Cynthia Rodriguez, Meagan Randolph, Nick Verreos, Chase Vance amnd Daniel Musto, FIDM LA Fall Open House 2012

Finally, it was time for the Alumni Panel Discussion which I was MC'ing. The FIDM Alumni panel included Cynthia Rodriguez, Global Merchandising Manager at "Too Faced Cosmetics"; Chase Vance, a former student of mine who is currently in the IMPD/International Manufacturing and Product Development program; Meagan Randolph, who is an Allocator in the Footwear Department at Guess corporate offices; and Daniel Musto, On-Camera Wardrobe Stylist and Costume Designer for NBC's "Fashion Star" and "Ready For Love" Reality TV shows.

After brief "hello's" to the audience, I began with an impromptu "Mom-and-Dad" FIDM Open House Runway/Walk-Off --where I picked parents from the audience to do a runway walk. First, I did my "Nick Runway Walk" as a brief lesson and then, they followed. It was a big hit.

Work The Khakis: One of our Runway Models just happened to be the father of Daniel Musto (seen in photo above)--an FIDM graduate and very successful Hollywood Stylist---who was also one of the FIDM Fall 2012 Open House Alumni Panel guests.

Nick Verreos with some of my "FIDM LA Fall Open House 2012" Runway Walk-Off participants--FIDM Los Angeles

 Nick Verreos Hosts FIDM LA Fall 2012 Open House

As I stated in the beginning of this post, I had the pleasure of MC'ing two Alumni Panel Discussion at this FIDM Fall 2012 Open House with the aforementioned panelists and they both went great! Each former FIDM Graduate spoke of their experience at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and gave suggestions and "take away's" to the audience of students and parents on how they got the most out of the college and things they learned that still carries them on to this day in their careers. After the Panel Discussion, I had the pleasure of signing autographs as well as taking many photos with lots of the attendees--Here are some:

 Nick Verreos and FIDM LA Fall Open House 2012 attendee

Nick Verereos with FIDM Fall Open House 2012 attendees

I had a grtreat time talking to all the attendees--students and especially the mommies and dads who were came up to me and Thanked Me for the "Nick Advice" I gave. Thanks to EVERYONE who attended this fun-and-fabulous--and yes, very informative (I hope!) FIDM Open House!

FIDM San Francisco Open House 2011: My Photo Recap!!!

FIDM San Francisco Open House 2011: My Photo Recap!!!

60's Shift Dresses, Fashionable Students, a Fun Lecture, and ...oh, Is That Miss Raja from "RuPaul's Drag Race"???

Nick Verreos, FIDM SF Entrance

This past weekend, I took a quick trip to one of my favorite cities (and old "stomping grounds")--San Francisco--to make a visit at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's San Francisco Campus, for their annual "Open House".

The FIDM SF campus is located right in the heart of Union Square, one of the BEST--and most famous--shopping meccas in the world. I always love coming to the campus because I just LOVE the entire FIDM SF team and they always "roll out the red carpet" for me.

In addition, I always love looking at the great window displays they have as soon as one gets out into the 5th Floor "lobby" area. This time around, they had a display entitled "Pop Goes The 60's", showing colorful fashions of the 60's--from the FIDM SF "vault"--including a sassy red plaid pantsuit--accessorized by a chic red hat/turban--as well as...

A lemon-yellow wrap dress and one of my favorites, the apple-green silk shantung shift dress with encrusted sequin trim seen above on the right. But enough about the chic window displays...now onto the Open House...

Speech Mode: Nick Verreos at FIDM SF Open House 2011

After an entire morning of students, parents and families taking a tour of the FIDM SF Campus and getting to meet former graduates, faculty, the FABULOUS library, and classrooms, they get a special treat: I give my "Nick Inspiration" Lecture and share with everyone my story--from growing up in Caracas Venezuela sketching my mom and flight attendants--to finally pursuing my dream of becoming a fashion designer, attending FIDM and of course, my time on Project Runway. I was taken aback by HOW MANY people showed up for my "little ol' lecture":

It was Standing Room Only kiddies! I have been here before doing my "Nick Lectures" for past Open Houses but this was KRAZEE! (good krazee of course!). I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed it (they told me so afterward) and said that "It was really informative, inspirational" and added that I was "really funny!!".

Say "FASHION!": Nick Verreos poses with a Cuppertino-based high school Fashion Club, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Following this, I took photos with anyone who wanted as well as signed FIDM tote bags. As always, it was so much fun meeting everyone--from the high school students to their mommies and daddies!!

Spell Your Name: Nick Verreos signing FIDM tote bags, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Check out That Necklace: Nick Verreos poses with guest--and future fashion designer--FIDM SF Open House 2011

After the Open House was over, I still had several hours before I had to go back to SFO to catch my Virgin America (Love the Mood Lighting!) flight back to Los Angeles, so the FIDM SF ladies decided to send me off with some delicious cocktails and nibblings at...

Kuleto's on Powell in Union Square. Well, darling, the staff there was BEYOND-gracious as they showered my "party" with complimentary Champagne and yummy signature cocktails. Who knew someone at Kuleto's was a fan of Project Runway and TV Guide Red Carpet Shows and moi!? Needless to say, it was a great "Send Off" and a wonderful way to end a very successful Open House lecture. But wait...it wasn't over:

Posing Girls: Nick Verreos and Sutan "Raja" Amrull of "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3", Union Square San Francisco

All of a sudden, as I'm about to leave, I spotted a friendly face from LA: Sutan Amrull--"Raja Gemini" from "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3" just walking with his friends. Of course, I ran out and had to say "Hey Girl!" At the same time, we both asked "What are you doing here in SF???" and I told him I was doing my FIDM SF event and Miss Sutan was emcee'ing "Soiree 9: La Dolce Vita" 9Th Anniversary of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. We then posed and caused a minor scene right there and then, much to the delight of the German tourists walking by. Love me some Raja!!

Now...I was really ready to catch my flight back home to LA--Until next time SF...

Nick Verreos Hosts FIDM Open House Los Angeles!!

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...