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!

NIKOLAKI Designs at FIDM "3 Days of Fashion 2012"--The Gown and Cocktail Dress Recap!

NIKOLAKI Designs at FIDM "3 Days of Fashion 2012"--The Gown and Cocktail Dress Recap!

Fashion Schooling...

Spartan Princess: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul Spring 2013--neon green silk chiffon and silk duchesse cocktail dress with crystal trim waist (left); printed silk chiffon gown with gathered front skirt and fitted waist (right)

Several weeks ago, as the Official Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising--my alma mater--I did my yearly FIDM "3 Days of Fashion" appearances, where I visited all of the college's campuses, staring in San Diego, then Orange County and finishing up with San Francisco and the FIDM "flagship", in Los Angeles. I did my Inspiration Talk/Lecture as well as took lots of photos with the high school students (and their moms and dads!) who attended as well as brought some of my NIKOLAKI Collection gowns and dresses--many worn by A-List Celebs such as Beyoncé and Katy Perry. So here's a Recap--and Gallery--of the gowns and cocktail dresses I brought (several from my newest NIKOLAKI Spring 2013 Collection) all in one concise blog posting--hope you guys enjoy!

Backstage Look Book: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul strapless silk organza gown with multi-jewelled bust trim

Peacock Princess: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul printed silk chiffon gown with gathered skirt and fitted waist--FIDM Orange County "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Lady in Red: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul strapless silk-wool ziberline gown with side pockets and back cascade over-sized ruffles--FIDM Orange County "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

San Francisco COUTURE: Nick Verreos with model Rachael Sitz in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul strapless raspberry-colored asymmetrically pleated bustier dress with side gathered mini-pouf (left), and ...

In lavender silk chiffon sequined column gown with peek-a-boo top section-- FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Flou Queen: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI Spring 2013 by Nick Verreos/David Paul printed silk chiffon halter-neck gown with draped bodice, plunging back, and gold and silver sequined trim--FIDM Los Angeles "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Front Close-Up: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI Spring 2013 by Nick Verreos/David Paul
printed silk chiffon halter-neck gown with draped bodice, plunging back,
and gold and silver sequined trim--FIDM "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Golden Girl: Model Amanda Fields in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul Spring 2013 gold sequin column gown with side cowl-drape

Gold Fierce: Model Amanda Fields (with Nick Verreos in the background) wearing NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul Spring 2013 gold sequin column gown with side cowl-drape and high side slit--FIDM Los Angeles "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Ivory Wedding: Model Lauren Gish in ivory silk-wool ziberline "mermaid" shaped gown with pleated high neck, open back, crystal trim waist and full pleated back train--FIDM Los Angeles "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Midnight Stars: Model Lauren Gish in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul Spring 2013 silver and black sequin gown with blouson and cowl draped bodice, princess-seamed slit and capelet--FIDM Los Angeles "3 Days of Fashion 2012"

Nick Verreos Special Appearance at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM San Diego's Open House 2011

Nick Verreos Special Appearance at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM San Diego's Open House 2011

Hello Sunshine!

Gather Around Kids! Nick Verreos--and Open House visitors at FIDM San Diego Open House (Photo-slide of my Gowns at the bottom left)

Last weekend, I drove from my pied-de-terre in Los Angeles down south--to the gorgeous city of San Diego (about a three hour drive--with, yes, traffic). As part of my duties as the Spokesperson for Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--and as an Instructor of the College and Alumn, I make "Special Appearances" at various Campuses during the year.

It's always great to go to the San Diego Campus. I've visited before, of course, (David Paul, my NIKOLAKI partner-in-design FABULOUSNESS is from there!) and always have a nice time seeing all the wonderful FIDM San Diego staff. The campus is located in Downtown San Diego, a stone's throw away from the glorious Petco Park. In fact, on one of the campuses "sundecks" , they have a "First Class" view of the park!

Petco Park Diva: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Campus, with Petco Park behind him

This particular Saturday was "Open House" day at FIDM San Diego, when people (from high school to post-grad) interested in studies within the Fashion, Interior Design, Visual Arts and Entertainment Industries fields, can come and visit the campuses and find out more about the school and all it has to offer, as well as meet current students, faculty, alumni, and get information on all the various majors and departments.

During the Open House, there are several classrooms set up to highlight some of the majors and departments including the Visual Communications "room", set up with a lot of projects from past and current students. I loved this Anna Sui Presentation above.

My "Special Appearance" involved mini-Lectures and a Meet-and-Greet--three during the three-hour time span I was there (one every hour naturally). Even though I knew it would be a gorgeous 80 degrees in San Diego, I decided to still "dress up" and wear my white Zara jacket, Hermes silk tie and boots. I did notice every other person I spotted as I made my way into Downtown San Diego was in shorts and flip flops!. No problem: I was GIVING them FASHION!!!

Boot Posing: Nick Verreos and an FIDM San Diego Open House visitor

This was the first time I had done an Open House in San Diego "muti-lecture" style, and it worked out so well!!! It was like a Universal Studios Tour, only it was me and the FIDM San Diego Campus. I spoke on how I "got to where I am", Project Runway and my time at FIDM as a student and how to maximize all the AMAZING knowledge a student can acquire from attending FIDM.

Dressed Up San Diego: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Open House 2011

I think everyone who attended all three of my Lectures really enjoyed it--the kids and the parents too (I "heart" the parents!). All in all, I had a fun time at the campus and at the end, was sad to leave San Diego--especially since it was 80 Degrees and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! There's something different about 80 degrees in San Diego and 80 Degrees in Los Angeles (where I reside).

FIDM Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and FIDM San Diego Open House 2011 visitors

Bye FIDM San Diego--for now--and please keep having the GORGEOUS shorts-and-flip-flop weather--even if I will probably still be the only man in a white jacket, Hermes tie and boots in the lovely city :)