In Memoriam: Costume Designer Nolan Miller--A Shoulder Pad GOD!

In Memoriam: Costume Designer Nolan Miller--A Shoulder Pad GOD!

Praise to One of My First Design Gods:

Ruffles and Poufs: Joan Collins, John Forsythe and Linda Evans, "Dynasty" TV Show, Costume Designer Nolan Miller

Last Wednesday June 6th, American fashion designer and television costume designer Nolan Miller passed away, at the age of 79. Miller had been ill for a while and he finally succumbed to lung cancer. He was one of my first "Design Gods". As a young boy--who only DREAMED of being a Fashion Designer while looking at glossy Vogue magazines and shows like "Dynasty" back in the 80's (yes, I am aging myself and I do not care!), I was in awe of his designs and the world he created through his incomparable design eye.

Nolan Miller emphasized elegance, excess, glamour with a capital "G", and one word: DIVA. And yes, he was known for being the Emperor of the 80's Shoulder Pads. Of course, Miller is famous for being the Costume Designer for the TV Show "Dynasty" which aired from 1981-1989--spanning almost the entire decade. In case you may be "Fashion and Costume Design Illiterate", read on...and if you are a "Young UMS" born after 1990, studying to be a Fashion Designer and you do not know who Nolan Miller is, YOU BETTER!

Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere

 Lanvin designs by Alber Elbaz

Every other Fashion Designer worth his Croquis Salt is referencing him--whether they want to admit it or not, such as Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga and  Alber Elbaz of Lanvin (see photos above) as well as many, many others. Anyhow, here's a quick Bio on Mr. Nolan Miller:

Born in Texas, Nolan Miller studied design at the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Art Institute). He is best known for his costume design work for the long-running TV series "Dynasty" and especially for the looks that top stars Linda Evans, Joan  Collins and Diahann Carroll "featured". Miller exemplified the 80's Excess and Glamour Look.

Dynasty Divas: There were always LOTS of ruffles, lots of DRAMA, and yes, very, very STRONG SHOULDERS.

"The Colby's": Nolan Miller also designed for the "Dynasty" TV Show spinoff "The Colbys"--more shoulder pads, and more hand-beaded sequins darlings! Before he gained his "Shoulder Pad and Ruffle" TV Fame on that show as well as "Dynasty", Miller also was the Costume Designer for shows such as...

 "Charlie's Angels": Butch and Feminine Detective Chic

"The Love Boat": Hello Julie McCoy and her poly-jersey gathered off-the-shoulder "Cruise Ship" Dresses!

"Fantasy Island": Resort Glam

"Gilligan's Island": Ginger's sexy va-va-boom v-neck coral-colored sequined dress was designed by Nolan Miller

Branding and Licensing King:

Blouson Pattern: During the 80's, designer Nolan Miller also created McCall's Patterns--dresses, blouses and much more featuring those very shoulder-padded and BLOUSON'ed sleeves, nipped-in waists and over-all 80's "I-Got-Money-and-You-Don't" style--all based on "Dynasty" characters played by the ever-so-chic Joan Collins and Diahann Carroll.

Nolan Miller QVC: For 19 years, Nolan Miller was on QVC showcasing his fabulous "Nolan Miller Glamour Collection for QVC" jewelry and accessories; they were beautiful, colorful, costume-and Couture inspired and well, for 19 years, they did pretty well for him and QVC.  In 2011, he announced that he was retiring from QVC.



Nolan Miller on The Red Carpet:

Elizabeth Taylor in a Nolan Miller gown: Taylor wore it to the Golden Globes in 1985 when she received the Cecil
B deMille Award for her Outstanding Contribution in the Entertainment
Field. It went for $7,500 in the "Elizabeth Taylor Christie's Online Auction" last year.

Sophia Loren: Nolan Miller (left) and actress (and DIVA) Sophia Loren, wearing a Nolan Miller red gown at the 2000 Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Sketch Fab:

Illustration Fierce: Above are several Fashion Illustrations--including ones of "Dynasty" actresses and Muses Linda Evans and Joan Collins---Nolan Miller



Mr. Miller...

You will be missed. Thank you for inspiring a very young Greek-Venezuelan boy with a Dream!

Nick Verreos Goes to the FIDM Fashion Club Party--and Debut 2011 Part One!

Nick Verreos Goes to the FIDM Fashion Club Party--and Debut 2011 Part One!

Fashion Club Carnival: Samba DJ'ing, Colored Feathers, Dipped Chocolate-covered Marshmallows, and much more...

Let's Do It Girls! Nick Verreos leads his models, Amara and Brianna--in NIKOLAKI gowns--down the FIDM Debut 2011 Runway (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Last weekend's "FIDM Fashion Marathon" of Open House, Debut Shows and Fashion Club Parties was a big success! So, without further ado---it's time for the Fashion Club Party!!!

FashionClub.com--sponsored by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--is an online site for aspiring fashion designers, future fashion industry trendsetters in high schools all across the country--and across the world. It gives prom advice, shows you the hottest trends in teen fashion and jewelry and even has contests to win scholarships to go to FIDM.

In addition, It also helps students--and their instructors--start their own "FIDM Fashion Club" at their high school! Every year, during the FIDM Debut Show, Fashion Club holds their big fabulous bash--The Fashion Club Party--and for 2011, the theme was "Carnival in Rio" since this was actually the theme the Costume Design Grads had for their 2011 Debut Collection.

May I Serve You Some Crudités? Nick Verreos, inside the FIDM Fashion Club Party 2011

A HUGE tent is constructed right outside the Santa Monica Barker Hangar just for the party and hundreds of Fashion Club members from all over the US--and abroad--get special VIP tickets to attend. And of course, I get to go too!!!

Inside, plush couches and tables were draped in vibrant "Carnival" colors of aquamarine, tangerine, emeralds and cherry reds. Lots of feathers, beads and sequins were strategically strewn for further "party" effect. Plus, there was a DJ (wearing a Brazilian Carnival Headdress!) playing "Samba House" as well as pop, rock, and anything in between. Picture "Mardis Gras" but in Brazil...at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar!

Guests including high school students, accepted-to-FIDM students, their teachers, and a mom or two thrown in for good measure--got all dressed up in their best "after-five" and were greeted with "Fashion Club Goody Bags" and enjoyed Crudités (above), tropical punch...

As well as "got their sweet-tooth on": Lining up to the always popular Chocolate Fountain (above). There were bananas, strawberries as well as marshmallows ready for the dippin'!

Carmen Miranda Who? Nick Verreos poses with Fashion Club Party 2011 guests--with feathered boas

Also, as it has been the tradition every year at the Fashion Club Party, there was a "Take-a- Photo-With-Nick" section--or Fashion Club Celebrity Corner-- where I posed with any guest who wanted to take a photo. A professional photographer was on hand snapping away and then the photos would be printed out for them to take soon afterward.

Where's Nick? Nick Verreos (head sticking out) and a bunch of his new friends, FIDM Fashion Club Party 2011

I had a BLAST! (and I think all my new photo-posing friends did too!). But soon, it was time for everyone to move into the Barker Hangar and get ready for the 2011 FIDM Debut Show:

Silver-Suited MC: Nick Verreos onstage at the Debut 2011, Santa Monica Barker Hangar (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

There is so much interest in the FIDM Debut Show that they have several shows over a period of three days and this one show was for all the Fashion Club Party guests--as well as thousands of other high school students, educators and parents. I was happy to introduce the show and give my little "pep talk" of what I've been up to lately and how much FIDM influenced me when I was dreaming of becoming a successful fashion designer.

No Pushing Kids: The scene in the Barker Hangar Foyer of Debut 2011 guests taking photos of me (notice the "intense" security guard)

During my introduction, I told everyone that I would be waiting for them in the Barker Hangar Foyer--or Lobby--and happy to take photos and sign anything they had! And boy, they did!!! It was a MAD crazy rush to get photos taken with me that at one point, the security guys were freaking out! For a HOT ten minutes there, I kinda did feel like one of the Jonas Brothers--well the older, bearded, silver-suited, funky-haired one! In the end, it all worked out and most everyone got their photos and autographs: I LOVED every second I spent with each and every one of my photo "dates"!

Take a Bow: Nick Verreos, FIDM Debut 2011 (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

I'll put up photos--and my Recap--of the actual Debut 2011 Fashion Show in another post soon--but for now...

Here's an Exclusive Video of my "FIDM Debut 2011" MC'ing and Introduction: