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!!! 

How to dress like Olivia Palermo:

How to dress like Olivia Palermo:

 Olive and Black

A very common color combination that Olivia relies on is olive green and black together. Olive green is a subtle incorporation of the recent military trend and acts as a hue that compliments black but still adds depth. Where as black and red or black and blue are common color combinations, olive and black is a more understated trend. Olivia uses these colors to create a neutral yet polished look. To dress like Olivia, finding a good pair of olive green skinnies or a top to wear with the black pieces you already own would be a great start.

 Vests with the Fur

I am not one to promote the abuse of animals, but fur seems to be a large component of Olivia's style. She has an assortment of fur vests that she throws on to elevate her outfit and add an element of luxury to her look. The fur also gives her looks texture and draw in visual interest. The vest becomes the focal point so she keeps the rest of the outfit simple. Finding a vintage fur vest would be a perfect step in Olivia's style direction. And there are plenty of faux fur alternatives to achieve the same level of chic without harming animals.

 Katherine Hepburn

In a world dominated by in-your-face sexuality, its a breath of fresh air to see well covered, yet still chic looks like these. Olivia opts for the subtle sensuality of Katherine Hepburn's menswear inspired style. Like the fashion icon herself, Olivia wears wide legged trousers and loose blousy tops with understated polished ease. Its all about oversized pieces that are tailored to hang perfectly. To try this look for yourself, I would recommend finding a quality vintage woman's suit and getting it taken in to fit your body perfectly.

 Little Black Dress

This classic standby cannot be ignored. Olivia knows the power of a versatile piece like the LBD. She knows she can rely on a simple black frock with a few special accessories to look ready for any occasion. Olivia tends to opt for black dresses with short hemlines to show off her thin legs and long sleeves to balance out and cover up on top. She also seeks out LBDs with a little something different such as a leather texture or sequin panels. To take a cue from Olivia find that black dress you've always relied on and think of a few new different ways you can style it.

 Black Tie Event

When men dress up for a special occasion they can always rely on a classic black tuxedo to look sharp and pulled together. Olivia often takes a cue from them and dresses up in tux inspired outfits that look chic and timeless. She takes a feminine twist on the classic suit by wearing black leather skinnies, a girly lace or sequined top underneath, and throwing in some quirky accessories such as a leopard print clutch or heeled duck boots. If you want to immolate this look, be sure to get well tailored pieces that show off your feminine shape and don't overwhelm your frame. Also look for menswear inspired pieces with girly details such as a satin trimmed lapel or dainty buttons.

  Not-Quite-Neutral

Olivia also has a thing about wearing uncommon colors such as mustard yellow, musky beige, or tangerine orange. She wears these shades as if they are neutrals even though they create a unexpected pop of color. Colors such as these seem unappealing or aged when on the hanger, but Olivia wears them in a way that is youthful and fresh. Olivia makes sure to wear these colors in sleek cuts and modern silhouettes. Picking up a frock in a quirky color like these would be a great way to incorporate a little of Olivia's style into your look.

 Bold and Lavish Jewelry

Olivia tends to wear striking, luxurious jewelry. Her fingers always have huge gold rings in elaborate shapes and intricate textures. She frequently has a several detailed gold bangles on her wrists and sometimes wears a gilded gold watch that has a gold face in it. She never wears necklaces unless it is a large statement piece. To start a jewelry collection like Olivia's scour flea markets for quality one of a kind antique rings and bracelets. Invest in a gold watch that will bring an element of style to an everyday look. Skip the dainty chain and pendant necklaces and grab a few bold giant pieces from Forever 21.

Timeless Bags With a Twist

The fashion world can be very focused on status bags and Olivia knows this. She chooses to avoid the obvious trendy labels and instead leans towards classic shapes. The bags she carries always have a lot of structure. She tends to avoid large slouchy types. Because the shape of her bags are so simple, she adds in a little flair by carrying versions in interesting textures. To start dressing like Olivia, grab a simple bag or clutch in a leopard print or croc texture.

Natural Make-up and Healthy Hair

Because Olivia is a fashion risk taker, she keeps her make up as simple and understated. To keep her make up as neutral as possible, she sticks to thin sheer foundation, matte eyeshadows in browns and beiges, coral blush, and creamy natural pink lipstick. To imitate Olivia's look I would advise avoiding cakey concealers or foundations, colored metallic eyeshadows, and any lipstick more than 2 shades deeper than your natural lip color. When applying eye make up, use pencil eye liner to trace the top lash line only, be sure to curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler and apply the best thickening volume mascara you can find.

As for Olivia's hair, she's moved past her long blonde typical california girl highlights and now works a much more mature and chic middle-parted brunette just-below-the-shoulder length cut. Her hair has a very multidimensional shade to it and lots of glossy shine. To get hair like her's keep your hair routine light on the products and less on the hot tools. Always rinse your hair with cold water at every wash to seal the strands and use a leave in hair gloss treatment every few weeks. This will help keep your hair's natural shine.

Break All the Rules

I know that this is rather contradictory to have a final rule like this, but fashion is all about pushing the limits. Olivia is always on the cutting edge of fashion and is fearless in the face of daring styles. Be a trend setter, not a trend follower. Most people would think that a purple leopard print dress with a large brown leopard print belt would look like a ridiculous leopard print over-kill. But Olivia makes it work by keeping the accessories simple, the cut of the dress minimal, and wearing it with full confidence. I know my style guides are all about imitating a specific fashionista's look, but to really take after Olivia, you have to branch out and wear whatever the hell you feel like wearing. Be fearless!

To help illustrate a few ways to put together an outfit inspired by Olivia Palermo, I've created a few looks here using the tips that I have mentioned.

VIA :Visual Basic

Nick Verreos in Novi Michigan's Twelve Oaks Mall: Macy's "Putting It All Together" event--The Recap!

Nick Verreos in Novi Michigan's Twelve Oaks Mall: Macy's "Putting It All Together" event--The Recap!

Detroit Fashion Gals, Michigander Fashionistas, Exclusive Blogging Project Runway Interview...and George Clooney????

Michigander Gals: Nick Verreos poses with Macy's "Putting It All Together" guests (and "Project Runway" fans), Macy's Twelve Oaks Mall Novi Michigan

This last Friday, I flew to Detroit Michigan to host one of my FAB Macy's "Putting It All Together" events. Just days before, I was in Chicago Macy's State Street and then, had to fly back to LA to take care of some dress-making NIKOLAKI business--and then later in the week, I was back on a plane--to Detroit. I was hosting at Novi Michigan's (about 30 miles from Detroit) Twelve Oaks Mall Macy's the following day--on Saturday.

Upon arriving into Novi, I checked into the very chic "The Baronette Renaissance" Boutique Hotel. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the decor: It was very Mid-Century Modern Boutique-y. I WANT EVERY piece of furniture for my own home!!!

The Baronette Renaissance Hotel Lobby, Novi Michigan

I've been to many a Boutique Hotel in my "frequent flyer" travels and I must say, The Baronette Renaissance was one of THE BEST! Loved that Lobby, with the fireplace and sectional sofa decor. It was a nice "welcome to Novi" after flying (almost) across the US.

The hotel was designed by David Ashen of d-ash Design and as of now: He is my new Interior Design "boyfriend"! If I had all the money in the world, I would order those chairs in the photo above as well as that glass table with the wooden legs. Love.


I also sneaked a peak into the "Kitchen" area (top photo) of The Baronette Renaissance, which was just as sleek and well-designed as the rest of the lobby--and of course, it's mini-fridge was well-stocked with a Michigan Icon: Faygo Soda, as you can see. I, unfortunately, never got the chance to try one, but...maybe next time!

Look Who's Here: Nick Verreos, Macy's Twelve Oaks Mall Novi Michigan

But now, it was on to my Macy's "Putting It All Together" Event! The Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi Michigan was abuzz as shoppers gathered around and recognized me as I made my way into the store. Immediately, I told the store manager that I wanted to make an announcement on the intercom and he was happy to make my wish come true.

Novi Stage: Nick Verreos, Macy's "Putting It All Together" event, Twelve Oaks Mall

Soon enough, the First Floor Impulse Department section, which was blocked off for the event, was full with EVERY seat taken and in fact, it became "Standing Room Only". Prior to the event, I was SO excited to see "Tbone" from MY FAVORITE Project Runway Fan Site--Blogging Project Runway--waiting for me--to do an "exclusive" interview and video. It was also great to see my good ol' friend, Lisa Gilpin of GM and formally with Saturn (sponsor of Project Runway!).

Blogging Friends: Lisa Gilpin, Nick Verreos and "Tbone" of Blogging project Runway, Macy's Twelve Oaks Novi Michigan

Naturally, I couldn't contain myself and gave them a big hug--and did the interview (see videos at the end of this posting!). But then, it was time for "Putting It All Together": I chose-- randomly--members from the Macy's audience, to be "Macy's Stylists" and "Put Together" outfits for three challenges...

Including "A Night Out With The Girls", "Brunch With The Girls" and "Shopping With Nick" (above photo). The winners, picked by the rest of the audience, won $100 Macy's Gift Cards while the runners-up got $25 Macy's Gift Cards as well (not bad!).

Contestant Interviewin' : Nick Verreos interviews contestants at the Macy's "Putting It All Together" event, Twelve Oaks Mall Novi Michigan

There were LOTS of Mommies and their daughters and so, of course, at the end, I brought up some of the little future Fashionista/Macy's Top Models and had then do a little Runway Walk on stage with me to cap off this fun Macy's Twelve Oaks "Putting It All Together" event.

I had the BEST time in Michigan with my lovely Michigander DIVAS! I was especially verklempt, when I met a beautiful attendee, Maxine Gardner (above), who actually had a special "Gift" for me: Gorgeous Photo-Cards designed by her!! I couldn't believe it! The fact that someone took the time to come to Macy's and my event and bring me a wonderful gift!? Done and Done! By the way, you can click HERE to see her website and those gorgeous cards from her fundraising company, Artful Vision.

Michigan's Top Models: Nick Verreos with models Caitlyn (L) and Austyn (R), from Real Style Agency, Macy's Twelve Oaks Mall Novi Michigan "Putting it All Together" event

I had a great time and I thank EVERYONE for coming out! And of course, for shopping at Macy's (hello!). But then, I was off to the Detroit Metro Airport to catch my flight back to Los Angeles. Now, I thought my exciting day was over, but...after getting to the airport and checking in, I went through security and had about two hours to waste away. I decided that since I was hungry, I should get a turkey sandwich at the "Waterworks Bar & Grill" at the Delta McNamara Terminal near my gate. As soon as I was about to take my first bite, I look up, and who do I see:

George Clooney and his girlfriend, the beautiful Elisabetta Canalis! Yep, not kidding. In fact, I almost didn't notice him (gray sweater, gray pants, salt-&-pepper hair, glasses) but it was she who caught my eye. She was in jeans, black Ugg boots and sunglasses and no make-up but still, I was like "She's beautiful and...she looks familiar!!! They sat ten feet away, ordered drinks and burgers. The entire kitchen staff was tripping over themselves being all looky-loos. To make a long story short: They were both on my flight back to LA! And yes, the Delta flight attendants, pilot and co-pilot were a MESS! At one point, I wondered if anyone was flying the darn plane because they were all in the front First Class Galley acting like they needed to be there (they were just looking at Mr. Clooney, but pretending not to--it was kinda cute actually!).

It was a very "Hollywood/Celeb Sighting" ending to my fun Detroit Michigan trip. Who knows, maybe next time I visit Novi, I might see Lady Gaga!

Click Below for Blogging Project Runway Interview with Tbone--Part I:

Click Below for Blogging project Runway Interview with Tbone--Part 2: