Royal Trend Watch: Elephant Parade Edition

In this month's "Not Your Typical Royal Event" news...

The Elephant Parade must be one of the most curious charitable events I've ever heard of.  Artists put their own mark on elephant sculptures, which are then put on display and are later auctioned off to benefit endangered elephants.  I have so many questions about this. 

Who buys these elephants?  Is there a whole rash of London gardens filled with oversize pachyderm sculptures?  And how did so many royals get involved?

Actually, I know the answer to that last question.  Camilla's brother, sister and daughter are all involved with the Elephant Family charity, as is the Duchess of York and Lady Annabel Goldsmith (dear friend of Princess Michael of Kent).  So, naturally, a whole mess of royals showed up to parade themselves for the good of the elephants; and bless them, they made sure to match the curiousness of their outfits to the curiousness of the elephants on parade.  An elephant trend has run amok through the Windsor family.  So very many questions:

Charles, did you pose by the shiny black elephant just so your tux wouldn't look so out of place?  Better showing than the rest of the family, I suppose....

Are we channeling the elephant's natural habitat here, with the Asian-inspired getup?  Usually I like these outfits on Camilla, but I think she might have forgotten to take the wind into consideration here.  This makes me nervous, as does....

This.  Talk about a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.  Eugenie, are you afraid to stand up straight, lest you reveal uncoordinated underpants?  Have you decided to rely on the photographer's sense of decency to preserve your dignity?  Because that is not going to work out for you.  Neither are those shoes.  And Beatrice, those yellow strings (ribbons?) on the front of your dress - why?  This confuses me.

Of course, Eugenie is equally capable of confusing me, as at the launch party for the event back in March she saw fit to throw a random flower into her hair to cap off an otherwise biker babe ensemble. Why?  Though I suppose if there was any event for which a leather princess outfit would have been appropriate it would have been the one at which this occurred.....

Presented without comment.

Princess Michael, of course, had to prove herself the most puzzling of them all:

Are those elastic pants, or just pants designed to look like they might have an elastic waist?  And which case is worse?  Also, we're just coming off this gem of an outfit:

Seen in Zurich, and apparently attributed to the weather there.  So now the weather in London is also at fault?  I can't imagine what sort of meteorological condition prompts one to dress up like the second coming of Madame Cleo, so I have to ask - are we entering a fortune teller phase of dress?  (I really, really hope we are, friends.  Oh, what fun we'll have.)

Photos:  Pool/Indigo/Getty Images/WPA Pool/Fiona Hanson/Daniel Demme/Wenn.com/Belga/Stuart Wilson/Dave M. Benett

Royal Trend Watch: Elephant Parade Edition

In this month's "Not Your Typical Royal Event" news...

The Elephant Parade must be one of the most curious charitable events I've ever heard of.  Artists put their own mark on elephant sculptures, which are then put on display and are later auctioned off to benefit endangered elephants.  I have so many questions about this. 

Who buys these elephants?  Is there a whole rash of London gardens filled with oversize pachyderm sculptures?  And how did so many royals get involved?

Actually, I know the answer to that last question.  Camilla's brother, sister and daughter are all involved with the Elephant Family charity, as is the Duchess of York and Lady Annabel Goldsmith (dear friend of Princess Michael of Kent).  So, naturally, a whole mess of royals showed up to parade themselves for the good of the elephants; and bless them, they made sure to match the curiousness of their outfits to the curiousness of the elephants on parade.  An elephant trend has run amok through the Windsor family.  So very many questions:

Charles, did you pose by the shiny black elephant just so your tux wouldn't look so out of place?  Better showing than the rest of the family, I suppose....

Are we channeling the elephant's natural habitat here, with the Asian-inspired getup?  Usually I like these outfits on Camilla, but I think she might have forgotten to take the wind into consideration here.  This makes me nervous, as does....

This.  Talk about a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.  Eugenie, are you afraid to stand up straight, lest you reveal uncoordinated underpants?  Have you decided to rely on the photographer's sense of decency to preserve your dignity?  Because that is not going to work out for you.  Neither are those shoes.  And Beatrice, those yellow strings (ribbons?) on the front of your dress - why?  This confuses me.

Of course, Eugenie is equally capable of confusing me, as at the launch party for the event back in March she saw fit to throw a random flower into her hair to cap off an otherwise biker babe ensemble. Why?  Though I suppose if there was any event for which a leather princess outfit would have been appropriate it would have been the one at which this occurred.....

Presented without comment.

Princess Michael, of course, had to prove herself the most puzzling of them all:

Are those elastic pants, or just pants designed to look like they might have an elastic waist?  And which case is worse?  Also, we're just coming off this gem of an outfit:

Seen in Zurich, and apparently attributed to the weather there.  So now the weather in London is also at fault?  I can't imagine what sort of meteorological condition prompts one to dress up like the second coming of Madame Cleo, so I have to ask - are we entering a fortune teller phase of dress?  (I really, really hope we are, friends.  Oh, what fun we'll have.)

Photos:  Pool/Indigo/Getty Images/WPA Pool/Fiona Hanson/Daniel Demme/Wenn.com/Belga/Stuart Wilson/Dave M. Benett

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 20-26 June

Here's what Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore the week of 20-26 June:

1. Leaving Stockholm, 20 June.  Like there weren't enough people questioning whether she has a case of the pregnants last week, now this?  I won't go too far along that line (because if anyone were to analyze my belly, I'd shoot 'em) but suffice to say she's not doing herself any favors.

And that's it!  Boo.  This week was no fun.

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 20-26 June

Here's what Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore the week of 20-26 June:

1. Leaving Stockholm, 20 June.  Like there weren't enough people questioning whether she has a case of the pregnants last week, now this?  I won't go too far along that line (because if anyone were to analyze my belly, I'd shoot 'em) but suffice to say she's not doing herself any favors.

And that's it!  Boo.  This week was no fun.

Beauty Waves

Model Elsa Hosk: Marie Claire UK July Issue, Makes you miss the Waves and proper Sun not Humidity... In Love with the Rings..

Fashionising

Hay Hay Haay

Side plaits with roses in your Hair, perfect hairdo for the Summer... Mix it with Zebra shoes or Sandals with Socks as did Model Dioni Tabbers...

Fashionising

Oh I remember exactly why I need to be frugal!

I'm really devoted to my job and nine times out of ten, it's great but teaching is a minefield and today, I was bombed and it blew my heart out. After my heart had been blown out, my senior management team, found it, laughed at it and then played football with it, handed it back to me and told me they'd do something about it later. Today I received three sexually explicit, personal and disgusting emails from a student. They'd breached security (which is obviously made of tissue paper) ......logged on as an innocent little year 7 girl and whilst in a year 10 science lesson, had managed to send three emails without the teacher noticing, which I immediately forwarded to the IT support team, the senior management team who could have acted on the spot, gone to the classroom, gone to the computer (the twerp left a cyber trail and we knew which computer it was sent from) and apprehended the culprit...............but they did Fredrick all about it, and later told me it was too difficult to find out who it was and no one would admit to it. So they've done precisely Fredrick all about it when they could have acted sooner!

So back to the why I am frugal...............I want to pay off debts, downsize to a two up, two down cottaged and pay off the mortgage really quickly so I can retire before I work myself to death and sit and watch my garden grow and not have to put up with 15 year olds being sexually explicit to the point that if they were adults and said what they said in public, they would have been arrested. I'm waiting for the repercussions when I show the email to Dearly Beloved tonight! I feel sick to the point of never wanting to go back to work at the moment, which is a shame as most of the students are a credit to themselves.

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 20-26 June

Here's what Princess Mathilde wore the week of 20-26 June:

1. Shopping in Stockholm with Princess Claire, 20 June.  Yellow jacket's too short, but I like her in bright colors. 

And that's it for Mathilde this week - she too took some time off, giving us nothing to play with and no bests and worsts to name this week.  So let's talk about this instead:  I read that Mathilde brought 17 suitcases with her to the wedding.  SEVENTEEN!  Now that we've seen everything she wore in Stockholm, can you even guess what could have been in all of them?  My entire wardrobe could fit in 17 suitcases, shoes and all, with at least 10 suitcases to spare.....

Photos: Wire Image /Adam Osterman

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 20-26 June

Here's what Princess Mathilde wore the week of 20-26 June:

1. Shopping in Stockholm with Princess Claire, 20 June.  Yellow jacket's too short, but I like her in bright colors. 

And that's it for Mathilde this week - she too took some time off, giving us nothing to play with and no bests and worsts to name this week.  So let's talk about this instead:  I read that Mathilde brought 17 suitcases with her to the wedding.  SEVENTEEN!  Now that we've seen everything she wore in Stockholm, can you even guess what could have been in all of them?  My entire wardrobe could fit in 17 suitcases, shoes and all, with at least 10 suitcases to spare.....

Photos: Wire Image /Adam Osterman

Monthly budget

It's that time of the month again, when we sit down, work out everything coming in and everything we have to pay and wonder what we are going to do with the tuppence ha'penny we have left!

This month I cleared the last £1.76 off my Halifax, so the balance is ZERO! My other card is now receiving the snowballed payment of the full £500 per month, which means my Santander balance will be down to £1300 (after receiving my tutoring fees in July's wages - that will be zero too) We have transferred one of DB's 21% cards over to Barclays on 0% and that will be paid off in ten monthly payments of £210. I have transferred his other card to Virgin, again on 0% and that will also be paid off in ten monthly payments of £500 (I'll make the first payment when I've cleared my Santander card, in July I will have to make the minimum payment.) We are left this month with £315 to live on, to buy all food, clothing and anything else we need, which is fortunate that we don't need anything!

I don't count the lodger's £30 a week, and usually buy the groceries when we get paid and then use what ever we have left in the 'pot' at the end of the month to put towards a debt. With our projections we will have paid off another £11,294 in ten months..............I know what you're thinking, if we were not in debt, then we would have masses of savings! We will get there!

This is the time of year when I work the hardest and try to make as much money as I can! I get all the money I'm owed with my July wages, then I'll wipe out £2300 in one go. I'm also going to be far more proactive about lodgers in the future and aim to rent my room out all week, to make some more tax free money.

I'm looking forward to spending my summer holiday, in a deck chair in my garden, or doing craft of walking on the moors with the dogs...........roll on the holidays!

Nick Verreos Rides in the Macy's Car for the SF 40Th Anniversary Pride Parade

Happy San Francisco Pride!!!SF Pride Macy's Banner

Yes, kiddies, it has come to this: I was FINALLY invited--by Macy's no less--to ride the official Macy's "float" at the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. Not just any Pride Parade but THE 40Th Anniversary darlings. I just happened to be in San Francisco hosting the Sunglass Hut Grand Opening Event at Macy's Union Square and well, Macy's thought "Let's see if Nick will be our Macy's 'Grand Marshall' ?" Ummm, let me think about it...YES!!! Riding Proud: Nick Verreos atop the convertible BMW Macy's Car, SF Pride 2010

After I was done with my Sunglass Hut Event, I checked into my most comfortable Hotel Vitale room and settled in for the night (after a few cocktails with friends at the Americano, naturally!). Now, onto Sunday kiddies. Rainbow Peace: Nick Verreos strikes a pose, SF Pride 2010

I was so humbled, honored and well, very verklempt, to have been asked to be part of this amazing occasion. As I arrived in my "waiting area", all the Macy's volunteers congregated along with hundreds of other parade attendees who were a part of different organizations and/or floats that were about to take part if this 40Th Anniversary EXTRAVAGANZA. Macy's went "all out" with not one but TWO shiny brand new BMW's from BMW San Francisco. They also had hundreds of black Macy's Pride T-shirts as well as TONS of Macy's rainbow flag hankies (above) that were to be passed out during our parade route. During the wait, I got to enjoy the Gold's Gym Float (above) which waited right next to us the entire time with a group of the most perfectly toned, muscled and buffed bodies this side of the Mississippi (nice!). I was also very happy to see one my oldest and dearest of friends...interior designer Gino Castaño, who stopped by to keep me company (Love him!) (above photo). Finally, around 1PM, we got the word that we could "start" them BMW engines! Macy's Princess: Nick Verreos, atop the Macy's BMW SF Parade car, with Macy's volunteers

I threw on my white Zara jacket over my peach-colored American Apparel deep-V t-shirt, threw on a couple of those fabulous Macy's Pride Hankies, and I was ready! For about an hour, all I could see and hear was "Omg!Nick!!!" or "Oh wait It's Nick from Project Runway!". View From My Car: Market Street San Francisco from my car, SF Pride 2010

So much so that my Macy's client--and driver-- said "I really need to make a t-shirt that says 'OMG-It's Nick!' " It was so AMAZING to ride the 40Th Anniversary SF Pride Parade and get to see all the loving, peaceful, inclusive, and very COLORFUL people out for Sunday's festivities. I cannot say this enough: Riding the SF Pride Parade was one of the most SURREAL experiences of my life!
I'm Taking This To Europe: Nick Verreos eyes his new Bubblegum Pink Samsonite Suitcase

Once we finished the parade, the Macy's clients had a VERY SPECIAL Gift for me: A bright Pink Samsonite Suitcase! You see, last month when I was in San Francisco to host a "Sex And The City 2"-themed party at Macy's Union Square, I was "eyeing" this Barbie-pink suitcase that was in one of the "Sex And The City 2" event displays...well, the clients remembered and so as a "Thank You" for being the Macy's SF Pride "Grand Marshall", they gave it to me, it was waiting for me at the end of the parade! I know: Shut The Front Door!After the parade I had three hours before I would catch my flight back to LA. My SF friends from AGES ago, Jason Fioresi and Carlo Parenti (above), decided to throw me an impromptu "Congrats, Welcome and Happy Pride Sunday" afternoon gathering at their fabulous Bernal Heights pied-de-terre. Nick Buffet: The "SF Pride" Spread at Jason and Carlo's home

As I arrived, there was an entire table set up with White Wine from Spain, cheeses from all over the world, crackers and bread, Caprese Salad, salami, Prosciutto, Garbonzo beans, olives and Banana Peppers, as well as turkey meatballs. Not kidding! Just for me! Well, it was the perfect ending to an unbelievable weekend in San Francisco. I was ready to get back on the freeway and find my way back to SFO and board my return flight back to LA-LA Land. I HEART San Francisco! For More Photos: Click HERE!

Nick Verreos Hosts Macy's Sunglass Hut Grand Opening Event Macy's Union Square

San Francisco Host With The Most: Sunglass Shopping, Hot-Dog Eatin', Manicure Polishing and Much More...Billboard Boy: Nick Verreos at Sunglass Hut Grand Opening, Macy's Union Square

On Saturday, I flew into San Francisco in a flourish. Here's the rundown: Got up at 5AM, packed, showered and got dressed, got to LAX, and boarded my Virgin America 8 AM flight to the City by the Bay. My trusty car and Bob--one of my favorite drivers in SF--picked me up at SFO and whisked me off to Union Square where I was to host the Grand Opening of the Sunglass Hut store at Macy's San Francisco's flagship from noon-4PM.Posing Divas: Nick Verreos and models pose with the Vogue Eyewear/CFDA Sunglasses designed by Devi Kroell, Matt Murphy and Kara Ross

The weather in San Francisco on Saturday was sunny and gorgeous--perfect to be sporting some CHIC new sunglasses. Macy's and Sunglass Hut had set up a whole "Afternoon Soiree" in Level 1 of the store and I was it's "Host with the Most". I brought three of the prettiest Ford models from San Francisco to be my "Nick's Angels" for the event (all styled fabulously by Keylee Sanders, my SF Stylist DIVA from Style Studio).Sunglass Hut Grand Opening Macy's San Francisco Union Square

For the Grand Opening, we had hors d'euvres including mini hot dogs, chili-lemon peppered watermelon and sorbet ice cream sandwiches, as well as lemonade and sparkling water being passed around, to entice shoppers to come see the new shop and get in a "It's Summer and I need some Sunglasses" mood.Greetings Macy's Shoppers: Nick Verreos, Sunglass Hut Grand Opening, Macy's Union Square

There was a "photo booth" by Fotomio where shoppers got to try on the featured Vogue Eyewear/CFDA sunglasses and take their very own photos. Pinkies was there giving manicures to shoppers. Sunglasses On A Plate: Models showcase Vogue Eyewear/CFDA Designer Eyewear, Macy's Union Square

As a bonus--just for that day--with EVERY purchase of a pair of sunglasses, shoppers received a chic little Sunglass Hut cosmetic bag, a Gift Certificate to Pinkies AND a full size bottle of Clarins Self Tanning Gel (Hello!!!!). Between the mini-hot dogs, lemonade, photo-booth taking, the gift-with-purchase and my shouting voice of "Welcome, Come Buy Some Sunglasses!!!, the store was abuzz with shopping madness! OMG! It's Nick: Nick Verreos poses with shoppers, Sunglass Hut Grand Opening, Macy's Union Square

The event was a complete SUCCESS! I had a great time and the fact that hundreds and hundreds of people (shoppers, tourists strolling in, fans of Project Runway--yeayyy!!) were stopping by, kept it all lively and fun!
That's MY Barbie: Siobhan Tuvo, her daughter Sarah and Nick Verreos, Macy's Union Square Grand Opening of Sunglass Hut

A highlight was one of my very best friends, Siobhan Tuvo, stopped by and brought her oh-so-pretty daughter Sarah, whom I had not seen in YEARS!!! Sarah brought me a special somethin'-somethin': The "Project Runway My Scene Nick Verreos Barbie"!!! Well, you just know I began screaming in the microphone like a little girl! She brought it for me to sign and of course, I obliged. It was a perfect ending to a fabulous afternoon at my Sunglass Hut Macy's San Francisco Event!
Now it was time to get some rest before the next day's big event: SF Gay Pride Parade!!! Stay Tuned...

Below is a fun slideshow with LOTS of photos of the entire event. These fantastic photos were provided by Drew Altizer Photography and click HERE for even MORE photos!