FIDM Open House: Nick Verreos goes to Orange County

Tag Me: Nick Verreos poses with the fashion designers of tomorrow at the FIDM OC Open House

This weekend, I took a nice one hour drive--from Los Angeles to lovely Orange County--yes, home of beautiful Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Lauren Conrad (OK, she left "The OC" A LONG TIME AGO!!!), and home of design house St. John as well as TONS of surf and active wear companies. Located in the city of Irvine is the pink-a-licious Clive Wilkinson designed Orange County campus of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM. Woof Woof: Nick Verreos and David Paul pose with Benny--in his crystal-encrusted bag

I brought along David, my NIKOLAKI Co-designer and our beloved dog, Benny. I have made several appearances at this FIDM campus and I always bring Benny--much to the delight of the wonderful OC Campus staff. In fact, every time I get there, everyone literally says "Oh Hi Nick, welcome back....Where's our little Benny!!!!???" When he's around, I am "chopped liver".Magazine Rack Overload: The FIDM Orange County Library Magazine Section

The reason I was in the OC over the weekend was for FIDM Orange County's "Open House", when the campus opens its doors to high school students, their parents, as well as college graduates, interested in an education and having a career in fashion. I situated myself in the school's spacious and loft-like library and "set up Camp Nick", signing autographs, taking photos and giving lots of advice. At one point, I was holding court with an attentive audience of over 25 kids and their parents, as I explained my path to a fashion design career and how FIDM became an integral catalyst to it. Of course, I made a point to remind EVERYONE about the premiere of Season 6 of Project Runway and the fact that FIDM was going to be the new "home" for the show--in terms of where the new designers would be working. Nick Verreos and David Paul--with Benny--pose with Michael Mirabella of FIDM Orange County

It was so much fun meeting everyone, hearing their concerns and questions and hopefully, being there to an answer them. Most left with a big warm "Thank You Nick!" so I hope I helped them just a little bit. I always enjoy coming to FIDM Orange County and visiting my friends here--especially Michael Mirabella, its Director of Admissions and his amazing staff. But I think Benny enjoys it even more since he's always really THE STAR when he visits in his crystal-encrusted doggy purse. I guess I'm not the only one who loves FIDM OC, Benny does too!!!

FIDM San Diego Grand Opening: New Campus, New NIKOLAKI Collection!

Couture in San Diego....Nick's "Angels": Nick Verreos flanked by his models in NIKOLAKI

Several weeks back, I was invited to attend the grand opening of the beautiful and sleek new FIDM San Diego Campus. I had just returned from my week in The Bahamas, where I debuted my Spring 2009 Collection at the Islands of The World Fashion Week and I guess I was in a showing-my-gowns mood. Because I also decided to bring an amuse bouche of my brand new collection to Southern California, and specifically to add some high fashion to this grand event. FIDM was wonderful enough to bring 3 of my favorite models from LA Models to San Diego especially for the event to model my beautiful gowns and dresses. As usual, no detail was spared.Trunk Show: Nick Verreos and models in NIKOLAKI gowns pose for photographers at FIDM San Diego Opening-Night Gala

Since David Paul--my "better half"--is from San Diego, and his family still live there, it's always a chance for him to have his family see us as well. So of course, we invited them to attend the opening party. The new campus is located in Downtown San Diego right next to ---literally, I am not kidding!---PETCO Park. PETCO Park is the new ballpark for the San Diego Padres.Classroom With A View: The View of PETCO Park from FIDM's new San Diego Campus

They also hold concerts there as well (Madonna just played there!). PETCO Park was built because previously, the San Diego Padres used to play where the football team--the San Diego Chargers--played but locals tell me that IT WAS A MESS. So they built a separate stadium for the Padres so the fans would be happy (OK, that's FAR TOO MUCH Sports Talk from me---I feel almost BUTCH!). Sitting Pretty: Model Amber sits and poses in a black silk taffeta tiered NIKOLAKI gown with jeweled encrusted feathered trim

The new campus sits in one of those shiny new office/condo buildings San Diego seems to have a lot of in that area, and it was designed by architect Clive Wilkinson. South Africa-reared, LA-based Wilkinson has also designed several other FIDM campuses , as well as for Google and Nokia. His strength is in creating livable and/or workable spaces that provide an organic, and almost seamless environment by the ingenious use of walls, glass, and loft-like elements. The new campus is modern, un-pretentious and a perfect reflection of what an up-to-the-minute directional design school should look like.
Raspberry Couture: Model poses in NIKOLAKI raspberry-colored silk duchesse strapless fitted gown with Japanese "obi-style" pleated detail and silk velvet ribbons

As guests arrived, they were greeted by an informal fashion show--trunk show style--of our NIKOLAKI Spring '09 Collection. As David was "behind the scenes" making sure the models changed correctly and had the right accessories and were zipped-up properly, I mingled with guests, took photos and showed off the gowns to attending guests. The models did several outfit changes; we began with some cocktail looks and morphed into full out GLAMOUR , as the evening's festivities progressed. Many women were overheard muttering "oooh, I love that" and "oooh, I really like that", and "oooh, how much is that?" followed with an "oooh, I can't afford that...". Generally, it was a nice showcase to give this "elite" San Diego audience a taste of NIKOLAKI, especially from a former FIDM student like myself (too many years ago, so don't even try and ask).
San Diego Mayor Talks Fashion? Mayor Jerry Sanders thanks Nick Verreos and the beautiful models for their participation in the festivities

The Grand Opening was filled with many of the "Who's Who" of San Diego, including it's Mayor, the honorable Jerry Sanders and his stylish wife as well as many of San Diego's artistic and business elite, including a San Diego Padres' executive/owner and also one of the beautiful local TV anchorwomen. Even it's architect--the aforementioned Clive Wilkinson-- was in attendance to survey his "baby". The party atmosphere culminated into high gear as
hors d'oeuvres and cocktails were passed around to the 200+ guests as the party moved to one of the top floors of the building, overlooking the immense PETCO Park and the gorgeous San Diego skyline.