Oscars Fashions Minute: Nick Verreos Sketches Designs for the 84th Annual Academy Awards Best Actress Nominees

Red Carpet Sketching...

Since the 84th Annual Academy Awards are coming up--THIS SUNDAY NIGHT!!!---I was asked about my predictions of what the stars might be wearing. So, I thought, well, why not take it a step further and actually draw MY visions of what the Academy Award-nominated Best Actresses would be wearing if I was asked (a little boy can DREAM n'est pas?) to design and create their Oscars Red Carpet Gowns.

So, without further ado, here are my designs for actresses Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Glenn Close, and Viola Davis. All of these "Dream Illustrations" are based on some of my NIKOLAKI dresses and gowns from my collection. Let's begin with:

Rooney Mara: Rooney is the 2012 Fashion "It" Girl--the Cate Blanchett of this year. I see Rooney in something that is NOT black! She LOVES the color black and so therefore I want to take her out of her "comfort zone" and have her wear RED! I also envision her in a directional statement-making dress.

This gown is based on one of my NIKOLAKI cocktail dresses from my Spring 2011 Collection (above photo) and it features an asymmetrical neckline/top section and a very architectural cascade drape in the front of the structured silk ziberline gown.

Meryl Streep: For Meryl, I wanted to see her in something softer--more "Grecian Goddess". So I sketched this gown above. She's been wearing lots of black for recent award shows and so therefore I wanted to go in the opposite direction. The color would be a vanilla creme and it would be in silk jersey.

The gown would feature a high cowl neckline and asymmetrical open back detail with side-draped cowl, just like the original gown from my collection which I based it on (above photo). There would be figure-hugging and complimentary side pleating that would fall into a dramatic side back. It would be DRAMATIC, SEXY and oh-so fab for that three-quarter I-am-holding-my-Oscar-statuesque shot! It would also be such a departure from those too-stiff 80's suits a la Margaret Thatcher.

Michelle Williams: Gorgeous Michelle. She wore a beautiful silver-blue Chanel Haute Couture sequined gown for last year's Academy Awards and I'd love to see her in head-to-toe sequins once again. But my NIKOLAKI design would be in a lilac/lavender color --very similar to this gown of mine:

However, the sequin and color detail would Ombre from light to dark/light to heavy at the hem. My design features a plunging neckline but it is delicately hidden by an attached silk chiffon capelet. The shape would be fit-to-flare and feature a sexy side slit (she was TOO covered up at the 2012 Golden Globes).

Glenn Close: For Glenn, I wanted to also take her out of her black color fashion comfort zone and create a gown in a midnight blue. I also know she loves that Mermaid Shape so I did a variation on this, based on one of my NIKOLAKI Mermaid-shaped gowns.

The gown would be in a stiffer silk ziberline or taffeta and have hand-applied Swarovski crystal embellishment at the waist and neckline--again, for that ever-so-important three quarter shot! Finally, I would semi-cover her shoulders and biceps with horizontal pleated drape accents.

Viola Davis: Finally, for Viola, I sketched this Fashion Goddess illustration. First off, I would LOVE to see Viola in a gown of this color: apple green. This is THE color for Spring/Summer 2012 and we saw it on a lot of the Paris, Milan, NY runways. If anyone can WORK this color, it's Miss Viola. The silk chiffon gown would be gathered at the bust as well as the center front, like this gown below from my NIKOLAKI Collection:

There would be a high side slit for dramatic red carpet posing and yes, her torso--and "Sistahs" (she's been displaying them a lot lately)--would be elegantly positioned, with this gown. Finally, I added a very DIVA-like 20+ yards of silk chiffon cape attached to the gown at the back. This would flow as she walked like a Spartan Empress waiting to greet her 10,000 warriors--or her Oscar statue!

I can't wait to see on Sunday night what these actresses decide to wear to the 84th Annual Academy Awards--and if my original sketches/designs were actually better...or not-so-much!

Click Below for my "Oscar Fashion" What I Would Design For The Nominees Segment with NBC-LA's Cary Berglund from the fabulous FIDM Museum "Oscars Costumes" Exhibition:

Nick Verreos and NIKOLAKI Collection in Florence Italy Fashion Show--Miami University of Ohio Italy Summer Abroad

Ciao Bellissima!!!

Grazie Firenze: Designers Giulia Bigoli, Althea Harper and Nick Verreos taking their bow, Florence Italy Fashion Show (photo courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Last month, I was invited--along with my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul, to showcase our NIKOLAKI gowns and dresses at the first-ever "Florence Italy Fashion Show at the Miami University of Ohio Summer Program" entitled Tredici 13.

Florentine Boys: Nick Verreos and David Paul, NIKOLAKI designers, in Florence Italy

For the past two years, I have been part of this FAB Study Abroad Program as a "Special Guest Lecturer", for the Journalism students, speaking about fashion, fashion blogging, trends, as well as of course, giving my unique experience and insight to the students. Oh, and yes, DISHING a little bit on the "behind-the-scenes" of being on Project Runway. But this year, the director of the program wanted to "turn it up a couple fashion notches", and have a fabulous fashion show at the program's historic campus location, the Gould Institute a palazzo built in the mid-1600's originally a residence to the noble Florentine family Del Rosso.

Runway Preparations: The Runway at the Gould Institute garden

They also invited fellow Project Runway alumn, NYC-based fashion designer Althea Harper. This was her second time joining me on the Miami University "Summer In Italy" Program so it was a real treat (for us and for the audience) to show our designs in Italy for the FIRST TIME! The fashion show--"Tredici 13"--which was wonderfully produced and organized by Fashion Photographer Jerry Ingram of Foto-Genique also included the punk-rock-inspired designs of POLIMODA 2011 Fashion Designer Graduate, Giulia Bigioli.

Fashion Designer and Project Runway Season 6 Finalist Althea Harper, Fashion Photographer and Producer/Organizer of the event, Jerry Ingram, Nick Verreos, Miami University of Ohio Florence Italy Runway Show (photo courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

The fashion show was amazing--from the location, the gorgeous Florence-based models, the production (the lighting and runway!)--it all led to a fantastic backdrop to feature our fashions. Now, speaking of fashions:



NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos David Paul:

Yellow Princess: Canary yellow silk satin crepe NIKOLAKI gown with pleated draped-front cascade detail (photos courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Florentine Red Carpet: One shoulder canary yellow silk satin crepe dress with shirred side, asymmetrical hemline and shoulder detail (Photos courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Fuchsia Italia: Models featuring NIKOLAKI dresses in Florence Italy Fashion Show--Silk-wool ziberline strapless side pleated asymmetrical dress (Left) and silk jersey cowl tunic dress with "Croq"-embossed leather shoulder accents (photos courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Floating Marchesa: Model in NIKOLAKI one-shoulder silk chiffon "Watercolor"-printed gown with side slit (photo courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Althea Harper:

Three looks from Althea Harper, Miami University of Ohio Florence Italy Fashion Show, Gould Institute (photos courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Giulia Bigioli:

Three looks from Giulia Bigioli, Miami University of Ohio Florence Italy Fashion Show, Gould Institute (photos courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Below are a few more photos from the event:

Step and Repeat Italia: Nick Verreos, Miami University of Ohio Florence Italy Fashion Show, Gould Institute

Beard Boys: Nick Verreos (right) with Designer Domenico Strecapede (left), Miami University of Ohio Florence Italy Fashion Show, Gould Institute (photo courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Molto Baci: Nick Verreos and one of the Florence Fashion Show "Security Detail", Alessandro Marchi (photo courtesy of Gildardo Gallo)

Posing Ladies: Miami University of Ohio Summer In Italy students with Nick Verreos, Gould Institute

Click Below for a great video of the runway show TREDICI 13 in Firenze Italia:

Beyoncé wears NIKOLAKI In Her New Music Video: "Best Thing I Never Had"

Beyoncé in NIKOLAKI, "Best Thing I Never Had" music video

I just returned from almost two weeks in London, Mykonos (Oh how much I miss those beaches!!!), Rome and Florence, Italy, where, along with my design and business partner David Paul, we showed some of our NIKOLAKI Collection for the first ever Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Fashion Show. More on the entire trip in an upcoming blog posting later, of course (working on editing the 400+ photos and videos!). While there, I received word that Beyoncé--yes, THE Beyoncé--wore one of our NIKOLAKI dresses in her latest video "Best Thing I Never Had".

Beyoncé Prom Diva: Beyoncé in NIKOLAKI, "Best Thing I Never Had" music video

We grabbed some screen caps here from the video where she is doing a "look back" at a "younger Beyoncé" and where she wears our silk-wool ziberline fuchsia strapless dress with side draped detail. I was so excited that I think I actually stopped my sunbathing in Mykonos and yelled a "Go Miss Beyoncé!" in front of about 200 Italian and Australian fellow beach-goers!

MTV.com does a style "look by look" of the video HERE

Above is the dress from our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Collection modeled by model Lauren Gish Photo by Evans Vestal Ward

Click Below to watch the entire "Best Th9ing I Never Had" Music Video:

Virgin Mobile Sparah Web-Series Part Two: Celebrity Couple "Sparah" Get Styled and Sarah Wears NIKOLAKI!

Sparah Celebrity Stylist (Me!!) Is Back!

As y'all (yes, I'm a "Southern Gal!"...Not!) know, I shot a FAB Virgin Mobile Commercial featuring "Sparah"--the newest Hollywood "manufactured" Celeb Couple --as well as myself and some of the cutest dogs in the business.

Well, in addition to the commercial there is also a Webisode Series.

Cute Couple: Virgin Mobile's "Sparah", Sarah and Spencer

I was their "Celeb Stylist" in the series (just like in the national commercial) and got the chance to get them out of the Greyhound Bus-to-Hollywood, and into the real Red Carpet. Yes, I was a bit "Bi****" but, sometimes, it takes a strong DIVA to make things work...

We shot this fun behind-the-scenes "Sparah Makeover" at the Chic Little Devil Showroom in Downtown LA--and I was helped by the AMAZING team of...

Stylist Arturo D. Chavez (Right) and Designer Maggie Barry (Left)--LOVE THEM!

As you'll see in "Part II" of "Virgin Mobile Sparah/Nick Verreos: Celebrity Stylist", I actually got Sarah (the female half of "Sparah") to try on some of my gorgeous NIKOLAKI Collection gowns, so she could have a feel for what a Red Carpet Gown feels and looks like...

Virgin Mobile Red: Sarah of "Sparah" in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul red silk ziberline strapless gown, Chic Little Devil Showroom Virgin Mobile Sparah Web-series

Check out Part Two of the "Sparah" Virgin Mobile Webisode Series and see how Sarah and Spencer had their "fashion moment"--while I was trying to STOP Sarah's giggles!!!

Here's the latest in the Virgin Mobile "Sparah" Series: Nick Verreos, Celebrity Stylist Part 2: