FIDM Fall Open House Los Angeles--The BLOG Recap!

Fashion School Fabulous...

FIDM Bag Diva: Nick Verreos with Chloe (@Chloekinss), the Winner of the FIDM Fall 2011 Open House "Go Social" Contest

This past weekend was the fabulous FIDM Fall Open House, held at the Downtown L.A. Campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--the college where I am an instructor and a spokesperson--oh and yes, also my Alma Mater!

As part of the great Open House events, I was asked to host a FIDM Alumni Panel Discussion, which attendees of the FIDM Fall Open House came to. I put on my brand new TopMan pink-ish jacket and pink dress shirt, my Brooks Brothers pink-and-white polka dot pocket hankie, black jeans and YSL "Johnny" boots, and well, I was ready to go!

Packed House: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

I LOVED hosting this FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Alumni Panel event. First, I chatted with the audience--both the students and their parents. I also dished a little bit on this last season of Project Runway and being on the Lifetime Network "After The Runway" TV shows. And of course, I also did a little Nick "Runway Walk".

FIDM LA Fall Open House 2011 Panel: (left to tight) FIDM Alumni Denshai Lee, Brooke Cody and Allison Moehlis

Then, I introduced the three panelists: first, there was Fashion Design Alumna Denshai Lee (left), who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from FIDM (naturally) and currently is a production manager at a private label company that makes clothing for various retailers across the US. Brooke Cody (middle) was the next panelist. Brooke also holds two degrees from FIDM--an A.A. in Merchandise Product Development and a Bachelor's in Business Management. She now runs her own retail store in Pasadena, Kodi Boutique. Our third guests was Allison Moehlis. Allison is a FIDM graduate of the Merchandise Product Development department and is now Product Coordinator for UGG Apparel. After the Panel Discussion, I stayed around to meet everyone and take lots of fun photos--and autographed LOTS of the attendees handbags (it was a MAJAH signing trend this time!!). Note to self: must design & sell "Nick Verreos" handbags to sign at next year's FIDM Fall Open House!

Here are some "Post FIDM Open House Panel" fun photos:

Fashionable Ladies: Nick Verreos poses with attendees from Hollywood High School's "Fashion Club" stylish students

FIDM Open House Smiles: Nick Verreos with the GVHS/Golden Valley High School Fashion Club students and instructors

Boys Club: Nick Verreos and two of the most stylin' boys attending FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House event

Heeeeyyyyy!!!: FIDM LA Fall 2011 Open House Attendees pose for my camera

Hope everyone enjoyed the fun & fabulous (and very informative) FIDM Fall Open House! I had a BLAST meeting each and everyone of you!

Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos at FIDM Orange County Open House Summer 2011

Fun In the OC...



This past Saturday, as one of my "duties" as the Official Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, I made a trip to the FIDM Orange County Campus for their annual FIDM Summer 2011 Open House. FIDM Open House is a chance for high schoolers (and post-graduates) and their parents to check out FIDM, its facilities, alumn, instructors as well as the curriculum--just in case they might be thinking of attending a fashion college.

FIDM Orange County Campus, Irvine California

I live in LA so I thought "heck, it'll take just 45 minutes to get there!" (it has before). Nope, try almost TWO HRS...On a Saturday morning! Yep, welcome to the world of LA Traffic. Finally, I made it and just in time for my first "Lecture/Special Appearance". FIDM OC invited members of the FAB Nordstrom Brass Plum (BP.) Fashion Board to come and check out FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House--and hear me speak!

Southern California Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board...and Nick Verreos, FIDM Orange County Summer 2011 Open House

Members of the Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board from all these different areas/local shopping centers were already waiting for me as I walked in and did "my thang"! I told them all about my recent Europe Trip and my new FAB red "Man Bag" as well as how I got into fashion, my love of sketching, talked about Project Runway, owning a fashion design business for ten years, as well as having celebs like Beyonce, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum wear my NIKOLAKI creations.

Nick Verreos Doing the "Hands on the Hips" pose with Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board members, FIDM OC

Afterward, I posed with EVERY Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board group and even met a BIG FAN--who was almost crying (well, a bit teary eyed) when she met me:

LOVE her!!! (look at my "Clutch my Pearls" face!)

Then it was onto my next Lecture at the FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House. These were general--but still VERY IMPORTANT!-- guests who came to the Open House to check out the Campus. I loved this group as well because there were several "Mommies and Daddies" in the audience, so you KNOW I had to give a couple "Mom & Dad" high-fives! There were also several attendees who GAVE some Fashion LOOKS!!! Naturally, I had to get some pics:

Funky Hair, Custom Tees and Stripes: Nick Verreos poses with two attendees at FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House

Blue Fashion Boys: Nick Verreos poses with a FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House attendee--with (almost) matching blue-colored H & M skinny jeans

Until next time FIDM OC!!! Bye for now!

FIDM San Francisco Open House 2011: My Photo Recap!!!

60's Shift Dresses, Fashionable Students, a Fun Lecture, and ...oh, Is That Miss Raja from "RuPaul's Drag Race"???

Nick Verreos, FIDM SF Entrance

This past weekend, I took a quick trip to one of my favorite cities (and old "stomping grounds")--San Francisco--to make a visit at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's San Francisco Campus, for their annual "Open House".

The FIDM SF campus is located right in the heart of Union Square, one of the BEST--and most famous--shopping meccas in the world. I always love coming to the campus because I just LOVE the entire FIDM SF team and they always "roll out the red carpet" for me.

In addition, I always love looking at the great window displays they have as soon as one gets out into the 5th Floor "lobby" area. This time around, they had a display entitled "Pop Goes The 60's", showing colorful fashions of the 60's--from the FIDM SF "vault"--including a sassy red plaid pantsuit--accessorized by a chic red hat/turban--as well as...

A lemon-yellow wrap dress and one of my favorites, the apple-green silk shantung shift dress with encrusted sequin trim seen above on the right. But enough about the chic window displays...now onto the Open House...

Speech Mode: Nick Verreos at FIDM SF Open House 2011

After an entire morning of students, parents and families taking a tour of the FIDM SF Campus and getting to meet former graduates, faculty, the FABULOUS library, and classrooms, they get a special treat: I give my "Nick Inspiration" Lecture and share with everyone my story--from growing up in Caracas Venezuela sketching my mom and flight attendants--to finally pursuing my dream of becoming a fashion designer, attending FIDM and of course, my time on Project Runway. I was taken aback by HOW MANY people showed up for my "little ol' lecture":

It was Standing Room Only kiddies! I have been here before doing my "Nick Lectures" for past Open Houses but this was KRAZEE! (good krazee of course!). I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed it (they told me so afterward) and said that "It was really informative, inspirational" and added that I was "really funny!!".

Say "FASHION!": Nick Verreos poses with a Cuppertino-based high school Fashion Club, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Following this, I took photos with anyone who wanted as well as signed FIDM tote bags. As always, it was so much fun meeting everyone--from the high school students to their mommies and daddies!!

Spell Your Name: Nick Verreos signing FIDM tote bags, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Check out That Necklace: Nick Verreos poses with guest--and future fashion designer--FIDM SF Open House 2011

After the Open House was over, I still had several hours before I had to go back to SFO to catch my Virgin America (Love the Mood Lighting!) flight back to Los Angeles, so the FIDM SF ladies decided to send me off with some delicious cocktails and nibblings at...

Kuleto's on Powell in Union Square. Well, darling, the staff there was BEYOND-gracious as they showered my "party" with complimentary Champagne and yummy signature cocktails. Who knew someone at Kuleto's was a fan of Project Runway and TV Guide Red Carpet Shows and moi!? Needless to say, it was a great "Send Off" and a wonderful way to end a very successful Open House lecture. But wait...it wasn't over:

Posing Girls: Nick Verreos and Sutan "Raja" Amrull of "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3", Union Square San Francisco

All of a sudden, as I'm about to leave, I spotted a friendly face from LA: Sutan Amrull--"Raja Gemini" from "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3" just walking with his friends. Of course, I ran out and had to say "Hey Girl!" At the same time, we both asked "What are you doing here in SF???" and I told him I was doing my FIDM SF event and Miss Sutan was emcee'ing "Soiree 9: La Dolce Vita" 9Th Anniversary of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. We then posed and caused a minor scene right there and then, much to the delight of the German tourists walking by. Love me some Raja!!

Now...I was really ready to catch my flight back home to LA--Until next time SF...