Andrew Christian Opening Night Store Opening Party: Nick Verreos Gets A Swimsuit!!!

Clothing Optional...
Am I Over-Dressed With My Hermes Belt: Nick Verreos, Andrew Christian Models and guests Mike Lucas and Spiro Skentzos, Andrew Christian Store Opening Party

This Memorial Day Weekend, instead of going away to Palm Springs or Abu Dhabi for the three-day weekend like most of the fashionista A-List (well, I saw Sex And The City 2, does that count?) I stayed in Los Angeles. Photo Courtesy of LookBookLA.com

And I'm glad I did, because my good friend of over 10 years (we were TWELVE when we met!!!), designer Andrew Christian, was having his "Opening Night Party" for his flagship store in West Hollywood. Window Un-Dressed: Andrew Christian West Hollywood Store Window (photo courtesy of LookBookLA.com)

Of course I didn't come alone and brought my two cutie friends of A LONG time, Mike Lucas and Spiro Skentzos (my Greek "sister"!). The new store--located in the "heart" of West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd, was packed with guests sipping on white wine, enjoying the DJ's tunes and shopping...doing LOTS of shopping! Red, Black and Blue...and Six Pack Ab: Andrew Christian poses with Models (photo courtesy of LookBookLA.com)

All the sexy underwear that you would expect from Andrew Christian were on display.
As well as lots of his latest swimsuit styles --my favorite being the cropped shorts style and a pair of Seersucker ones I wished I would have bought! (I got the cropped ones instead). Trois: Andrew Christian, Nick Verreos and JP Calderon, Andrew Christian Store Opening

I had a great time shopping for my upcoming trip to Italy (Positano here I come!). Also there shopping was one of my all-time favorite boys, the very sexy and always Oh SOOO NICE J.P. Calderon, of Survivor Cook Islands and Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency and... The Fashion Show Mini: Designer James-Paul and friend, Andrew Christian Store Opening Party (photo courtesy of LookBookLA.com)

Andrew Christian's fellow Bravo's Season One The Fashion Show alumn and finalist, James-Paul. This was my first time meeting him and OMG, he's sooooo tiny!! All in all, Mike, Spiro and I had a blast at this FAB Andrew Christian West Hollywood Store Opening. We mingled, enjoyed some wine, shopped and spent some money. Yeah, I guess that was Andrew Christian's plan!

Nick Verreos at the GLEH Garden Party--Hancock Park

Garden Party With A PurposeKhaki and Bubblegum Pink: Nick Verreos and Leeza Gibbons say "cheese", 8th Annual GLEH Garden Party

Last Sunday, I attended the 8Th Annual GLEH Garden Party. GLEH stands for Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing, and it is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and operating high-quality affordable, multicultural housing developments to provide social and recreational services for GLBT older adults. GLEH provides a safe, nurturing environment that supports the well-being of GLBT elders. When I was invited to attend to show my support, there was no question: I had to be there! This Way Please: Nick Verreos at the 8th Annual GLEH Garden Party

This year's event honored Leeza Gibbons and Sharon Gless. It was held at the UNBELIEVABLE estate (not just a home--it looked like where Queen Elizabeth would live if she had a "Summer Home" in LA!) of former "Extra" anchor Dayna Devon and her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Moelleken.Odd Couple: Chuy from Chelsea Lately and Lance Bass, 8th Annual GLEH Garden Party

My best friend, Erik Moreno came with me and we really had a good time. As we arrived, we spotted Lance Bass and Chuy from Chelsea Lately (Lord knows what he was doing there, but I'm happy he was there to support!). Most of the afternoon, we hung out with my "girlfriend", model JP Calderon (you might remember him from the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency show and Survivor Cook Islands) and his HOT partner. Don't Touch My Fat: JP Calderon feels Nick Verreos up (as his bf looks on laughing!)

We had a lot of fun together! The house--located in the "original" Beverly Hills area of LA, Hancock Park, was incredible (did I already say that?). This 8th Annual GLEH Garden Party featured a fashion show/presentation by LA underwear and swimsuit designer, Andrew Christian.
Designer and Client: Nick Verreos with actress Thea Gill, 8th Annual GLEH Garden Party

There was also an extensive Silent Auction featuring a signed guitar by Melissa Etheridge, various vacation packages, signed scripts, spa packages...you name it, they had it! There were delicious hors d'oeuvres including beef and shrimp skewers, crepes, salads as well as cocktails galore. In case you're wondering, the Gays WERE eating (including myself!).
Flipping Out: Nick Verreos with hair "guru" Chaz Dean, 8Th Annual GLEH Garden Party

I also said "hello" to actress Thea Gill from "Queer As Folk" (and a former red carpet NIKOLAKI client!) as well as Chaz Dean (he was one of Jeff Lewis' clients on "Flipping Out").
Leeza's speech was wonderful and very inspiring I might add. Thank you to GLEH for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful event.

Highlights and Observations: Emmy's Party Weekend

My highlights of the entire Emmy's Weekend were:
--Attending the Kate Somerville Spa and Gifting Suite, where I surveyed the PaigePremium Brand jeans all the stars are wearing (they make your butt look amazing!), Ajne Parfumerie and Apothecary, a company that creates custom perfumes out of the most precious ingredients for actresses like Reese Witherspoon and Hilary Swank (their bottles look they were found in the elegant bathroom of a Romanian castle!), and Frette sheets, maker of the most sumptuous bedding in the world. Last but not least, here I got a chance to meet Kate Somerville and speak to her about her famous products, especially the Quench Hydrating Serum, which actress Catherine Bell of "Army Wives" confided in me, was like a "skin miracle".

--I also attended Kari Feinstein's Emmy Style Lounge, where we had to drive to the highest hills of Hollywood and then be shuttled to a "secret location" where the suites were located in a private mansion. Now, this was the flossiest-flossiest lounge I had ever been to. There was a Reebok room where they had some of the coolest looking sneakers I had ever seen (the Voltron line is super-colorful and my favorite). Laura and I even filmed a PSA for Rockand Republic's "Rock The Cure" campaign while actors Seth Green and Andy Milonakis looked on. Laura kept saying how her kids would be SO jealous if they knew she was there with them! I saw so many stars file out of there with so many bags of stuff, my jaw just remained at dropped position the whole day! My half-full bag looked like a bad poor stepchild compared to theirs.

--At the Platinum Suite in the Luxe BeverlyHills Hotel , we were escorted to the Penthouse Suite and I got to stand near(but not too close to), $40 million worth of diamonds and platinum designed by various jewelry houses. It's just incredible that they are lent out to stars. I guess somehow actors wearing them and mentioning their name makes some (very rich) folk run out and feel like want to buy a $50,000 necklace. There has to be a reason, right? I just wore my $100 Nixon steel-plated watch--which I bought myself! Here, there was a La Prairie counter, offering a "taste" of why their skin caviar is the best skin cream in the world. The jar that was hidden in my "goodie bag" was larger than a jar of Jiffy Peanut Butter! Trust me, I ain't complainin'.

--I was invited to attend the Gersh Agency Dinner and Party for its Emmy nominees, given by Frederic Fekkai, to celebrate the opening of his eponymous salon on the exclusive Melrose Place street. There, I gossiped about fashion with Lilah Schechner, West Coast Editor of Elle Magazine. Leave it to the two fashion "queens" to hone in on each other and hang out for two hours and discuss fashion--at a very "A-list Hollywood Industry" non-fashion party!

--David and I attended the Entertainment Weekly Party and saw such A-listers as Vanessa Williams, most of her costars from "Ugly Betty", "Entourage's" Jeremy Piven, my friend and his on-screen assistant, Rex Lee, and Heidi and Seal. I had a lot of fun, sampling the hors d'oeuvres and drinking the yummy Margaritas. A notable absence was Tim Gunn, who was supposed to have shown up, but due to the fact that his car pick up NEVER arrived, he opted to just remain in his hotel and rest up for the big event. I missed him because we would have had "private time" to dish before the Emmy Awards the next day.

--Emmy Awards:
My favorite moments were meeting the GORGEOUS Padma Lakshmi, hostess and judge of Top Chef--looking divine in a white stretch silk Dolce and Gabbana siren gown, Tom Colicchio, also of Top Chef, "Ugly Betty" actor Christopher Gorham, who's a big fan of Project Runway. My best moment was meeting actress Patricia Heaton. I delicately pulled her to come to be interviewed for my MSN piece and once she recognized who I was, she literally began jumping up and down screaming. She was like "Oh my God, Oh My God, you're Nick from Project Runway!!!!" I returned the favor by also screaming "Oh my God, you're Patricia Heaton..and I am a big fan! And can I design a Gown for you next time???" Check out the MSN Emmy video to see what she had in her purse. It's the best! Click HERE to watch the video of Laura and I going through the Stars purses!

--I attended two Emmy's after parties: One for DIVA, Diverse and Inclusive Visionary Artists/Hector Monserratte at East West Lounge where I ran into Survivor star and Janice Dickinson model, JP Calderon. The 2nd party was for Magical Elves, the producers of Bravo's Top Chef and Project Runway, among others. There, I had a great time chatting with Bravo's Andy Cohen and seeing my old friends at Elves, especially the sexy Michael Rucker, looking like a British aristocrat with his tuxedo tails, skinny pants and flower pin. Here, I also ran into model Amanda Fields and several of the chefs from Top Chef well as the over-the-top Bobby Trendy(go figure!). They were still viewing the awards show that I had just ended up attending. Unfortunately, I arrived right as they were announcing Amazing Race as the winner of Reality Competition Program. There were lots of booos in the party.

-- Two Interesting Observations regarding the Emmy Awards:
I always somehow thought that the WHOLE theater/auditorium was always FILLED with stars--all of its 6,000 seats were somehow occupied by "famous people". When, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Maybe 5-10 % of the seats are filled with famous people while the majority of the seats are "other" industry folk--producers, writers, costumers, grips, agents, managers--not so famous.
The other observation was more of a fashion one. A lot of the women attending looked like they were going to the Miss Tennessee Pageant Finals, instead of the Emmy's. Beaded polyester satin Leg-o-Mutton sleeved gowns with front thigh-high slits would not have been my choice of a gown to wear to the Emmy's. And I saw SEVERAL! Ah well, all I can do is continue to offer advice and encourage women to "DRESS LIKE YOU MEAN"! Click HERE to watch video of Laura and I giving advice on dressing for your body type.