Nick Verreos Parties with Marc Cherry for the Season premiere of Season 6 Project Runway!

Desperate Project Runway Housewives Party!!!The Old and The New: Andrae Gonzalo, Kit Scarbo, Nick Verreos and Rami Kashou pose with Season 6 contestant Logan Neitzel

Last week, as we all know, was the much-anticipated premiere of Project Runway's new season on Lifetime. I was invited to several parties, including a party one of the models from the Models of the Runway (Lisa Blades) was throwing at a local restaurant/club. Marc Cherry, creator of Desperate Housewives was also having his own intimate viewing party and so without blinking my L'Oreal Paris mascaraed eyelash, I decided to attend Marc Cherry's bash. Desperate Housewives Divas

I met Marc at an event in LA over a year ago but he didn't know who I was. Then, this last January at the Kuwaiti Embassy Party for the Obama Inauguration in Washington DC, he approached me saying "I know we met a while back but I had NO IDEA who you were...but I have since watched Project Runway and now I know...and I'm a big fan!" Back then, he confided in me his ideas to have a viewing party for the premiere of the new season and it all came to fruition this past Thursday.The Host With The Most: Marc Cherry

I extended the invitation to a few Project Runway Alumnae so I wouldn't have to be the only one answering questions regarding what really goes on "behind the scenes". We arrived soon after the beginning of the All-Star 2-hour special episode and therefore they had to pause it, until we all got situated. Already there was Rami Kashou, finalist from Season 4 as well as some of Marc's friends. More and more guests came trickling in as waiters passed food and drink orders. The entire (almost) Desperate Housewives Wardrobe and Costume Department was there (they are HUGE FANS!!!) including the amazing Emmy Award-winning Costume Designer, Cate Adair. Season 2 designer--and fellow Lifetime Blogger--Andrae Gonzalo, came donning a celebratory red tie. Kit Scarbo of Season 3 stopped by, looking sexy, in her Catherine Deneuve-meets-Natasha ensemble. We even had a "surprise visit" (OK, I sent him the invitation so it wasn't so much of a surprise) all the way from Seattle: Season 6 contestant, designer Logan Neitzel. Yes, the new "Cutie" of Season 6. I joked that he was there so Rami could pass on the "Hottie of Project Runway" crown to Logan.
Caught In the Bathroom: Kit Scarbo enjoys the Hollywood Goddess bathroom at Marc Cherry's house

Marc Cherry was the consummate host, as he controlled the remote (yes, we had him hit the PAUSE button many times!). The entire party was catered with the most delicious "comfort" food which included an array of salads, breaded chicken breasts, vegetables and a mac-and-cheese to end all mac-and-cheeses! However, the stars of the night, for me, were the pigs-in-a-blanket hors d'oeurves. Mental note: Must return to Marc Cherry's EVERY Thursday just for that! At the end, Marc even showed us his "Hollywood Starlet" bathroom, which features portraits of EVERY Hollywood Goddess, from Myrna Loy to Lauren Bacall. Models, Meet your Designers: Lisa Blades, Nick Verreos, Carol Hannah Whitfield and Logan Neitzel

After leaving Marc's party, we somehow made it--just in time--to the Model Of the Runway Premiere Party on the other side of town. Most of the guests were leaving but we were there long enough to say "Hi" to one of my favorite models and muses, Lisa Blades as well as another Season 5 contestant, designer Carol Hannah Whitfield.The following day, Lisa stopped by my Downtown LA studio/showroom to return the NIKOLAKI cocktail dress she wore to the "Inglourious Basterds" Premiere (Dry Cleaned, even!). I was excited to see that she brought along Carol Hannah (in a cute canary yellow one-shoulder jersey dress of her design) and Logan (in extra skinny jeans and deep V-neck, of course) so we posed for some photos at my studio, including one with Tim Gunn. Well, Tim Gunn's Bubble head Doll! The new--and the old--of Project Runway--praising the God of Tim Gunn, via a doll (since we didn't have the real thing!).
Thanks you Marc Cherry for a fabulous party and good luck Carol Hannah, Logan and Lisa--hope you go far! Can't wait for this week's episode...

Sweet Redemption plus More-Episode 3 Recap

HOLA!

I just returned from spending three wonderful days in San Francisco where I was asked to host a fashion show/event (more on that in a later post) and literally dropped my suitcase and turned on the TV to watch this third episode of Season 4 Project Runway. Thank God for TiVo, since I got home after the episode aired and therefore could not have my weekly "Viewing Party" with Andrae, lots of champagne and cookies. For this particular episode, I decided to just put down several "thoughts". Hope you enjoy it and would love to read your feedback and thoughts on this episode.

1) Sweet Redemption:
While the episode unfolded--along with all the drama and frustrations--the words sweet redemption kept cropping up in my head, like little "Pop Up Video" bubbles. Now, let me preface my explanation by saying that I have had nothing but amazing opportunities as well as feel blessed by everything that has occurred in my life and my business as a result of being on the show. However, as you may remember, I was voted off Season 2 for making Daniel Vosovic a suit that was deemed "too feminine", as well as for a lack of pockets and jacket button/closures.

Yet, after seeing some of the creations in this episode, I could not help but feel a bit redeemed. Especially, since I remember at the time reading a lot of viewer comments saying something to the effect of "How could Nick not put buttons or pockets?" But somehow, I got to finish a fully lined jacket, a collared dress shirt, a silk scarf and skinny pants with a waistband and zip-fly in the SAME AMOUNT OF TIME as these designers. Go figure. Several of this season's designers could barely finish TWO pieces. It ain't that easy kids. Therefore, again, I have to ask the question I asked in my first recap: Are these really the most talented group of designers ever? (as Tim and Heidi proudly announced in the premiere episode).


Chloe Dao, the winner of Season 2, made a fabulous--and Challenge-winning--three-piece outfit for me, which included hand sewn buttonholes , mitered stripes and a fully lined vest. Season 3 winner, Jeffrey Sebelia made a great "Rock Star" outfit, which was (as far as I remember) fully finished also. So why couldn't these designers, who are supposed be more talented and have far more expertise than us, just finish a shirt or close the lining of a jacket? Just saying...

Now, back to the best and worst of the lot. Like the judges, I also had a difficult time trying to decide which outfit was the worst: Ricky's safety-pinned concoction, Sweet Pea's askew dress shirt or Carmen's 1920's Golf caddie go-go boy. In the end, Carmen 's badly fitting crotch was the one to go.

I did have a couple of favorites, most notably, Rami's, which looked straight out of the third floor at Saks Fifth Avenue Men's Store: Elegant, stylish and very Italian-looking. I also liked Kit's cardigan-like creation. He looked like a sexy "Mr. Rodgers". But the judges chose Jack's safe,well cut shirt and pants. It looked very much like it came from the Macy's I.N.C. brand.


2) Where did all those Men's Forms come from?
If I remember correctly , we didn't even have men's forms when we did our challenge. I actually had to fit it on one of the ladies forms in the room. Daniel Vosovic was a woman's 4, in case you are wondering, without the breasts of course! But, all of a sudden, when they return from the NBC Today Studios, there are a dozen men's forms at the Parsons Workroom. No explanation. Unfair and a bit bizarre.

3) Jack: It's called "Knocking Off"
Congratulations for winning this challenge, Jack. We loved your outfit as well as seeing your GINORMOUS pecs every other second, but there was no need to actually ruin your shorts and cut them to get the pattern. It's on page 535 of "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" by Helen Joseph-Armstrong, and is usually taught to every second year fashion design student. So, next time, no need to cut, just get that old tracing wheel out and some tissue paper and you are ready to go...

4) Speaking of GINORMOUS pecs...
Did a Bravo executive just write a big yellow "Post It" to the show's editors and say More Male Nude Skin? (I'm speaking to you Andy Cohen!!) What was going on? There was so much gratuitous display of male skin, I thought I was standing in front of an Abrecrombie and Fitch store! First, Jack was half naked through the entire episode. Then, after the constant parade of male models with their .00005 % fat content showcasing their taut bodies, I had to check my remote to see if the channel had changed to LOGO. But the sight of "I have the whitest teeth in all the United States of America", Tiki Barber (whom I admit I had no idea who he was) reassured me otherwise. Bravo knows its market demographic: It not only wants to make the gays and their girlfriends happy, but also the girlfriend's beer-drinking, football-watching husbands.
And finally:

5) Open Letter To Carmen:
Dear Carmen: There is a light at the end of the Project Runway Menswear Challenge Tunnel. I guarantee you will get a request (or two) to make your auf'ed ensemble for someone. Proof: Just ONE WEEK AGO, I received the following letter on my website regarding my "way too feminine suit" that I created for Daniel Vosovic TWO YEARS AGO, in which I was booted off the show for:


Dear Mr. Verreos, I actually just saw one of the episodes of Project Runway, and I am very interested in a suit that you constructed for another contestant, Daniel. I have been looking for a suit exactly like that forever. Do you still design men's suits, or is there someplace where you sell suits in that same style? If not, would you be interested in creating one? Please let me know.

Season 4 First Episode Recap... Sort of

Finally!

The premiere of Season 4 Project Runway was upon us, and not a moment too soon! Instead of recapping the entire episode and spending way too much unnecessary space here, I want to try something different. Besides , I am sure that everyone and their mother from Honolulu to Poughkeepsie, and all those 15 year old kids who-have-become-YouTube-blog-phenomenons in between will surely be putting their two cents into who did their best, who made something "whickety-whack" and who "underwhelmed" them.

I want to pose Three "Uncle Nick Project Runway" Questions in regards to this first episode:

1) Is this really THE MOST TALENTED bunch of designers ever?

It's rather insulting for all the actual talent that has been seen from previous seasons who have created marvelous work. If I get sick and tired of hearing this tired line every season from my dear Tim Gunn, imagine how Kara Saun, Jay McCarroll , Chloe Dao and Jeffrey Sebelia feel? Especially after seeing this first episode. Or maybe they don't care. I haven't asked them lately... Irregardless, I feel that a lot of these dresses looked amateur, save Rami Kashou's. His was ethereal and beautifully draped. I know that for our season, we actually had a few days to create the garment we did for the Season 2 First Challenge, but still. Several of the dresses (Simone, Ricky) any girl can find in a local mall. An empire-cut baby doll? Really? Give me something kids! Inspire me!(Now, I am sounding like "Instructor Nick"!) Kit's looked straight out of "Hot Topic", and don't let me start on Elisa's turquoise ripped-into-shreds nightmare. In a non-reality show world, she would have been out. Lest we forget, it is still a TV show and Elisa would make for nice quirky "I design dresses based out of the grass I rub into my cloth" fodder worth watching. Simone

was forgettable, therefore she was the one to go.

2)Has Project Runway becoming the new "Real World"?

One more screen caption of Rami's tank top-wearing pecs and Jack's six-pack abs (I counted!) and the next thing I am going to see is them jump into a hot tub, get drunk and start, well you get the picture. Sexy sells, I get it. And nowadays, image is very important for designers. Look at Marc Jacobs' transformation from librarian-computer-grunge-geek to Chelsea hottie! But I don't want to start thinking that this Emmy-award nominated show is falling prey to MTV-style show of gratuitous skin. It's nice to watch, yes. But it's even better to watch the designers go through the motions of creating amazing garments--or crazy ones!

3) Do the Season 4 Models have that "WOW" factor the previous seasons ones did?

They are pretty, I do not deny that. But models should be extraordinarily pretty. Tarah, Danielle, Amanda, Marilinda...these girls turn heads. These new models don't have that "Wow" factor that Chloe's Grace did, for example. It is a known fact that the Project Runway models do not get paid for their time on the show and risk losing actual paying gigs, editorials, etc. by being there for 12 hours in a single day. Do you think that word has gotten around and agencies just don't want to risk that for their models or models don't feel the end result (What are they getting out of this?) is worth the time? Who knows. I just pose the question.

Heidi's Halloween-Part TWO!!!!

Ghouls, Goblins, Ghosts and Britney?

If I was to sum up Halloween in Los Angeles it would come down to three things:
1. Traffic
2. Halloween Ho's and scary costumes and
3. Paparazzi Madness

Here's my recap of the night: I attended Heidi Klum's annual Halloween bash to do some "red carpet" "Uncle Nick" dishing (see below for link to the YouTube video) as well as to have some fun. I dressed up as an 18th Century Courtesan and David was a Vampire a la Anne Rice's "Interview With A Vampire". I wish I could say that I actually made my fabulous costume, but alas, I would be lying. I got it from one of Southern California's oldest costumes houses, Western Costumes.

It took more than an hour to drive from my Downtown Los Angeles Studio to Hollywood. It's only a 10 mile trip! Did I tell you how much I HATE LA traffic. You'd think we Angelenos would be used to it but it still shocks the nerves. Last night, stuck in that infamous traffic, I was struck with an uneasy urge to want to MOVE TO A QUIET FARM in KANSAS!!

Once in the Green Door club, we made our way past all the costumed attendees and immediately met up with my partner-in-fashion-crimes, Season 2 designer Raymundo Balthazar looking like he was just at Oil Can Harry's (if you live in LA, you'll understand). We also ran into Season 4 designer, Rami Kashou, looking quite ghoulish. We also saw Season 2 designer Santino Rice hanging out with Season 3 winner Jeffrey Sebelia. After what seemed like an eternity (traffic inside the club mirrored the traffic outside!), we finally made it to the cordoned-off "VIP" area, where Heidi Klum was. Heidi was decked out in her hand-painted ensemble, dressed as a sexy scary cat. I am not exaggerating when I say this: Her figure looked FLAWLESS! I want to know her secret, besides having a trainer and a cook at her beck and call 24 hours a day...

At the VIP lounge, we recognized Director Quentin Tarantino and were introduced to Seal's brother, who looked quiet scary, like an extra from "28 Days Later". Desperate Housewives actor Kyle McLahlan and his wife, Desiree Gruber were also hanging out in Heidi's VIP room. Kyle looked hilarious as a golfer-gone-wrong with a golf ball stuck on his forehead! Desiree was a sexy catburglar who had just stolen a priceless diamond ring. We also ran into several good friends including Jane Cha, dressed as Riyo Mori, Miss Universe. Her powder blue gown was a perfectly bad hybrid of a prom dress and a bridesmaid dress. My friend Chad looked cute and wholesome as a sailor. I just wanted to pinch his cheeks all night long! I even ran into an ORBIT GUM GIRL!!

From the VIP area, I could see all the party goers and their costumes and quickly made this observation: Why do grown, intelligent women use Halloween as a night to bring out their "inner Ho". What is that about? And when did this phenomenon begin to occur? It baffles me. Heidi was COVERED from head toe and yet, she was still THE SEXIEST WOMAN at the club. There were so many "Naughty Nurse", "Naughty Nun", "Naughty housewife", I wanted to douse them all with alcohol. I am by no means a prude, but all that naughtiness isn't really necessary ladies.

Speaking of INNER HO'S: All of a sudden there was this mad rush in the club and before we knew it, we find out Britney Spears had entered the club! The party went from a regular club atmosphere to sheer madness because Britney had arrived. It went from being "Heidi's Halloween" to "Britney's Halloween" in 2.2 seconds. Like witnessing a car wreck, we decided to venture outside of the VIP area to to see if we could catch a glimpse of Miss Spears and headed for the bar. There, we found Britney wearing some heart-shaped glasses and sporting what looked like a feather boa--along with her entourage 0f about 10 hangers-on as well as a bunch of her angry-looking bodyguards. Party guests were shoving and pushing just to get a glimpse of her. It was very surreal. In all this madness, we spot Heidi actually walking to this bar area where Britney was. They greeted each other, posed for photos and POOF! Heidi was gone. In my bitchy mind, I concocted a fantasy conversation which had Heidi saying "Let me show her whose party this really is...!" Soon after, Britney left and so did we. Outside as she departed, what ensued looked like something out of the last night of Princess Diana's life: About 15 cars dangerously raced and screeched right behind her while about 50 paparazzi ran (cameras in tow) to get photos and film of her as she sped away. It was one of the most surreal moments I have ever been a part of. It was the prefect crazy ending to a crazy-and scary night.

To watch my fun YouTube video at Heidi's Halloween 2007 Red Carpet, Click HERE

and HERE to watch the TMZ Video where TMZ caught all those Halloween Ho's, as well as myself waiting to get my car.

Heidi's Halloween!-Part I

Spooky Designers!!

Just got back from Heidi Klum's fabulous Halloween party at Green Door in the heart of Hollywood and , needless to say, it was CRAZY! I dressed up as an 18TH Century FOP--like Marie Antoinette's best gay friend. After driving ONE HOUR from my Downtown LA Loft to Hollywood (usually it takes twenty minutes), I finally made it to Hollywood. After reaching the Green Door , I did some of my Heidi's Halloween "red carpet" dishing and I made my way inside the club.

Besides the usual suspects of Hollywood industry hangers-on, I finally saw the real thing: There she was, Miss Heidi Klum, dressed as a mysterious and sexy cat-woman donned in a stretch velvet hand-painted cat-suit with whiskers, colored contact lenses and all. Before I knew it, it was a Project Runway-meets-Halloween-free-for-all: There was Santino Rice as an Indonesian Priest giving Halloween blessings and then, a scary, yet still sexy(future cover boy for OUT Magazine much?) Season Four Rami Kashou and a Gay Cowboy Raymundo Balthazar ( Watch out: Raymundo has got a line-dancin' trick under his Western Shirt!) With all that, you have the ingredients for a very nasty, yet fashionable and fun, Heidi's Halloween.

Did I add the fact that Miss Britney Spears was there too? All in her heart-shaped sunglasses and all. She caused quite a stir at the club, let me tell you. Heidi was at the VIP lounge and Britney was near the bar sitting in a separate part of the club. Wanna bet both parties met up? Gimme More....

Yep, you know they did! And I will tell you next time what happened... Happy Halloween y'all!

L.A. Fashion Awards Celebrates Project Runway

Fashion, Cars, and Making It Work!

This Friday is the Third Annual LA Fashion Awards, presented by Saturn and hosted by E! Daily 10's Debbie Matenopolous. I have attended previous years and have had a lot of fun. In fact, I presented an award last year to my friend, Jen Egan, West Coast director of Gen Art.

It is sort of like the LA version of the CFDA, but more trucker hats, tattoos, and LOTS of jersey little dresses!!! This year, Bravo's little old show, Project Runway will receive the Inspiration Award, and I'll be there to celebrate, congratulate and make fun of my loving producers that worked so tirelessly to make the show so wonderful and for making me cry on tape! (remember that final episode of mine? Trust me my niece and nephew do!)

For those fans of the show, this might be a cool event for you to go to, since there might be some "surprise guests" from the show stopping by and a Season 4 designer , local wunderkid, Rami Kashou, is nominated in the "Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award" category, amongst others. There will be capsule collections presented on stage throughout the event so it should be like an award show and fashion show--all rolled up into one event!

Click at the image for tickets and info. I hear there are some Balcony Seats still available. See you there! You can also click on the link to go directly to TICKETMASTER.