UNDER THE GUNN....."Project Runway: Under The Gunn" Winning Designer Oscar Garcia-Lopez's Marie Claire July 2014 Fashion Spread--Pics, My Behind-The-Scenes Blog!

Latino Couple: Winning Designer and Mentor: (L to R) Oscar Garcia-Lopez and Nick Verreos, Silver Lake neighborhood, Los Angeles Marie Claire U.S. Magazine photo-shoot

As you know, back in April, I was on Lifetime Network's "Project Runway: Under The Gunn"--a Reality Competition TV Show hosted by Tim Gunn with Project Runway All Stars Winner Mondo Guerra and Project Runway Season 9 Winner Anya Ayoung-Chee, and myself Mentoring up-and-coming designers, guiding and helping them through many "Project Runway"-like design challenges until there was one winning designer and one winning mentor.  After a very trying season, my only remaining designer--the VERY talented Oscar Garcia-Lopez--won...

Marie Claire U.S. July 2014 Cover

Soooo.....I also won as the Top Mentor of "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" (YEAYYY!!!). One of the prizes I was to get was my own "Photo Spread" in Marie Claire Magazine. I was very excited at this since I could possibly feature my NIKOLAKI designs and subsequently have the Marie Claire readers get a chance to see my designs. Well kids, there was indeed a Marie Claire Photo Spread that I was part of but it was Oscar's photo spread (which indeed was one of the several prizes he got from winning the show)...

SERIIIIIIOUUUUSLEEE: Oscar Garcia-Lopez and Nick Verreos, Silver Lake neighborhood, Los Angeles Marie Claire U.S. Magazine photo-shoot

I found this out when I was told that the Marie Claire photo spread was happening but that I was just asked to show up, dressed and ready with no need for any of my designs.

Oscar Garcia-Lopez--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

Naturally, I was sad that I didn't get my own photo shoot, but I also was thrilled to be part of Oscar's Winning Marie Claire photo spread since he--after all was the BIG winner; and as a bonus, it was a chance to see Oscar since I ADORE him! This photo spread is out and on the newsstands in the Marie Claire July 2014 issue (with cover girl, actress Mila Kunis.)



The Marie Claire July 2014 "Under The Gunn" Photo Spread:

"Project Runway: Under The Gunn" Winning Designer Oscar Garcia-Lopez  Photo-Spread, Marie Claire U.S. July 2014

Photographer Emman Montalvan, Fashion Editor Sue Choi

 Here are some Behind-The-Scenes Pics I took during the shoot:

Fashion Trunk: One of the trunks that had Oscar's winning creations shipped to the L.A. photo spread location in Los Angeles

Model Fab:

 Nick Verreos with model Polina Protodyakonova (from Photogenics)--Marie Claire July 2014 "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" photo shoot, Silver Lake Los Angeles

Model Polina Protidyakonova in a batwing silver lame top and skinny trousers from "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" winning designer Oscar Garcia-Lopez--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

Oscar, The Rack and Accessories:

 Oscar holding up his "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" Finale Collection grape-colored gown--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

 The Rack--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

 The Jewelry and Shoes--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

 Fashion Editor Sue Choi--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine Project Runway: Under The Gunn Oscar Garcia-Lopez photo spread, Silver Lake Los Angeles

 Leaving the Shoot: Nick Verreos--Silver Lake Los Angeles

Winning Twosome: (L to R) Winning Mentor and Designer of "Project Runway: Under The Gunn", Nick Verreos and Oscar Garcia-Lopez--Marie Claire U.S. Magazine, Silver Lake Los Angeles

PROJECT RUNWAY.....Judging the Los Angeles Castings/Auditions of Season 13 Project Runway with Tim Gunn, A BLOG RECAP!

 Mentor Twosome: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos---Judging the Southern California/Los Angeles Auditions/Castings of Season 13 Project Runway--Bunin-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA

This past week, I had the chance to judge the Season 13 Project Runway Auditions/Castings. This is (wait for it!) the ELEVENTH season I have been asked to be part of the judging pre-final audition/casting process.

Audition Judges: (L to R) Nick Verreos, Tim Gunn and Marie Claire US Fashion Editor-at-Large Alison Edmond--Season 13 Project Runway L.A. Castings/Auditions, Bunim-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA

ELEVEN SEASONS of judging these castings! The show--in case you're wondering is celebrating it's 10-Year Anniversary (Season One began filming in 2004!!) and as you may know I was on Season 2 which we filmed in 2005...

I Have My Own Sign: Nick Verreos, L.A. Castings/Auditions of Season 13 Project Runway

I was asked to judge the castings as of Season 3 and on Season 6...

I was actually invited to be an on-air judge, alongside Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum and actress Kerry Washington (photo above)

Ready for the Auditions: Nick Verreos, L.A. Castings/Auditions Season 13 Project Runway, Bunim-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA--I was very honored to judge the auditions with Marie Claire US Fashion Editor at Large Alison Edmond and the one-and-only Tim Gunn...

Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos: I hadn't seen Tim since I won the "Top Mentor" title on Project Runway: Under The Gunn. I know that he wasn't necessarily a fan of my mentoring style and the winner (as one can see from his "Tim Talks" HERE) but that's all water under the bridge, as they say. He was very sweet to me during the auditions :)

 (L to R) Tim Gunn, Project Runway Executive Producer Jane Cha, and Nick Verreos--Season 13 Project Runway L.A. Castings/Auditions Bunim-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA

 Casting Divas: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos with "Project Runway" Casting Executives Rebecca Snavely and Alyssa Haight Carlton--Season 13 Project Runway L.A. Castings/Auditions Bunim-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA

 End Of Day: After an entire day of seeing hopeful Project Runway contestants...this was Tim, Alison and I...Who's ready for a Dirty Martini???

Castings Group Shot: Season 13 Project Runway L.A. Castings/Auditions Bunim-Murray Offices Van Nuys CA