NICK APPEARANCES.....FIDM San Diego Open House 2013: Recap with Lots of Pics!

 Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Open House 2013

This past weekend, I drove down to San Diego--along with my partner David Paul--to make a special appearance at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM San Diego campus for their Open House. The FIDM Open House is a way for anyone interested in possibly attending FIDM to check out the campus, facilities, classrooms, all the different majors, meet instructors, alumni...It's also away to Meet Me!

 Hello FIDM San Diego Open House--Nick Verreos gets ready for his special appearance and "Open House 2013" discussion

As the Official Spokesperson for FIDM, an FIDM instructor and grad, it's always my pleasure to make appearances at some of the campus events to share my story and "How I Got To Where I Am" and how FIDM helped me, of course. I always love going to the FIDM San Diego campus and particularly, San Diego. The campus is conveniently located in Downtown San Diego in the very hip Gaslamp District and VERY adjacent to...

 PETCO Park, San Diego

I also like San Diego in that it's like L.A., but with a little bit of natural air conditioning; the weather is always PERFECT. A bonus is that my NIKOLAKI/NV Nick Verreos partner David Paul's family lives there and that's where he grew up so he always finds a chance to visit his mommie :)

 Ortega's Mexican Bistro Restaurant, Hillcrest neighborhood San Diego

When David and I arrived--the night before my appearance at the FIDM San Diego Open House--we had the chance to have a delicious dinner with his mom, Conchita, at Ortega's A Mexican Bistro Restaurant (the Chicken Mole was yummy!) in the Hillcrest neighborhood. The following day was Open House:

 Guess Who's In The House: Nick Verreos, FIDM San Diego Open House 2013

 NIKOLAKI slide show--FIDM San Diego Open House 2013

 FIDM San Diego Open House 2013--Nick Verreos appearance

Nick Verreos and 2013 FIDM Valedictorian Angelica Villegas--I had the pleasure of doing a special "pair discussion" with the 2013 FIDM Valedictorian Angelica Villegas, who happens to be from the San Diego area. She was AMAZING; so inspirational and intelligent. Angelica had such great insight in what it takes to be a succesful FIDM student and grad. After our talk, it was time for taking pics and sign some bags. Here are some photos of that:

Nick Verreos with FIDM San Diego Open House 2013 attendees

 Water Cup Signing: Nick Verreos during the Signing-and-Pics section of FIDM San Diego Open House 2013

Fashion Coordinating Beard Brothers: Nick Verreos and Juan Carlos--from Mexico--giving Nick a "Fashion Run for his Money" with his very stylin' ensemble! Beards and COLORFUL skinny jeans...are "IN"!! Tell that to Heidi Klum!

Until Next Time FIDM San Diego!! XOXO

NICK APPEARANCES.....FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013" Appearance and Fashion Presentation, the BLOG Recap!

 Nick Verreos FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

If you've been keeping up on my blog here, you know that last weekend was the first Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM "3 Days of Fashion 2013" at the FIDM Orange County campus. So now it was time for me to go to one of my favorite cities in the US--San Francisco--to make a special appearance--and show some of my NV Nick Verreos and NIKOLAKI dresses at the FIDM San Francisco campus for their "3 Days of Fashion". Since I spent most of my pre-high school and high school years in the Bay Area, it's always nice to come back to what was once my "home". My trip to SF is usually a quick over-nighter; I arrive the day before, attend my event the next day and fly back that same night.

 My plane that almost never left...LAX to SFO Virgin America

Now, speaking of flying, there were some MAJOR delays going to--and coming from--San Francisco. At first the excuse was SF weather but once I got to San Francisco and saw that the weather was GORGEOUS, I knew it was something else. As it turned out, San Francisco International Airport had shut down one of their runways and this therefore caused a bunch of delayed headaches for many a traveler (including yours truly). Both my flights to SF and coming back to LA were delayed by four hours. Needless to say, I almost spent more time at LAX and SFO combined than actual time IN SAN FRANCISCO...almost!

 Rainbow Colors Fab: San Francisco City Hall

But once I arrived, it was all good. It's "Pride Week" in SF and even the San Francisco City Hall was awash in Rainbow colors (see above photo!). Also, it was a wonderful "Good Morning and Welcome to San Francisco" to get up on the day of my event, turn on the TV and see that the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down DOMA and Prop 8. Needless to say, you could FEEL the excitement in SF on that momentous day! It was also momentous because, yes, it was THE day of my FIDM SF "3 Days of Fashion" event: Yeayyyy!



Here are Photos and Recap of my Day:

 Cable Car Nick: Nick Verreos in San Francisco

 The Ferry Building San Francisco

My appearance at FIDM SF "3 Days of Fashion" wasn't until around 4PM (I was to be there at 3PM) so after checking out of my hotel, I called my good friend whom I have known since childhood--Miguel Orantes--to join me in having lunch. I told him that I didn't care where and even a cheap diner would be fine for me. But not for my dear Miguel.

 The Slanted Door Restaurant San Francisco

He took me to one of the BEST restaurants in San Francisco--The Slanted Door--located in the Ferry Building. Usually, he says "you cannot get a reservation for dinner!" but since it was lunch, we would be good. And we were. The restaurant boasts "Vietnamese Home Cooking" and it was DELICIOUS! We had the Dunganess Crab with cellophane noodles, gingered beef noodles and caramelized wild gulf shrimp. It was BEYOND yummy, ALL of it. And I'm so happy that Miguel made this lunch decision. He then gave me a quick tour of The Ferry Building "Marketplace" and then we were off to FIDM SF...

Once I arrived and it was "Nick Time", I immediately wanted to photograph the HUGE group of attendees who were there at today's FIDM SF "3 Days of Fashion"--the group was so big--over 150 of them--that it took me THREE pics to get them all:

Say Cheese San Francisco! The FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 20143" attendees

HELLOOOOO!!!!! Nick Verreos arrives at FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

 Presentation Hour--Nick Verreos, FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

As part of my visit, I brought some of my NV Nick Verreos and NIKOLAKI dresses and they were modeled by model Rachael Sitz, who's one of my FAVE San Francisco runway and editorial divas--here are some pics from that part of my FIDM SF "3 Days of Fashion 2013" presentation:

Summer Chic: Model Rachael Sitz in NV Nick Verreos canary yellow chiffon belted dress with sunburst pleated front "fall" detail--

Go to Dillards.com for more NV Nick Verreos

Grand Entrance: Model Rachael Sitz in NIKOLAKI black silk organza "rosette" strapless high-low gown with jeweled embellished trim and side pockets--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Meet-and-Greet Nick: After my presentation, we had a Meet-and-Greet where I took lots of photos (Hello Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!) as well as signed many a sketch notebook! There were so many students that the FIDM SF ladies set up two separate lines--it was all very well organized and I was happy to meet-and-greet everyone who was there.

Bag Girls: Winners of fab autographed FIDM tote bags-as well as the "Go Social" winner got to take many a pic with me--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Nick Verreos with Madison Briese--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Nick Verreos and a FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013" attendee

Nick Verreos with Celina Laguisma--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Photo Courtesy of Celina Laguisma (and her Instagram)

Nick Verreos with Peggy Elizabeth Duncan--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Photo Courtesy of Peggy Elizabeth Duncan (and her Instagram)

Nick Verreos with Riley Scanlan (and friends)--FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

Photo Courtesy of Riley Scanlan (and her Instagram)

Miguel Knows His SF Restaurants: My lunch buddy--and childhood friend-for-life, Miguel Orantes---FIDM San Francisco "3 Days of Fashion 2013"

FIDM SF Empress: Nick Verreos with Trudy Noren, FIDM College Rep and Special Events 

Soon, it was time to catch my flight back to Los Angeles. And like I said, it was delayed, of course. My flight was supposed to leave at 9pm but the plane didn't take off until about midnight! But, at least I got to spend a lot of time looking at this very COLORFULLY lit SFO:

Bye San Francisco!!! Hope to be back soon!

***Up Next in "NICK APPEARANCES": FIDM Los Angeles 3 Days of Fashion 2013!!!