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

Los Angeles Castings

 Tie Brothers: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos--Season 12 Project Runway Los Angeles Castings

This past Monday, I had the honor of being invited/asked to co-judge the L.A. Castings of Lifetime Network's Season 12 Project Runway! Yes kids, TWELVE seasons...and I was on Season TWO! I feel as if that was a CENTURY ago! Nevertheless, I was honored. I've actually judged the Castings for the past TEN seasons (!) so as they say, this was not my "first time at the Rodeo!".

The Project Runway Casting "Caravan" has been to Seattle, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and then they came to Los Angeles! Upon arriving to the Bunim-Murray offices--where the castings were being held--I got the verklempt when I saw they had an actual reserved parking spot with my name on it:

 Welcome Nick--Yeayyy, I finally got my name on a parking space! (I know, it was hand written and would be erased in a few hours....but it's the small things that make me happy!)

For this L.A. Casting, I was joined by Marie Claire's Fashion Editor-at-Large and Los Angeles Ambassador to the British Fashion Council, the very chic Alison Edmond, as well as Project Runway's Mentor Extraordinaire, Mr. Tim Gunn:

 Ready to Judge: (left to right), Marie Claire's Alison Edmond, Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos--Project Runway Season 12 LA Castings

First off, this was my first time meeting Alison Edmond and she was so WONDERFUL: I had decided to wear my TopMan shawl-collared purple suit and I LOVED that she had a shawl-collared jacket on as well! Oh, and yes, she was also very sweet! Now, onto Tim: it's been a while since Tim has been part of the casting process so it was a nice treat to see him again and well, be sitting next to him as I kicked him under the table! It was also nice to see all the Full Picture, Weinstein, Lifetime and Bunin-Murray "peeps" during the castings: Love 'em all!

 My "Project Runway Season 12" Casting Book--this book includes secrets that I cannot divulge...

 Project Smiles: (left to right) Tim Gunn, Jane Cha Cutler: Executive Producer and Executive Vice President of Full Picture, Nick Verreos--Project Runway Season 12 L.A. Castings

The In-N-Out Lunch Break:

So...for lunch--in between castings sessions--we got a SURPRISE: We could have a salad or sandwiches from a local place or...In-N-Out! Naturally, I chose In-N-Out because I have it like once a year and sometimes (once a year) I like to feel as if I am a 18 year old who can afford to eat In-N-Out (calorie-wise!)...

Nick's Order Is Here: In-N-Out Animal Style Double Double with fries--I was glad that I wasn't the only one ordering In-N-Out when we all pressed (no, actually FORCED!) Tim Gunn to get some In-N-Out, citing how AMAZING it is! So, with no further ado...presenting Tim Gunn about to have his FIRST EVER In-N-Out Animal Style Double Double:

 YUMMM!! Tim Gunn about to eat his very first In-N-Out Animal Style Double Double---In case you're wondering, Tim LOVED his In-N-Out Burger! He said (and I quote) "Did someone just make this one minute ago??" He ate it in 2 minutes flat! (maybe less!).

In-N-Out was delicious and oh, yes, we saw a lot of talented designers at the L.A. Castings and look out for a GREAT Season 12 of Project Runway! I have a feeling that some of the season's designers/contestants will come from these L.A. Castings...