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: Under The Gunn" Screening Party on THURSDAY MARCH 27th

Join me for a very special "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" Screening Party on THURSDAY MARCH 27th at my Alma Mater and the place where the show was filmed: the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM in Downtown Los Angeles! I will be hosting this Viewing Party and watching a new episode along with everyone! And I will be doing in-between commentary on what is happening and some "Nick Dishing!" during the commercial breaks...

Afterward, I will stick around for a Meet-and-Greet, photo-op's and to answer more of your "Under The Gunn" episode questions (yes, more DISHING!). We will viewing the East Coast feed, therefore the screening begins at 6pm (9pm EST). But...get there early (5pm) so you have enough time to tour the campus and visit the "22nd Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition" at the FIDM Museum on the ground floor.

Can't wait to WATCH a new episode of "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" with all of you!

Don't Miss It!

DETAILS:

WHAT: 

*Project Runway: Under The Gunn Screening Party with Special Guest Nick Verreos



WHEN: 

*Thursday March 27, 2014

*5:00pm-8:00pm

*Screening will begin at 6:00pm East Coast feed

*Arrive early to tour the campus and check out the "22nd Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume

  Design Exhibition"



WHERE:

*FIDM Los Angeles campus

*919 So. Grand Avenue

  Los Angeles, CA 90015

*Student Lounge 4th Floor

UNDER THE GUNN.....Nick's Take: Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic", My Inside Dish!

Mentor Steampunk: (Left to right) Mondo Guerra, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Nick Verreos--Griffith Park's "Travel Town" Los Angeles--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Ruwnay: Under The Gunn

This week on Lifetime Network's "Project Runway: Under The Gunn", it was the Avant-Garde challenge. The theme was Steampunk.  In case you might be "out of the look", Steampunk style deals with fashion inspired from the genre of science fiction, which is inspired by steam-powered machinery and involves an "alternative world" of both 19th Century Victorian and American "Wild West" as well as a post-apocalyptic world involving retro-futurism. Yep: go figure...

Where's the first "Under The Gunn" Winner? Mentor Nick Verreos with designers Natalia Fedner, Oscar Garcia-Lopez and Stephanie Ohnmacht at "Travel Town"/Griffith Park--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

I was excited to be mentoring this challenge for my designers, mainly because I LOVE an Avant-Garde Challenge and because of Season 11 "Project Runway" winner Michelle Lesniak and her Finale Collection. It wasn't until Michelle that I truly became aware of what Steampunk even was (Thank You Michelle!). We drove to Griffith Park's "Travel Town" very early in the morning to film the Challenge Introduction:

Griffith Park's "Travel Town"--filming set-up for Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Griffith Park's "Travel Town", Los Angeles

Tim Gunn, the Designers and Mentors--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

After the Challenge Announcement at "Travel Town", we all went to Mood Fabrics Los Angeles...

 "Welcome to Mood'--Designers, Mentors and Tim Gunn--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Nick Verreos and "Oscar" (named after Oscar de la Renta, naturally)--the Mood Fabric L.A. "mascot"

Mood Fabrics Los Angeles: Thousands of fabulous bolts of fabrics

Under The Gunn Workroom, back at FIDM:

 Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos--Project Runway: Under The Gunn Workroom, FIDM--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Uh Oh: "Big Daddy" Mentor Tim Gunn just told Anya Ayoung-Chee that one of her designers (Nicholas) is having lunch when he should be working...

The Following Day, Runway:

Steampunk Mentor Chic--(Left to right) Mondo Guerra, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Nick Verreos--Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Los Angeles Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Time for the "Under The Gunn" Inside Dish:

 Nick's Designers: (Left to right) Designs from Oscar Garcia-Lopez, Stephanie Ohnmacht and Natalia Fedner--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Stephanie Ohnmacht: Stephanie had a difficult time finding herself--design-wise--in this episode. She is not an "Avant-Garde" designer and therefore she struggled a bit. I liked her idea but I wanted her to exaggerate everything about it; put tulle inside those billowy sleeves to "puff" them up (she didn't) and take this to another level. I did like the silhouette and especially how she used some of the "Steampunk"-like metal details which she glued onto the top/shoulder section of her look. The entire design was very "Karl Lagerfeld/Chanel" and I appreciated that.

Oscar Garcia-Lopez: Oscar went all-out, as usual. His look was like a "Steampunk Saloon Girl Couture". I loved this look in that it was a complete design, very thought-out and very well made.  When I visited him, he wanted to do a "She begins with a big ball gown and then she takes the overskirt off and she's got a cocktail dress on". It was looking a bit too gimmicky...

Oscar Revolution: Oscar also painted "Revolution" on the skirt (pic above). Tim Gunn and I both told him that this would not be a needed addition to his design. Lucky for us, Oscar listens and he is AMAZING at knowing how to take our critiques and then "adjusting".

 But then, there were these gorgeous pleats: those hand-pleats are out of this world! I thought his design was one of the Top ones.

Natalia Fedner: Natalia rocked it out of the "Steampunk" park with  this design of hers. I was so proud. She wanted to devise a pulley system using things she had received from our time at Griffith Park's "Travel Town". It was INGENIOUS! Natalia's design merged all the elements that make Steampunk wonderful; it was Victoriana, it was mechanism-fab; it was futuristic...All of it!

Steampunk-ed: When her model stopped in front of the judges and began her lifting-up of the design, it was like "done and done"; we all gasped, the judges and production people were like "Oh No She Didn't!" and we all clapped!

 Avant-Garde Twist: Natalia Fedner's model begins the twisting mechanism of her "Steampunk" design--Episode 7 "Steampunk Chic" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

My winner was Natalia, even though she did not win this challenge, I as a mentor, was VERY proud of her.

UNDER THE GUNN.....Nick's Take: Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge", My Inside Dish!

Nick Verreos, Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum, Pacific Palisades California--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

This past week's episode of Lifetime's "Project Runway: Under the Gunn" was the dreaded TEAM CHALLENGE. We're almost halfway through the season and it made sense since each mentor's team of designers were now "even-steven", i.e. three in each. The Challenge was to create a 3-look "mini collection" inspired by the new film...

  "Pompeii" 

...and the surroundings of the Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum in Pacific Palisades:

Gorgeous Pool: Mentors (left to right) Mondo Guerra, Nick Verreos and Anya Ayoung-Chee--Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

This was my first time ever at the Getty Villa and I was enchanted by the surroundings, and trying to take pictures while we had a break from filming:

Courtyard, Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum

Marbled floors and columns, Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum

Detailed Ceiling: Getty Villa/J. Paul Getty Museum entrance

And now, onto my "Nick's Take"/Inside Dish of the Episode:

-Coming off of last week's episode (it had actually occurred the day before),
and all the Isabelle DRAMA, the first thing I wanted to do was make sure to
"clear the air" and apologize to Isabelle, direct to camera, for adding
my "two cents" when Tim Gunn asked if I had anything to say. At the
time, I was in such a hurricane of emotions (as I stated in my last
"Nick's Take" HERE) that I just wanted to add a period, as it were, to it all.
In hindsight, it wasn't necessary. 

-Secondly,
in the beginning of this new challenge, I wanted to make sure to tell
my designers before they even began sketching that I apologized to them
for having to see their mentor do that to Isabelle and hoped that they
wouldn't come to any conclusions that I would do the same to them.
Isabelle was a "very special" case and luckily for me--and them--there
weren't any more "Isabelle's" on our team. All this occurred off-camera.

Team Nick: (L to R) Designers Stephanie Ohnmacht, Natalia Fedner, Oscar Garcia-Lopez and mentor Nick Verreos--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

-After we got that out of the way, we had a group hug and began caucusing. To inspire them, I tried to tell them about the city of Pompeii (which I had visited years ago) as well as the glorious surroundings of the Amalfi Coast nearby. I suggested they focus on the beauty before the destruction (of Pompeii). I could tell from the start that all the designers were feeling down and defeated after the whole Isabelle situation. 

-There was also a feeling in the air that we--Team Nick and the designers--were the "Bad News Bears"/the weakest of "Under The Gunn". It made me depressed as well, so I could understand  how Oscar felt. But I figured, now that Isabelle is gone, it's a BRAND NEW DAY. However, the morale was low. 

--It also didn't help that almost EVERY challenge--after Mood trips--Tim always came to the Mentors Lounge--and said "Anya, Mondo, your designers are doing GRRRREAT!"...and "Nick....well, Good Luck Darling! Your designers are a MESS!". This didn't help matters, for sure. It made Anya and Mondo smile but I felt nervous and challenged.

Troubled Threesome: (L to R) Oscar Garcia-Lopez, Stephanie Ohnmacht and Natalia Fedner--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

-Oscar sensed that both Natalia and Stephanie were not on their "A" game and decided to take charge. It was obvious that he would do the "last" look since Oscar is about drama and if anyone could do a "wow" it would be him. But then where would Stephanie and Natalia fit in? 

-What you saw during my Workroom Visit was the tension of them not coming together and I think their fear of failure. After a bit of "Workroom Therapy", They finally realized that they needed to unite and solve their design problems in order to create a cohesive collection. Instead of isolating himself from the group, Oscar took control and became the "Big Daddy" and wisely so.

 Oscar The Helper: Oscar Garcia-Lopez and Natalia Fedner--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Naturally, Oscar was already done with his stunning "Gladiator Princess" look very early on, and so he began helping Natalia, making sure the team was on track to being a success.



Runway Time:

Judges (L to R) stylist Jen Rade, Marie Claire editor Zanna Roberts Rassi, designer Rachel Roy and "Pompeii" Costume Designer Wendy Partridge--Episode 6 "Pompeii Team Challenge" Project Runway: Under The Gunn

Oscar Garcia-Lopez: Simply stunning and oh-so-chic. This was a perfect modern interpretation of an upper class aristocratic, fashion-savvy woman living in Pompeii. I especially loved the back cape that hinted at the Gladiator's capes of the time. Oscar doubled the ENTIRE ensemble, which was a creme colored crepe, and finished it to perfection.

Braid Fab: And by the way, Gregory Patterson (above) and his Blow Pro team did a FABULOUS job on the hairstyles and those braids! Love ya Gregory and Blow Pro!

Natalia Fedner: Originally, Natalia wanted to hand-weave some silk chiffon and create some sort of a mini dress. I didn't agree with her weaving since it came out of nowhere and looked a bit wonky and unfinished. It took some time to convince her to "save her weaving technique for another day and challenge" but she did. I commend her for being a team player and I think the end product was a stunner! This floaty and ethereal dress was gorgeous.

Stephanie Ohnmacht: Originally Stephanie wanted to do big, wide palazzo pants in that printed chiffon. But after everyone decided that Natalia's design would be long and floaty, we all figured that having too long floaty styles would be repetitive so that's how the romper came to fruition. Here's another "Inside Dish": Stephanie wanted to sew that back "mini cape" onto the waist of the shorts; in other words, this wasn't going to be a cape at all, just an over piece in the back. I suggested that in order to give a "hint" of Oscar's Gladiator Princess cape in his final look, she should leave it out, loose. I'm glad she did.

Amalfi Coast Girls: A perfect mini-collection, inspired by Getty Villa and "Pompeii"--and the Winner Is...

Nick's Team!

OMG!!! Look at our reactions--I think our screams of joy almost gave Tim Gunn--and the judges--a heart attack! And I felt as if I just gave birth to a baby after 24 hours of labor!

Congratulations to my designers, well done! After so many weeks of feeling like the "Bad News Bears", this was a welcomed nice feeling.

And...Congratulations to Oscar who was the challenge winner for that gorgeous creme caped pant ensemble. Felicitaciones!