Fashion Institute of Design FIDM Los Angeles

SMILE: FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

This past Saturday, I had the honor of MC'ing the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM's Fall 2013 Open House at the Los Angeles campus. The FIDM Open House is a way for high school--as well as post grad's--who are interested in careers in fashion, graphic design, styling, visual merchandising, apparel industry, product development...to check out the FIDM campus, meet its faculty, Almuni and staff. And yes, join me as I host a fun panel discussion!

MC Nick: Nick Verreos MC'ing the 2013 FIDM Opern House Expert Alumni Panel Discussion--Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Los Angeles

Speaking of Panel Discussion--on my agenda that day was to MC a very special FIDM Alumni Panel Discussion with five FIDM graduates sharing their success stories working in the industry, including Eunice Chung, a Senior International Coordinator at Guess Inc.; Caitlin Connell, who is a Creative Coordinator with Universal Pictures; Kara Gaydosz, a Merchandise Coordinator with Vans; Lynn Restelli, who works as a Costumer and Project Manager at Disney's California Adventure; and Chace Vance, who is a Trade Manager at Manufacturer.com.

 Showing the Dads How It Is Done: FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

But before I got to that, I had a very special "Runway Walk-Off", involving the dads who attended the FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2013 Open House. Many of the attendees come to the Open House with their parents so I thought this is a fun way to get them involved...and embarrass their daughters and/or sons.



Check put some of the fun--and CRAY-CRAY pics I got of the Father FIDM Open House Runway Walk-Off:

 Dad Fierce: FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

 Paid and Striped Dad Chic: FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

 T-Shirt Runway: FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

After the Dad Runway, I hosted the FIDM LA Open House Alumni Panel Discussion:

 Expert Alumni Panel: (left to right) Caitlin Connell, Kara Gaydosz, Eunice Chung, Lynn Restelli, and Chace Vance--FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House, FIDM LA Campus

FIDM Almuni Kara Gaydosz (left) and Eunice Chung (right)--FIDM Los Angeles Fall 2013 Open House

Post-FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House Meet-and-Greet Pics:

Nick Verreos and FIDM Fall 2013 Open House Attendees

Go Social Winner: Grand Winner of FIDM LA's Fall 2013 Open House "Go Social" Contest, Jayce Chandler with Nick Verreos--and the autographed and sketched bag he won

I had a BLAST hosting the FIDM LA Fall 2013 Open House and so happy that everyone had a great time as well --or at least they told me LOL! Can't wait for the next one!!

Miss Guatemala 2014 for Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International Crowning + Gown Recap

Golden Girl: Ana Luisa Montufar Miss Universe Guatemala 2014

This past weekend were the Miss Guatemala 2014 Finals, held in Guatemala City. The contest crowned it's representatives for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, three "Grand Slam" international beauty pageants. The top winner--Miss Universe Guatemala 2014  was 20 year-old Ana Luisa Montufar who represented "Ciudad Capital" (Capital City").

Ana Luisa Montufar "Miss Universe Guatemala 2014"

Ana Luisa is 1.73 M (about 5' 7") tall and is no stranger to pageants; she was Miss Teen Guatemala 2011 and Miss Earth Guatemala 2011. She is a model. 

Top Three: (L to R) 2nd Runner-Up Claudia Maria Herrera "Miss International Guatemala 2014"; the winner "Miss Universe Guatemala 2014" Ana Luisa Montufar; First Runner-Up "Miss World Guatemala 2014" Keyla Lisbeth Bermudez

Costume Show:As part of the Miss Guatemala 2014 Finals this weekend, the contestants presented themselves in "National Costumes", here are some photos of the feathered Pre-Columbian Native Goddess--and very "Carnival" Costumes--some of the contestants wore:

Feathered and Sequined: "Miss Guatemala 2014" contestants in costume--Miss Guatemala 2014 Finals

The Gowns:

Golden, Sequins, Lace: The Top Three "Miss Guatemala 2014" Queens in their final evening gowns--Miss Guatemala 2014 Finals

I want to begin with a MESS. Why? I'd rather get this one out of the way and then talk about the Pretty (the Top Three Gowns!)...

Miss Tacky-licious: What The Heck Is This? Well, kids, this is Amarilis Calderon Pesquera "Miss Retalhuleu" and this is her evening gown. This violet-blue strapless concoction with silver applique, stretch satin and double-tier ruffles with what looks like a train. Why? She's so pretty but this ensemble doesn't help. And to add insult to FASHION injury, she wore golden sparkly platform heels and wore her hair up like a Mother-of-the-Bride in 1996. This girl needs a stylish FASHION BESTIE GAY ASAP!



The Good:

Ana Luisa Montufar: The eventual winner wore a gold sequined gown with nude illusion neck/shoulder piece with silver sequins. This was a very nice gown and it was styled just right--with the hair semi-down and the gold cuff and diamante earrings; Modern Pageant Gal.

Keyla Bermudez Miss World Guatemala 2014: Keyla also wore a gold-colored gown--she chose one that had a sequined applique tulle overlay under a golden satin strapless column gown. The color was just perfect for her and so was the silhouette. Keyla would look FABULOUS in an all-sequined golden gown when she eventually competes for the "Miss World" title; she needs to vibe "James Bond Diva/Hale Berry/Couture".

Claudia Herrera Miss International Guatemala 2014: Claudia wore an ivory crepe gown with high side-front slit and sequined neck-and-side detail. This dress was VERY "Pageant 101" and not re-creating the Gown Rules. With that said, it was a nice dress and looked great on Claudia.



Felicitaciones and Congratulations to the new Guatemalan Queens!!

Miss Arkansas USA Helen Wisner and Miss California USA Cassandra Kunze During the Miss USA 2014

Slit Happy: Miss Arkansas USA Helen Wisner and Miss California USA Cassandra Kunze during the Miss USA 2014 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition, Baton Rouge River Center Baton Rouge Louisiana

In my last post HERE, I discussed my Top Ten Best Gown Picks from the Miss USA 2014 Preliminary Competition. Now, it's time to talk about the contestants's who I wished "Could Have Been Better" and the "Slit Happy" ones...

Now, to begin with there weren't that many "Oh No She Didn't!" gown moments so this isn't the post for the "Worst"; like I said, these just could have been better...Shall we begin:

Miss Mississippi USA Chelsea Reardon: The lovely Chelsea wore a different gown than what she wore for the "Evening Gown Portraits" (right photo). And it wasn't any better. While she chose a popular white/ivory color, and the gown isn't bad at all, it's just a little dated and unoriginal. And in terms of styling, she was ill-advised with the ageing hair up-do and too-big earrings.

Miss New Mexico USA Kamryn Blackwood: I put the pretty Kamryn in my "Uh Oh!" list for what she wore for the Gown Portraits and unfortunately, she wore the same dress for the Preliminaries on Wednesday night. It's waaay too tacky-licious; the exposed midriff, the too-close-to-a-wardrobe-malfunction bandeau one- shoulder top...It's screams "Oh Dear!" and definitely Could Have Been Better.

Miss Rhode Island USA Christina Palavra: One of the youngest contestants at the Miss USA 2-14 pageant (she's 19!), she makes a very strong impression with her exotic skin coloring, hair and height (she's 5' 11"). But with this royal blue velvet gown with long sleeves and silver sequined applique, she's not gaining any style fans. The gown is very Mother-of-the-Bride circa 1996 and it just doesn't do her any favors. I'm liking the red and gold "Bollywood"-like concoction she wore for the Gown Portraits (right photo) better. Christina DEFINITELY could have been better.

Miss Tennessee USA Kristy Landers Niedenfuer: Nashville-native Kristy was ready for the Grand Ole Opry in the black and emerald green sequin applique halter gown she wore on Wednesday night's Preliminaries. It was a Gown Change from what she wore for the Gown Portraits (right photo) and I kinda wished she would have NOT changed. The Preliminaries gown looked dated and very "Pageant Betty".

Miss Utah USA Angelia Layton: First off, it's not a bad looking gown--this royal blue Mermaid-shaped strapless dress. It's just not right for Angelia. The Crest-White Strips smile and too-perfectly blond hair scream "Pageant Betty". The entire look is a little dated. She wore this same gown for the Gown portraits and I just wished she would have gone for something more modern.



And now, the SLIT HAPPY Ladies:

Miss Arkansas USA Helen Wisner: OK, foirst off, I wasn't much of a fan of what she wore for the Gown Portraits (those boobie pads were not cute!) and for the Prelims, the beautiful Helen decided to continue the "I-Am-Too-sexy" vibe with this teal green gown with WAAAY too plunging neckline and too high of a side front slit. She's got a SLAMMIN' body, however, there are other more subtle ways of showing it.

Miss California USA Cassandra Kunze: Oh Cassandra. Why? I (kind ) lliked the copper/gold sequined strapless gown you wore for the Gown Portraits) but for the Preliminary Competition, you decided to show too much leg and too much boobie cleavage: it's a little too "Real Housewives of Orange County". And I HATE seeing those nude too-platform heels: #HideThem.

Miss Maryland USA Taylor Burton: Taylor wore a blush-colored sequined gown with a crystal neckband and very high front side slit. I wish she would have just worn the strawberry gown she wore for the Gown Portrait. A pet peeve of mine is seeing the rippled wrinkled mess that is the inside lining. Someone should have pressed and/or steamed that thang! ASAP.

Miss Vermont USA Gina Bernasconi: I think Gina is so beautiful. She wore this same gown for the Gown Portraits in the Miss USA website. It's OK. And yeah, that's it. This gorgeous woman deserves better, than this. She tries to make it sexy with that slit but take the slit away and it;'s a dress for an older Mother-of-the-Bride.

Miss West Virginia USA Charisse Haislop: Finally, it's time for Charisse. She's definitely a "Slit Happy" girl in this gown. It's not a bad gown but I am a little over the halter/key-hole combo. The gown style is just rather dated and very early 2000's. I just want to see a bit more up-to-date modern Couture styles from these girls. And then there's those tacky platform heels. Seriously???



***THIS SUNDAY the Finals for the Miss USA 2014 Pageant....Stay tuned for my Miss USA 2014 Final Telecast Gown Review!!!