FIDM MUSEUM.....The "Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Costume Sketch Exhibition, A BLOG RECAP!

Sketch Fab: Nick Verreos--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the new "Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition at the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum. The exhibition features over 100 original sketches and wardrobe pieces from top costume designers such as Gilbert Adrian, Edith Head and William Travilla.

Exhibit Pose--Nick Verreos at the "Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Esquevin, who is Director of Library Services at the Coronado Public Library and has been collecting original Hollywood costume sketches for over 25 years. He inherited some  costume sketches from his great aunt who worked in wardrobe at the RKO as well as other studios.

I LOVE this new exhibition for many reasons: I am a big fan of Hollywood, costumes and more importantly, fashion sketches. I still hand-sketch EVERY design I come up with and therefore I love and respect vintage fashion illustrations and sketches and particularly, ones referring to Hollywood...

David Paul and Nick Verreos--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Here are photo examples of some of the FABULOUS costume sketches:

"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Sketch by Donna Peterson of Goldie Hawn in "Foul Play"--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

William Travilla sketch of  actress Sharon Tate playing "Jennifer North" in "Valley of the Dolls"--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Norma Koch Sketch of Diana Ross in "Lady Sings The Blues"--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

William Travilla costume sketch--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Walter Plunkett sketch--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

Bill Thomas Sketch of Shirley Jones from "Never Steal Anything Small"--"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

WHAT: 

"Designing Hollywood: Sketches from the Christian Esquevin Collection" Exhibition

Iconic Hollywood Costume Sketches Exhibit



WHERE:

FIDM Museum & Galleries

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90015, Ground Floor, Park side



WHEN:

Exhibit runs from June 11-November 1, 2014

10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday (Closed Sunday, Monday)

Free to the public

For More Info. --Click HERE

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

ROYAL COUTURE.....Queen Sofia of Spain, Style Icon Through The Years

Mantilla Diva: Queen Sofia of Spain

Yesterday, King Juan Carlos of Spain officially handed over his crown, throne, title...you get it, to his son Felipe. Felipe is now Felipe VI King of Spain. The official ceremony was televised live on BBC World News and yes, I was up until 2 AM PST watching it!

Belted Fashionista: Queen Sofia during the Abdication Ceremony--with her husband, King Juan Carlos I and son, the new King Felipe VI

In terms of Abdication Ceremonies and Handing-over-a-Crown, it was rather low-key, in accordance to the fact that Spain has recently hit some difficult economic times and well, it wouldn't be kosher for people to be talking about the $100,000+ Haute Couture being worn and all the Too Mucheey being spent (at the Spanish tax payers expense) on a grand affair. It was still grand but with a lower-case "g". In light of this "passing the torch" to the younger generation, I wanted to pay a Style Homage to the older, and particularly, Queen Sofia, the Queen Mother.

Doña Sofia has always been a style icon in my eyes and here, I want to pay tribute to this. Let's begin with her chartreuse satin suit worn at yesterday's official Ceremony Welcoming the new King of Spain. Queen Sofia wore this silk taffeta suit with three-quarter sleeves, high neck. It was austere, elegant and perfect. What I especially liked was the very Retro 60's back button detail: 

Buttoned Queen Mother: Queen Sofia of Spain--in the the balcony of the Palace, greeting the "masses" welcoming the newly crowned King of Spain (fourth from left)

Queen Sofia 1960's

I love this look from the then-Princess of Greece and Denmark, Sophia. Donning a mink shawl, pearls, silk chiffon dress, hat and elbow-length white gloves, she looks every bit a future queen...or Hollywood royalty.

The Wedding: In 1962, the Greece-born Princess Sophia of German-Danish descent wed Infante Juan Carlos in Greece wearing a Jean Dessès Haute Couture custom wedding gown with (as you can see) a very, very long royal-worthy train. The silk satin  and lace veiled gown would be estimated at costing over $100,000 in the 21st Century Haute Couture pricing standards. The wedding was attended by many Euro royals at the time and occurred at a Catholic church even though she was Greek Orthodox. Naturally, Sofia converted to Roman Catholicism to become more palatable to Roman Catholic Spain. Also, her Greek name of Sophia became "Latinized" to then become Sofia.

1970's:

During her first official appearance as Queen of Spain in 1975--Sofia wore a teal coat and gown inn an A-line silhouette with gold trim, long sleeves and black lace Mantilla. She looked every bit a Couture Queen alongside her husband, King Juan Carlos I and children (future King Felipe standing in between them with his sister).

Mantilla Queen:

As the Queen of Spain, Sofia wore the Spanish headdress of a peineta (hair-comb) and mantilla (lace fabric draped over the headdress). And she wore it well. Even though among many "inside social circles", she was still considered the "German Queen", she made sure to wear this iconic Spanish fashion accessory. Here are some of the best Queen Sofia Mantilla fashion moments:

Polka Dot Sevillana Fashion Queen: 

Queen Sofia never met a polka dot she did not like...case in point...

Sevillana Fab: Queen Sofia

With Pope John Paul II (left) and in Valentino Haute Couture polka-dot red-and-white gown



Sofia: The Boxy Suit Queen

Queen Sofia loves a boxy-cut suit. Especially in a bright color. Skirt lengths are always at the knee and the jackets have notched or portrait collars. Even during the wedding announcement of the future King of Spain (photo above), one can see that Sofia LOVED a boxy-cut suit. Here are some of the best ones from  recent years...

Resort Sofia:

As much as Queen Sofia loves a tailored boxy suit, there is proof that for "Resort", she also loved a more relaxed look as seen in the photo with her daughter-in-law (and future Queen) Letizia and with Princess Diana in the above pics.



Boho Chic Sofia:

Queen Sofia, in all her Euro fabulousless, can do Boho Chic perfectly. In the above left photo, she is wearing a multi-printed dress while in Greece at a pre-wedding dinner event for Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana. And on the right photo, Queen Sofia looks Boho-perfect in this Valentino Couture blouson sleeved satin-belted gown (along with Belgium's Queen Fabiola).



Gown Queen:

Queen Sofia loves a gown, especially for events involving Official Engagements, Dinners and World Leader Dinner Engagements. Here are some of my favorites...

Blouson Sleeve Top-and-Column Gown Skirt

Printed and Bright Colored Gowns

Blushing Queen--Draped and Lace Gown at Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria's Wedding

Ball Gown Sofia:

Queen Sofia also ADORES a good full shaped ball gown--especially if thre's a drop-waist...here are some examples...

Ball Gown Queens: With Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands

Queen Sofia with fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and Hillary Clinton--at the Gold Medal Gala of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Honoring Hillary Clinton and Antonio Banderas in 2013

Muchisimas Gracias HM Queen Sofia of Spain for being a Style Muse