FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala : Barker Hangar in Santa Monica CA

Nick Verreos--FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala, Santa Monica Barker Hangar

This past Saturday night was the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica CA. This was the culmination of a week of DEBUT shows and the VIP black tie dinner-and-fashion show event to honor FIDM Debut, it's grads and of course, the fashion! Students from the FIDM Advanced Program of Fashion Design, Theater Costume Design create designs that are then showcased at DEBUT.

The Invite: FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala

Over twenty years ago, I was one of the FIDM DEBUT designers who showed their first collection to an Industry audience. As part of the Advanced Fashion Design Program, we spent about ten months designing and creating the mini-collections (10-12 looks) that were then shown on this DEBUT "stage" on top-notch professional models.

Tuxedo Couple: I brought along my partner David Paul to Saturday night's fabulous FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar

The Fashion Show:

Costumes from the FIDM Advanced Theater Costume Design designers...the theme was "Jazz!"--FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala Santa Monica Barker Hangar

All That Jazz: FIDM DEBUT 20-14 Los Angeles Fashion Gala, Santa Monica Barker Hangar

Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

Cadillac Goddess: As part of the FIDM DEBUT 2014 show, designs from the "Cadillac Couture" competition where FIDM Advanced Fashion Design Students were asked to design looks inspired by Cadillac automobiles and using actual Cadillac car parts (very "Project Runway"!)

                             Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

FIDM DEBUT 2014 design highlights:

Cocoon Couture: An ivory design from FIDM DEBUT 2014 designer Blake Patterson

Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

FIDM DEBUUT 2014 designer Tyler Purcell takes his bow/walk

Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

Menswear design from FIDM DEBUT 2014 designer Matt Kim

 Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

Cascade Coat Dressing: Design from FIDM DEBUT 2014 designer Mohamed Salahadin

Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

        Code Blue: FIDM DEBUT 2014 designer Mohamed Salahadin and Nick Verreos--FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala

Photo Courtesy of Alex J. Berliner ABImages

Security Please: Nick Verreos, Barker Hangar Security "God" Jake and David Paul--FIDM DEBUT 2014 Los Angeles Fashion Gala Santa Monica Barker Hangar

NICK APPEARANCES.....FIDM DEBUT 2014 Fashion Show, BLOG RECAP with LOTS of Photos, Onstage, NIKOLAKI gowns, Nick VIP Tent + More!

 Nick Verreos On The Big Screen--FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Show, Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

Last week was the fabulous FIDM DEBUT 2014. As the Official Spokesperson for FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, I had the honor of hosting and opening the FIDM DEBUT Fashion Show this past Thursday and Friday at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar--in front of THOUSANDS of attendees!

Step and Repeat Outfit Change: I hosted both Thursday and Friday and naturally, I had different ensembles...On Thursday I wore my red H & M jacket and striped bow tie and on Friday, I wore my apple green/golden jacket from Topman and striped bow tie. Both of these pics were from my "Nick VIP Tent" that was adjacent to the Barker Hangar tent site of the FIDM DEBUT 2014 show.



I had such a BLAST MC'ing both FIDM DEBUT 2014 shows--here are some pics...

WURK that Stage: Nick Verreos onstage hosting FIDM DEBUT 2014--Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

I brought some of my NIKOLAKI gowns onstage as part of my entrance (naturally!):

Nikolaki Couture: Models Asha and Marketa in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul gowns--red silk/wool ziberline strapless gown (left) and yellow striped silk organza high-neck ball gown (right)--FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Nick and NIKOLAKI: Nick Verreos with models Asha and Marketa in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul gowns--backstage FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Yellow Queen: Model Marketa wearing NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul yellow silk organza ball gown--FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Nick Verreos with models in NIKOLAKI gowns--Marketa in yellow silk organza ball gown (left) and Asha in silk chiffon copper-and-gold paillette column gown (right)--FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Runway Nick: Nick Verreos onstage at FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

MC Nick: Nick Verreos onstage at FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar 2014 Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Following the FIDM DEBUT 2014 shows, I had a very special "Nick VIP" tent set up for attendees/guests to come by and get photos/autographs...SO MUCH FUN! Here are some pics from that:

 Lining Up: The line outside my "Nick VIP Tent"--FIDM DEBUT 2014, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

DEBUT VIP: Nick Verreos and  FIDM DEBUT 2014 attendees at the "Nick VIP Tent"--Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

 Selfie Fab: Nick Verreos and FIDM DEBUT 2014 attendee doing a selfie at the "Nick VIP Tent"--FIDM DEBUT 2014 Barker Hangar, Santa Monica CA

Thank You to EVERYONE who attended this year's FIDM DEBUT show and especially, to everyone who came by to my "Nick VIP Tent" afterward! I LOVED meeting everyone, taking pics and sighing autographs--as well as DISHING on "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" with you! 

Hope to see you next year! xoxo

NICK APPEARANCES.....Nick Verreos at the FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party, BLOG RECAP, lots of Photos!

 Nick Verreos at the FIDM DEBT 2014 Fashion Club Party--FIDM Debut 2014 Santa Monica Barker Hangar

Last Thursday, as part of the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Debut 2014, I had the chance to be at the annual FIDM Debut Fashion Club Party. The Party is set up in a big tent adjacent to Santa Monica's Barker Hangar, the location of the FIDM Debut fashion show. The Fashion Club Party organizers set up a "Celebrity Corner" (how honored!), in the tent where party guests had the chance to take photos with me which would then be printed and given to them...to take home as a fun "souvenir". Here is my BLOG RECAP of the party with lots of photos--

A BIG Thank You to my partner David Paul for taking all these photos:

Peacock Blue Nick: I wore my Topman peacock blue jacket and striped bow tie for the party--as well as my purple printed Etro silk pocket scarf. I thought the colors mixed well with the purple draped backdrop--FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party, The Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

 Crudités Spread: Crackers and Veggies table at the FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party The Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

 Caché Corner: Gowns and dresses from Caché stores--FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party The Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

Pics of the Stylish Attendees at the FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party:

  Fashion Club Party Attendees: Guests enjoying the party atmosphere at the FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party The Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

Snapshots from my "Celebrity Corner" at the FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party:

 Nick Verreos and Fashion Club Party Friends, FIDM Debut 2014 Fashion Club Party The Barker Hangar Santa Monica CA

See you at the next FABULOUS FIDM Debut Fashion Club Party!!!!

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Open House Alumni Panel Discussion

Nick Verreos--FIDM March 2014 Open House, Grand Hope Park FIDM L.A. Campus

This past week was FIDM DEBUT WEEK for the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, my Alma Mater. As the Spokesperson for FIDM, I had the honor on Thursday to host and MC one the first events surrounding this fabulous DEBUT week: the FIDM L.A. March 2014 Open House and more importantly, the Open House Alumni Panel Discussion. Open House is a uniquely FIDM event where anyone interested in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, visual communications or any of the other majors offered by FIDM, can see for themselves what it's like to be a student, take a tour of the campus, check out the classrooms, library, meet faculty, alumni and much, much more.

A Full House: The "Open House" tent at Grand Hope Park in the FIDM campus was PACKED! Right as I came out to begin my hosting duties, I had to take several pics of the crowd! I have hosted many FIDM Open House's but this one was probably the BIGGEST turnout! Imagine walking out onto a stage and seeing a SEA of hundreds and hundreds of people....and somehow having to get their attention! Well, I tried with some fun pre-Alumni Panel Discussion "entertainment":

Welcome Everyone!!! Nick Verreos MC's the FIDM March 2014 Open House, Grand Hope Park FIDM L.A. Campus

Good Hair: I mingled with attendees and spotted one particular guest who had some FAB hair and naturally I had to make him stand up (yes, in front of 500 people!) to highlight his great pseudo 'fro! He was a good sport as I got all touchey-feely with his hair as you can see from the photo above.



Next was my Nick Open House Catwalk "Blessing":

Open House Supermodel: It's become a bit of a tradition (or at least I am now making it one!), to begin the FIDM Open house with a Runway Walk, only because...

A) I like to do a runway walks and,

B) when you have this long, long "runway" already there, well, what else am I going to do?? LOL!

Dad Catwalk Contest: It's also become an Open House tradition for me to bring some of the attendees up to do an impromptu "Catwalk Contest". Usually I'll get some of the "younger" guests, but sometimes, I feel "cheeky" and get the parents. This time, I chose seven DAD'S--yes, the DAD's!--in the audience and they all did GREAT! Super Great in fact. The crowd went KRAZEE and their sons and daughters in attendance (and their wives or girlfriends) LOVED it! Take a look at some of the Dad's on the Open House "runway":

You Better Work: Dad's on the FIDM Open House "runway"--FIDM March 2014 Open House Catwalk Contest, Grand Hope Park FIDM L.A. Campus

Alumni Panel
Hosting: Nick Verreos with (L to R) Natasha Endrei, Erica Williams and
Jonathan Gitlin--FIDM March 2014 Open House, Grand Hope Park FIDM L.A.
Campus

Following the "Dad Catwalk Contest" (and my other Open House shenanigans), I got to my main duties: to moderate the FIDM Open House Alumni Panel Discussion. My guests were two FIDM graduates and one current student: Natasha Endrei who works for ModCloth, Jonathan Gitlin, who is Creative Director as well as director of Gaming, TV and New Media at Create Advertising Group, and Erica Williams
who was just accepted into FIDM's Advanced Study Program in Theater
Costume Design.

Moderator Nick: This "Alumni Panel Discussion" is always an enlightening way for attendees--both
the students thinking about coming to FIDM and their parents--to get a
feel of what it's like to attend FIDM, get some "Insider Dish" on how to
get the most out of all that FIDM offers and hear from graduates who
are working in the industry.



Afterward, it was Photo-Op/Meet & Greet Time:

Open House Posing: Nick Verreos with some of the attendees of FIDM March 2014 Open House, Grand Hope Park FIDM L.A. Campus

 Nick Verreos with FIDM March 2014 Open House attendee Julia Bacchetti

Group Selfie: Nick Verreos in a "FIDM March 2014 Open House" group selfie with some very pretty attendees

Thanks EVERYONE for a WONDERFUL FIDM Open House! xoxo