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!!

NICK APPEARANCES.....FIDM Orange County Open House 2014: BLOG RECAP!

 Nick In The OC: Nick Verreos makes an appearance at FIDM OC Open House 2014

This past weekend, I had the honor of making a special visit/appearance at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Orange County Open House 2014 Open House. I am so privileged that as the Official FIDM Spokesperson, every season I get to visit all the different FIDM campuses and make appearances for their Open House and 3 Days of Fashion events.

Meet Nick: Ready for my "Lecture and Meet-and-Greet"--FIDM OC 2014 Open House

The FIDM Open House is a way for anyone who is interested in pursuing an education in Fashion Design, Apparel Manufacturing, Graphic Design, Visual Communications (styling, visual/window display), Interior Design--or any of the other many majors FIDM offers--can check out the campus, meet instructors, alumni, etc. And yes, parents are welcomed to attend...and they do! As a special bonus of the Open House, the attendees get to hear my "Nick Story" as an FIDM Grad and my path to success.



Now, time for my Recap of last weekend's fun FIDM OC Open House:

FIDM OC, Irvine CA--a view of a lounge area at the FIDM OC campus

Say Cheese: Here's a compilation photo of the FIDM OC Open House audience that was waiting for me--Right before I got onstage and began my "Nick Lecture", I made sure to get photos of the audience for my blog. They were so cute and very ready for the photo! (notice the "photo-bombing" happening at the top left hand corner photo, through the door).

Stylish Lecturing: Nick Verreos onstage at his FIDM OC Open House Special Appearance--FIDM OC Irvine CA

Post Appearance/Lecture Meet-and-Greet:

OC Smiles: Nick Verreos during the post-appearance FIDM OC 2014 Open House Meet-and-Greet

So Cute: Nick Verreos and a couple of FIDM OC 214 Open House attendees--FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Photo Time: Nick Verreos with FIDM OC 2014 Open House attendee Zaak--FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Where's My Sharpie: Nick Verreos and FIDM OC 2014 Open House attendees--FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Portfolio Sneakin': Nick Verreos checks out the portfolio, FIDM OC 2014 Open House--FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Selfies: Nick Verreos during the Meet-and-Greet FIDM OC 2014 Open House-- FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Meet-and-Greet Fab: Nick Verreos poses with FIDM OC 2014 Open House attendees--FIDM OC, Irvine CA

Thank You to EVERYONE who came out to this past weekend's FIDM OC Open House! I had so much fun meeting each and everyone one of you! xoxo Nick

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