Last week, I got a call from my Mommy (yes, I still call her Mommy!) and she said "Neeeeeck...go pick up the TV Guide Magazine with the 'Lost' cast on the cover...there's a little photo of you". Of course, as a result of all my traveling (Chicago, Orlando and Phoenix in three weeks!), I had not gotten around to going to a newsstand. Finally when I realized I could just check one out at the airport terminals, I was a week too late! Thankfully Good Ol' Mommy saved hers and sent it to me.

In last week's edition, in their infamous "Jeers and Cheers" section, the writers decided to headline a photo of me while appearing on an episode of MTV's "The Hills" as their "Freeze Frame" Jeer of the Week. They were miffed that the viewers were only teased with my blink-and
-you-miss-it moment and my somewhat unexplained appearance on this popular show. I love TV Guide for even noticing that 2 second moment when I appeared on the TV screen. At least I did not end up on the cutting room floor. I remember telling the director, half-jokingly, "You are filming 8 weeks of my class, and I am sure you're only going to use 2 seconds!" Someone once said (I think): Be careful of what you say or wish for, because it might just come true.

Congratulations to Meagan for placing 3rd runner up at the Miss USA Pageant!

You looked amazing and made us all proud.

I will post more about the pageant and all the beautiful women that I dressed here and on BravoTV.com in the next few days.

And if you are in the Southern California area come out and see me at my Windsor Appearances in Brea, Cerritos and Glendale this weekend.

Make sure to tune in to the Miss USA Pageant this Friday Night on NBC. I am thrilled to have designed the Gown for Miss California, Meagan Tandy.

Meagan is absolutely beautiful and the gown that we designed for her definitely matches her beauty. It is a Black Silk Duchesse Satin Gown with a plunging shawl collar, cap sleeves and full pleated skirt (See picture on the left). The collar and waistband are hand beaded with hundreds of Jet Black Swarovski crystals and the gown gives Meagan a definite 1930's Old Hollywood vibe.

I will be at the pageant on Friday night and am looking forward to seeing Meagan take the stage at the amazing Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

I will make sure and report back here with all the details! I am also doing several other gowns and will talk about that in a later posting.

As I type, I am in my hotel room in Orlando, Florida for my second stop of my Windsor Fashions Appearance mini tour. I will be at The Florida Mall Windsor Store making an appearance from noon-2 PM today , March 17Th. If you happen to be in the "neighborhood", please stop by , say "Hi" and take a look at my dresses!

Last weekend, I began my "Prom Dress Tour of the United States" for my just-released "Nick Verreos for Windsor Fashions" mini prom dress line. First stop was Chicago. I made two appearances in the "Windy City", one at the Chicago Ridge Mall, the other at the Windsor's Lombard location. This was my third time in Chicago (I was there for "Project Runway Season 3" casting/judging and for an ALMA Fashion Show Fundraiser Event) and I was excited to return and enjoy the sights and tastes of this fabulous city.

Three things I noticed about Chicago this time around:

1) Lots of Toll freeways!!(we spent over $10 in 2 days!);
2) Lots of condos, and
3) Some of the most expensive parking lots in the US!

On our way to the first location, David and I got lost and ended up in some forest with a frozen lake! I am not even kidding. After calling Mayra, the lovely--and helpful--manager of the Chicago Ridge store, we were re-routed to the correct destination (Note to self: Get the GPS Navigator option whenever renting a car!) Mayra had warned me to "hurry up" because of the line of people that had been waiting to meet me for over an hour! I hugged and greeted many moms and their daughters who had come to the Windsor store, to check out the line, plus to get a hug from "Uncle Nick". One mom even brought her "Project Runway My Scene Barbie" for me to sign. There was a raffle in which we gave away a free "Nick Verreos Windsor dress", which was won by the beautiful (and perfect size 3) Molly , shown here wearing one of the most popular styles, "The Justina". The gorgeous crew of the "Windsor gals" at the Chicago Ridge Mall store were the BEST! Not only were they all "working it" with their outfits, but they were the sweetest, most professional, most accommodating bunch of young ladies. Mayra and her girls ROCK!!!!

The next appearance at the Lombard location was just as fun. Not so many people came out but the ones who did got 110 % of me!!! There was a St. Patrick's Day Parade occurring that Sunday, which was where most people were. Nevertheless, I was just happy to see anyone who stopped by and wanted a photo, an autograph, and hopefully try on one of my dresses! Again, the Windsor gals at this store also were "working" their ensembles, with matching necklaces and earrings and shoes!

While in Chicago, we had one of the best dinners at WILDFIRE Restaurant , in the Oakbrook Center. Casey, the restaurant's manager,is my new BOYFRIEND!!!! I know that if he reads this ,he will be so teased by his buddies , the staff of the restaurant, plus half of Chicago population who might know him BUT, Casey and his staff were extraordinarily gracious, helpful and treated us like Chicago royalty! He even brought us a delicious lunch THE NEXT DAY, at my second appearance! That's when I almost proposed to have him move in with me!

Subsequently, I ended my weekend in Chicago hanging out with my friend Drew, a stylist, who took us to several places on Halstead Street, plus the JBar at the stylish James Hotel in Downtown Chicago. Thanks Drew!

And the drum roll please........ I am proud to announce that I just "inked" a deal with the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) to be their "Spokesperson" for 2007-2008. It brings me immense joy to represent the college I teach at as well as where I received my formal education in fashion design studies. FIDM is kind enough to recognize the value I have in possibly inspiring future students of design wherever they may attend school--and I know that that students all over the country still want to hear "inside dish" on "Project Runway".

Besides still doing my duties as an Instructor at FIDM, I will now also represent the school in several of their important marketing and recruiting events, not only in their Los Angeles campus, but also San Francisco and San Diego. The details are still being discussed but I will make "special appearances" at certain FIDM events, such as their "Open Houses" and will write a column for their popular "Prom Advice" website. I will also still be able to travel all over the country and speak to other design schools and universities. I have planned appearances in Tampa, FL and possibly Seattle this year and I will provide more information on those later.

Last week was the beginning of my first "official" duties in my new position. I was the Special Surprise Guest Speaker at the FIDM Debut 2007 Fashion Show, held in Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hanger. DEBUT 2007 is the gala finale show for the top fashion and theater costume design students. Here, they get to showcase their very first 10-12-piece collections or costume designs in front of thousands of Industry leaders, designers and all-around Hollywood glitterati. Over a decade ago (now I am REALLY aging myself!), I was one of those 10 "Debut" students that were handpicked to show their collections. There is a video of this which should be permanently put in a time capsule.

I attended a special "Pink Party" for FIDM's Fashion Club members, held in a tent near the Hanger with a DJ, make-up artists and Marie Antoinette-themed models. I brought my friend and favorite model, Amara to the event. She wore a gold/metallic linen bolero and tulip skirt suit from my line, NIKOLAKI,of course. There were hundreds of students who lined up to pose for photos with us. It was a delight meeting each and every one of them.

Afterwards, I introduced the "Debut 2007" fashion show to a screaming crowd of over 2500 high school students from all over the country. The kids were yelling so loud that I felt like Justin Timberlake!! It was an amazing experience which then lasted after the show, when I posed for more photos with hundreds of kids who were not at the "Pink Party" beforehand. The experience was repeated on Friday with similar results.

The "DEBUT 2007" Fashion Show itself was great! It began wth the Theater Costume designers who were given a "Circus" theme to work with. The production, and the costumes were fabulous! I could see the awestruck faces on the visiting Junior and Senior students out in the audience. Then , the Advanced Fashion Design students showed their collections and I was surprised. It was a definite step up from previous years, where frankly the designs looked awkward and "fashion--student-esque". I could name the page number in the pattern book where the the jackets came from (not a good sign). But not this year. The collections looked fresh, WEARABLE and still creative. Kudos to all the designers. There was even a fun children's collection that brought the house down. Britney's most recent ex-boy toy, Isaac Cohen, also modeled in the show (to more yelling and screaming from girls--and boys--in the audience) One of my favorite collections was from Angelo Estrada. His "Matrix-meets Dominitrix-meets-Secret Berlin Spy" collection (that's what I'm calling it) in wools, leathers and furs, combined the creativity of a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster with the realism of having great sellable pieces.

The "Debut" weekend ended Saturday evening with the black-tie Gala dinner show, hosted by FIDM grad, designer Randolph Duke. Besides my date, David, my dinner buddies included former student, Lauren Conrad from MTV's "The Hills", her lovely sister and her beautiful mom. We had a great time dishing on the show, her former girlfriend, Heidi, and her future plans to launch the "Lauren Conrad" fashion empire! Move over Beyonce, Gwen, and Jessica...

For more on my appearances with FIDM click HERE

Recently I did a phone interview with Paper Magazine, one of my favorite magazines. They have a great webmag and I was asked all the juicy questions about The Hills, Survivor and my Windsor Prom Line. Check out the article HERE.

Last week, People Magazine asked me if it would be OK if they could come by my Downtown Los Angeles Loft/Studio and interview me as well as take photos while I watched my sister, Rita on the new season of "Survivir: Fiji". They sent this wonderful photographer, who was awed by the size of my studio and began taking , what seemed like hundreds of photos, before, during and after I was watching the show. What photo made it into the magazine: G-G-G-G-GAAAAY!!!!! The photo (plus the brief corresponding article) are in this week's (March 5th) edition of the magazine, on newstands now, in the "Reality Scoop" section. Make sure while you are in the doctor's office, or at the airport, or waiting for that botox injection, to pick it up and read it.

I had a fun time watching Rita, as well as the episode. Even though her "tribe" lost (again!) and that pained me. I could just feel how my sister, and her team, are struggling with losing a second time, and the effects of only consuming coconut milk for 6 days! There is NO WAY I could be a "Survivor". I would hit someone with a coconut instead of eating it! At the end of last week's episode, if you watched it, my sister Rita, was THE ONLY ONE, who voted for her team member, Earl, to be banished from the island. I am sure this may produce some drama for this week, but I pray, and hope, it doesn't make for a reason to give my sister the boot. Stay tuned.