NICK APPEARANCES.....Macy's Hispanic Heritage Month Fashion Event: Chicago

Viva CHICAGO!

Chicago Love: Nick Verreos and Peach Carr, Project Runway Season 8 and All Stars Season 2 designer--Macy's On State Street Chicago Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month event Honoring Carlos Santana hosted by Nick Verreos

Last week, I flew to Chicago, to host a wonderful event for Macy's. This month, Macy's is having all these great in-store events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month as well as honoring Carlos Santana as an "Icon of Style".  

Macy's On State Street Chicago called and asked if I could be part of the store's celebration and host their festivities and well, it was a quick "Si!". It also happened to be Latino Fashion Week in Chicago--and they were one of the sponsors of the event--so this fabulous event was part of the events on the Latino Fashion Week Chicago calendar.

 Park Hyatt Hotel Chicago: my room and a fabulous Eames leather lounger--chair and ottoman

I flew into Chicago the night before and checked in to the very chic Park Hyatt Chicago. My room was very nice--sleek and well-appointed. What I also loved most was the Eames leather lounger--chair and ottoman in my room. It retails for about $5,000 (I know!) so, needless to say, I almost slept THERE!

 Chicago Water Tower

The next morning, I had some time to waste and so, naturally, I went SHOPPING! The Park Hyatt is fortunately (or unfortunately to my bank account) next to the Water Tower and one block from the "Magnificent Mile"/Michigan Avenue and some of the best shopping IN THE WORLD (Darn you Park Hyatt!). I headed to TopShop, Zara and Sephora to do some retail damage, and on the way, I loved seeing the...

Plaid Chic: New Burberry Chicago Flagship Store--they're still working on it but the facade looks marvelous and very "Burberry"

The White Project: Benetton and SAIC student designs

And this great window display at the Benetton store in The Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue--The white creations are by students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) sponsored by Marie Claire and United Colors of Benetton. I thought the designs were very creative and beautifully avant-garde.

Soon, it was time to get ready for my Macy's Event Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at the Macy's On State Street Chicago. I was so excited to be the "Host with the Most" and be part of it...

 Big Girl Cosmetics did all the beautiful makeup for the models at the event

Vanidades Magazine was also a co-sponsor. LOVE Vanidades. As a young boy back in Venezuela--where I was raised (dreaming of becoming a successful fashion designer), I remember flipping through my mommy's Vanidades looking at all the fashion and being very inspired.

Photo Courtesy of Jacinto Ariza/Gozamos.com

 

 Nick Verreos Hosting Macy's On State Street Chicago fashion event Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Carlos Santana as Icon of Style  

There were over 200 RSVP's and from what I heard, many more also showed up!! (LOVE you Chicago!). So, all the seats were taken and then it was "standing room only". I was so happy to see several friends of mine--who live in the Chicago area and came out to the event. I was extra excited to see a Project Runway alumn, designer Peach Carr (who you will see in the new Season 2 of Project Runway All Stars) also come out and support my event. Besides honoring Carlos Santana, there was a great panel discussion on Latino Style, Fashion and much more with Vanidades Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Blanco, Leanne Violette designer for Carlos by Carlos Santana Footwear and Diego Rocha, Chicago-based accessories designer and former contestant on Season 1 Project Accessories. I also presented a fashion show featuring clothes from Macy's and accessorized with shoes, boots, purses, from the Carlos by Carlos Santana collection.

 Photos Courtesy of Jacinto Ariza/Gozamos.com

Nick Latina Fashion: Macy's In State Street Chicago Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month event Honoring Carlos Santana hosted by Nick Verreos--fashions from Macy's, shoes and purses from Carlos by Carlos Santana

"The Sexy" peep-toe platform pump and Cheetah Bootie: Shoes and booties from Carlos by Carlos Santana--Macy's On State Street Chicago Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month event Honoring Carlos Santana hosted by Nick Verreos 

 Photos Courtesy of Jacinto Ariza/Gozamos.com

 Photo Courtesy of Jacinto Ariza/Gozamos.com

The panelists of the Panel Discussion on Latina Fashion and Style at this event included Diego Rocha (above photo)--from Lifetime Network's Project Accessory, as well as...

Leanne Violette, designer for Carlos by Carlos Santana Footwear (far right) with Cesar Rolon Jr. (far left), CEO of Imagen Marketing Consultants and Arabel Alva Rosales (second from left) Co-Founder and Principal of Latino Fashion Week and Nick Verreos--Macy's On State Street Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Carlos Santana event

And our other panelist was Jacqueline Blanco (far right), Editor-in-Chief of Vanidades Magazine--seen here with Cesar Rolon Jr. (far left), Nick Verreos, and Arabel Alva Rosales (second from left)--Macy's On State Street Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Carlos Santana event

 

Nick and The Chicas: (left to right) Yvette Pena, Nick Verreos and Ana Serafin--Macy's On State Street Chicago Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 

After the FABULOSO event--I spent over an hour meetin'-and-greetin' with lots of the guests, friends, Project Runway fans--as well as doing TV interviews. Here are some photos from that:

Nick Verreos--Meet-and-Greet--Macy's Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Honors Carlos Santana Event, Macy's On State Street Chicago

Nick TV Darling: Nick Verreos doing TV interviews after the Macy's Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Honors Carlos Santana event, Macy's On State Street Chicago

Thank You and GRACIAS Chicago and Macy's ON State Street and the FABULOSO audience...for a GREAT event!!! I can't wait to come back to Chicago and be with my Latinos and Latinas!!!

Click HERE for more fun photos of the event from Gozamos.com