This past Sunday were the Miss USA 2017 Finals. The beauty pageant was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Las Vegas. My NIKOLAKI design partner, David Paul and I were honored to have dressed the GORGEOUS Brook Lee in our gowns, for not just the Finals Live Telecast but the Preliminary Competition which happened last Thursday.


In 1997, 20 years ago, Brook won the Miss USA pageant (representing Hawaii), and then went on to win Miss Universe! She was invited this year--being that it was the 20th Anniversary of her double crowning!--to judge both the Preliminaries and Finals. Brook is a very good friend of ours--and through the years, she was become a NIKOLAKI muse, wearing lots of our designs at various red carpet events. We were so excited to have dressed her for her 20th Anniversary--and to judge Miss USA 2017--in two of our NIKOLAKI gowns....

Miss USA 2017 Preliminaries:

Goddess Gown: For the Miss USA 2017 Preliminary Competition, Brook Lee wore our NIKOLAKI black silk jersey "Goddess Gown" featuring a gathered front and back drape and jeweled crystal neckline

Miss USA 2017 Finals Live Telecast:


Printed Queen: For the Miss USA 2017 Finals, Brook wore this NIKOLAKI printed Mermaid-shaped gown which featured a leaf/scroll print black and white cotton stretch woven sateen with black silk shawl collar and waistband accents. The gown had puffy cap sleeves, a semi-plunging neckline and pockets.



Happy 20th Anniversary to Brook Lee on her Miss Universe win and we are HUMBLED to have dressed you for this week's Miss USA 2017 XOXO

On June 28th, a new Miss Tahiti was crowned. Mehiata Riara, beat out nine other candidates for the title of "Miss Tahiti 2013" and the honor to represent the Polynesian island French territory in the upcoming "Miss France 2013" competition. The 52nd annual "Miss Tahiti" pageant occurred at the Mairie de Papeete.

Winning Beauties: The First and Second Runners-Up were Maeva Simonin and Ohana Huber respectfully. Miss Heiva--a title of who best represents the Polynesian culture went to Hinarere Papara. The new Miss Tahiti, Mehiata Riaria, is 21 years old and stands 1.78 m (about 5' 10") and is a model with the very top-notch Marylin Agency Paris.

Compassion IS Fashionable...
Last Thursday night, I was invited by my very good friend--and NIKOLAKI client--the absolutely gorgeous Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee--to attend "Compassion In Fashion" Fashion Show for Los Angeles Fashion Week. She was emceeing the entire event and she--of course--was going to wear one of my NIKOLAKI cocktail dresses.
"Compassion In Fashion" was a fabulous benefit event presented by the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team/APAIT and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM at the amazing Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles. APAIT does wonderful work providing HIV/AIDS prevention and care especially for the Asian and Pacific Islander Community. The event was also co-sponsored by one of MY favorite retail department stores--Macy's (Love them!). Upon arriving--and checking in with Brook--I made sure her NIKOLAKI Couture dress was "just right".
She chose a salmon-pink silk/linen Lurex strapless very "Mad Men" number from our collection. She looked AMAZING! Hello, she was a Miss USA AND Miss Universe! The line up for the wonderful night included a dance performance by Ek Do Teen/NDM Bollywood Dance Troupe (which was SO good!)
A FIDM "Red Carpet Gown" fashion show featuring designs by FIDM Grads( Gorgeous!) as well as...
An Andrew Christian Fashion Show (HOT!). Also there was a very special T-shirt Design Contest, where FIDM Student Activities partnered with APAIT to have students design t-shirts for the organization. There was a panel of very special--and distinguished--judges, including my good friend Alec Mapa, star of "Ugly Betty" and LogoTV's "The Gossip Queens", Greg Matsunami, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Metropark Stores, Karla Ferreira, 2009 Quest Woman Of The Year, and Melissa Magsaysay, style writer and editor for the LA Times.
Below are some great Videos I shot of Compassion In Fashion...and for more photos, click HERE. Compassion In Fashion Fashion Show--Model Amanda Fields in a Clay Sadler Design:
Intro Dance Performance by NDM Bollywood Dance Troupe:
Final Walk of Andrew Christian Fashion Show, Compassion In Fashion:
Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee Announces The Winner of APAIT/FIDM T-shirt Design Contest:

Crowning Couture...
As promised...I have more photos from our fabulous debut NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show at Style Week Orange County. In the previous post, I highlighted photos from the collection. Now, it's all about my special guests and some "Backstage Photos" including close-ups of the Make-Up and Hair plus trying to capture the madness of it all....
David Paul (my NIKOLAKI Co-Designer and partner-in-crime) and I were ECSTATIC when we found out that two of the most GORGEOUS women in the Universe were attending our show: Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997 (and the last Miss USA to get that crown kiddies!) and just-as-beautiful from Panama, Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002. Brook wore one of our NIKOLAKI silk Zibeline pleated cascade cocktail dresses just for the occasion.
My mother is originally from Panama so she was SO excited to meet the gorgeous Justine Pasek. I was more than happy to see them--as well as my mom, and my sister, Rita Verreos and my niece Casia, who all flew from San Antonio Texas just for our show! Also, it was great to see David's entire family who drive up from San Diego just for the show. Speaking of beauty queens, my sister was a former Miss Venezuela 1988 Contestant and a contestant on Survivor: Fiji. Yep, she can eat bugs AND can do that "pageant pose"...
We asked the Make-Up Artists to give DRAMA: Strong eyes, light pink lips; very Robert Palmer Girls thank you very much. After seen some of our models, I even went back to the make-up artists and asked for MORE!!!
I made sure the zippers were zipped, the hang-tape was hidden and that the dresses were on correctly. Thank Goodness David was back there with me. Without him and his fastidious Eagle-Eye, some of our gowns would have been on backwards (dressers can only do so much, bless their hearts!)
It all turned out great and we were very happy with the results. And the models loved our gowns and dresses and felt like FABULOUS Goddesses in them. Right Before they went out onto the runway, I gave them one advice: Be Beautiful!!! OK , I told them more...
I also said: "You Are Gorgeous!", "Work It!", and "Go out there and make EVERY woman jealous and EVERY man want you!". Yep, that's about it. They smiled and went on their runway merry way.... Click Below for a quick video of the beginning of our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show:

Doll-Icious!!!!! Recently, I was asked to be one of the esteemed panel of "celebrity" judges for the most unique International Fantasy Doll Web-Pageant, Miss Unibarse. Now, this is not a misspelling on my part, but you read correct: MISS UNIBARSE NOT Miss Universe. Past judges for this pageant "phenomenon" have included former Miss Universes, fashion designers, photographers, and celebrity stylists from all over the globe. Nick Verreos and Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997, in Nikolaki by Nick Verreos David Paul Last year, my good friend, Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997 was also one of the celebrity judges and now, I guess it was my time to be asked. And I'm very happy for it. As you may know, besides fashion, I also love pageants and have dressed several beauty queens myself. Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009, in Nick Verreos for Orbit Gum Custom Gown Here's a little background on Miss Unibarse (in case you may still be saying "Say What?"): Miss Unibarse is the Miss Universe Pageant but for DOLLS (therefore the "BAR" for "Barbie"). Its originators began this as a creative project that would marry their love of pageants, dolls and photography. Dolls are transformed into one-of-a-kind beauties representing nations from all over the world, and given the whole "Miss Universe" treatment, and then judges get to vote--just like in the Miss Universe Pageant. There are all the usual categories including Presentation, Swimsuit, Evening Gown as well as National Costume. Last Year's Miss Japan Unibarse, in Traditional Costume Last Year's Miss Korea Unibarse (and the 2009 winner!), in Evening Gown There are even "Fadil-esque" (very similar to the Fadil Berisha photos for Miss Universe and Miss USA) photos like the one above from last year's contest. Last year's winner: Miss Korea getting crowned (looks just like a real Miss Universe crowning moment!) I have begun my judging and cast my first votes for the contestants and found myself--as I was clicking on all the photos--saying things like :"Oh I love HER hair!", or "Oh, she is working her pose and outfit!", and "Oooooh, she is SASSY!!!", as if they were REAL! I can't wait to see who the winner will be this year, there are LOTS of contenders. Here's a sample of this year's girls: Miss Colombia Unibarse 2010: Red hot Latina...and (almost) a wardrobe "malfunction"! Miss Angola Unibarse 2010: Work it huney, now that's an expensive WEAVE!!!Miss USA Unibarse 2010: Love the "flip" of her hair and "sultry" stare...Miss Czech Republic Unibarse 2010: She is SOOO Ivana Trump-meets-Zsa Zsa Gabor, I just know she will end up on the arm of a Russian Billionaire in a hot minute! To see the rest of the International Dollegates, click HERE.

A former Miss Universe, an Ugly Betty Star and a Fashion Designer Party in Hollywood!Peace: Nick Verreos at the NOH8 red carpet Last weekend--between DC and Miami, I had a respite--for packing and putting on a moisture mask, thank you very much!. I also squeezed in more party fun by attending the NOH8 First Anniversary Party at Club Marbella near Hollywood and Highland. NOH8, started by photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley, is a photo project and silent protest campaign, raising awareness for Gay Marriage Equality.Scissors and Thread: Nick Verreos poses with his NOH8 photo Earlier this year, as part of the campaign, Adam and Jeff invited me (David and our doggie Benny also posed) to be part of the campaign and of course I was happy to pose and to use my image for this wonderful campaign. It has been a year since the campaign's inception and it was time to throw a party. Party Favors: Nick Verreos, Former Miss Universe Brook Lee and Jimmy Nguyen After doing some red carpet interviews and posing in my DEEP V (sorry for all the chest exposure), I finally made it into the party and said "Hello" to one of my best friends, the gorgeous former Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee (who also posed for the NOH8 Campaign) who was basically in charge of the whole party. Say Cheese: Calpernia Addams, Alec Mapa and Nick Verreos, NOH8 First Anniversary Party I also was happy to see my friend Alec Mapa, whom you may recognize from his role as fashion/celebrity dish reporter Suzuki St. Pierre of Ugly Betty, as well as the fabulous Calpernia Addams. I was there with my "bestie" Erik Moreno, who was so kind to meet me there for the party and partake in all the fun (and also take all the photos). NOH8 Party Atmosphere, Marbella Hollywood Unfortunately, I had a very early flight to catch the following morning to Miami to do my Sears "Despierta America" TV segment and still had some packing to do, so I had to cut short my partying. Felicitaciones (that's "Congratulations" in Spanish) to Adam, Jeff and the gorgeous Brook Lee for a fabulous party and for one year of NOH8.

Diamonds, a former Miss Universe, and a Who Wore It Best Moment... Diamond Carpet: Nick Verreos and Brook Lee, Damiani Rodeo Drive Last Thursday evening, I was invited to a red carpet cocktail reception at the Damiani Jewelers Rodeo Drive flagship. Damiani is known for its luxe diamonds--all conflict-free of course--handmade in Italy since 1924. They have a gorgeous ad campaign featuring the fabulous Sharon Stone dipped in glorious diamond necklaces and earrings. The $3 million Damiani 2009 Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra They are also famous for THAT $3 million (yep, MILLION!) Victoria Secret Fantasy Bra which was unveiled on Supermodel Marisa Miller at the recent 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in NYC. I decided to call my good friend--and muse, former Miss Universe Brook Lee, to be my date. I had a hunch she would enjoy looking at some diamonds. after all, diamonds are a girls best friend! Damiani Hills: Stephanie Pratt and Nick Verreos at Damiani Rodeo Drive Cocktail Reception The cocktail party was thrown by Hollywood Reporter to honor their 100 Power Women In Entertainment issue. The boutique was filled with guests admiring the diamonds on one side of the store and enjoying the festive party on the other. I spotted actresses Jenna Fischer ("The Office"), and hottie Colin Egglesfield ("Melrose Place") and chatted with the lovely Jamie Ray Newman (of "Eureka" and "Eastwick"). Brook is a big fan of hers and so she was excited to meet her. I was also happy to see my former FIDM student, Stephanie Pratt (from MTV "The Hills"). She looked gorgeous (she did her own make-up, she explained) and was excited to see me--I kind of rescued her from some guys who were, well, getting "too friendly" with her. The Best Part of The Night, however...Twinsies: Gilles Marini and Nick Verreos in similar jackets ...was running into my alter ego--with six pack abs--actor Gilles Marini, from "Sex And The City" and "Dancing With The Stars". He is always the SWEETEST to me and this time was no different. But there was something that got our attention: We were wearing (almost) the SAME JACKET!!!! Next Time, Let's Call Each Other To Double-Check: Gilles Marini and Nick Verreos Yes, the one thing you ladies fear most when you go to a party? It happened to me! And it couldn't have happened with a nicer guy! Of course, I was like "Gilles, we need to take a photo!" We did. And so we have our first "Who Wore It Best, the Nick Verreos Blog Edition"! Love you Gilles and love Damiani. Maybe during the upcoming 2010 Award Season, you might see an actress in one of my NIKOLAKI gowns--and some Damiani diamonds.