Bow Ties, Dreaming of Mint Juleps, and Marie Antoinette Fashions....in Texas!!!
San Antonio (Fashion) Prom: Nick Verreos poses with his sister Rita
Last week, I was flown to
San Antonio Texas to co-host a fabulous fashion show titled
IMAGINE 2009.
IMAGINE 2009 is the "Graduate Fashion Show" of the newest fashion school in San Antonio, the
International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT, which opened its doors only two years ago. I was extra excited when I got the call, since as I stated previously here on my blog, my mom and dad--as well as my sister and her children--live there, so it was a great excuse to visit them. Even if it was for a quick couple of days. My family picked me up at the airport and they immediately took me to their favorite "Chinese Buffet" restaurant. My nephew and niece love this place and I can't turn down a good buffet.
It almost seems like EVERYTHING in Texas is Buffet style. All big and all plentiful. I love me some Texas!
Loosen That Damn Bow Tie: Nick Verreos poses with San Antonio native and Ford model Randy Valle and friend at IADT's IMAGINE 2009 Fashion Show
After a fun and relaxing night playing the part of "Uncle Nick", I headed to the grand
Omni Hotel at the Colonade, to check in and get ready for my big night of fashion. I decided to wear a beige suit and colorful
Marc Jacobs bow tie---I was trying to vibe a "Southern Gentleman/Dandy sitting in a veranda sipping on a Mint Julep" but ended up looking like someones "kooky" uncle!
Nice Beard: Rita Verreos interviews her brother Nick for LatinFusionTV.com
I arrived an hour prior to the start of the event and the place was already a buzz with hundreds of people in their best "fashion show" outfits. As I started seeing all the people, from cocktail dresses to full-on "Miss Texas" gowns, I almost wanted to run back to my hotel room and change into a tuxedo! I almost felt under-dressed!
Brother-Sister Act: Nick and Rita Verreos (she is wearing a NIKOLAKI gold beaded one-shoulder dress, naturally)
But I didn't have time to go back to the hotel since almost the minute I got there-- with barely enough time for a final spritz of my travel-size cologne--I was whisked off to do pre-interviews with the local media. One, which I was excited to do, was with my sister,
Rita Verreos, who was reporting for
LatinFusionTV.com, a San Antonio-based entertainment website.
The San Antonio Carolina Herrera: Carol Reyes' pretty cocktail dresses, IADT IMAGINE 2009
Now lets get to the fashions: This year's
San Antonio IMAGINE 2009 Fashion Show consisted of 25 designers, each showing about 5 original designs, which (do the math) totaled to more than 125 outfits.
One Shoulder Chic: An emerald green organza design by graduating designer Carol Reyes
The designs consisted of a wide range from sportswear, juniors styles to cocktail dresses, to full-on Marie Antoinette-meets-a-Venice-Masked-Ball costumed gowns. There was also a designer who did menswear (with toned and muscled male models that really got the crowd all "hot and bothered" including all the young girls who were screaming). Another designer even did Mommy-daughter as well as Daddy-son designs (she had double the work!).
Masked Ball: A panier-ed cocktail number from the IADT IMAGINE 2009 show
All that was missing was a Maternity Collection! For a school that has only been up and running for two years and considering this was their first batch of graduating designers, I applaud every single one of them. There was so much creativity and originality from these kids. Congratulations to them for all their hard work and for allowing me to enjoy their designs--even from my "Emcee Podium" off to the side.
IADT graduate designer Alfredo Leija and his colorful designs
I was invited to co-emcee along with the
host of San Antonio's Number One Local Entertainment/Lifestyle Program Great Day SA on KENS 5, Bridget Smith. I had never met Bridget, until the very minute I was led up to the stage and the producers said "OK, Nick we're ready to begin...oh and by the way... meet your co-host Bridget Smith...". She was wearing a bronze satin strapless bustier mini dress, great heels and a long beautiful blond mane of perfectly coiffed curls. So you know, right then and there I was like "You are FABUUUUUULOUS Miss Bridget!". I guess she liked that because we instantly hit it off. Bridget and I introduced each designer and then did our own fun banter in between (to kill time and make sure the models were ready for their next segments) for the entire 2 + hours of the show. A Mint Julep would have been very nice after all that!
Nick Verreos and co-host Bridget Smith (far right), host of KENS 5 "Great Day SA", the No. 1 Local Entertainment/Lifestyle Program (with Tanya Sammis of Mason PR)
Bridget and I had the BEST time. Even though we had never met or worked with each other, it was as if we had done this before together and for a LONG TIME!!! Not only was Bridget a class act in terms of her professionalism and demeanor, she was so great with the off-the-cuff filler and banter. She made the emceeing go as smooth as the silk dresses we witnessed on the runway. I later found out that
she wrote the most beautiful blog posting about her experience as well as meeting me. You can read it
HERE.
I "HEART" Bridget!
IADT San Antonio Campus Lobby
The following day, I spoke for over an hour to all the incoming new students (it was "Orientation Day") about my experience in this crazy world of fashion design, the ups and downs in my 15+ years as a designer, pattern maker, instructor, as well as gave them some behind-the-scenes on
Project Runway. Oh and I also told them to take all those nasty
Facebook/MySpace photos of them shirtless doing a "woo hoo!!!" down (if they had any), since both college advisors and future employers are ALWAYS looking at those sites...I reminded them that they are not party hookers but future designers...
Get In Line: Posing for photos with Nick Verreos
Afterward, I posed for photos and even signed some autographs. The fact that no one fell asleep at my lecture/seminar meant (for me) that I had done a good job!
Thanks San Antonio and thanks IADT--and especially it's President Lisa Kamenick for making me feel "at home" and for treating me so well..jpg)
Parting Shot: Uncle Nick says "Goodbye" to his nephew and niece, Alain and Casia at the San Antonio International Airport
What Brings You To San Antonio: Reporter Gina Garcia and Nick Verreos on the IMAGINE 2010 red carpet
Last week, I was invited to San Antonio Texas to host the third annual IADT Imagine Fashion Show. I'm always excited to return to San Antonio since my parents, my sister and my gorgeous niece and nephew live there!
Uncle Nick...with his nephew and niece, Alain and Casia
So it's a chance to be "Uncle Nick", if only for a brief time. I also love coming back to host IADT San Antonio's Imagine show--the "Graduation Fashion Show" of the school's top fashion design students. This is the THIRD time I have been honored with the task of hosting the show so I guess we are doing something right!
Good Luck Students! The audience at Nick Verreos' IADT San Antonio lecture
My day began with an inspiring lecture to new incoming IADT students, where I told them about how I got interested in fashion, how my mom would buy me all my sketching notebooks and how my dad was so excited when I finally told him that I wanted to be a DESIGNER!!!!! I also gave them a "Nick Pep Talk" on making it in the business and how they can make the most out of their time in fashion school.
Room For Ten: Inside view of Nick Verreos' Limo to the IADT San Antonio Imagine 2010 Fashion Show
Before I knew it, I had to return to my hotel room, and change into my "evening" attire for my hosting duties. IADT San Antonio always treats me like a STAR and this was no exception. Take a look at the limo I had all to myself on the way to the Laurie Auditorium, site of this year's Imagine 2010 Fashion Show! Very "flossy flossy!" (do people say that anymore?)
Step & Repeat: Nick Verreos, make-up artist Starley Murray, and Creative Director/Producer of Imagine 2010, Tony Harris
When I arrived, there was a fabulous red carpet waiting for me, where I did many interviews for local press and TV, including a fun interview with Gina Garcia, the "San Antonio Fashionista" (see video at the end of this post).
Shoes, shoes and more shoes: Backstage at the IADT San Antonio Imagine 2010 Fashion Show
IMAGINE 2010 went without a hitch: 19 designers showed their mini-collections to an audience of over 500 guests, all there to support San Antonio's Next Great Fashion Designers. It was a diverse showing, from children's clothing, evening gowns to stylish men's collections.
IADT designer Jaime Galvan and his "Romantic City Vampire" models in black with gold details.
IADT designer Nanako Pastol with her "Grandmother's Vinatge Kimono" inspired children's collection (and her ADORABLE models!).
Nick Verreos poses with the IADT Staff, including Cynthia Rangel: Fashion Program Chair, IADT San Antonio Imagine 2010 (2nd from the right).
Afterward, there was an "After Party" Meet-and-Greet at the Laurie Auditorium's red carpet lobby, where I got to take photos and sign autographs with every designer--and what seemed like all 500 of the attending guests! I can't wait to return next year!
Click Below for a great Video of IADT San Antonio Imagine 2010 Fashion Show and my Interview with Gina Garcia, SA Fashionista:
