This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of flying to Las Vegas to Emcee the 2015 U.S. Shopping Center MAXI Awards at the fabulous Wynn Hotel and Casino Las Vegas as part of the 2015 ICSC RECon-- The International Council of Shopping Centers Global Convention for the Shopping Center Industry...

Happy New Year! And I can't think of a more perfect way of starting the new year off  than by hosting an exciting TechoChic runway show in Las Vegas! I am so excited to be in Vegas this upcoming week to emcee the FABULOUS FashionWare runway shows at the 2015 International CES/Consumer Electronics Show.

Salon Extravaganza!


Last Monday, I flew to Las Vegas to judge a most unique hair/make-up/fashion competition: "Battle of the Strands: Xtreme Beauty" Finals! I went there as the Fashion & Style Correspondent for LookTV--the BEST YouTube Channel devoted to the Best in Fashion & Beauty-and one of the sponsors of this one-of-a-kind beauty battle.

Produced by Vegas Beauty Unbound, "Battle of the Strands" is a cut throat competition between salons from across the nation. The actual competition began a month ago when 22 teams competed against each other to then get the chance to make the Semi-Final Top Twelve and seek the coveted "Battle of the Strands 2012: Xtreme Beauty" Champion title.

These 12 semi-finalists all then met in Las Vegas on October 17, 2012 to compete in a thrilling round of challenges that tested their teamwork and ingenuity in the areas of hair, makeup, and beauty. Everything was done very "Project Runway" style. After these challenges, the 12 semi-finalists were then cut down to five surviving teams: Body Spa Salon of Las Vegas Nevada; Clark Russell Salon of Lafayette California; Fringes Salon of Omaha Nebraska; Glam Alliance from Minneapolis Minnesota, and Mile High Magic from (you guessed it!) Denver Colorado.

These five teams then went on to compete in the final battle at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas last Monday night on October 2, which is where I came in--as one of the esteemed "Celeb Judges".

I arrived to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas early in the afternoon after a quick LA-Vegas flight (I spent more time at LAX waiting for my flight than in the air!) and was greeted by Kelly and Barb--my two very cute (and hard-working) "VIP Handlers" (above photo).


As you may know, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas has a lot of rock & roll/music memorabilia "sprinkled" throughout its grand lobby/casino floor so before I got to my room, I had to explore. My favorite items (naturally) were some of the fashions worn by famous music icons on display, including the red dress and bolero worn by MADONNA on the "Who's That Girl" /Ciao Italia World Tour and a red-and-gold jacket and ripped jeans from Axl Rose. Guns N' Roses are headlining at the hotel beginning October 31 so the entire place is a Guns N' Roses MECCA right now; big ol' signs advertising their concert hit you at just about every corner of the hotel. Speaking of hotel...I finally made it to my room:


The hotel's Paradise Tower website describes the room as such : "The trendsetting Paradise Tower combines rock ‘n’ roll decadence with style and sophistication to create an energetic vibe that can only be found at the Hard Rock Hotel. Rooms evoke visions of a rock ‘n’ roll manor house, using iconic materials like leather, wood and silver studded velvet to enhance the sensory experience and emphasize that this is no standard hotel room." And they were right! The room was very spacious, great bathroom and yes, love the bathroom products (I collect 'em!!). Soon, it was time for an outfit change and I had to head down to "The Joint" and do my judgin' duties at the fabulous "Battle of the Strands". The show was being LIVE Stream televised on YouTube for thousands and thousands to see so I had to look (slightly) decent.


The two hour show began with an exciting and very sexy dance number by the Los Angeles Samba Dancers. It was like the Opening of a "Miss Universe" pageant! I almost got up from my judging seat and stole one of those feathered headdresses and starting booty-shakin' myself!


The Five Final Teams, and their "Battle of the Strands" Final Creations--the Theme was GOLD:


Team Two: Clark Russell Salon Lafayette California--Clark Russell, Jeffrey Lotspeich, Anje Mayma and Brenda Agcaoili created a "Golden Medusa from Africa"-like creature with multi-colored hair, gray/purple body and face makeup, and a very impressive--and massive overskirt made of HAIR--in various shades of golden blond! Oh and did I mention she arrived on stage via a golden luggage cart. Yes, who needs a set of Louis Vuitton Luggage...when you have HER!
Photographs Courtesy of Battle of the Strands Facebook Page/PRSmith_PSPhotography

Team Three: Fringes Salon Omaha Nebraska--Carol Cole Lapole, Omar Rodriguez, Tiffany Welch and Kristina Lee created this "Amazonian Golden Warrior Goddess" featuring a very high wig--in varying shades of blond--a gold lame skirt, a forehead golden crown, golden tubing around her upper torso and a golden "Warrior Goddess Stick".
Photograph Courtesy of Battle of the Strands Facebook Page/PRSmith_PSPhotography

Team Four: Glam Alliance Minneapolis Minnesota--Andrew Schmitz, Brenda Torre and Crystal Mitchell created this "Marie Antoinette-Meets-Goldfinger Bond Girl Beach Diva" with an extravagant golden wig weaved into an UBER Faux Hawk, gold bikini top and bottoms, an iridescent organza back overskirt and crystallized Cleopatra-like makeup.
Photographs Courtesy of Battle of the Strands Facebook Page/PRSmith_PSPhotography

And Finally...

Team Five: Body Spa Las Vegas--Jessica Taylor, Felix McShaw and Jeremy McShan, Jeremy Mihelich created this "Exotic Hair Bird of Paradise" golden beauty featuring gold and black "wings", gold lame draping, and lots of gold chains and jewelry--as well as a headdress reminiscent of some Indonesian-meets-Nepal-meets-Vegas Fantasy Princess
Photograph Courtesy of Battle of the Strands Facebook Page/PRSmith_PSPhotography

The Judging:



After our judging--and "Michael/Nina/Heidi" commentary--we finally had to make a decision and "crown" the Winner of this year's "Battle of the Strand: Xtreme Beauty" Competition. This was NOT an easy decision and we--the judges--deliberated and conferred--even after putting our votes in--on the merits of why the Winner should be the winner--but we were all in agreement for sure. It was up to Kim Vo to announce the result. But before that, there was several other awards to announce including...


And The Winner (drum roll!!)...


GLAM ALLIANCE of Minneapolis Minnesota!! Yes, the "Marie Antoinette-Meets-Goldfinger Bond Girl Beach Diva" was our Top Vote Getter. From head-to-toe (literally!), this team had our highest scores. Congratulations to Glam Alliance, it's creative team and...

...that fabulous model for having the chutzpah to go out there in that ensemble and to not have a neck injury for holding up that very high Fax Hawk--just take a look at the intricacy of that hair!! Yep, she got my Highest Scores for sure!

Post Finals Pics:

Vegas Fab:


A couple of weekends back, I had the pleasure of flying to Las Vegas to host a fun-and-fabulous luncheon, Trend Lecture, as well as a VIP Crystals at CityCenter Shopping Experience for Barrett-Jackson.

This very special day was organized by the very luxurious Crystals at CityCenter--home of all the TOP high-end boutiques in the World including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Tom Ford...you name it, they are there! Barrett-Jackson is the Worlds Greatest Car Collector Auction and while I was there, they were having one of their amazing Barrett-Jackson Collector Car events.



While the husbands/boyfriends/fathers are seeing the cars, the Barrett-Jackson ladies were treated to a VIP Luncheon and Shopping with moi! I arrived the day before the event and I checked into the very chic Vdara Resort Hotel & Spa. It is an all-suite hotel--the only non-smoking-no casino resort in "Sin City". I absolutely loved it. My room was AMAZING, I have to say, and such a shame my NIKOLAKI Partner David Paul--or our Benny--couldn't have joined me! After a nice afternoon swim in the resort pool, I grabbed some dinner and went to bed (no gambling for me, kids!) and got ready for the following day's events...


The next day, I was ready to host this fun VIP Luncheon and Crystals at CityCenter Shopping Day. This was my very first time there and Oh Lordy: Crystals is truly unbelievable. It's like being in a Dubai shopping center...and I've never even been there (to Dubai, that is, but I assume!).


Ready for Fall: Crystals at CityCenter Las Vegas--The shopping center was ready for Fall with lots of decorations including HUGE hanging leaves and oversized jack-o-lanterns with flower-filled pumpkin heads.

First up: VIP Barrett-Jackson Luncheon and Trend Lecture at Social House:


The Barrett-Jackson ladies were at Crystals at CityCenter Restaurant, Social House, already enjoying their pre-lunch ice teas, as I walked in and began the Hosting-with-the-Most Luncheon.



The ladies enjoyed a presentation from Becky Zander of Assouline unveiling "The Ultimate Car Book" to the ladies as well as a gorgeous book about fashion (which, I, naturally, was SO interested in!--bottom photo).


After introducing myself to the guests and going from table to table giving them Trend and Fashion advice (not that they needed it!) as well as "How To Dress For Your Size" lecture, I also had a chance to take photos with the ladies and talk FASHION, Project Runway and yes, give them some "Hollywood Dish"...



Soon, it was time to do some of my "Nick Magic": I held an impromptu "Barrett-Jackson Catwalk Contest" with three of the ladies in attendance.


Barret-Jackson Divas: I chose--by accident--three of the TALLEST ladies there (see left photo above). I first did my "Nick Runway Walk" (yes, right then and there at Social House) and then, it was up to the Barrett-Jackson Ladies to strut their COUTURE walks:


Then...it was onto SHOPPING at Crystals:

After the VIP Luncheon at Social House, I had the pleasure of joining the ladies on a Shopping Tour of Crystals at CityCenter. We went to all the fabulous boutiques including:



Gwyneth Gown: at Tom Ford, we got to see--and touch--the famous "Gwyneth Oscar Gown" --a white silk crepe cape and one shoulder gown style which the actress wore at this year's Academy Awards. They had several color ways hanging perfectly on the store's rack.


I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST with the Barrett-Jackson Ladies--hosting the luncheon, giving them my "Fashion Tips", and yes, VIP Shopping with them! I have a feeling they also had a really good time (I hope!)  
A Big "Thank You" to the wonderful Barrett-Jackson ladies, all the retailers at Crystals at CityCenter for being so accommodating (and FABULOUS--Thanks for all that Champagne!) and yes, Crystals at CityCenter for being the MOST LUXE shopping center!

Click HERE for a fun interview I did with Crystals at CityCenter