Thursday night was the Finale Episode of Project Runway Season 8. Yes, kids, it's OVER! And the outcome, well let's just say, didn't make too many people happy. It was a big shocker. Gretchen Jones, from Portland Oregon, who started out all "I love sustainable clothing...and I'm all about Granola-Crunch and sweet" but then before you could say "Camera's On!", turned into this season's Most Hated "character". It may not have helped that EVERY episode, she was giving her unadulterated opinion on all the other contestants designs...and they weren't so nice.
This Final Episode continued where last week's left off, as the top 3 contestants faced their Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week "Close Up". But first: The yawn-inducing Reunion. It was a bore and a half, with no Ivy Higa Acting Foolish, or Michael Costello crying about how everyone thought he was useless, and so on. Nothing. I really wish they would bring back the liquor-induced fun Reunions of the past of season's past.

Byeeeeeeeee until next Season kids!

Fashion Week continues in NY... First up: Jason WuFor Fall/Winter 2010 Jason Wu--otherwise known as "Michelle Obama's Favorite Designer", showed lots of grays, burnt oranges, lemon yellows, greens and golds in his collection. The shapes were rather masculine and slouchy, like your dad's cardigan or old blazer, as opposed to fitted princess-seamed batteau-necked shift dresses (preferred by the First Lady, of course) . But he didn't altogether lose his "lady-like" side when he showed pretty and flirty chiffon skirts and softly gathered dresses. Wu said he was inspired by the late photographer Irving Penn, both the man and his photographs. One of my favorite looks is this oversized cashmere coat (above) which opened the show, worn by Polish Supermodel Anja Rubik. Click Below for the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Show: Marchesa:Georgina Chapman (aka Mrs. Harvey Weinstein) and co-designer/founder Keren Craig decided to show their Fall/Winter 2010 Collection Installation style (smart) where the stars were the clothes. They've done this in the past and it has proved well for them. Marchesa is a red carpet favorite, especially among the "Harvey Weinstein Girls"--his A-list actresses such as Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman as well as others. For Fall/Winter 2010, they continued doing what they do best. Their gowns and dresses are meticulous, opulent and serene, as well as abstractly elegant. There were royal blues, blacks, pale pinks, whites and lipstick reds, which I love. We know it's Fall but who cares? Bring on the colors! Details included snake-charm/octopus-like accents embroidered and hand-sewn into the dresses--as well as folded and pleated Origami-like "explosions". One of my favorites was this gown above which would fit a stunning (and very rich) bride as well as an Academy Awards Best Actress nominee any day! Click Below for the Marchesa Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Show Installation Video: Herve Leger by Max Axria: Max Axria and his wife Lubov are smart. They certainly do not need me to tell them that! For their Herve Leger Collection, they sent out S-E-X; in the form of tight above-the-knee bandage dresses the house is known for. One after another, in Winter whites, lots of gray, gunmetal, black, and nude colors; His models were Leger Warrior Queens! Azria said the theme was "Athletic", as in laced-up tennis shoes and of course, I am sure the Olympics were on his mind. Not sure if those healthy size 8 Downhill Skiers would even be able to fit into these, but they looked great on these size 0 models (too skinny btw!). Nevertheless, these are dresses EVERY SINGLE model wants to wear. Hopefully those models can work enough to earn those dresses $3,000+ price tag!I loved the last black one-shoulder dress which coincidentally, wasn't a typical "Herve Leger" tight-fitting bandage dress but still retained all the sensuality of one. Click below for Herve Leger by Max Axria Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Show:

And We're off to NY Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010: Marc Jacobs: Earlier in the week, Marc Jacobs vowed to not have any actresses or paparazzi-ridden celebs in his front row (like last season's Madonna and Lady Gaga love-fest) and instead decided to actually have important editors and buyers sitting front row and center since they are who really matter in the end. As the designer and his business partner, Robert Duffy tore brown paper to reveal the podium filled with his 56 models, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" played as the models began their walk down the runway showing Marc Jacob's Fall/Winter 2010 looks. It was a collection of his "best of the best" from his almost 20 year career. Mostly neutrals, lots of grays, some mustard yellows, and "Winter" pastels. Loved the mitered striped wool coats and the 1930s-inspired slithery gowns. Lots of exaggerated fur collared coats and wraps and some cute socks-with-pumps styling...very Marc Jacobs.No high drama, theatrics or tricks (except for that big pouffy Marc Jacobs Prom Dress at the end--still fabulous though!) just great saleable clothes his women will D.I.E. for... Check out the Runway Video Below: Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2010 Rodarte:Known for their tulle, wool knit/crochet, ethereal but with a Goth edge dresses, the Mulleavy sisters took its audience on another Rodarte fashion trip. This time, for Fall/Winter 2010, it was Texas and Mexican border towns such as Ciudad Juarez. Patchwork arts-and-crafty dresses but with a defined "Couture" like quality: there was a method to the subdued madness. Floral chiffons, burnout velvets and laces that looked as if they were 100 years old--I can't even imagine the 150 pattern pieces on those dresses--the thought of these dresses going through Production can give any Production patternmaker a big headache! But somehow they do it, and do it beautifully. When I visit stores that carry Rodarte, such as Barney's and see their dresses, they are almost museum-like quality--and with a museum-like $14,500 price tag to boot! My favorites were at the end, those ivory "Virgin" gowns with asymmetrical side cowls with mini pouffy sleeves were a dream. Couture Communion Dresses anyone? Rodarte Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Video, Part 1: Rodarte Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Video, Part 2:

NY Fashion Week Mania!YSL Rive Gauche Perfume Bottle: Designer Prabal Gurung's bow top and royal blue pants ensemble, Spring 2010 Well kids, it's that time again, and New York Fashion Week is upon us. If you are a designer and have an extra $200,000 lying around to show your collection during NY Fashion Week (that's about how much it costs to show in the Mercedes Benz official tents!), then this week is all about YOU! Silver Pouf: A look from Jason Wu Spring 2010 Collection I was invited to several shows but unfortunately "work calls" here in LA, and had to remain in Southern California. Andy Cohen--of Bravo--even asked me if I wanted to attend the She by Sheree Show at NY Fashion Week! (maybe he was just joking!) But you know I would have LOVED to have been there to see the "hot mess" (or not). But alas, it's Emmy Awards Week and I have tons of things to do here in LA. To check out the "latest and greatest" from NY Fashion Week, be sure to go to one of my FAVORITE sites for "all things fashion", Fashion Week Daily. They are the best! So far, I have looked at some of the collections and Anna Wintour and Michelle Obama "boy wonder", Jason Wu and designer Prabal Gurung's collection--inspired by his mother's YSL perfume bottle--have been my favorites. Prabal's collection is very "YSL Rive Gauche" for 2010. -Also, be sure to check out a great article on "The Future of Fashion" by LA Times Fashion Critic, Booth Moore. Very interesting. Click HERE for that article. -And finally (for now), below is the runway video of the Max Axria (a Season 6 Project Runway judge) BCBG Spring 2010 Collection.

Fashion Schmashion... Lady In Zac Posen Red: Cowl-draped shouldered plunging neck ruffled gown, Fall 2009 So, it has become a tradition of sorts here at www.nickverreos.com to, of course, talk about fashion and especially what's the "freshest" and "newest" in fashion, and particularly, on the runways. Because I was crazy-busy doing all my segments for Oscar.com and all things surrounding the Academy Awards, New York Fashion Week sort of came and went. In fact, I was going to go to NY and attend the Finale of the newest (and yet un-aired) Season 6 of Project Runway at Bryant Park, but could not, because it conflicted with my duties for Oscar.com (oh well!). I have added some great runway shows from some of the top designers who showed at last week's New York Fashion Week, as well as accompanying photos naturally. Zac Posen: Zac Posen Fall '09: Cowl draped shoulder bias gown Oh, Zac, he loves DRAMA (and so do I huney!). And he gave them drama for his Fall 2009 Collection. There were loose themes of Victoriana, Joan Crawford and 1930's Hollywood in his collection, mostly confined to dresses and gowns--from bias-cut slithery silks to full ruffled mermaid shapes. Joan Crawford Shoulders: Zac Posen Fall '09 exaggerated raglan and bishop sleeved cocktail dress There was a lot of interest and focus on the shoulders (a theme for Fall '09) therefore the Joan "No More Wire hangers Christina!" Crawford reference. Style.com wasn't necessarily won over and deemed it a bit "too much". Zac Posen, too much? Really? Click Below for Parts 1 and 2 of Zac Posen Fall 2009 Runway Show Oscar De La Renta:Dominican Diva: Model-of-the-moment Arlenis gives you plunging neckline Elegant, high-society clothes for the moneyed set. This has always been Oscar De La Renta's anthem. For Fall 2009 , he did not change a thing---and thank God for his clients. Speaking of clients, if the use of more than one or two models of color (Gracias Oscar!) is any indication, I have a feeling somebody is trying to woo First Lady Michelle Obama, either overtly or covertly. Oscar De La Renta has always been known to be the favorite designer of the upper-echelons of the Ladies-who-lunch REPUBLICAN set. Violet Goddess: A violet-colored silk column one-shoulder gown, Oscar de la Renta Fall '09 (also worn by Jessica Biel to the Oscar After Parties Sunday night!) But change is in Washington, and so Oscar may seem to be trying to change his "political" fashion colors, as they say. Whatever the (wonderful) conscious decision of using so many STUNNING Black girls, I love that his first and final model were models of color---talk about CHANGE!!! Final Exit: Model Jourdan Dunn in a black-and-white strapless ball gown His Fall 2009 Collection was stunning, filled with expensive silks, duchess satins and wools, and had hints of Kiera Knightley's "The Duchess" (look at that hair!). Of course I absolutely loved the stunning gowns at the end. Yes, we are in an economic recession, but don't tell that to Oscar or his ladies. Click Below for Parts 1, and 2 of Oscar De La Renta Fall 2009 Runway Show:

I'm a Barbie Girl In A Barbie World.... Original Barbie: Rachel Roy's striped sequined one-piece This last Saturday afternoon, NY Fashion Week went PINK! As in Barbie Pink! The Council of Fashion Designers of America--the CFDA--asked 50 of their member designers, to come up with their vision for a "Barbie Dream Wardrobe". From Rachel Roy's sequined Vintage Barbie opening exit bathing suit to House Of Field's futuristic one-leg jumpsuit, these American designers conjured up designs that ran the gamut from wearable and off-the-rack to "OK, Is Barbie a Drag Queen?". Other designers included Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang and Marchesa. The outfits weren't all bubble-gum pink satin and tulle and there was a lot of black and anything in between (since of course, Barbie cannot live in pink ALL THE TIME!). Boris and Natasha Barbie: Barbie goes mysterious Savvy fashion-watchers noted that some of the outfits were not "especially created for Barbie" but were rather dresses or pieces from the designer's collections that were "Barbie-ized" for this special tribute. Note the strapless red gown below--worn by Pennsylvania-born supermodel Sessilee--that was suspiciously similar to Eva Longoria's SAG Awards red carpet gown. Miss Barbie: Sessilee models Apple-Red Satin Strapless Mermaid Gown One of the standouts was--naturally--Bob Mackie's Cher-inspired "Barbie Does the Flamingo Hilton/Vegas Riviera" gold gown with feathered headdress. God Bless Bob Mackie! Welcome to Vegas! Bob Mackie's vision for Barbie The massive backdrop showed kaleidoscopic videos and iconic images of Barbie and the runway was, of course, pink...even Ken made a "special guest star" appearance. It all ended in a massive shower of glitter confetti with the models walking with tulle-clad little fans of Barbie... After 50 Years, Are They Still Together? Barbie and Ken Click BELOW for Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the Barbie NY Fashion Week Runway Show:

Fashion Schmashion

Last week was NY Fashion Week, and I spent it in Los Angeles. Much to the contrary of what had been rumored, I did not show at the Bryant Park Tents . Let me explain: I received many emails and calls here in LA from friends and industry people saying, "Did you know you are showing?". I was like "No, I ain't". Well, a line called "Nicholai" is on the roster, they would tell me. Sorry guys, my line is NIKOLAKI. Nicholai is the brand-new line by Nicky Hilton, and while yes, the names sound familiar. They are not the same. You can see of my recent gowns from Spring 2008 above and to the left.

I stayed here in LA, because I was working, teaching and filming segments for MSN.com/Style Studio for the Emmy's. So, to get my NY Fashion Week style fix, I turned to various fashion sites I love , such as Style.com, Cathy Horyn's blog for the New York Times and the fabulous Frillr.com site. This site had most of the NY designer's full runway videos up the next day, if not the same day. So I felt like I was there--without the rude people pushing, shoving and trying to get into a show, pretending they were "somebody".

Speaking of videos vs photos, I would first look at the photos and my immediate reaction with some of the collections was a very Michael Kors meets Nina Garcia "I am underwhelmed". However, after I looked at the full runway video, with the models moving, seeing the backs of the gowns or dresses, plus the music, my view would change 360 degrees. This is a lesson in how photos DO NOT translate exactly what the clothes really looked like or what the designer had in mind in putting forth their "vision". I argue that a photo from Style.com cannot portray this accurately, but seeing the full-on video can. And in several instances, it changed my mind. Particularly, after seeing Vera Wang's Roman-inspired collection and Ralph Lauren's ode to "My Fair Lady". At first I wasn't moved but after watching these videos, I actually loved them. I was especially thrilled to see Vera Wang do a Grecian/Roman inspired collection, since that was essentially the theme for my recent NIKOLAKI Spring 2008 show at the W San Diego. Her take was less glam, but serenely beautiful. The draping was on-mark!

My other favorites were the controversial Marc Jacobs collection and Diane Von Furstenberg, among others. Marc Jacobs' show began 2 hours late and was shown backwards (Marc took his bow at the beginning and the models came out from last look to first. ) Few fashion journalists and bloggers I read even commented on how the amazing Viktor and Rolf had done this "backwards show" several seasons before, as well as the illusive Martin Margiela. Jacobs' collection, at first, looked a mess. But after much viewing and thought, I thoroughly understood it. His take on sex, society and wearing your underthangs a la Britney and "Grey Gardens" meets Madonna circa 1985 was on a whole other level. People loved it or hated it. The argument I keep hearing towards Marc Jacobs is that we (Americans) need our own Galliano, or Viktor and Rolf--someone who goes "out there" and tantalizes, polarizes--and Jacobs, is the closest thing.

Diane Von Furstenberg's show was Tahiti-Meets-Hawaii-in 1982. The French Disco soundtrack was sexy-hot and so were the flowy dresses shown on the runway. The bold colorful prints, sexy mumu's (I would never think those two words would go together!). The fact that she used so many models of color: HOT!!! After looking at her collection, I wanted to go to Hawaii and bring every single DVF mumu with me! Tres Chic.

Click HERE to view the Ralph Lauren show.
Click HERE to view the Vera Wang show.
Click HERE to view Marc Jacobs show.
Click HERE to view the Diane Von Furstenberg show.