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This past weekend, I hosted--and judged--the MOST FABULOUS "Project Style 2012" Live Style Off Competition at Promenade Temecula. As you may know--if you've been following me here on my BLOG (and elsewhere), I am the Official Co-Spokesperson for "Project Style 2012" (along with Style Network's Jeannie Mai).


Project Style is a fun contest created by Forest City Shopping Centers, giving future Trendsetters and Stylistas across the USA a chance to shop, style and show...their looks in a video--and then, have a chance to win $1,000 Shopping Spree. And this year, there's even a BIGGER Grand Prize for the Winner of all the Regional competitions: a trip to NYC and to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2013 with me and to go shopping and much more.
Now let's get to the Temecula Live Style Off:
 


This year's Promenade Temecula Live Style Off occurred outdoors right in front of the Edwards Cinemas. It was about 100 degrees HOT but I was thankful to have a shaded stage. I immediately introduced the Four Finalists and the "Wildcard"--(left to right, above photo) Ashley Barre, April Yang, Blake Keif, Dana Menard, and Kristina Horlock to a WILD audience...



I think that EACH Finalist brought a fan club of family/friends of 10+ people--with big poster-sized photos and signs supporting their favorite. It was like being at a Miss USA Pageant when one looks out in the audience and there are big signs saying "We LUV U Miss Minnesota", or "Go Miss Texas!". It was the CUTEST thing! Needless to say, the 100 degree weather did not stop the crowd at Promenade Temecula from being "pumped" with excitement!


I began the contest with doing my traditional "Nick Catwalk Blessing"--doing a "Runway" walk onstage so the Finalist would A) Know what to do, and B) Show off my runway walk LOL!


The judges for the contest included last year's Project Style Promenade Temecula Winner, Lexie Laura; FIDM Rep Barbara Contreras; Marketing Director of Promenade Temecula Kym Espinosa; David Paul (my NIKOLAKI Design and Business Partner) and me!

Here are the FIVE Finalists:

An hour prior to the Live Style Off, each Finalist was given a $200 Promenade Mall Gift Card to shop and put together an outfit of their choice and now, it was their chance to SHOW IT OFF--in front of this HUGE audience of family, friends, shoppers plus of course, the judges...


After one last "Who's Your Favorite Hoot and Holler" from the audience, I joined the rest of the judges to deliberate and then...it was time to announce the WINNER....(drum roll!):


April wore a coral-colored jacket with gold details, white blouse, black knit skirt, apple green-colored thin belt, bright blue pumps and clutch purse. The judges loved her sense of style, pops of color and how she looked ready for a job as a assistant at a fancy fashion magazine!

April Yang Fan Club: afterward, I posed with the Winner and her Fan Club--as seen from the photo above---I absolutely LOVE that she brought them all out to support her! Check out her little brother holding up a big ol' photo of his sister April! Soooo CUTE!



Congrats to the Winner--and all the Finalists--EVERYONE did a fantastic job and trust me, it was difficult to chose a Top Trendsetter since, I personally thought that they were ALL Top Trendsetters! I had such a BLAST in Temecula and I especially thank the audience, friends and family members for BRINGING IT ON, when it came to the level of excitement!!! It made my job so much easier--and more fun!

Attention Temecula Fashionistas!


It's that time again for the Project Style Live Style Off at the Promenade Temecula Forest City Shopping Center ! Join me THIS Saturday September 29 at 3PM as I host this year's Live Style off, where five finalists will compete for the Top Trendsetter title and $1,000 Promenade Temecula Shopping Spree prize!!!

Last year, I hosted this very same contest at the Promenade Temecula and let me tell you, I had a BLAST!!! So many people came out to see the Live Style Off and as usual, I had a great time doing my post-competition Meet-and-Greet and taking all the Facebook and Twitter photos I could!

These were last year's finalists (above photo) and they BROUGHT IT when it came to their looks so I really hope this year's Finalist will OUTDO them!! I'm looking forward to that! And I hope that Temecula shoppers will also BRING IT!! And out-do last year's audience!!! And don't forget, I'll be doing a Recap right here on my BLOG so you might become "semi-style famous" by coming out and maybe making it into my Style Blog!


DETAILS:

The Antelope Valley BRINGS IT!!!!
Last weekend was my final Hosting of the "Project Style" Live Style Off events. I've been EVERYWHERE and have met SO many amazing Top Trendsetters--from all over Southern California as well as West Virginia! And not to mention: I've had a BLAST meeting all the fans, families and yes, some future "Project Style" competitors (They should really think of coming up with a "Mini-Me" Project Style for 12 and under!). But I digress, this time, I was off to the Antelope Valley Mall, in Palmdale to host "Project Style: Antelope Valley"--the Live Style Off.
The weather was gorgeous naturally, as I drove about 6o miles north of Los Angeles toward the Mojave Desert. I arrived and got to see the wonderful signage/posters they had throughout the fabulous Antelope Valley Mall, as well as... They even framed a photo of me in their "Guest Services" kiosk. I felt, well, VERY Special! (I "Heart" Antelope Valley Mall!)
As always, the rules for the "Project Style" Live Style Off were simple: In the past five months, Antelope Valley's "Most Fashion-Savvy" went on shoptopia.com, submitted videos, and were voted as Finalists of their "rounds" and made it to this Live Style Off. I gave them each $200 Antelope Valley Mall Gift Cards and ONE HOUR to go shopping for a complete new look. They had to shop, style and dress themselves and showcase the results LIVE on the Stage in front of a panel of expert judges from the Antelope Valley Mall--for a chance to win a $1,000 Gift Card!!! The Top Five Trendsetters (Left to right) Zoe April Stotz, Amanda Beard (she couldn't be there so her lovely sister modeled and shopped for her), Kimberly Backe, Frank Nadolny, and Karla Deleon--Here they are after they've gone shopping and styled their outfits, getting ready for the live Style Off, in front of A LOT of people:
The Top Two Were: The Boy: Our one male Finalist, 14-year-old Frank Nadolny--I think Frank ROCKED his style--he mixed his love of skateboarding, street and music into his look. I also liked all the colors and polished sense of sporty style. Frank had a bunch of fans in the audience--including his FAB family--but in addition, there were some Cheerleaders from his High School that even did a Cheer for him and Project Style (scroll down to the end of the blog to see the VIDEO!). Kimberly Backe: I dubbed her "Mini Katy Perry" because she looked just like her! She chose a very fashion-savvy-meets-young style for her Live Style Off, combining directional elements as well as traditional Southern California style. And The Winner Was...Kimberly!!! But let me tell you, Frank was a very close second! And like I said to ALL our Finalists--they are all Winners! I was so excited to see how the Antelope Valley Finalists really BROUGHT IT, in terms of all the eclectic and very diverse styles and especially how AMAZING the audience in the Mall was! I have to say: Antelope Valley ROCKS!!! Hope to see you Next Year!!!! Click below to watch the HHS Cheerleaders do a little cheer for Frank:

Antelope Valley Stylistas: You're Next!!! This Saturday I am continuing my "Project Style" LIVE Style Off "Mall Tour" and this time I will be in the Antelope Valley Mall, in the city of Palmdale. I've hosted several Project Style contests--in the South Bay Galleria, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula and even Charleston West Virginia! This time, I am headed to 60 miles North of Los Angeles to Palmdale in the Mojave Desert. This Saturday, September 24th is the Finale Live Style Off from 1-3pm, where five Finalists will compete for a $1,000 Gift Card Grand Prize (to shop, shop, shop!) and to become the Top Trendsetter for the Antelope Valley.
You can click HERE to view their videos, and hope to see you THIS Saturday at the Antelope Valley mall to see WHO will be the Next Top Trendsetter--I can't wait! Here are all the DETAILS: What: Project Style Live Style Off, Antelope Valley Where: Antelope Valley Mall, 1233 West Rancho Vista Boulevard

Come Meet Me and See Temecula's Most FAB Trendsetters!!! TOMORROW, Saturday September 17th, I will be in Temecula (about 85 miles Southeast of LA) at the Promenade Shopping Center from 1-3PM--Why? To host the LIVE Project Style Style Off of course! Promenade Temecula is the shopping and dining destination in Temecula. The shopping center features 140 national retailers, quick and fine dining, and entertainment options such as Edwards Cinemas, a food court, and an entertainment plaza — in a unique indoor/outdoor setting.
I am so excited to meet the Five Finalists of the Promenade's Project Style 2011 Contest and see what styles they will come up with to have the "ultimate bragging rights" as Temecula's Top Trendsetter AND win the $1,000 Gift Card Prize! What is Project Style, you may ask? Well, darlings, Project Style is the ultimate fashion competition for guys & girls ages 13 and up. Budding stylistas put their sense of style & fashion to the test by creating the ultimate outfits. They create a video and post photos of their ensemble. Live voting by Shoptopia.com members determine the winner for the each round. And then the Top Five have the LIVE Style Off TOMORROW!!!

Come and see all the FASHION FUN, cheer on the "Project Style" Finalists and even get to try the FAB Swivel Virtual Dressing Room--where anyone can "virtually" try on clothes, accessories--and even my NIKOLAKI Red Carpet Gowns! Oh and if you come, you might just make it into my BLOG PHOTO Recap of the event! You'll for sure get a BIG "Nick Hug", a Facebook Pic and an autograph--and maybe some "DISH" on Project Runway :)
When :1-3PM
See ya TOMORROW!!!!!!

Rancho Cucamonga Style, An Outdoors Style Off...and a Mini Michael Jackson??? Yep, Welcome to Project Style Victoria Gardens!!!!
As you probably read in my previous post, I had been in NYC last Friday for some business meetings--along with my NIKOLAKI partner-in-design crime, David Paul. I also attended the Finale Runway Show of Project Runway Season 9. The following day, I got on a 7AM flight to LA. Why? I had very important Duties: I was to Host the "Project Style" at the Victoria Gardens Shopping Center in Rancho Cucamonga--about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. My plane arrived at LAX at 10AM and I had to be at "VG" (Victoria Gardens) by 11:30AM. Driving in Southern California and 40 miles can be anywhere from 1 hr+ to THREE, so I was scared that I would not make it in time! Somehow, WE MADE IT!!! David might have been doing just a little bit over the speed limit (ooops!) but I took a nap while he drove so I have no proof!
Upon arriving the beautiful outdoors mall--located with the gorgeous mountain backdrop in Rancho Cucamonga--I got acquainted with the stage, met "my" DJ and of course, the Finalists of this year's Victoria Gardens "Project Style". These budding stylistas went on shoptopia.com, applied, were picked as Finalists in five different rounds of competition and now they were here for the Live Style-Off. The Competition was as follows: I gave each of the Finalists a $200 VG Gift Card and they had ONE HOUR to shop for an entire ensemble, put it on and then model it in front of all the audience--including very supportive friends and family AND every random Mall Shopper Attendee!!!--and then a panel of judges would decide who would win the Grand Prize of a $1,000 VG Gift Card! Once they were out shopping, there was a fun Banana Republic Fashion Show on the center stage showing the latest Fall 2011 Trends, which I also hosted (that's me above with the Banana Republic Fashion Show models). I also checked out the Swivel Virtual Dressing Room "Booth" where shoppers could "virtually" try on clothes, accessories...even MY NIKOLAKI gowns!!! Oh and, I almost forgot: back onstage (while waiting for the Finalists to return), a mom who was in the audience asked if the DJ could play Michael Jackson and if her son--who LOVES M.J.--could do a dance to one of his songs...
Well, HUNEEEEYYYY! Of course I let little Jaymes onstage and before I know it, he was bringing the Victoria Gardens Rancho Cucamonga House down!!! He even brought another young "Project Style" attendee to share the stage with him (above photo). I got a video of Jaymes doing his AMAZEEENG Michael Jackson dance number and it's at the end of this post...so don't miss it!!!
After such a fun--and impromptu intermission (Thanks Jaymes!), it was time for the "Project Style" Finalists to come back on stage with their new outfits to be judges. All five did an amazing job and I especially liked the variety of styles in each and every one of the contestants. There was Boho Chic , Elegant Business, Going Out "cocktail" and our guy Rashid, gave the audience "Meet-the-Parents Proper Elegant-Sport".
The Style-Off was very close--in fact so close that the judges couldn't decide and it was a TIE!! Between two contestants. So, guess who the Tie-Breaker Judge was? Yep, moi! So, I decided the Winner of the $1,000 VG Gift Card Prize and Project Style 2011 Winner would be...
Needless to say, I had a BLAST hosting "Project Style" at the Victoria Gardens Center in Rancho Cucamonga and especially was very happy with the outcome--as well as with our "Michael Jackson Intermission Dance Number"---Oh and speaking of that... Click BELOW for a GREAT video from "Project Style Victoria Gardens" Intermission, when I let a VERY TALENTED boy named Jaymes on stage to perform a song by Michael Jackson: