Grammy Awards Fashion "Hits" and "Oh Maybe Not": It's a Monday after a big Awards Show and you know what that means: time to Recap my Picks for "Fab" and "Could Be Better". As we all know the 54th Annual Grammy Awards took place last night and it was a wonderful show, filled with memorable tributes to the ONE and ONLY Miss Whitney Houston. I am still not over her passing. Such a loss. I think the show and especially Jennifer Hudson's performance was a loving tribute to the incomparable Whitney Houston. After spending the morning with Camille Grammer, Ali Landry and Tabatha Coffey over at TV Guide, it's time to head over to Burbank to discuss fashion with Chuck and Colleen, and as the Fashion Spokesperson for my Alma Mater, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, I am honored to be back on KNBC-LA, Channel 4. So tune in TONIGHT! Toward the end of the 5 o'clock hour (5:45pm) and see who I thought look like a Grammy Goddess and who I thought needs to look for a new stylist! WHAT: Grammy Awards Fashion Recap
WHERE: Channel 4 KNBC-LA

Prom Perfect!
This past Sunday, I did a fun and very FABULOUS TV segment on KNBC-LA, Channel 4 "Today in LA: Weekend" News Show. It was ALL ABOUT Prom Dressing! Yes, kiddies, it's "Prom Season" and I, your faithful Style Guy, is here to show all the lovely Prom Princesses--how to get the best deals in Prom Fashion--via the FIDM Scholarship Store.
As you know, I am the Official Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM (as well as an Instructor and Alumn) and when I found out that the FAB FIDM Scholarship Store had a whole lot of new Prom Dress options donated by TOP DESIGNERS, well, I just had to "Shout it to the LA TV World"!
On Sunday, I filmed a LIVE "Prom Dress" TV segment with Anchor Ted Chen, who--by the way --was looking very "Nick" in his bright turquoise blue shirt and striped tie! I showed three Prom Looks--all from the FIDM Scholarship Store and ALL from UNDER $40! In case you didn't know, many Big Name Designers and Manufacturers donate their clothing to the store and then, the store sells them at DEEPLY discounted prices with ALL proceeds creating FIDM student scholarships. So, yes, I LOVE the FIDM Scholarship Store! I brought three beautiful girls from LA Models Agency to show the looks:
First up was the stunning Aleah--This look I dubbed "The Individualist": This was the perfect option for the girl who doesn't want to go the dress and/or gown option for the Prom. So, I put her in wide-legged black pants, a silver lame top and accessorized the look with fingerless lace gloves and a FAB fascinator. The Total Look: $19! (Hello!)
Katie was the next model, and I put her in a "Short & Sassy" purple party dress with side shirring and cascading ruffles. Lace fingerless gloves--a la Madonna circa 1985--and a Camelia flower and ribbon hair adornment finished off her look. The Total Look: $30!!! ( The dress is only $24)
Next, it was all about "Hollywood Red Carpet Glamour". Kaela wore a one-shoulder "Grecian Goddess" mauve-colored side-shirred gown that is priced at only $35!!! This is a big-name designer gown that would retail for $500! (Get OUTTA here!!!)
Finally, Martha finished off my "Nick Verreos Presents Prom Looks" KNBC-LA segment, showing a baby blue-and-white strapless ball gown that--wait for it--was priced at $24! Not kidding. Of course, I styled her on the "funky side"... And gave her red Converse "Chucks" high-tops, so she would be that "funky" Prom Princess!!! I was inspired by Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld from "True Grit" who showed up to the Vanity Fair Party wearing her Custom Marchesa tea-length gown---and her Converse "Chucks". Thanks Hailee (or her stylist) for that inspiration! All in all, it was a fabulous segment and it was great to have the opportunity to show these four very chic--but still "budget-priced"-- Prom Looks, just in time for Prom Season. Mommies and daughters: Get thee to the FIDM Scholarship Store and shop shop shop!!!

Hollywood Royalty Style Stars...
Over the weekend, a brand new episode of this season's "Style Star" TV show aired on the Style Network. This episode's theme: Hollywood Royalty. And it was all about actresses Drew Barrymore and Kate Hudson.
I absolutely LOVE me some Drew and Kate. Not just because they ARE Hollywood Royalty...but the fact that they are FEARLESS when it comes to fashion! The episode begins with a Style History of our lovely Miss Drew--yes, Drew Barrymore and it goes from her putting daisies in her hair to "OMG! She's Giving COUTURE!" Of course, we discuss her "Valley of The Dolls" moment at "HBO's Grey Gardens" premiere...the bouffant hair, the halter gown with attached embroidered sequined neck piece: HOT! To her 2010 Golden Globes Haute Couture Moment, wearing that Atelier Versace champagne-colored silk gown with the "sea urchin" sequined shoulder and high-hip detail. remember, it was raining and someone forgot to put a TARP at the Hilton Red Carpet (Notice the wet hem!). Need I remind you, that gown would probably retail at about $80,000. Yes, FOUR zeros kids. And now, onto Kate Hudson: Of course, there is some discussion on "Style Star" regarding her Custom Chloe gown by then-designer Stella McCartney at the 2001 Academy Awards. Many style bloggers consider this one of the "All-Time Worst" of the Academy Awards Red Carpet. I don't think the gown was half-bad. The 80's "Kindness Perm" hair style was what did it for me. However... Goldie's talented--and stylish--daughter, came back, in 2003 at the 75Th Annual Academy Awards in a gorgeous nude Atelier Versace gown that well, pretty much put her in the "Hall of Fame" of "Best Dressed at the Oscars". To check out the Episode and when it is airing next... Click HERE!

Girls Next Door: the Hollywood Red Carpet Version:
This Saturday was a brand new episode of Style Network's "Style Star", the weekly show which highlights the Style of celeb ladies. This entire season of "Style Star" features me--as well as other Style Experts-- such as "America's Next Top Model" photographer/judge/hottie Nigel Barker, my fashionista buddy Marcellas Reynolds, as well as Model Warren Alfie Baker and others (there are female commentators as well!!). For this week's episode, we discussed Hollywood's "Girls Next Door": Actresses Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Of course, we talked about Reese and that canary yellow Nina Ricci strapless silk jacquard cocktail dress she wore at the 2007 Golden Globes: As well as... When she wore the Vintage Christian Dior 1950's organza-and-rose-colored-ribbon sequin gown the year she won her Oscar at the 2006 Academy Awards. Somehow--even in High Fashion, she still remained the "Girl Next Door"...just dressed up in $30,000 clothes! And yes, we didn't forget Miss Jennifer Aniston...One of my favorite "Style Star" looks from her was this black one-shoulder Valentino gown which she wore last year at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards. *If you missed Saturday night's Debut showing, then you're in luck, it also airs at these times/dates: Sunday, March 6, 10:30PM Monday, March 7, 1:30 AM *Click HERE for more times and dates.

Oscars Red Carpet Gets A Dose of Nick...
I am so EXCITED!!!! Now, I have to go decide on a Very Important Male Fashion Dilemma: Bow tie or skinny black tie? It will all start at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific as we do a LIVE Academy Awards Red Carpet Countdown Show and then the madness will begin with with the LIVE Red Carpet at 6 Eastern/3pm Pacific. Click on the image below to check out all the great features on the TV Guide Academy Awards Website including all the information for the Red Carpet Pre-Show on the big night:

We Discussed all the actresses below:
Here's a Hint: We LOVED almost ALL of them... Tune in tonight to find out what we said and which actress some in our panel weren't so sure about.... Watch TONIGHT Monday Jan. 31st beginning with a "Preview" at 7pm and then again at 8pm and 9pm! So, if you missed one showing, you got no excuse!!! Click HERE for more details

LA Fashionista Girl Central, A well-stocked Fashion Bar...and Vintage LA Couture!!!
Of course, host Lawrence Zarian and my red carpet "Hit" or "Miss" fashion partner-in-crime, stylist Jen Rade, were there as well. Jen had a shoot with Denise Richards soon afterward so we had to make this segment work and fast! It's usually me and the fact that I have to get to my FIDM class that forces us to rush a bit unfortunately.
Diane Merrick has been in the LA retail and wholesale fashion industry for almost 40 years--in 1972 Diane opened her first store on Melrose Avenue and ever since then, she has been synonymous with LA, style & fashion and where every Southern California "It" girl should go for getting the right items for her chic Hollywood walk-in closet!
The Diane Merrick boutique has all the skinny jeans, colored scarves, statement making necklaces, comfy jersey sweaters and tanks as well as the CUTEST bomber jackets EVERY girl needs! I love all the Buddha decor and one of my favorite things:
While waiting around for the crew to set up the shoot, I spotted several racks of clothing in plastic bags. Well, of course, I was intrigued. As it turned out they were racks of chiffon gowns, tweed suits and beaded-trim dresses from the Southern California (now-defunct) line, Cardinali designed by Marilyn Cardinali Lewis, who also is the woman behind Kate Mantilini's.
In the late 1960s, Cardinali was featured alongside Norell, James Galanos and Geoffrey Beene in fine stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. Made from imported tweeds, laces, silks, Lewis’ Cardinali suits, dresses and gowns were worn by the likes of Marlo Thomas (for “That Girl”), Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale. One dress that caught my eye was this one: This silver and pewter lame plisse palazzo-divided gown ended up having quite a provenence: It was worn by actress Dyan Cannon on a "Very Important Date", her first date with Cary Grant. Check out the note on the dress bag below: Below was another one of my Cardinali faves: A Peter Pan collared polka-dotted gown that SCREAMED late 60's-early 70's! I could totally see a fabulous actress pool-side at an A-list Bel-Air soiree wearing this. All that was missing from the bag--and the dress--was a STIFF Martini--and a cigarette perhaps!
Click Below for last week's TV Guide "The Fashion Team" Segment--from BLISS SPA W Hollywood--with myself, host Lawrence Zarian and Jen Rade:

What's The Fashion Fashionistas???
This last weekend, my favorite stylist-fashion-expert-in-crime---Stylist/Costume Designer Jennifer Rade--and I, were at it again bringing you what was "Hot" and "Not So Hot" in the week's Red Carpet Celeb World for our weekly "What's The Fashion" segment for TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team".
Click Below for our "What's The Fashion?" Segment from TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team":

Beverly Hills Fashion Team Preppy Chic