Colorful and Fabulous--Models (L to R) Grace, Roberta, and Marsha wearing designs from Season 19 Project Runway designers Bones Jones, Kenneth Barlis, and Octavio Aguilar; model Dariana as the "Project Runway Color Wheel" Model--Lincoln Center NYC

Last Summer, I was fortunate (along with my work and life partner David Paul) to be asked once again to be Consulting Producers on Bravo's "Project Runway" for Season 19. As an Alumn of the show (Season 2, as well as the spinoff "Under The Gunn"), it has also been my pleasure for the last two seasons since the show returned back to the Bravo Network, to be brought in as a Consulting Producer. As such, David and I help in the casting process of the designers who get to be on the show, as well as work during production, helping with all things fashion-related--from the equipment (which machines, what thread, pattern papers, etc) to consulting on how much time is needed for each challenge, and so much more. 

Nick Verreos--During the filming of the 1st Episode introduction at Lincoln Center, NYC

This new season was the first completely filmed using COVID protocols (masks and face shields for us, twice-weekly tests, temperature checks plus lots and lots of sanitizers!). While all of that was a challenge on its own, it was exciting to get back to filming and the show. The first design challenge involved "A Return to NYC" and a theme of COLOR! The designers were challenged to take a color from the Color Wheel and design a look that best represents their own design aesthetic using COLOR. Since bold color has been a big theme utilized by designers as of late, we thought it was a great way to start the season!

Here are photos I took during the filming of this very first Season premiere Episode from Season 19 "Project Runway"...Enjoy

Also before filming began, as part of pre-production duties, the producers decided that it would be great to have all of our models at Lincoln Center for the Season Premiere Introduction, wearing the same dress style but in different sizes, and different colors...SIXTEEN different colors:

Color Slip Dresses--Marquise cut and sewed the dresses with less than a week of notice (OMG!!) We never saw the dresses until THE MORNING of the filming!!! After a few adjustments and "make it work!" alterations...it was "SHOWTIME!"

Models Backstage before the Runway--wearing designs from Season 19 designers:

Designs from (L to R) Kenneth Barlis, Bones Jones, and Caycee Black--Episode 1 Season 19 "Project Runway"

In my last post HERE, I blogged about the Season 18 "Project Runway" NY Fashion Week Finale Show and the Top Four Finalists and photos I took backstage--of their designs and the goings-on in the Workroom and pre-show invitees...now it's time for the JUDGING and the WINNER...





And the WINNER IS...
Karlie, Elaine, Serena, and Nina--(L to R) Supermodel and "Project Runway" host Karlie Kloss,  Journalist and "Project Runway" judge Elaine Welteroth, Guest Judge and Tennis Icon Serena Williams, and Elle Magazine Editor-in-chief and "Project Runway" judge Nina Garcia--Bravo's                                      Season 18 "Project Runway" Finale, Spring Studios NYC
Bonus: Surprise Birthday Cake for...ME!!!!

In Part Two of my BLOG chronicling the filming of this EPIC "Avant-garde| Episode for Bravo's Season 18 "Project Runway", it's time to head right to The Vessel at Hudson Yards, the site of this "Runway" Presentation...


After we left the "Project Runway" Workroom (Click HERE for that BLOG!), which is in Brooklyn, we arrived at The Vessel in Hudson Yards at around 3 AM. Yes, 3 in the morning. That was the "call Time" for the "day's" shoot. One that would last beyond the 15-hour mark (at least for myself and my trusty Consulting Producer better half, David). The Vessel is this architectural wonder of a building and artwork imagined by Thomas Heatherwick. It is comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs with almost 2,500 individual steps (of which I climbed!), featuring remarkable views of the city, the river and beyond.










**UP NEXT in Part Three: THE FASHIONS at the TOP...of The Vessel!

I am proud to announce that in addition to all my other job descriptions, I can now add "Consultant/Producer". Last year, I was hired as a Consulting Producer on the NEW "Project Runway" returning to the Bravo Network. This will be the 17th Season of the show--of which I was a designer/contestant back in 2005 on Season 2.



I have also judged Season 6 and have been a Casting Judge for more than ten seasons, beginning back in Season 3, and blog'ed many a season as well. As a designer, co-owner of NIKOLAKI and NV Nick Verreos, Co-Chair of Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM and former contestant on the show, I was happy to take on this position, bringing my expertise and knowledge of the fashion industry for more than thirty years as well as behind-the-scenes know-how on what is needed to give designers on the show the opportunity to be successful within every challenge--from the pattern  tables, sewing machines, dress forms to...how long the challenges should be.


As a Consulting Producer, my job is behind the scenes....not in front of the camera ;) But these images seen here were some behind-the-scenes photos from a fun Marketing Shoot I did for Bravo TV in advance of the show's Premiere...



DON'T MISS THE PREMIERE Thursday March 14th!!!