Seattle Fashionistas: I'm Coming To Rate Your Shoes...Oh, and also to HOST a FABULOUS Party for a GREAT Cause!! In three weeks, on Thursday May 5th to be exact, I will be in Seattle (one of my FAVORITE cities in the World, thank you very much!) to host that city's "Wine Women & Shoes" Gala benefiting Seattle Children's Home. The Seattle Children's Home has been in existence sine 1884 , providing incredible mental health services to children and their families. I am so honored to be involved with such a wonderful organization. If you've been keeping up with my lovely BLOG here, you may know that I have a fondness for Seattle--the Emerald City--and have hosted several FAB events there. This time, I am being invited back--and I assure you, this event will be AMAZING! Why?
First of all, I am HOSTING! In other words: Watch Out Seattle! It's going to get COUTURE-Crazy! In addition, you will get to shop, nibble (yes, there will be lots of food darlings!) and taste sensational wines--and actually meet the vintners behind them! Vintners--now that's your new word of the day! (at least for moi)
You will also get a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, including an original ONE-OF-KIND fashion illustration --done by ME--right then and there! I will also be giving prizes for the "sassiest" pairs of SHOES! Like these Louboutin's above (yep, if any ladies wear these, I might just SCREAM in glee!) And there's more: Here's a Rundown of the Evening's Festivities: 5-6pm: VIP Reception where I will give a special discussion on current fashion trends (for VIP ticket holders only!) 6-7pm: Red Carpet Arrivals--I will be commenting on attendee's FAB pumps! (Yep, it's like me doing my Live From The Academy awards Red Carpet Show!) 7-8pm: Party Dinner--time to DISH on Project Runway and my new upcoming TV show--as well as having Katy Perry AND Carrie Underwood wear my designs 8:30-9pm: Raffle and Best Shoe Contest--and this is when I will sketch my original one-of-a-kind sketch to the Winning Bidder!!! I am so excited about hosting this event and KNOW that it will be THE Seattle Event people will be talking about for YEARS!!! Details: *What: Seattle's "Wine Women & Shoes" Event to Benefit Seattle Children's Home, Hosted by Nick Verreos *When: Thursday May 5th, 5-6pm VIP Reception, 6-9pm Event *Where: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, 99 Union Street Seattle Washington *Tickets: For more information and how to purchase tickets, click HERE *I just found out that we are almost SOLD OUT of the VIP tickets (and we still have three weeks to go!!!) but you can still get General Tickets---

Shopping, Styling, and Filming...in Seattle!Finerie Pose: Nick Verreos strikes a pose on the streets of Seattle
Along with David's styling expertise (he has styled many a commercial, infomercial and magazine shoot--he even assisted THE Andre Leon Tally for an Arthur Elgort Vogue photo shoot back in the day), we also got AMAZING assistance from Gretchen Bell, a Seattle-based stylist and shopping DIVA! Styling Company: David Paul, Gretchen Bell and Nick Verreos, Mario's Seattle Our shoots took place at two wonderful Seattle stores, Mario's (a very high end boutique a la Barneys NY) and The Finerie, a distinctive smaller boutique that carries lots of local designers as well as one-of-a-kind not-found-anywhere-else pieces. Latin Lovers: Nick Verreos and Jocelyn in her "Reveal" dress I got the chance to pick the most fabulous looks--from head to toe--for my four "Seattle Divas", (as I called them): Rebecca, Heather, Sonja, and Jocelyn. Rebecca and Nick Verreos, MSN/Special K The Victory Project, and...Nick Verreos and Sonja, MSN/Special K The Victory Project All of them had a certain goal and after weeks of hard work, painful but fulfilling exercises and lots of Special K cereal later, they were ready for their Style Transformation, courtesy of moi! We all had great fun and I must admit, the ladies looked AMAZING! Heather and Nick Verreos, MSN/Special K The Victory Project Well, actually VICTORIOUS!!! And wasn't that the point? I was sad to say "Goodbye" but as always, I had a great time in Seattle and so happy I could make the ladies smile and be their "Fairy Style Godmother". Click Below for Heather's Fashion Makeover:

For all the other "The Victory Project" Style Reveal Videos, click HERE.

Seattle Diary--The Birthday Weekend! Put Your Lips Together...and Blow: Happy Birthday Nick! Last week, I was invited to judge the fabulous Project Red Dress as you all may know and had a great time! In addition to this event, I was also happy to be in Seattle for my Birthday! (It was the same day as the event). But since work calls, I did my duties at Project Red Dress, judged, surveyed the gowns and dresses, did some catwalkin' on the Fairmont Olympic Hotel Runway and met with a lot of the guests (and I took a lot of photos which I am sure I will be "tagged" in on Facebook!)Beard Cake: Nick Verreos Birthday Cake After the Project Red Dress fashion show and gala, I went to my Fairmont Olympic Hotel suite, did a bit of an outfit change and headed off to a fashion show, live concert that my Seattle friend (of Venezuelan descent) Eduardo, was producing. Because it was so late, the fashion show had ended, but I still wanted to stop by. I'm glad I did: Little did I know that he had "organized" along with a couple of my other Seattle friends, a "Birthday" mini-party! Another Venezuelan friend, the wonderful Jorge Hernandez, had commissioned and designed a "Nick" cake: He designed a delicious cake with my image--beard and faux-hawk included--I seriously could not believe it!!! I didn't even want to cut it! But I did, right into the beard! Thank you Eduardo and Jorge, you guys are too much! Nick with Cake: Nick Verreos and Seattle Designer, Logan Neitzel, holding up his Birthday Cake The following day, I had to give a 10 AM Workshop/Seminar on the Essence of Fit and Fit Models at the Tukwila campus of the International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT. I was happy to "instruct" Seattle design students and fans of Project Runway alike, on why a "Forever 21" small is very different from a "QVC" small, as well as bring some of my NIKOLAKI clothing line samples and show good vs. bad fit on an actual fit model. Fit Class: Nick Verreos during his Workshop at International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT Afterwards, I was delighted to enjoy a fantastic, family-style luncheon at Saffron Kabobs, a Bellevue Persian food restaurant (the BEST in Seattle!). I love me some Persian Food--in fact so much so, people question if instead of being half-Greek, I may be half Persian!). Cake No. 2: Saffron Kabobs' Chocolate Cake for Nick's Birthday Well, guess what? After eating enough Koubideh Kabob, Tahdik, Gormeh Sabzi and Saffron Rice to feed an entire family, they brought out a Birthday cake!!! Yep, it officially became Nick's Birthday Weekend! View From The Top: David Paul and Nick Verreos at the Columbia Tower Club (notice the sea plane passing in the background) Then, if that was not enough, David and I were treated to an amazing view of Seattle--atop 75 stories! Our driver, Amy of Amy's Limo--my "official chauffeur" in Seattle (I love Miss Amy!)--wanted to give David and I a special treat: She invited us to the exclusive Columbia Tower Club. It was Valentine's Day after all and she wanted to celebrate it with us!!! It is a private membership club, restaurant and bar where the creme de la creme of Seattle come to get away from it all--and have a private dinner, after-work business cocktail meeting or Valentine's Day drinks and cake, like us. Valentine's Day Threesome: David Paul, Amy of Amy's Limo, and Nick Verreos posing at the Columbia Tower Club Words cannot describe the view from the Columbia Tower Club. You see all of Seattle. The iconic Space Needle looks miniscule from a 75 story view, let me tell you! We could see everything! At one point, as we took a photo, a small sea-plane happened to be passing by--and Amy captured it (see photo above). Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and a delicious Birthday Cheesecake at the Columbia Tower Club Seattle We enjoyed our Valentine's Evening drinks and the staff then brought out a delicious Cheese Cake and sang "Happy Birthday". It was my third "Birthday Cake in two days--and I was loving it! The beautiful Seattle view, plus the cake, made for a perfect ending to my "Birthday Weekend" in Seattle. Unforgettable.

Sleepless Fashionista... in Seattle
This past Friday February 13Th (yes, Friday the 13Th kiddies), I flew to Seattle (I love me some Virgin America to Seattle) to judge the Second Annual Project Red Dress. It was also my Birthday and I was very excited to be celebrating it in Seattle and at this great event! We (David came with me naturally!) checked into LUXURIOUS Fairmont Olympic Hotel Suite, and were greeted by a sumptuous bottle of Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries courtesy of our dear (and very classy!) friend Cindy Tsuji, who lives in Seattle. She even had a "gift package" for our dog, Benny (unfortunately, we left Benny back in his LA "Doggy Hotel"). Let's just say Cindy gets One-Hundred Friend Points for 2009!
After donning our suits and ties, we ventured to the VIP Pre-Party at Clutch, a chic boutique adjacent to the event. Once there, the first thing I did (after grabbing a glass of bubbly) was pick up a big ol' fabulous bag and pose for photos (I know I can't control myself!). I also socialized with the creator of Project Red Dress, the wonderful Monir Zandgoreishi--who also happens to be the regional director of Fashion Group International (FGI). Monir envisioned Project Red Dress as a way to showcase the talents of local fashion design students while bringing attention to the American Heart Association. Red Carpet Glamour: Project Red Dress Designer (and student from IADT) Tera Lee Bacon's design For the Project Red Dress competition, five local schools with fashion design programs (International Academy of Design and Technology, Seattle Art Institute, New York Fashion Academy, Seattle Pacific University and Seattle Central Community College) chose two students to participate. Each student was given $200 worth of fabric and 16 hours to create a red cocktail dress or evening gown. How very Project Runway.
After the intimate VIP Meet-and-Greet Party at Clutch, the time finally came to witness the student designers' creations. While most guests were enjoying their delicious hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, I was whisked off to privately judge all of the ten designs. But I was not alone. Other judges included the stylish (and looking very Mary Quant-meets-Mia Farrow) Seattle Metropolitan style editor Laura Cassidy, Bridal Designer Victoria Glenn and FGI and PONCHO board member (and Seattle DIVA) Rose Dennis.
We surveyed every competing dress, looked up every hem and inspected all the seaming (as well as some double-sided tape used to "Make it Work" unbeknownst to the guests). Our Judging Criteria was based on construction, fit, creativity, design, the overall representation of work and skill, and their use of the color red. It was not an easy task, let me tell you, especially after seeing all the beautiful designs that were up for the top prize. The only section we left blank in our score cards was the "Runway" section. That would soon come.
All ten gorgeous red dresses--from long Oscars-worthy gowns to short cocktail dresses--paraded down the catwalk, while we, the judges, scored them on their "Runway Presentation". The votes were subsequently tabulated and the Second and First Runner Up Creations (and their corresponding designers) were announced as well as the Winner.
The Grand Prize (a $3,000 scholarship and the honor of having their creation displayed in the windows of the downtown Macy's store) went to student/designer Rosie Kohlmeier from the Seattle area-based NY Fashion Academy. All the judges agreed that it was our favorite Red Dress of the night. Right after Rosie was announced as the winner, her daughter ran up to the stage crying wanting to congratulate her! It was too cute!
Rosie Kohlmeier's winning dress was a short red taffeta cocktail dress featuring a knotted front stiffened bow with unique little details that only us (the judges) could appreciate, such as a slot seam center back, contrast-fabric faced hem and pouffed lining. It was constructed perfectly and from what I hear, she had completed her design with plenty of time before any of the other competing student-designers. Miss Project Red Dress: Winning Design and model (left), Nick Verreos, winning designer Rosie Kohlmeier and Project Red Dress creator, Monir Zandgoreishi Congratulations to Rosie and the other finalists. It was the end to yet another successful Project Red Dress event and I hope there will be more to come. Hopefully, I can be the honorary "Lifetime Judge". I would be humbled and honored: Any excuse to come back to Seattle and judge and appreciate some beautiful fashion! Click HERE for some fabulous photos from Jeff LaPlante Photography Click HERE for more photos of the event from Barbie Hull Photography Click Below for videos from Project Red Dress 2009: Emcees Brooke and Monti, as well as Project Red Dress Guests sing "Happy Birthday" to Nick:

Project Red Dress Finale Line-Up:

Happy Fit Day Seattle!If the Jacket Fits... As you may know, I will be in Seattle this weekend judging the fabulous Project Red Dress Fashion Show tomorrow, Friday February 13th, but what you may not know, is that I will also be giving one of my wonderful (and I hear unique) Seminars and Workshops at the International Academy of Design and Technology the following day! Come join me Saturday February 14th and share Valentine's Day (OK, morning) with me at the IADT Tukwila Campus as I share my insight on Fit, Fit Models and What is a good fit/what is a bad fit--and why a sizes are different from company to company.
It's FREE (we like FREE!!), from 10 AM-12 PM. Just call 206-575-1865 to RSVP and reserve your space!! Click HERE for all the info. See you then!

Seattle: I'm BAAACK!!!!OK, so by now I have traveled to Seattle so much--to do events, seminars, and appearances--that I should really just get an apartment in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle! But I guess staying in a comfy hotel and not having to worry about making my bed are pluses...but next Friday, February 13Th (Friday the 13Th ??!!) I will be arriving in Seattle Washington for a very special event, the Second Annual Project Red Dress. I am so excited to be coming back and reprising my role as one of the esteemed judges of this fabulous one-of-a-kind events sponsored by Fashion Group International/Seattle, the American Heart Association and Macy's among others. Last year's sold-out Project Red Dress was a huge success. Mr. V and Madame Z: Nick Verreos and Monir Zandghoreishi at last year's Project Red Dress It's organizer and "Madame Genius" behind it, FGI Seattle Director Monir Zandghoreishi, decided to bring me back and of course, I said "Yes!", without even blinking an eyelash!! A dozen or so students of fashion design from all over the Seattle area, are asked to design a dress using only red fabrics---within a specified given time frame and with a specified budget--kind of like a Project Runway challenge. Last Year's Winning Designer and her simple yet elegant red jersey halter-neck column gown Their finished designs are then showcased in the Project Red Dress fashion show, where the design students will find out who is "In" and who is "Out". Speaking of Project Runway, since there are many students of fashion and fans of the show alike who might be having "withdrawals" from not watching their favorite show, they can "get their fill" by coming to this amazing show in the Emerald City and seeing what these "kids" came up with. Last year's Project Red Dress "Audience Winner" and her red satin and chiffon gown If last year's designs are any indication, it's going to be an amazing night of creative, gorgeous fashion. Get ready Seattle, because Friday, February 13Th (the night of the show) also happens to be MY BIRTHDAY!!! "It's my Birthday and I'll Judge Fashion If I Want To...." (and maybe drink some Birthday Champagne and have some Birthday Cake too!!!) Click HERE or HERE for ticket info.

Last month, I had the privilege to be invited back to the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT), Seattle, for their Finale Gala Fashion Show, titled "Do You La Mode?". This time around, I was happy to be joined by the one and only Andrae Gonzalo. We were asked to host the actual show , judge it, and give a special seminar/lecture the day after. The day we arrived, after checking in to the Hotel Monaco, we were drawn by some stylistic galactic power to this wonderful sculpture right outside the entrance of the hotel. It was a Disco Ball Pig! Well, you just KNOW we had to take a photo! It took a while for the hotel staff to try and pry us away from that damn pig! I want to commission the artist to make me one for my Loft/studio back in LA.