Summer Style Tips for Summer 2012 c/o ME!!!


As Fashion Guru, Judge and Host of the Project Style 2012, Shoptopia asked me a few questions about what I thought were this Summer's must-have's and trends...and well, I told them!!!

So, Fashionista Ladies, if you are getting ready for Summer 2012--in terms of fashion and how to "give style", then here are my suggestions:


 1) Flapper Gal: 

It's all about that "Flapper Gal"-silhouette--inspired by the Gucci dress above. Think: loose, off-the-body tunic shape.

2) Life Aquatic:

Inspired by the iconic Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 Collection, look for aquatic prints--anything watercolor, "Ocean Graphics", like seashells and corals under the sea. Imagine looking at the sea through your goggles and seeing all that under-the-water vegetation---similar to my NIKOLAKI silk chiffon gown here:

3) Mini or Maxi...or High-Low:


It's all about the extreme and the most popular choices are Maxi or Mini dresses. If you want to combine BOTH, then get a "high-low" dress--meaning short in the front but longer in the back-like my NIKOLAKI strapless High-Low gown above.

4) Neon Krazee:


Neon is BIG for summer. Bright pinks, aqua, lime or canary yellow--wear the bright neon's with camel tones for the perfect contrast. Take a look at the photos above for your Neon Summer 2012 Inspiration.

Click HERE for my complete Summer 2012 Style Tips.

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

Temecula Gives FASHION!!!

The Promenade has stores like J. C. Penney, Macy's, Sears, plus Apple, Aeropostale, Victoria's Secret, Williams-Sonoma and a newly-revamped Charlotte Russe, among others. For the upcoming Holiday Season, in fact new stores will be opening including (wait for it!) H & M (yeayyy!), G by Guess, and MAC Makeup.
Now, back to "Project Style": Since May, through a series of monthly style competitions, budding fashionistas went on shoptopia.com, applied and then won spots to be here! Now, the four Finalists were at The Promenade in Temecula for the LIVE Style Off, hosted by MOI! After introducing the finalists, I gave them $200 Promenade Gift Cards and they each had only ONE HOUR to shop for an entire new look for themselves, change and get ready for the runway!
While the Finalists were out shopping and using their hour wisely, I entertained the crowd by doing my own little runway walk, having a fun "Project Runway Fan Q & A", and hosting a great "Charming Charlie" accessory Fashion Show. I also demonstrated to some "lucky" guests from the audience how to use the FAB Swivel Virtual Dressing Room and showed them how my Red Carpet NIKOLAKI Gowns would look like...on them!
Once, the shopping-and-styling hour was up, the finalists were back and then it was up to the three very esteemed judges of Barbara Contreras of FIDM, Rita Griggs of Palomar Community College and last year's "Project Style" Winner Sinead Copely, to pick the 2011 Winner, who, by the way, would win a $1,000 Promenade Gift Card! And the Winner Is... Lexi Lorah (above) The judges (and I) loved her use of color, prints, her styling (of course) and how directional the entire look was. She also was ON TREND when it came to Fall 2011. Congrats Lexi! (she was very excited--and surprised). Afterward, everyone wanted to take photos...And as in "Everyone", I mean ME!

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:

PROJECT STYLE: Rancho Cucamonga Edition! In celebration of Fashion's Night Out, join me tomorrow--Saturday September 10th--noon-3PM in Rancho Cucamonga, CA for another great Project Style Event at Victoria Gardens Mall... Once again as part of my "Project Style 2011" Mall Tour, I will be hosting another great Style-Off involving Five Finalists who will get a $200 Gift Card (this time from the Victoria Gardens Mall) and then have ONE HOUR to Shop, Style, dress themselves and be back on the Stage to be judged on who was the Top Trendsetter for Victoria Gardens Mall in Rancho Cucamonga! The winner will get a $1,000 Victoria Gardens Mall Gift Card! Come see the excitement, meet me, and have a Project Style BLAST!! And also get to experience the Swivel Virtual Dressing Room which is making its Debut across all these Southern California Shopping Centers! Adress: Victoria Gardens Mall 12505 North Main Street Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Time: 12:00-3:00 PM!!! Click HERE for all the details!