WHAT: Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2018. Saint Laurent (yes, the same as YSL, Yves Saint Laurent, etc.) Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello (he, of the UBER SEXY leather mini dresses adored by the SUPER SKINNY Supermodels), showed his latest collection for the famed French fashion house at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. You cannot get any more French than that...


INSPIRATION: "That girl of Saint Laurent--she wants to have fun!", according to Vaccarello. The collection was a Fashion Journey through the Yves Saint Laurent Girl--from Safari and Marrakech to see-through eroticism to Haute Couture Pouf Fabulousness....

Then & Now:





Collection Highlights:















Click here to watch Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Show:

Every week I do a "Nick's Looks" blog post here of what I wear on this season's Lifetime TV's Prpoject Runway "Under The Gunn" and so here's the one for this past week. This 4th episode was titled "Unconventional Vampire" and I talked about my "Nick's Take/Inside Dish" of the episode HERE in case you missed it. Now, it's time to talk about my "Mentor" style:

Every week I will try and do a "Nick's Looks" Fashion Take and show you what I wore--all bought and not borrowed--and all styled by my partner-for-life and NIKOLAKI/NV Nick Verreos co-designer David Paul. David worked as a Wardrobe Stylist, Costumer on many TV shows, films and commercials for NBC, MTV, ABC, etc. so I was happy I had him to style me for the show!

Here's my "Nick's Looks" for this week's "Premiere/Episode 1":


My blue sateen jacket with black shawl collar, my skinny black trousers and skinny black tie were from Topman, and my silk printed pocket hankie/scarf was from Etro. My boots are YSL "Johnny Boots"


For the Mentor Picking session of Episode 1, I wore my favorite pinstripe double-breasted jacket as well as denim skinny jeans, both from Zara. The lavender dress shirt is from H&M and pocket scarf from Etro. My chocolate brown boots are YSL "Johnny Boots".

**Stay Tuned here for more "Nick's Looks" Fashion Take throughout this season of "Under The Gunn"

After being with the famed French house since 2000 and serving as head designer since 2004, Stefano Pilati exits the historic House of Yves Saint Laurent (which is now owned by PPR) after yesterday's Fall/Winter 2012/13 show. 1940's (or 80's depending on how you see them!) broad shoulders (very old-school Saint Laurent), nipped-in waist, leather, chain-mail detailed dresses, were shown as part of this last Pilati-designed collection. Colors included black, grey, maroon, moss green, ivory. Stefano Pilati has been rumored to be out for at least a year now at YSL. His accessories have continued to sell well, particularly the shoes and his designs for YSL did make an impact on the red carpet--whether to movie premieres, parties or award shows, but, the talk among the fashion industry insiders was that the clothes had been languishing at retail for some time. WWD is reporting that according to "sources," former Dior Homme designer Slimane is the "frontrunner" to succeed Pilati. It would be a return for the French designer to YSL, as Slimane applied his skills in sleek, skinny-trousered menswear to Yves Saint Laurent men's in the late '90s. Stefano Pilati gave this quote: “I exit the house with fierce conviction in all that we have achieved and deep gratitude to those who have supported me along the way... I wish the maison Yves Saint Laurent and its new creative director the very best for the future." Below are some images from YSL Fall/Winter 2012/2013 followed by the full runway video of the show/collection:
Click Below for YSL Fall/Winer 2012/2013 Full Runway Video--Stefano Pilati's Last Collection:

Supermodel Bride...
Lots of Big Weddings going on--The Monaco Royal Wedding and yesterday: Supermodel Kate Moss wed The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince at St Peter's Church in the Cotswolds, west-central England.
Ever the rebel, Kate stayed true to her close friend (ignoring political correctness) and wore a custom John Galliano bias-cut sequined gold-leaf embroidered silk creme-colored gown while her new hubby wore a Stefano Pilati for YSL light blue double-breasted suit. Love his YSL "Johnny Boots" (my favorite! I own Two and looking for more!!!). I also love how the shirt-cuffs are completely showing and how dapper his entire ensemble looks. Rocker Chic. Speaking of shoes, Shoe Couturier Manolo Blahnik designed a special pair of heels for Kate which included blue insoles for the "something blue". The silk tulle veil--which also had embroidered flowers--was wrapped in a 1920's/1930's style, around her loose curls, hair style done by hair stylist to the Top Models and Stars, Sam McKnight. Kate had 15 (!) bridesmaids--all wearing pretty flower headbands--including her daughter Lila. Guests in attendance were Naomi Campbell in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour (who has been in England for Wimbledon), Stella McCartney, Jude Law and "my Macy's girl" Kelly Osbourne. Mari Testino (above) was the "official" photographer (you would think he would use a more, say "professional" camera??!!) and it was reported that the wedding was to be exclusively covered by American Vogue. Vogue is planning a large spread in the September Issue (naturally). Inquiring minds want to know: Does that mean that Vogue payed for part of the wedding? Regardless of who payed, looking at the fact that these photos are out and look very "official photos"-esque, clearly there was either not a "Vogue Exclusive" or someone is in BIG trouble! Either way, the new Bride and Groom looked FAB! This is an example of a perfect "Hipster Nuptial".

Nautical a la Francais
Stefano Pilati, Head Designer for the House of Yves Saint Laurent, just showed the YSL Resort 2012 Collection. It was Nautical in its theme. And as stated by Style.com: The designer pointed out that Yves Saint Laurent did a nautical collection of his own around 1982. "He showed it with sheer stockings and pumps, and I loved the 'why not?' factor," Pilati said. Sheer hose and pumps were out for 2012, though, and bared legs and high wooden wedges that had commercial hit written all over them, were in.

FIDM Debut Fashion Show "By The Bay"Say CHEESE: Nick Verreos and FIDM SF prospective student, Annie Kuang make a "funny face" Last year, I was invited to San Francisco to introduce the FIDM Debut Fashion Show and meet-and-greet hopeful incoming students. I had such great fun, that this year, I was delighted to do it again and make a reprise "special appearance" for the San Francisco FIDM campus. The show culminates a whole days activities involving the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising San Francisco Campus "Open House" events. During the first part of the day, high school students who are thinking of coming to FIDM, get a tour of the Union Square-adjacent campus (fabulous location, by the way--right near H & M, Barneys NY and Macy's!), as well as learn about all the different majors, departments and opportunities the school has to offer. Afterward, the students and their families were "shuttled" to the wonderful Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium to be the VIP guests at the FIDM Debut 2008 Fashion Show.Happy Nick Seat: Virgin America First Class seats make Uncle Nick smile! It's funny because on the way there, on my cozy Virgin America First Class flight from LA (yes, I had to upgrade huney, it makes all the difference, even for an hour flight!), I noticed an inordinate amount of six foot tall, size 2 women--as well as their male counterparts---so I figured that they were on their way to do the SF Debut Show (I guessed right!). So, I dubbed that flight "The Model Flight". I was SO TEMPTED to do the "Emergency Demonstrations" runway-style on the plane's aisles!! Nob Hill Fashion: Models at the Finale of the Debut 2008 Fashion Show at Masonic Auditorium, SF Once in SF, I checked into my favorite Hotel Monaco and got ready to go to the event. Once again, I introduced the show and spoke a little bit about how I was a student at FIDM, and now teach there of course, as well some going-down-memory-lane stories about how I "broke the news" to my parents about wanting to be a designer. Then it was time for the show. The show highlighted collections from last year's Advanced Fashion Design students, showing both menswear and womenswear, sportswear and couture and a lot in between. The near-capacity auditorium audience LOVED it! I especially heard screams when the bare-chested sexy male models strutted their stuff. You'd think it was a Chippendale's show or something. But no, it's FIDM's Debut Show!San Francisco Fashionistas: Nick Verreos poses with fashionable guests of the FIDM SF Debut '08 Show Immediately following the show, I told the audience that I would be waiting for them in the entry area of the auditorium ,to sign autographs and take all the photos they wanted....Well, I barely made it into the foyer because everyone coming out of the show wanted a photo right there and then--it was kind of crazy. After some shoving and maneuvering, I finally made it to my "position" and began my Facebook and MySpace photo duties! It was estimated that about 200-300 kids stayed and I posed with every one of them--and about 2 hours later (and an extra shiny/sweaty forehead T-Zone later), my "duties" were over! I had the best time meeting all the kids and seeing their creativity in their choice of outfits (one of my favorites was this stylish young man in an YSL t-shirt and striped cardigan). Club Fierce: Santa Cruz students pose with Nick Verreos after the Debut '08 Show I even met this whole "crew" of Santa Cruz fashion design lovers, who named themselves "Club Fierce". They are made up of a bunch of gorgeous girls and ONE guy, Casey, who, naturally, is the "founder" and "Head Momma" (sorry Casey!). Learn How To Sketch Kids: Yves Saint Laurent's gorgeous fashion illustration from De Young YSL Retrospective The day after the event, my weekend in San Francisco ended with an "Amazing Race" twist: I REALLY wanted to see the Yves Saint Laurent Retrospective at the De Young Museum, since I didn't know when I would be back to SF and have the time to see it before it closed (March '09). But my plane left at 2 PM and it was 11 AM. So...I left my hotel, hailed a cab, drove to the De Young, told the cab to meet me back in one hour. Mondrian Couture: Yves Saint Laurent's iconic "Mondrian Dress" is on display at San Francisco's De Young Museum I ran into the museum, spent 45 minutes and quickly viewed some of the most AMAZING Haute Couture YSL pieces, then went to the Museum Store, bought the accompanying exhibit book, and ran back out, to my awaiting cab. We then rushed back to the hotel, I checked out, got back into the cab and drove straight to the airport. I barely made it on my plane but I DID IT--all within an hour! I felt like I was in an "Amazing Race: The San Francisco Edition " episode. I thought Phil Keoghan would be waiting for me at the airport telling me that I had made it! I hope I will be back to San Francisco to really take the time to see the YSL Retrospective since viewing it all in 45 minutes is almost insulting. There were so many incredible pieces and I am such a fan of the genius that was "the Master Couturier", that I must come back and spend a whole day next time. I hope my warm First Class Virgin America white leather seat will be waiting for me!