Nick Verreos and Stylist Jen Rade Do It Again On TV Guide's The Fashion Team "What's The Fashion"!

What's The Fashion Fashionistas???

What A Couple: Fashion Designer Nick Verreos and Stylist/Costume Designer Jen Rade, TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team" TV Show

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".

On the set while filming, my co-host, Jen ,was perfection, wearing a silk georgette bias-cut cowl-necked number and her luscious curly locks. And I, well, I was giving you "mini" bow-tie.

Our "The Fashion Team" host, Lawrence Zarian was in NY with his besties--Regis & Kelly--so we had to fend for ourselves. We had lots of fun giving our "Fashion Two Cents" on Cher, Christina Aquilera, Debi Mazar and Julianne Moore.

Click Below for our "What's The Fashion?" Segment from TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team":

Vman Magazine september 2010

Vila Romana spring summer 2010 (november 2010)

Hickory Hollow Mall Redevelopment Plan

When it comes to Nashville fashion, shopping, and events, the Hickory Hollow Mall isn’t exactly on my, or most people’s for that matter, radar.  In fact, I’ve only been to the Hickory Hollow Mall once- and it was a short-lived experience…

I had recently moved to Nashville and was trying to establish my new shopping headquarters. After googling ‘Nashville malls’, I eventually came across Hickory Hollow Mall and decided to check it out. Although it was a long time ago I visited the mall, I remember the overwhelming feeling of retail abandonment, as I gaited past rows and rows of closed doors and empty stores. It was obvious shop owners had ditched their leases long ago, and there was little chance for retail regeneration.

A deserted Hickory Hollow Mall.

 I later found out that Hickory Hollow Mall used to be a prime shopping center, housing popular retailers such as Victoria’s Secret, Express, Gap, and New York & Company. Over the years, these types of retailers have closed their doors, relocating to more attractive destinations in the Nashville area. Reviewers of Yelp account the moves due to gang violence, armed robbery, and auto thefts; one individual stated “most of the shoppers who would actually come to spend money refuse to go [to Hickory Hollow Mall] anymore.” Most reviewers simply comment on the dilapidated and dismal state of the mall. (Interesting tip: Check out the Security page on the Cool Springs Galleria website versus the Security page on the Hickory Hollow Mall website. Although both owned by CBL Properties, they are vastly different.)

Now, malls within themselves, not just Hickory Hollow, are a dying breed. Believe it or not, I actually wrote my Master’s thesis on mall shopping. Totally true. Although I concentrated on a specific population of shoppers (Generation Y) and their preference of entertainment malls (think Opry Mills pre-flood) versus traditional malls (think Cool Springs), I did a lot of research on shopping malls in general. If you would like to read all 118 pages of my thesis, I’d be happy to share that with you, but let me just give you a few highlights.

A 2001 study found that 19 percent of shopping malls were either dead or dying, and 85 percent of malls in America are more than 20 years old (Lukas, 2004). Moreover, the International Council of Shopping Centers predicted that the number of traditional retail malls is expected to shrink from 1,200 to around 900 within the next few years. A 2002 six-year study examining mall shopping behavior found that although mall patronage has significantly dropped, consumer spending is on the rise. This statistic recognizes that malls must revolutionize practices and adapt in order to be viable in the retail world (Nichols, Faun, Kranendonk, and Roscow, 2002).

My graduate research also lead me to a fascinating website, deadmalls.com, which chronicles dead and dying malls in the United States. Surprise, Hickory Hollow Mall is on there and with some not-so-great reviews, too.

So, why all the talk about Hickory Hollow Mall? Recently, I briefly met and chatted with Karen Johnson (former Board Member of the Adventure Science Center, YMCA, and Metro Nashville Public Schools) about new developments for the Hickory Hollow Mall. Karen turned me on to the Southeast Davidson County website where I learned about potential plans to redevelop the mall and completed a survey expressing my input on the matter. (Fill out the survey here.) 

A September article from WSMV, details the $209 million plan to revitalize the 1.1 million square feet of Hickory Hollow Mall to include a community center, library, public health center, exposition center, and multi-acre public park. The most publicized facility, the exposition center, would house the flea market and other events currently held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Here are some of the plans for the mall:

A major proponent of the Hickory Hollow Mall revitalization, Mayor Karl Dean said, “Southeast Davidson County is one of the fastest growing parts of our city, and it’s a community where demands for services continue to grow. These new public facilities will breathe new life into Hickory Hollow Mall and benefit the surrounding retail and commercial areas by attracting more visitors and creating a more stable business environment,” (Kumari, 2010). 

The potential plan has fueled debate on both sides. According to WSMV, many Antioch-area residents oppose the public health center and insist the new plan will diminish property values, and many vendors of the Tennessee Flea Market wish to keep the TN State Fairgrounds as their home. Despite this, Mayor Dean has won his first council vote in favor of the proposal.

This story will definitely continue in the upcoming months, and it will be interesting to see the fate of the Hickory Hollow Mall.

References:

Kumari, C. (2010, September 10). $209M plan unveiled to redevelop Hickory Hollow Mall. Retrieved from http://www.wsmv.com/news/24958547/detail.html.

Lukas, P. (2004, October 18) Our malls, ourselves. Fortune, 150(8), 243-256.

Nichols, J., Faun L., Kranendonk, C., & Roscow, S. (2002). The seven year itch? Mall shopping over time. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 19(2), 149-165.

photo credits:

photo 1 - http://wkrn.images.worldnow.com/images/13133907_BG1.jpg

photo 2 - http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/hickory-hollow-mall-49.jpg

photo 3 - http://www.canada.com/life/3385937.bin?size=620x400

photo 4 - http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=DN&Dato=20101115&Kategori=NEWS0202&Lopenr=11150321&Ref=AR&MaxW=380&Border=0

photo 5 - http://www.canada.com/life/3385937.bin?size=620x400

photo 6 - http://www.hickoryhollowmall.com/shop/hickoryhollow.nsf/logo2.gif

photo 7 - http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl2/41/416654/27_2009/652a97f5a4884bfd_hickory_hollow.xlarger.jpg



Wonderland Magazine fall winter 2010 by robbie fimmano

Nick Verreos Figure Skating Fashion Blog UniversalSports.com: Grand Prix of France/Trophee Eric Bompard!

Bonjour France!

French Figure Skater Brian Joubert skating his Short program at Trophee Eric Bompard before pulling out of the Free Program as a result of gastroenteritis

I can't believe it's almost over! Well, the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals, that is. We've "traveled" the entire Globe--Japan, China, Russia, Canada and the United States--in search of the top figure skaters in the world. As well as in search of the best and not-so-best Figure Skating Costumes.

This last weekend was the Trophee Eric Bompard in France, the last stop before the Final Grand Prix in Beijing China (it's in two weeks!). Of course, I was watching to see who would make the final cut and eventually go to Beijing, but naturally, I was also watching for the costumes and for my UniversalSports.com Figure Skating Blog.

I also especially LOVE the Grand Prix of France because they always have the MOST FABULOUS "Kiss-and-Cry" section! They make Russia's--and every other Grand Prix for that matter--look as if they're in someone's Trailer Park! Leave it to the French: Always Chic. Here are some (Costume) highlights from this past weekend: Once again, there were a few Costume Changes. Check it all out below:

US Figure Skater Mirai Nagasu's Costume Changes

Memoirs of a Pretty Skate: Another Change in Costume! What is happening? Are these ladies actually reading my comments here on UniversalSports.com? (I privately hope so!). I like this new costume: It’s young, fresh; love the bright white color and the delicate youthful flower detail. However (you know that was coming), I wished that the skirt would have been a lighter more flowy chiffon or georgette fabric.

US Figure Skater Alyssa Czisny's Costume Changes

Color Genius: At first glance, I actually thought Alyssa Czisny’s costume was a brand-new costume. But soon enough I realized “Oh wait, it’s the SAME costume!” but she did something really unique. She added a splash of hand-painted color and Voila: New costume! I think it’s actually quite genius of her (or her people) to have done that. I call this “New Costume for the Economic Recession!” I liked the costume before but now, I LOVE it!

Japan's Haruka Imai at Grand Prix of France/Trophee Eric Bompard

Kismet On Ice: Haruka Imai’s colorful costume, in which she skated to the Polovetsian Dances, or better known for its “Stranger In Paradise” melody, was a little over the top I thought. It may have been a bit too literal for me. I liked the intricate top but lose the “car wash” fringed skirt and tacky arm bands. Along with her flailing arm movements, those two things didn’t help.

Fumie Suguri's Costume: From Bad to Good...or Bad to Worse???

See what I thought about Japan's Fumie Suguri Costume Re-do--plus all the other costumes from Grand Prix of France HERE on UniversalSports.com!

Shop & Wine Open House: December 4, 2010

Before heading out to the East Nashville Boutique Crawl on Saturday, December 4 from 6:00 – 9:00 (see blog post here), swing by Wear It Out Manuel on 1001 Dickerson Pike for a little shopping and wine from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. As detailed on the Facebook invite: “You're personally invited to come visit our Open House for Wine and a good time! We have great deals for the holidays on showroom & custom orders 20% off. See you there!”

RSVP to Facebook here.

Posh Sale: 20% off dress shirts and dresses

Nashville Fashion Week: March 29 – April 2, 2011

Get ready for Nashville Fashion Week! This is not to be confused with the recent Fashion Week Nashville (see previous blog entry here) put on my Couture Magazine. Nashville Fashion Week will be sure to entertain and surprise you. And with the lovely Marcia Masulla helping to head up this event, you know this will be unforgettable!

View Nashville Fashion Week's website here.


Here is the press release from NFW:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        

Nashville Celebrates Citywide Creativity

with Nashville Fashion Week, March 29-April 2, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (November 29, 2010) – Nashville joins the ranks of other cities around the country with the launch of an annual Nashville Fashion Week, March 29–April 2, 2011. The citywide event will celebrate Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its array of creative talent. Proceeds from the event will benefit the newly established Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, to be administered by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and awarded annually to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field.

Nashville Fashion Week organizers are working with community partners and businesses throughout the city to ensure that the event encourages both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the area’s diverse fashion and retail spaces while highlighting local, regional and nationally known design talent.

“Nashville is a city with enormous creativity, a history of innovative entrepreneurship and an incredible community spirit,” said Mayor Karl Dean. “Nashville Fashion Week is an ideal way to demonstrate and celebrate the high level of talent that lives and works in our city.”

Lexus of Nashville is the official presenting sponsor for Nashville Fashion Week in 2011. Additional sponsors currently include The Mall at Green Hills, Big Events and the Hutton Hotel. Current media sponsorships include SouthComm Communications, NowPlayingNashville.com, Yelp and Comcast.

“Community involvement is a core value for us, and we’re pleased to support Nashville Fashion Week,” said JR Roper, general manager of Lexus of Nashville. “At Lexus, we have a passion for good design, and I share that personally, whether in cars, architecture or clothing.”

The establishment of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund was inspired by the important professional development the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA)

provides through programs such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a signature high-profile event to celebrate creative talent, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support.

“Nashville is a tremendously caring, giving community,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “With the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, Nashville Fashion Week not only showcases the city’s creativity, but also encourages the next generation of talent in an area that doesn’t always receive the level of support it needs and deserves.”

In addition to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, community partners for Nashville Fashion Week include the Mayor’s Office, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nashville Downtown Partnership, and Nashville Fashion Group.

Nashville Fashion Week is being planned and directed by Creative

Co-op Nashville, LLC, a volunteer collaboration of fashion, retail and media professionals who have partnered to combine their resources and passion to create this event.

CONTACT:

Cindy Wall

615-974-9066

cindy@nashvillefashionweek.com

Marcia Masulla

314-249-3558

marcia@nashvillefashionweek.com

web:                http://nashvillefashionweek.com

Facebook:     Nashville Fashion Week

Twitter:           #nashfashweek

Find them on Facebook here.

Read the writeup from the Nashville Scene here.

Velvet november 2010

Style of The Week

Gucci by gucci pour homme fragrance fall winter 2010

GQ Style Germany

Man Fashion Tips: Buying clothes for your plus size girlfriend

If you guys are thinking of getting your ladies great plus size fashion this Christmas, but don’t know where to start, then don’t worry because help is at hand. Here’s your guide to keeping it simple this festive season.

Size is everything!

First things first, you need to know her size before you take to the shops. Some women have one size for the top and another for the bottom, so subtly try asking her for these. There’s no point going to the store without her measurements and there’s nothing worse than coming back with an outfit too small, or heaven forbid, too big!



Keep them figure-hugging and curvalious!

If you’re thinking of buying your Missus a dress this winter or one of those funky, in-trend Christmas jumpers, then make sure you keep her fabulous curves in mind. Buy a dress that nips in at the waist and why not go that bit further and get a glamorous belt –she’ll love you for being thoughtful.

One thing that every girl loves!

Shoes! A safe bet, no matter what her size or shape. If you buy her a pair of shiny sparkly heels, then you can’t wrong. Note, this doesn’t include slippers!

Essential Homme November 2010 editorial