Fashion School Fix: Nick Verreos at FIDM Orange County Open House Summer 2011

Fun In the OC...



This past Saturday, as one of my "duties" as the Official Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, I made a trip to the FIDM Orange County Campus for their annual FIDM Summer 2011 Open House. FIDM Open House is a chance for high schoolers (and post-graduates) and their parents to check out FIDM, its facilities, alumn, instructors as well as the curriculum--just in case they might be thinking of attending a fashion college.

FIDM Orange County Campus, Irvine California

I live in LA so I thought "heck, it'll take just 45 minutes to get there!" (it has before). Nope, try almost TWO HRS...On a Saturday morning! Yep, welcome to the world of LA Traffic. Finally, I made it and just in time for my first "Lecture/Special Appearance". FIDM OC invited members of the FAB Nordstrom Brass Plum (BP.) Fashion Board to come and check out FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House--and hear me speak!

Southern California Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board...and Nick Verreos, FIDM Orange County Summer 2011 Open House

Members of the Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board from all these different areas/local shopping centers were already waiting for me as I walked in and did "my thang"! I told them all about my recent Europe Trip and my new FAB red "Man Bag" as well as how I got into fashion, my love of sketching, talked about Project Runway, owning a fashion design business for ten years, as well as having celebs like Beyonce, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum wear my NIKOLAKI creations.

Nick Verreos Doing the "Hands on the Hips" pose with Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board members, FIDM OC

Afterward, I posed with EVERY Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board group and even met a BIG FAN--who was almost crying (well, a bit teary eyed) when she met me:

LOVE her!!! (look at my "Clutch my Pearls" face!)

Then it was onto my next Lecture at the FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House. These were general--but still VERY IMPORTANT!-- guests who came to the Open House to check out the Campus. I loved this group as well because there were several "Mommies and Daddies" in the audience, so you KNOW I had to give a couple "Mom & Dad" high-fives! There were also several attendees who GAVE some Fashion LOOKS!!! Naturally, I had to get some pics:

Funky Hair, Custom Tees and Stripes: Nick Verreos poses with two attendees at FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House

Blue Fashion Boys: Nick Verreos poses with a FIDM OC Summer 2011 Open House attendee--with (almost) matching blue-colored H & M skinny jeans

Until next time FIDM OC!!! Bye for now!

FIDM Orange County Open House: Nick Verreos Makes an Appearance!

Pink Carpet!
This past weekend I made a special visit to Irvine California to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Orange County, to say "Hi" to all the future FIDM Fashionistas!! I always bring my doggie Benny and my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul, but this time, they had to stay back in LA at our studio (we have a very important custom gown deadline!). So naturally, I got there and EVERYONE asked "Where's Benny?" and then soon followed by "Where's David?". Hello? What am I "Chopped Liver?". LOL! What brought a big ol' smile to my face was being greeted by the two prettiest girls I "done ever seen", as I walked through the glass door of FIDM OC and through that Barbie-esque pink carpet. FIDM Open House is a way for high-school (and beyond) students to "check out" FIDM and also for "I-Just-Got-Accepted" ones to meet-and-greet FIDM Alumni like myself. The theme of this year's FIDM OC Open House was "Meet Your Professors", and since I am one, I was there to give advice, valuable information about FIDM, the industry and what it takes to succeed. One Shoulder Cocktail Dress Meets Bow Tie Boy: FIDM Open House guest stands next to Nikolaki dress

As a "special bonus", I brought three of my NIKOLAKI cocktail dresses which have sold in stores across America. They served as a backdrop to my "appearance". I loved speaking with all the just-accepted students as well as with the "what advice do you have for me since I am thinking of coming here...." Whose Fauxhawk is Higher: Nick Verreos poses with guests at FIDM OC Open House

At one point I was spending about 20+ minutes on one student and after I was done , I noticed a woman in the back--teary eyed--she came up to me and said "I'm one of the mom's and you are AMAZING!...such an inspiration..those words you said to him were life-changing..." I had no idea anybody else was watching or listening. Well, I am glad I got the mom going because I love me the moms!
Kellie Peterson, Nick Verreos, Tenley Molzahn, FIDM OC Open House 2010

Another special treat was seeing all the FIDM OC Admissions Advisor Beauties , including the beautiful Kellie Peterson, who just happened to be Miss International Hawaii 2004, as well as the lovely Tenley Molzahn, whom you might recognize as one of the Finalists of this last season's The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love. Turquoise Love: FIDM Advisor and ABC's The Bachelor Finalist Tenley Molzahn with Nick Verreos, FIDM OC Open House 2010

Tenley is so sweet and so helpful to the FIDM OC students! (and that turquoise blue dress is soooo cute!), she is such an asset to the College. I had a really fun time in Orange County (even without my dog Benny and David!) and hopefully, with my advice--I might have made a little bit of a difference--to someone. Congratulations to all the newly accepted FIDM OC students and I hope to see some of you in my classes soon!