Europe Summer 2011 Postcard: The Finale--Florence and Rome!!!

EuroStar:

Dress Up Traveler: Nick Verreos--and luggage--arriving in Florence Italy via Eurostar fast train

Last month--as you may know--both David Paul, my NIKOLAKI partner-in-fashion-crime, and I went to Europe. Primarily, I was invited to lecture and show our NIKOLAKI Collection at a first ever "TREDICI 13" Fashion Show sponsored by the Miami University of Ohio Summer School in Florence Italy Program. You can click HERE to read my posting of the Fashion Show, including a favoloso video and tons of photos.



This post here is all about my time in Firenze after the Fashion Show, partaking in a special lecture alongside fellow designer and Project Runway Season 6 Finalist Althea Harper, as well as a tour of the new POLIMODA Institute Campus.



POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design Tour:



The day following our very well-received runway presentation, Althea along with her lovely sister, Maeve (who accompanied Miss Althea on her "Europe Summer 2011" trip), David and I joined students and instructors from the Miami University of Ohio Summer in Italy for a tour and special presentations/lectures at the POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design--the Premier University in Florence, specializing in Fashion and the Marketing of Fashion.

Hands on The Hips: Nick Verreos and Althea Harper lead the Miami University of Ohio Study Abroad students to a Photo Pose-Off--POLIMODA International Institute, Firenze Italia

We had been to POLIMODA on my previous visits to Florence, having been invited to speak & lecture at the Miami U. Summer in Italy Program, but this was a brand new Campus location for POLIMODA. Last year we began the tour by "climbing" up the hill to the Villa Strozzi, once the summer residence of one of the most powerful families of Florence, the Strozzi family. But this year, Institute is undergoing a "location change", to the more centrally-located Villa Favard in one of the toniest sections of Florence. We even got a wonderful and very special lecture from its famed Director, Linda Loppa.

Miami U. Calendar Boys: Althea Harper and Nick Verreos pose with "The Boys" of Miami University Summer In Italy Program, POLIMODA Institute

Lecture Time:

Lecture Hall: Miami University of Ohio Summer Abroad students, The Gould

After a delicious lunch, we all headed back to The Gould--site of last night's Fashion Show, as well as the Campus Headquarters for the Miami University of Ohio Summer In Italy Program. There , both Althea and I lectured to a group of the program's Journalism students--all set up with their laptops (Note taking 2011!). The students listened intensely as we spoke of our backgrounds, how we "got to where we got", as well as the importance of social media in the fashion world, strategies for interviewing subjects, and how to create a good story/article--especially if the subject matter might be "foreign" to you.

Ciao Firenze: (Left to right) Maeve (Althea's sister), Nick Verreos, David Paul and Althea Harper

Soon we were off for Goodbye Drinks and hors d'oeuvres at the gorgeous rooftop pool bar of the Grand Hotel Minerva overlooking the Piazza Santa Maria Novella as well as breathtaking views over the Duomo. But before we left, I had to snap a "Miami Vice in Firenze" photo with Jerry Ingram--photographer extraordinaire as well as the Producer of the TREDICI 13 Fashion Show--it's become a tradition. See for yourself:

Jerry Ingram and Nick Verreos 2010

Nick Verreos and Jerry Ingram 2011

Rome:



Soon, we were off to Rome. David and I had one full day in Rome before returning back to the USA and so, we were going to "Make It Work!" and do a Marathon Rome Tour! Of course, we hit up the monumental Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheater:



David Paul in front of the Flavian Amphitheater/Roman Colosseum (notice his little bag from Gucci!!)



Afterward, we walked (yes, we WALKED EVERYWHERE!) to the Victor Emmanuel Monument (above photo), honoring Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II. Then we stumbled--literally--onto the...



Mario Testino Photo Exhibit "Todo O Nada", which had just opened!! This exhibit features 54 photographs of Testino, exploring his two loves, Fashion and the Nude.



Model Stella Tennant by Mario Testino, "Todo O Nada" Exhibition, Rome Italy



It was so GOOD!!!! We bought the book, a full-size poster/print--well, you name it, we bought it!!



We also headed to the Piazza di Spagna, or Spanish Steps, where yes, there were THRONGS of people (see above photo)--mostly young tourist just chillin' on the steps or walking the chic shopping streets. I also noticed the "V" for Valentino insignia nearby which happened to be Palazzo Mignanelli, which belongs to yes, Valentino. This meant one thing: Photo Time...

Nick Verreos, Palazzo Mignanelli or as it is also known, Palazzo di Valentino

And in case you were wondering, yes we eventually made it to the Fontana del Trevi or Trevi Fountain (above). It was--as usual--PACKED, but somehow, I still got a fun photo of David doing the requisite "Make a Wish and Throw a Coin" toss. I got the pic midway:

Ciao Roma e Ciao Italia!!!

Labor Day Weekend Special Trip Report: Europe 2010--Nick Verreos Does Paris!!!

Je T'Aime Paris!!!!!

Gay Pareee: A Paris Window Display showing Rainbow Eiffel Towers

Well, since I am in a post-photos-of-my-traveling sort of mood--being that it is Labor Day Weekend, when lots of people do some traveling---I also decided this would be the PERFECT time to finish off my "Europe 2010 Nick and David Travel Blog" with a Recap of the last city we visited a month and a half ago, when we went to Europe: Paris.

Petit Prince: Nick Verreos at the Golden Gates of the Petit Palais Museum, Paris France

To catch you up to speed--in July--I was invited to do a lecture for the Miami University of Ohio Summer In Europe Program (for a second year in a row!) in Florence Italy. After my stint there, David and I decided to spend some R & R at the AMAZING Amalfi Coast, and then, before returning to the good ol' US of A, we finished it all off with a quick trip to Paris.

The Petit Palais Museum, Paris France

Our main goal was to see the Yves Saint laurent Retrospective Exhibit at the Petit Palais Musee Des Beaux Arts De La Ville De Paris. That was it! No other excuse.

David Paul, outside the Petit Palais Yves Saint Laurent Retrospective, Paris France

Last year we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower (in pouring rain!), we did the Seine, the Marais--"been there done that". It was ALL ABOUT Yves and his Haute Couture. The exhibit opened in March and was to close August 29Th so we made it just in time! Three words: It was INCREDIBLE!!!! There are FIFTEEN different rooms showing the Master's Art from his days with Christian Dior, to...

Le Controversial: Yves Saint Laurent's much-maligned Spring 1971 Haute Couture Collection

His controversial 40's-inspired (some say he glamorized World War II) Collection. There is an amazing room which recreates Catherine Deneuve's "private closet" of Saint Laurent Couture, plus his Atelier Desk which looks as if it was lifted from his office the day he retired. And of course, various tributes showing how he "revolutionized" fashion, such as: Introducing pants into the female wardrobe, The Safari Jacket, Transparency as well as Le Smoking:

There was an entire WALL devoted to what seemed like HUNDREDS of Le Smoking (see above)--from tuxedo suits to skirt suits to gowns.

The Pièce de résistance , for me, was walking into the "Ball Gown Room" (see above)...

I actually began to heave and cry uncontrollably (not joking!!!). I don't know what came over me. Well, I actually do: It was the sight of over ONE HUNDRED Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Gowns that did it! David turned around and saw me crying and just smiled. Oh Yves, look what you do to me!!!

Nick Verreos and David Paul, outside the I.M. Pei Pyramid Louvre Museum

The following day (I couldn't do anything after THAT!), David and I decided to head toward the
Louvre...

.

And check out the Exhibit in the "Histoire Ideale de la Mode Contemporaine Vol. 1: 70-80"Musee des Arts Decoratifs, which showed a range of fashion encompassing the 70's and 80's. It was a nice exhibit but I must admit, it was VERY Francophile...no US designers, who by the way, were SOOOO important to the 70's and 80's. Can you say "Where was Halston, Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis, Diane Von Furstenberg, James Galanos, Nolan Miller, etc.?" Nope, none of them. Just A LOT of Lacroix, Mugler, and Castelbajac. Which was OK, but there were LOTS of omissions.

Afterward, David and I decided to do some sightseeing and shopping (of course!): We headed to the Arc du Triomphe (above), and then checked out the Summer Sales at...

Printemps as well as Galleries Lafayette. Printemps is more upscale--like a Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. Galleries Lafayette is more Bloomindales/Macy's. We didn't buy anything but we tried LOTS of stuff on (the Euro exchange is still NOT happy with us Americans!).

But there was one thing I was FASCINATED by:

All the Middle Eastern DIVAS in Paris!!! There were TONS of them: All shopping, all in groups, every other one featuring Hermes head scarves, their traditional Abaya--or cloak/overdress--and Marc Jacobs or Fendi sunglasses and TONS of shopping bags!! Now, I'm not talking H&M or Zara. Nope kids: Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton. Oil Money Makes Women Shopping Happy!

They were ALL OVER Printemps! I was especially fascinated by the silhouette of their hairstyles under their Hermes scarves: Very "Alien" (the movie)-esque, pulled back High bun. I dubbed them "The Dubai Women". Recently (after returning from Europe at an event I hosted) I met a 20-something woman living in the Middle East and told her about these women in Paris. She corrected me and said that they were probably from Kuwait (because of the high-back bun under the scarves, she said). Wherever they were from: They had LOTS of money, were FABULOUS, and LOVED shopping VERY EXPENSIVE brands.

Wish I was them! With that, it was time to go back to our hotel, rest and get ready to return to the States. I look forward to my next trip to Europe--and hopefully, more run-ins with my "Dubai Divas", better (non-humid) weather and yes, a better Euro-US Dollar Exchange....Wishful thinking!

Click below for a video of International Herald Tribune's Suzy Menkes and a Tour of the YSL Retrospective Exhibit:


Click below for the ENTIRE YSL Retrospective Runway Fashion Show: Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4: