64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Report: Le Divas-- A Fashion Report Card!

Cannes Queens:


Penelope Cruz in Marchesa Fall 2011: Attending the Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in a lavender colored embroidered silk tulle Marchesa gown from one of my favorite collections from that design firm. We saw actress Rachel McAdams, during the Opening Ceremonies and "Midnight In Paris" Premiere, also wearing a gown from the same collection. Penelope looked stunning--as usual. Her hair, pulled-back with only bangs showing was perfect for "topping off" this gown. She loves a "Mermaid/Flamenco" silhouette and this was a new way of showing this. The simple drop earrings and small clutch finish the look impeccably. Olé!
Grade: A

Soonam Kapoor in Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 Haute Couture: Attending "The Artist" Premiere at the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Indian Bollywood actress Soonam Kapoor became an instant COUTURE DIVA at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing this silk organza with MAJAH Horsehair hem detailed ivory-and-black gown from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2009 Haute Couture Collection--from two years ago. Since probably no one actually ordered this hand-made gown--it makes sense to get it out of the Gaultier Couture Archives and have it be worn...One word: WORK!
Grade: A.

Li Bingbing in Georges Chakra Spring 2011 Haute Couture: The beautiful Chinese-born actress wore an Haute Couture (one-of-a-kind/hand-made) creation from Lebanese fashion designer Georges Chakra attending "The Artist" Premiere. It was a strapless "Princess Ball Gown" in baby-blue tulle with original torso and bustier applique. This gown could easily have gone into Disney and Quinceañera mode, but it still somehow, did not.
Grade: B.

Fan Bingbing in Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2009: Attending the "Polisse" Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Chinese-born actress and singer Fan Bingbing has quickly positioned herself to be the Cannes Red Carpet DIVA!!! Here, she wore a white Elie Saab Fall 2009 Haute Couture Gown from one of my favorite collections from this Lebanese fashion designer. The elongated and VERY exaggerated lace re-embroidered sleeves are FABU-licious!!! No need to eat with this gown (can you imagine getting one of those sleeves in your mushroom soup!), it's all about stepping onto the Red Carpet, posing and SERVING IT to them!!! The only thing she--and/or her stylist--did wrong: The earrings and necklace. They were SO not needed. Therefore...
Grade: A-

Fan Bingbing in Atelier Versace Spring 2011: Oh Fan, you are my new Red Carpet Obsession! Either you have a FAB stylist with LOTS of connections, or your PR Department is working OVERTIME, but seriously, you have become a COUTURE DESIGNER'S new "Wet Dream". Here is Chinese-born actress/singer Fan Bingbing (and new-found fashionista muse!) attending the "Wu Xia" Premiere in a Versace Atelier Spring 2011 ombre silk "Mermaid" gown. It's a GORGEOUS gown but something happened from her hotel limo ride to the red carpet--and the wrinkles show it! It's very difficult to keep silk Habotai pressed darlings. Hand-held steamer anyone?
Grade: B-

Fan Bingbing in Versace Atelier Spring 2011: Attending "The Artist" Premiere, my new favorite girl, Fan Bingbing wore a Versace Atelier Spring 2011 purple ombre strapless bustier and crinkled organza ruffle gown. Since the gown itself--estimated at about $50,000 if she were actually to buy it--is so "Costume-y" and reminiscent of the late 19th/early 20th Century, I would have advised her to do a more modern hairstyle (like in the Look Book Photo above). But she didn't, and therefore , it sort of threw her entire look off, and made her look almost--dowdy.
Grade: B-

Fan Bingbing in Chris Bu Kewen: Finally, during the Opening Ceremony Red Carpet earlier in the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival, Miss Fan Bingbing wore a red silk printed strapless gown with a Watteau back designed by her stylist, Chris Bu Kewen. It's very Christian Dior by John Galliano "Madama Butterfly" Spring 2007 Haute Couture Collection, and therefore: I LOVE it! This is the first "Cannes Red Carpet Impression" lots of "Who-is-Fan-Bingbing" folk got of her, and well, WOW: That's a great First Impression!
Grade: A.

Nick Verreos on this week's Style Network's "Style Star: Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard"

Euro Style Muses...

Olé Penelope: Spanish Actress Penelope Cruz at Cannes 2009 in lilac off-the-shoulder Marchesa

This weekend, a new episode of "Style Star" aired on the Style Network and this week's Fashion Gals were Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. As you may know, I'm one of the commentating Style Experts this season on this show and therefore I was so excited to giving my Latin-Greek Style Two Cents on these Latina and Euro style DIVAS!

Nick Verreos, Style Network's "Style Star" TV Show

Again, along with moi, I was joined by the likes of Melissa Magsaysay, style writer and editor of the LA Times Image Section--as well as some of "my boys", Marcellas Reynolds and former model and now stylist Warren Alfie Baker.

This episode is all about European actresss who KNOW their style, their designers, their Couture... and WORK IT! I have SOOOO many favorite looks for La Penelope that it's difficult to narrow them down but...

Academy Awards 2007: Penelope in Versace Atelier strapless blush pink gown has got to be up there! Seriously! She was one of my Top Picks on the Oscars 2007 Red Carpet for sure in that ball gown.

Of course, I also LOVED the strapless back-bow Oscar de la Renta turquoise blue gown she wore at the 2007 Queen Sofia Institute Gold Medal Gala where she was honored for promoting Hispanic Culture around the World.

And Miss Marion Cotillard: Huney, this Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Gown, which she wore at the 2008 Academy Awards was definitely one of my fave looks from her. Birth of Venus Botticelli much???? J'adore!

And then, of course, I also LOVED Marion in that blinding white sequined Elie Saab Haute Couture one-shoulder cocktail dress that she wore at the 16Th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Très belle!!

The Episode airs tonight at 10:30PM as well as 1:30AM.

Click HERE for all other times and dates it airs.

Nick Verreos Interview with 944.com

Talking Fashion, My Vision of the Ultra Feminine Woman, Teaching, my New Collection, and More...

Popping The Collar: Nick Verreos

Recently, I did an interview with writer Carina Calhoun for 944 Magazine's website 944.com. I had so much fun chatting with her on a wide range of topics, from how my own line NIKOLAKI--co-designed with David Paul--began, what my vision for making women ultra feminine is...

As well as discussed my love of teaching at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. In addition of course, I talked about my newest Spring 2011 NIKOLAKI Collection, which we recently debuted at the fabulous Style Week Orange County 2010, and one of my favorite projects from this past year:

Nick Verreos poses with the The Victory Project Experts: Chantal Moore (far left), Kacy Duke and Katherine Brooking (far right)

MSN.com's The Victory Project Sponsored by Special K, a web show where four Experts (including myself!) find four women in three different cities and help them with nutrition, exercise and after they've reached their "Victorious" goal, all four ladies are given a make-over complete with Hair, Makeup and a styling session with ME!

Nick Verreos at the Chicago taping of The Victory Project, with Jennifer at Cinnamon Boutique

I have a blast showing REAL WOMAN--ones that are not a size 4, how to find clothes that brings out their inner DIVAS! Speaking of Divas, the writer asked me who my "ideal" client would be; an actress I'd like to dress, let's just say. And I mentioned Spanish actress Penelope Cruz.

I love her acting, love how strong yet ultra feminine she is, and yes, love that she is from España! Now, I know that she loves Marchesa and since she is one of Harvey Weinstein's "muses", it's not a coincidence she wears a lot of his wife's designs. She also loves Ralph Lauren; a lot of Spanish socialites and actresses do too. But maybe, just maybe she should consider one of our NIKOLAKI gowns for her next red carpet awards appearance...who knows, a boy can dream right? Below are a couple of suggestions:

Infanta: Black silk taffeta fitted Mermaid-shape gown with hand beaded feather trim, NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul

Mint Blue Goddess: Strapless fitted gown with asymmetrical gathered detailing in silk zibeline, NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul

Below is my Interview from 944.com: "Fearlessly Feminine Nick Verreos--On Making Women Want Top Work It" (love that title!)

From Project Runway to the red carpet, Nick Verreos has made a name for himself in the competitive fashion world by marking his territory with the stunning styles that make women feel fearlessly feminine. Showing the spring 2011 collection of his line Nikolaki at Orange County Style Week in October, Verreos took a few minutes to chat with 944 about making it in the industry and, as his former mentor, Project Runway’s Tim Gunn always says, making it work.

944: How would you describe your design philosophy or point of view?

Nick Verreos: It’s pretty simple. Just making women look and feel beautiful, and trying to bring out the inner goddess within them. I grew up with a group of women, and I just want them to feel ultra-feminine. I feel like I can give women that dress when they want to look like a princess or a diva.

944: When did the Nikolaki collection or concept begin?

NV: I worked for different companies as an assistant designer and pattern maker, and I paid my dues in the industry. I was still making dresses and gowns to fuel my creativity. I built up this closet full of dresses, and I would put on shows at a club here and there. In 2001, we got a showroom, and before I knew it, we were in 150 stores. My partner, David Paul, and I work great together. The name means “little Nick” in Greek, which is what my dad called me when I was young.

Click HERE for the entire article and to find out why I would LOVE to dress Spanish actress Penelope Cruz