13th Annual Costume Designer Guild Awards: Red Carpet

Halle Berry Wows, Kristin Davis' Goes To The Ball and Diane Lane Does the Charleston...

One Word: Wow! Halle Berry in Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2011--Costume Designers Guild Awards 2011

Last night were the 13th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards (CDGA) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was a star-studded gala as one might expect, especially in the week leading up to this Sunday's Academy Awards. The CDGA honors Outstanding Costume Design in film from the previous year.

There's not one "Best Costume Design in Film of the Year" award but they break it up into categories, which I think is great (especially for us Costume Design-aficionados). Many actors, stylists, costumers, costume designers are invited to this event which has become the Oscars of Costume Design. Costume Design is often an under-appreciated yet essential part of movies and movie-making and now, more and more, in these "Red Carpet and Fashion-Centric" times, they are getting their due--finally!

Host Kristin Davis in...

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 black-and-white polka dotted strapless ball gown

The Gala was hosted by actress Kristin Davis, who looked every vision of her "Sex And The City" character Charlotte York in Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 but the Red Carpet Fashion Star of the night was the GORGEOUS Halle Berry--who was given the first ever "Lacoste Spotlight Award".

Halle Red: Elie Saab Spring 2011 Haute Couture

She wore a Spring 2011 HAUTE COUTURE Gown--fresh off the Paris Runways--from Designer Elie Saab. She looked BREATHTAKING!! Halle + Elie= Can Do NO WRONG! It's so amazing to me that even to a non-televised awards gala such as the fabulous CDGA, the top A-List actresses are still "giving" Haute Couture!!! In the past, these $50,000-$100,000 hand-sewn one-of-a-kind gowns were reserved for Cannes or the Oscars, but no more. Well, when you are Halle Berry, you can borrow the best!

Others present were: Actress Diane Lane, giving a 1920's "Charleston" vibe in this handkerchief hemmed sequined dress and "sensible" strappy heals...

Actress Claire Danes in a metallic gray cocktail dress

Demi Moore in Vivienne Westwood royal blue silk taffeta gown

New Fashionista In Town: TV Presenter (from E! and MTV's "The City") Louise Roe GIVES it to you!! She is wearing Manish Arora and shoes by Versace. Those shoes-by the way-are RIDICULOUSLY good!!!

And naturally, there was a Costume Designer or two: Above is the fabulous Colleen Atwood (wearing a dress by Roland Mouret), Costume Designer for "Alice In Wonderland" (with her daughter), who won the award for "Excellence in Fantasy Film" Costume Guild Award for 2011.

In case you were wondering--the following costume designers were honored with awards last night--Congratulations!

Excellence in contemporary film Black Swan - Amy Westcott

Excellence in period film The King's Speech - Jenny Beavan

Excellence in fantasy film Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood

Outstanding contemporary television series Glee - Lou Eyrich

Outstanding period/fantasy television series Boardwalk Empire - John Dunn & Lisa Padovani

Outstanding made for television movie or mini series Temple Grandin - Cindy Evans

Excellence in commercial costume design Chanel - Bleu de Chanel - Aude Bronson‐Howard

Los AngelesTimes: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibit Mention!

LA Times Love!

Academy Award-Nominated Costume Designers Colleen Atwood ("Alice In Wonderland"), Mary Zophres ("True Grit") and Nick Verreos, FIDM "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

Yesterday--on my Birthday no less!!! I opened up my Los Angeles Times--the BIG Sunday Edition--and there was a FABULOUS article--written by Ellen Oliver--about the opening of the 19Th Annual "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition at my Alma Mater (and College I am an Instructor and Spokesperson at) the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM.

And the best part (well, not the best part but it was nice!): It included a wonderful photo of myself, and the Academy Award Nominated Costume Designers, Colleen Atwood (for "Alice In Wonderland"), and Mary Zophres ("True Grit") as well as a short & sweet quote. It was a bit of a shock and (nice) surprise to be having my coffee and scrambled eggs---and then all of a sudden see the photo! Thanks LA Times and by the way, it begs repeating: Wonderful article!

Below is the Los Angeles Times Sunday Edition Article, published yesterday:

Scene & Heard: Costume designers in the spotlight

At the preview of "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design," two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood said Johnny Depp wanted his Mad Hatter costume to capture the flavor of a mood ring. So she layered his topcoat with multiple colors of silk.

Standing beside his costume from "Alice in Wonderland," Atwood said the challenges of designing for Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter included the changing sizes of the characters. "Alice shrinks and grows, and Helena's big head made her neck look as thick as a thigh," Atwood said, adding that she solved that problem by creating a collar to narrow the appearance of Bonham Carter's neck.

An estimated 1,400 guests, mainly members of the Costume Designers Guild, turned up on Feb. 5 to view more than 100 costumes from 21 films at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's museum (www.fidmmuseum.org) in Los Angeles. Four of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for costume design were represented: "Alice in Wonderland," "True Grit," "The Tempest" and "The King's Speech." (The fifth film is "I Am Love.")

"In the best pictures, the costumes are subtle," said Nick Verreos, an FIDM instructor and "Project Runway" personality. "The goal of costume design is to create real people, but when it's a fantastic movie like 'Alice,' the costumes have to be fantastic."

For the rest of the article , CLICK HERE.

Nick Verreos and FIDM SuperLab for Alice In Wonderland: Part 2 The Exhibition

Part 2: And Now...Here Is The "Disney's Alice In Wonderland" FIDM Exhibit:Red Carpet Queens: The FIDM SuperLab Gowns designed by FIDM designer grads inspired by Disney's "Alice In Wonderland"

In conjunction with the "Media Only" Party and FIDM SuperLab Alice In Wonderland-inspired Red Carpet Gown Fashion Show thrown by Disney at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM which I recapped in my last posting, there was of course something else: This also marked the opening of the "Disney's Alice In Wonderland Costume Exhibit" at the FIDM Museum and Galleries. Underland Costumes: Nick Verreos at the FIDM Museum and Galleries "Alice In Wonderland" Exhibition

Right after Kerli's "Tea Party" performance, guests were led into the FIDM Museum to enjoy the actual costumes designed by 2-time Academy Award-winning costume designer (and special guest of the party) Colleen Atwood. For the first time ever in the US, everyone was treated to a viewing of many of the original costumes, including Johnny Depp's Mat Hatter ensembles, including the iridescent blue "frock coat", waistcoat, and plaid kilt seen above.
Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen Dress, shown here sans the Queens BIG HEAD;Stayne, Knave of Hearts' exuberant cape and intricate armor costume (love the dramatic cape's inner lining);
And of course, several of Alice's dresses. Here is the original demure pale blue dress worn by actress Mia Wasikowska that you've seen in all the film's press photos (she's SOOOO TINY--go to the Exhibit and you'll see what I mean!);
and above is Alice's "Red Dress" from the Red Queen's Court Scenes: This is one of my favorite of Atwood's designs, very modern and reminiscent of the late Alexander McQueen's work.
In combination with Disney's Alice In Wonderland Costume Exhibit, there was the
Art of Costume Illustration exhibition, which was already on display in the FIDM Museum and Galleries. There are over 200 film and television costume illustrations on display from designers and illustrators like Edith Head, Orry-Kelly (his costume illustration for "Auntie Mame" seen above) and Helen Rose, who is famous for designing the wedding gown for Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.Sketch by Helen Rose for actress Alice Kingsley "Washington Story" 1952

Originally I wanted to be a Fashion Illustrator (since I love to draw!), until a teacher a LONG TIME ago (in high school I think), told me there "was no business in that", so I decided to become a Fashion Designer. But I've always been an avid fan of fashion and costume illustrations, and love and respect the art so this was a HUGE HIGHLIGHT for me.
Sketch by Helen Rose for Elizabeth Taylor

If you want to check out Disney's Alice In Wonderland Exhibit, the FIDM SuperLab Red Carpet Gowns designed by FIDM grads as well as the Art of Costume Illustration, get thee to the FIDM Museum and Galleries...NOW!!!

Below is a "Sneak Peak Video I took of the FIDM SuperLab Alice In Wonderland Red Carpet Gowns (which I mentored!) on display NOW at the FIDM< Museum and Galleries:


Exhibition Details:
Where: FIDM Museum and Galleries, 919 South Grand Avenue, LA CA 90015

When:
Art of Costume Illustration Exhibit runs May 18-June 19
Alice In Wonderland Exhibit runs May 27-September 30
Open Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays)

Fee: FREE!!!!!

Nick Verreos Hosts FIDM SuperLab Disney's "Alice In Wonderland" Fashion Show Gala/Part I: Backstage, Red Carpet and Fashion Show!!!

Mad Hatter Couture!!!

Hat Queen: Nick Verreos hosts the Alice In Wonderland FIDM Fashion Show Event

This last week was the unveiling of the FIDM "Alice In Wonderland" Fashion Extravaganza at a big "Media Only" event Disney held at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Grand Hope Park backlot. Disney approached FIDM to showcase the wonderful Colleen Atwood-designed costumes for the film and they both had a GENIUS idea: Why not get FIDM grads and/or fashion design students involved in creating modern-day Alice In Wonderland ensembles. Designers...Make It Work: FIDM SuperLab Designers and their Red Carpet Creations

Well, of course, we took it one step further: As an instructor and Spokesperson for the college, I was invited to Mentor and be the "Stimulus Package" and actually head the entire Alice In Wonderland FIDM SuperLab! FIDM SuperLab directs special project collaborations for advanced level students and grads in partnership with the industry. Therefore--as I stated in my previous "Sneak Peak" blog posting--we hand-picked six FIDM designers (most of whom I instructed in the past) and asked them to design and create Red Carpet Gowns inspired by the film. The results were SPECTACULAR as you'll see.Tea Party: The scene at Hope Park and FIDM

FIDM was transformed into a vision of "Underland" with a center stage and runway with hedges and all--to mimic the Garden in the beginning of the film--before Alice goes into the Rabbit Hole. Bless The Runway: Nick Verreos does a "Model Walk Off"...alone!

I was also asked to be the Mad Hatter "Master of Ceremonies" for the entire event ( I took extra Mylanta and Pepto Bismol to calm my nerves!). I decided to throw on my recently purchased Zara cropped jacket with mini-tails and a fabulous Hugh Simms bow tie (love his ties!).The party began with a walk down the red carpet of course. I took lots of photos with my Mad Hatter-ettes (above). Now, let me explain, I arrived to the party without that hat but those pesky red carpet photographers insisted I put one one--so of course, I obliged.I also posed with the illustrious Colleen Atwood, Costume Designer for "Alice In Wonderland" as well as...
Estonian-born singer Kerli, who's hit "Tea Party" from the film recently hit #5 on the Billboard charts...
and naturally, I had to have the support of my NIKOLAKI design partner, David Paul as I multi-tasked through all my assignments. Backstage was all a buzz as the models--all from LA Models--as well as the designers got ready for their Alice In Wonderland close-up on the runway:
Backstage Cat Eyes: Model Sarah Deanna and Nick Verreos
On The Runway: Cheshire Cat Red Carpet Gown by Kapasa Musonda
Backstage Bunny Fashion: Nick Verreos and model Laura Larue in her White Rabbit Red Carpet dress
Red Heart Pout: Model Amanda Fields (also from Project Runway Season 3 and one of my NIKOLAKI muses!), and Nick Verreos
On The Runway: Red Queen Red Carpet gown designed by Clay Sadler
Seeing Double: Nick Verreos poses with models , including Holly Ridings of Lifetime's Models of The Runway Season 2 (to my left), and designer Natalia Romano
On The Runway: Tweedledee and Tweedledum Red Carpet designed by Natalia Romano
On The Runway: Mad Hatter Red Carpet, designed by Angela Avanesyan, modeled by Zdenka
On The Runway: Alice Red Carpet Gown designed by Dominique Pearl David, modeled by Carla Salomao
Downtown LA Tea Party: Kerli performing at the FIDM and Disney Alice In Wonderland Party

Right after the fantastic Red Carpet FIDM SuperLab Runway Show, guests were treated to a three-song performance from Kerli right in the middle of Grand Hope Park which then was followed by the opening of the actual Alice In Wonderland Museum Exhibit! But you will have to go read my "Part Two" Posting for photos and recap of that.... For Now:

Click HERE for complete coverage--and special videos--from Zap2It.com, and...

Click Below for videos of the Alice In Wonderland FIDM SuperLab runway show: