Nick Verreos Heats Up Tampa Florida at the Macy's Fashion Director/Fashion Challenge Event!

Hot and Fashionable...in Tampa!
Tampa's Next Top Macy's Model: Nick Verreos flanked by his Tampa Models, Macy's Fashion Director Event

I arrived last Friday night into Tampa Florida, settled into my Sheraton Suites Hotel (SOOOOOO big for just one person!) and got a good night's rest for my Saturday Macy's Fashion Director Event the next day. Yes, kiddies, Monsieur Nick is back on the "Macy's Tour" spreading the "word" of FASHION!!! One US city at a time! Palm Trees and Sun: The Tampa Sheraton Suites

The weather in Tampa was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! In my fitted jacket, pressed shirt and YSL boots, I felt a little over-dressed as I waited for my cab ride to my event, amongst the flip-flop, short-and-t-shirt wearing Spring Breakers mingling in the hotel's lobby!Pre-Show Pose-Off: Nick Verreos Backstage with his Tampa Macy's Models

Soon after I arrived at the Macy's in the Westshore Shopping Center, I immediately went ahead and got on the store's intercom system and told EVERY Macy's shopper to "Come see me!"--and they did: EVERY seat was filled! I peeked through the black drapes behind the stage and the entire place was packed--with over 200 shoppers (and a a couple "Nick fans" thank you very much!). I said "Hello" to my beautiful Tampa Models and we did a brief "Madonna Concert Tour Prayer" (Not!) and it was ON!!!You're A Star: Model shows her newly-styled outfit, Macy's Fashion Director/Fashion Challenge Event, Tampa

The Macy's Fashion Director Events have been all about getting the shoppers and audience involved in fun Fashion Challenges: I chose members from the audience, either randomly or by "who can show me their Macy's Credit Card first!". I then gave them a "Theme" , and they then had 2 minutes to pick clothing pre-selected on a rack to style their respective models. The audience then pick the winner of each challenge. Our First Boy Contestant: Nick Verreos picks the first male contestant to take the Macy's Fashion Challenge

In Tampa, the fun themes were: How To Dress For A Beyonce Concert (a popular one this season!); How To Dress To Meet Your Ex. The two winners of these then competed for one final Challenge: How To Dress To Meet The In Laws. The Grand Winner then won a Macy's Gift Card for $100!!! The remaining runner-ups won $25 Macy's Gift Cards as well. Tampa Grand Prize Winner: Nick Verreos poses with winning audience member and her model

I had THE BEST TIME with my Tampa audience; they were SO EXCITED and so "pumped" with wanting to participate and get into the Macy's Fashion Director vibe. I couldn't believe how many people showed up--especially since it was 85 degrees and really way too gorgeous to be inside a mall! Florida Fashion Mentor: Nick Verreos poses with students from IADT Tampa

But there they were. One audience member even came with a resume and DVD portfolio for me to take a look at! I was really excited to see a whole group of fashion students (about 10!) from the Tampa International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT. They invited me to lunch afterward (so sweet!) but I couldn't because I had to catch my flight back to LA. Hope they can take a rain-check! Thanks for the great afternoon Tampa! Nick "HEARTS" You!

Happy Birthday To Me--Nick Verreos Celebrates in Seattle!!

Seattle Diary--The Birthday Weekend!
Put Your Lips Together...and Blow: Happy Birthday Nick!

Last week, I was invited to judge the fabulous Project Red Dress as you all may know and had a great time! In addition to this event, I was also happy to be in Seattle for my Birthday! (It was the same day as the event). But since work calls, I did my duties at Project Red Dress, judged, surveyed the gowns and dresses, did some catwalkin' on the Fairmont Olympic Hotel Runway and met with a lot of the guests (and I took a lot of photos which I am sure I will be "tagged" in on Facebook!)Beard Cake: Nick Verreos Birthday Cake

After the Project Red Dress fashion show and gala, I went to my Fairmont Olympic Hotel suite, did a bit of an outfit change and headed off to a fashion show, live concert that my Seattle friend (of Venezuelan descent) Eduardo, was producing. Because it was so late, the fashion show had ended, but I still wanted to stop by. I'm glad I did: Little did I know that he had "organized" along with a couple of my other Seattle friends, a "Birthday" mini-party! Another Venezuelan friend, the wonderful Jorge Hernandez, had commissioned and designed a "Nick" cake: He designed a delicious cake with my image--beard and faux-hawk included--I seriously could not believe it!!! I didn't even want to cut it! But I did, right into the beard! Thank you Eduardo and Jorge, you guys are too much!
Nick with Cake: Nick Verreos and Seattle Designer, Logan Neitzel, holding up his Birthday Cake

The following day, I had to give a 10 AM Workshop/Seminar on the Essence of Fit and Fit Models at the Tukwila campus of the International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT. I was happy to "instruct" Seattle design students and fans of Project Runway alike, on why a "Forever 21" small is very different from a "QVC" small, as well as bring some of my NIKOLAKI clothing line samples and show good vs. bad fit on an actual fit model.
Fit Class: Nick Verreos during his Workshop at International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT

Afterwards, I was delighted to enjoy a fantastic, family-style luncheon at Saffron Kabobs, a Bellevue Persian food restaurant (the BEST in Seattle!). I love me some Persian Food--in fact so much so, people question if instead of being half-Greek, I may be half Persian!).
Cake No. 2: Saffron Kabobs' Chocolate Cake for Nick's Birthday

Well, guess what? After eating enough Koubideh Kabob, Tahdik, Gormeh Sabzi and Saffron Rice to feed an entire family, they brought out a Birthday cake!!! Yep, it officially became Nick's Birthday Weekend!
View From The Top: David Paul and Nick Verreos at the Columbia Tower Club (notice the sea plane passing in the background)

Then, if that was not enough, David and I were treated to an amazing view of Seattle--atop 75 stories! Our driver, Amy of Amy's Limo--my "official chauffeur" in Seattle (I love Miss Amy!)--wanted to give David and I a special treat: She invited us to the exclusive Columbia Tower Club. It was Valentine's Day after all and she wanted to celebrate it with us!!! It is a private membership club, restaurant and bar where the creme de la creme of Seattle come to get away from it all--and have a private dinner, after-work business cocktail meeting or Valentine's Day drinks and cake, like us. Valentine's Day Threesome: David Paul, Amy of Amy's Limo, and Nick Verreos posing at the Columbia Tower Club

Words cannot describe the view from the Columbia Tower Club. You see all of Seattle. The iconic Space Needle looks miniscule from a 75 story view, let me tell you! We could see everything! At one point, as we took a photo, a small sea-plane happened to be passing by--and Amy captured it (see photo above). Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and a delicious Birthday Cheesecake at the Columbia Tower Club Seattle

We enjoyed our Valentine's Evening drinks and the staff then brought out a delicious Cheese Cake and sang "Happy Birthday". It was my third "Birthday Cake in two days--and I was loving it! The beautiful Seattle view, plus the cake, made for a perfect ending to my "Birthday Weekend" in Seattle. Unforgettable.

Nick Verreos at IADT Seattle Saturday February 14th, Valentine's Day!

Happy Fit Day Seattle!If the Jacket Fits...

As you may know, I will be in Seattle this weekend judging the fabulous Project Red Dress Fashion Show tomorrow, Friday February 13th, but what you may not know, is that I will also be giving one of my wonderful (and I hear unique) Seminars and Workshops at the International Academy of Design and Technology the following day!

Come join me Saturday February 14th and share Valentine's Day (OK, morning) with me at the IADT Tukwila Campus as I share my insight on Fit, Fit Models and What is a good fit/what is a bad fit--and why a sizes are different from company to company.

Class Is In Session!

It's FREE (we like FREE!!), from 10 AM-12 PM. Just call 206-575-1865 to RSVP and reserve your space!!
Click HERE for all the info. See you then!

Nick & Andrae...and the Disco Ball Pig

The Nick and Andrae Show visits Seattle

Last month, I had the privilege to be invited back to the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT), Seattle, for their Finale Gala Fashion Show, titled "Do You La Mode?". This time around, I was happy to be joined by the one and only Andrae Gonzalo. We were asked to host the actual show , judge it, and give a special seminar/lecture the day after. The day we arrived, after checking in to the Hotel Monaco, we were drawn by some stylistic galactic power to this wonderful sculpture right outside the entrance of the hotel. It was a Disco Ball Pig! Well, you just KNOW we had to take a photo! It took a while for the hotel staff to try and pry us away from that damn pig! I want to commission the artist to make me one for my Loft/studio back in LA.

I always have such a fun time in Seattle, thanks to the fabulous Hotel Monaco, the staff and students at IADT Seattle, who work fearlessly to further the knowledge and instruction of fashion and all types of design in the Emerald City and beyond. I also had an amazing time with my friend, Eduardo and his Seattle-based "Venezuelan Posse", who have incorporated me as "one of their family". We had the best empanada-and-wine dinner at a friend's house, I would have stayed there all night! Needless to say, he decided to show Andrae the sights and sounds of Seattle-at-night. Thanks Eduardo. You are the best!

It was a quick three days in Seattle and I wish I would have stayed longer, but alas, I had to come back to LA to get back to designin' ---and to order all the glass needed to make a new Disco Ball Pig for my Studio!

Click HERE for a Seattle Times article about Andrae and I standing by the Disco Ball pig.
and HERE to read my entire posting on BravoTV.com about my wonderful visit to Seattle.