Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos Reunite for Season 8 Project Runway Castings!!

Fashion Prom Couple!All Smiles at 9 AM: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos at Season 8 Project Runway LA Castings

Last week, I had the pleasure of judging--for SIXTH SEASON IN A ROW!!!!--the Castings for Project Runway, Season 8. The producers of the show have been scouring the country for the next Top American Fashion Designer and they have gone to NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta...and last week was the final Los Angeles Casting at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd. Casting Executives "preselected" from thousands and thousands of applications and their picks were the ones that we, the Casting Judges, saw at these sessions. Approximately 50 designers--mostly from California--representing cities (sounds like a Miss USA!) such as San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, and the Los Angeles area of course, came to this final round of casting.
I was so happy to be reunited with Tim Gunn. It's always so wonderful to spend time with Tim since our schedules are so crazy--especially his--that we don't get to see each other much. Vintage Nick and Tim: Nick Verreos gets mentored by Tim Gunn, Season 2 Project Runway

I was also especially excited to see Miss Zoe Glassner, Senior Shopping Editor at Marie Claire, whom I've also had the pleasure of judging past Project Runway castings with. We had a great time seeing all the designers and we scrutinized every seam, every unnecessary ruffle and bow, and every wonky--and not-so wonky hem! No Wonky Seams! LA Casting Panel, Zoe Glassner, Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos

Maybe since it was "the end of the road-trip" for them--Zoe and Tim had NO PATIENCE for "I just wanna do this as a hobby..." and the "I Hate to sew and CANNOT draw...but I wanna be a fashion designer" nonsense--and trust me, they would let them "have it". Sometimes, I was the Paula Abdul of the group--or shall I say the Ellen DeGeneres-- with my "What Tim and Zoe are trying to say is..."LOL! But all in all, even Tim remarked that we may have found one of the "Best" of the entire Season 8 Casting process, here in LA. Well, we shall soon see!

Project Runway Season 8 Casting!!!!!!

Get your Portfolio, Collection and Fierce Self Ready...Season 7 is almost over kiddies. I know, I've missed several of my infamous "Nick Recaps"--I've been busy traveling for my Macy's Appearances and working on my line as well as moving into my new NIKOLAKI Atelier!!! But... Season 8 is casting NOW!!!Who Will Be The Next Project Runway Star: Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, NY Fashion Week

A "Little Birdie" told me that the producers of Project Runway, the ever-so-fabulous Bunin/Murray Productions are getting ready to chose the cast for the nest season of my favorite show Project Runway--

*Do you have what it takes to be America's Next Great Fashion Designer? *Have you always dreamed of showing your collection at New York Fashion Week? *Are you over 21 years of age? *Deadline is April 22nd...BUT DO IT NOW!!!!!
Judging Threesome: Nick Verreos, Marie Claire's Zoe Glassner and Tim Gunn, LA Season 7 Castings

Good Luck darlings! Be fabulous, fashionable, and ready to BRING IT ON!!!
Click HERE to apply!!

Nick Verreos Dishes on Project Runway Season 7 Casting Videos...Continued

Judging Buddies: Nick Verreos, Marie Claire's Zoe Glassner and Tim Gunn, LA Castings Season 7 Project Runway

When I first saw the new batch of Project Runway "kids", I thought I knew NONE of them. Or shall I say, no one looked "familiar". Then I began watching these casting videos and realized that I was actually there when many of them came to the casting in Los Angeles and we ended up moving them to the next level! You see, we did these castings so long ago--almost a year ago. I had to "refresh" my memory by viewing these casting videos to remember who these contestants were. Here, I continue with my "Casting Inside Dish":

Christiane King:
After viewing the casting video, I totally remembered Christiane. She had a lovely presence and nice humble aura (no, I-want-to-be-a-Star-I'm-a-Diva attitude). She had tried for Project Runway several times before and obviously was not giving up! I remember that she was originally from Cote D'Ivoire (misspelled in the MyLifetime site btw). The only question we had with her involved fit and a "taste issue". I foresee the latter as maybe being her Achilles Heel. I liked her royal blue architectural shift dress but the rest were a bit, well, Miss Guyana at the Miss World Pageant gown...


Jay Nicolas Sario:
I remember Jay Nicolas, he was a stand-out FOR SURE! His designs were new, modern, fresh and the fit was spot-on. We all loved it. There was a lot of work and a definite eye for detail. I'm not sure if he can replicate all that work within the restricted Project Runway time frame, but who knows. I am excited to see his creations this season. Definitely a favorite for the final "tableau", at least from what he showed us at the casting.

Stay tuned for more of my Nick Verreos: Inside The Casting dish...

Nick Verreos and Tim Gunn at the Project Runway Season 7 Casting!

Nick Reunites with Tim Gunn--and Zoe Glassner!Judges Get Your Pad and Pencil! Nick Verreos, Zoe Glassner and Tim Gunn at the LA Project Runway Season 7 Castings, W Hotel Los Angeles

This past Monday--yes, on Memorial Day--was the one and only Los Angeles Casting for next season's Project Runway. I know, we haven't even seen Season 6 and we are casting Season 7? Yep, that's how TV works kids! I was privileged enough to have been asked to join Fashion Mentor GOD, Mr. Tim Gunn, as well as the stylish and infectiously friendly Marie Claire shopping editor, Zoe Glassner for another run at finding America's Next Great Designer!The castings took place at the chic W Los Angeles Hotel in Westwood. Soon after I arrived at 9:30 AM, I made the mistake of grabbing my coffee and walking out into the gorgeous W Hotel pool area. It was a mistake because, of course, all I could think of was "Oh wait, I can't use the pool, I've got to work!" Not for Nick: The W Hotel Pool

It certainly was "all work and no play" as Tim, Zoe and I proceeded to see a day's full of aspiring Project Runway contestants, who came as far as Hawaii and Oregon (as well as LA, Palm Springs and the SF Bay Area) for "a chance of a lifetime" at this final LA Castings. Kicking Under The Table: Nick Verreos, Tim Gunn and Zoe Glassner prepare to see the aspiring designers

We saw many talented designers, assistant designers, store owners as well as fresh-out-of- fashion school students--some even from my alma mater, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM. There was DRAMA, snippy verbal fights and amusing adulations. I hope they caught it all on film--oh wait, I think there was a camera!! Could there be another "Road To The Runway: Season 7"? If there is, I hope it didn't catch Tim and I kicking each other under the table. Now, speaking of that W Hotel pool, I never got to use it, but Tim, Zoe and I did end our day with some yummy cocktails and spicy nuts at the adjacent W Hotel Whiskey Blue Bar. It was a perfect ending to a productive Memorial Day of Project Runway Season 7 castings.