With the new season of
Project Runway
up and running, we caught up with one of our favorite designers, Nick Verreos from season two. Nick and I go way back -- way back to the Disco Pig in front of Hotel Monaco in Seattle, but that's another story. Here, Nick shares his thoughts on "Girlicious" Blayne, Wesley and Daniel's showmance, and dressing Heidi Klum.
Q: Who are your early favorites?
A: No one really stands out so much ahead of the rest as the real talented one -- the way Rami or Christian stood out last season. I liked Korto's first yellow tablecloth and tomato and lettuce dress/gown and I will keep my eye out for her. Just from that one challenge, her design aesthetic seemed to be more sophisticated than the rest; more mature. I also like what Kenley has done, especially in the second challenge. It was the most elegant dress on the runway. It might be all girls this season for the NY Fashion Week Finale, who knows?
Q: What were your initial thoughts of Blayne when you met him at casting, and after watching him on TV?
A: He had great energy; he woke us up. He was very excited to talk about himself and the fashions he designed. I remember his designs being colorful Southern California surf chic meets Urban Outfitters. And he was the ideal person to be describing it. He didn't come off as annoying as he comes off onscreen. If he had said "Girlicious," "Holla at ya Boy" and all that other stuff while in the casting, Tim and I would have sent him back to Washington on the next flight!
Q. How do you feel about
Project Runway
moving to Lifetime?
A: First of all, someone told me not to long ago that "Change Is Good," and I believe that for my beloved show, Project Runway. I was surprised at first. Sometimes these things happen, when shows become popular and "big," its creators must go where the money is. The move will be very good for Lifetime, especially, since up to now, that network is really only known for showing Golden Girls and Army Wives. I heard that the president of Lifetime is a big fan of Project Runway and therefore I have full confidence that the integrity of the show will not be sacrificed.
Q: How are the other PR alumni doing? How's Andrae? Who do you keep in touch with?
A: I do keep in touch with a lot of the Project Runway alumni. Andrae teaches at the same design school I do (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM), but our schedules never coincide so I do not get to see him. But just last week, Jay McCarroll (Season One Winner) was in L.A. to premiere his Eleven Minutes documentary and I met up with Kara Saun (Season One), Raymundo Balthazar (Season Two) and Jay. Raymundo, is in fact, one of my best friends. Love him! I also hang out with John Wade (Season Two); he works for Marc Jacobs and manages all the West Coast stores. I invite him over to my pool a lot! I am lucky to say that I also speak to
Chloe Dao
(Season Two Winner) all the time and consider her a very dear and good friend.
Q: I heard Santino is doing a new reality show. Thoughts?
A: I saw that too! Something about "Reality Show people have a chance to get their own show." I was surprised that he actually was doing this.
Q: Any other behind-the-scenes dish on the new designers?
Well, darling, I got lots! No, just kidding. You know, basically the "dish" I know has already been leaked into the web/bloggersphere world, so now it is not a secret anymore. I had heard that two of the designers were getting it on while filming---Wesley and Daniel, and now that's out. I was really crazy-shocked to hear that. Especially since (at least with my contract), we were not allowed under any circumstances to do anything like that with any of the other contestants. Maybe they changed the contract for this season. I also heard that there is one designer that almost everyone dislikes. I will not name names, unfortunately.
Q: What are you up to lately?
A: This summer has been a very busy one for me and my company, NIKOLAKI. I am continuing to teach at FIDM in the Advanced Fashion Design Program, where I help 11 students get to create their first collections. I have also been traveling to various cities to host events, make special appearances and/or lecture about fashion. I just co-hosted a TV Guide Network show The Fashion Team for the third time and loved doing it. On the design front, the beautiful Heidi Klum just wore one of my dresses on the Conan O'Brien show to promote the new season of Project Runway and she is in the current Life & Style magazine wearing the dress. And I am working on my Spring 2009 Collection which, along with my partner David Paul, will debut at the first ever Islands of The World Fashion Week this November in the Bahamas (yes, I am going to the Bahamas!!!).
For more on Nick:
www.nikolakidesign.com
www.uber.com/nickverreos
http://www.islandsfashionweek.com
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