Nick Verreos Attends Downtown LA Fashion Week: Emerging Designers Runway Show!

Nick KnockerWhere's Logan: Model Kojii Helnwein of Lifetime Network's Models of The Runway and Nick Verreos

Tuesday night I was invited to attend the Fashion Angel Awards Fashion Show as part of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week. There was excitement in the air at the DLAFW venue of Geffen Contenporaray/MOCA as guests gathered to see the winners of this first-ever contest, sponsored generously by the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Cultural Affairs. Downtown Red Carpet: Nick Verreos, Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week

I was one of the "esteemed" judges of this contest and therefore I wanted to show up to extend my support--and to see the fabulous fashion!Once I arrived, I spotted the gorgeous Kojii Helnwein, model from Lifetime Network's Season 6 Project Runway, and Models of the Runway as well as one of my fellow judges, party planner Vanessa Gonzalez. Studio 54 2009: Nick Verreos and Vanessa Gonzalez

Vanessa is a GAY MAN!!! Loving her and her look. Feathered platinum hair, white fur (faux?) coat and white very skinny pants. The bubblegum pink lipstick was my favorite accent to her Michelle Pfeiffer-does-Scarface look!

LA Fashionistas: Nick Verreos and friends at Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week

The three winners were Phong Hong, Fernanda Carneiro and Krys-n-Jack designers Jacquetta O'Dell and Leslie Henry. Their three collections couldn't have been more different. And I think that was our point--in terms of how we judged. Each designer showed ten looks in their mini-collections.

Phong Hong began his "Femme Noir" collection with pretty (very) mini dresses with rosette details. They were prom dresses for the young Hollywood set (trust me, it's a compliment!). Then Brazilian-born Fernanada Careniro's (a FIDM graduate) designs followed. Her sensible day dresses featured ruffle detail, great fit and wearable colors. She used silk-linen, silk crepe de chine as well as silk charmeuse as her main fabrications--and they all worked well.The ladies of Krys-N-Jack finished off this first ever Fashion Angel Awards Runway Show with their conceptual looks, entitled "The Knockers" featuring wood, leather belts, metals, including actual keys! It was Medieval-meets-Renaissance-meets-Hussein Chalayan--and that's just one outfit! I absolutely loved the titles of each ensemble: "Door Knocker", "Squire Knocker" and my favorite "Daddy Knocker". Imagine your date asking you "what are you wearing?", "Oh , it's my 'Daddy Knocker' !" Hot. Congratulations to all three winners of the first ever Fashion Angel Awards.

Nick Verreos Has Breakfast with the Mayor of Los Angeles?

Not so much...but...Fashion Podium: Mayor Villaraigosa, Max Azria of BCBG and Herve Leger, and Cynthia Ruiz of the LA Mayor's Department of Cultural Affairs

This week, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a press conference at the California Market Center in support of LA Fashion Week and the Los Angeles Fashion Industry. Barbara Graff, organizer of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week and Cynthia Ruiz from the Department of Cultural Affairs, invited me to be part of this event--and I was happy to oblige.Family Portrait: Fashion Angel Awards Judges Nick Verreos, Louis Verdad, Vanessa Gonzalez and Randolph Duke, along with other LA designers pose for the press

This event also marked the official announcement of the Fashion Angel Awards, a contest generously sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs. About a month ago, I was invited to judge this contest along with other LA fashion notables such as Nony Tochterman of Petro Zillia, Jeffrey Sebelia (winner of Season 3 Project Runway and designer of Cosa Nostra, designer Louis Verdad, former MOCA Director of Events, Vanessa Gonzalez and Randolph Duke. The Winners Are: Phong Hong, Jacquetta O'Dell and Leslie Henry, Fernanda Carneiro and their winning designs (and models)

Today marked "The Big Day" as head judge, Randolph Duke--flanked by Max Axria, the Honorable Mayor Villaraigosa, Cynthia Ruiz and Ilse Metchek, the chic director of the California Fashion Association/CFA--announced the three winning designers (four, actually, since one is a design team).Project Runway Meets LA City Diva: City of LA's "fashion ambassador" Cynthia Ruiz, with designers Raymundo Baltazar and Nick Verreos

The Winners were Phong Hong, Fernanda Carneiro (a Graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM), and design team Jacquetta O'Dell and Leslie Henry. Each will get to participate in their own fully-funded runway show on October 13th at the Geffen Contemporary MOCA as part of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week. I remember that they were my favorites during the judging. Hong's designs were flirty and oh-so-feminine and Brazilain-born Carneiro's designs were wearable but still had pretty and unique details. Petro Zillia already carries her line and Nony Tochterman, its owner, says her clients "just love" her dresses. Lock and Key: Designers Jacquetta O'Dell and Leslie Henry with their key-and-belt top and wooden door skirt

Finally, I loved O'Dell and Henry's conceptual wooden designs, they were very Hussein Chalayan and I felt it would be great to show the rest of the World that LA wasn't just about jeans and t-shirts but we also had "artiste" designers. At the press conference, I was happy to run into one of my best friends, designer Raymundo Baltazar and Alison Nieder of California Apparel News, who was there to cover the event. I also said "Hola" to former Miss International 2007, Priscila Perales, from Mexico. Las Misses: Nick Verreos, Miss International and Miss Mexico '07 Priscila Perales, and Raymundo Baltazar

Of course I will be there next Tuesday to check out the four outstanding up-and-coming LA designers who will show at the Fashion Angel Awards Fashion Show. I think Mayor Villaraigosa summed it up best during his press conference, "Our city is no longer just the fashion capital of the West Coast; LA is one of the major fashion capitals of the world". See you at LA Fashion Week!

Click HERE for more info. on all the LA Fashion Week Events at ApparelNews.net
Click HERE for the schedule of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week.

Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Fashion Angel Emerging Designers Video!!!

Angel Judges: Jeffrey Sebelia, Nony Tochterman and Nick Verreos last month judging the "Fashion Angel Awards", Downtown LA Fashion Week

On October 13Th, 5 PM at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week will have it's Fashion Angel Emerging Designers Showcase Fashion Show. I was invited--along with fellow Los Angeles designers Randolph Duke, Project Runway Season 3 Winner Jeffrey Sebelia, Petro Zillia DIVA, Nony Tochterman, to form the Emerging Designers 2009 Judging Panel. Last month, I posted about our judging day/luncheon, and here's a "sneak peak" video of what's to come--with an introduction by Randolph Duke.


Click HERE for tickets and more info.