Oscar.com Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress-Episode 4!

Ready Designers? Ready Models? It's time to hit The Oscars Red Carpet! Epidose 4 of Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress

Nick Behind The Scenes:

Models Getting Ready: Nick Verreos interviews models as they get ready for their "close-up"

We are almost down to the wire--the Oscars Red Carpet wire, that is. Gowns have been designed, the designers have been chosen, they have picked their models and subsequently had their fittings, and Oscars Day is (almost) upon us...

Make-Up Chairs: A view from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Theater stage

First, the Designers and their gowns were "debuted" to the international press at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Everyone was there, from Entertainment Tonight to E! News and anybody in between with an interest in seeing who the Designers were that were hand-picked to take up the task of designing a gown for the Oscars Escort/Trophy Model.
Model Pose: Nick Verreos poses with model Gerren Taylor before she puts on her gown

I was allowed exclusive access backstage as the models were getting ready and filmed it all for Oscar.com and you will finally get to see it here in the fourth installment of the Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress. First, I met the hand-picked models as they were getting their hair and make-up done.
Glamour Board: Make-Up and Hair Story Board for Oscars Designer Challenge

The theme was "1950's Glamour, Rita Hayworth meets Eva Gardner". No one would have realized it was 9 AM when the fabulous Dior make-up artists and hair experts transformed the models as if they were going to the Oscars--at 8 PM!!
Michelle Obama at the Oscars: Chicago Designer Maria Pinto with her model, Gerren Taylor

Then, the models were whisked into their gowns and diamonds and off for the big press reveal!
Watch the exclusive interviews with all the designers, including Michelle Obama's favorite designer, Chicago native Maria Pinto, as well as establised NY designer Robert Rodriguez, LA-based designer Alan Del Rosario, Chicago-based designer Sam Kori George and NY theater-costume designer Nicolas Putvinski, among others.
Designer Alan Del Rosario with his model, about to make their "debut"

Designer Sam Kori George with his beautiful model, Lauren Gish, posing before their "red carpet" press moment

Good Luck to all of them! Tune in tomorrow Sunday to the Oscars Live, when the winning "team" is announced!

Oscar.com Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress-Episode 2!

Click Above to watch Episode Two of the Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress from the official Academy Award Website, Oscar.com. Now, that the designers have been chosen, it's time for the Model Castings. Watch as we go behind the scenes (like a "Nick" fly on the wall!) and see Patty Fox, Fashion Coordinator for the Academy Awards, as well as the producers of the live telecast, choose which 7 models will go on to compete for the Oscar Designer (and Escort) Challenge.

Mercedes in Vintage NIKOLAKI

I was so excited to find out that two of the 7 models that were chosen have modeled for me and my collection, NIKOLAKI, at various fashion shows, including Smashbox Los Angeles Fashion Week. The first one is the gorgeous Mercedes, whom I have known for AGES!! In fact, she was one of my first 'muses" when I began my line back in 2003. She modeled in my very first LA Fashion Week show and it's always like "good ol' times" when we see each other! She is, as they say "good people".Fanning the Model Flame: Oscar Model Hopeful Gerren

And the other girl is a fabulous model named Gerren Taylor. Gerren modeled for me years ago for another fashion show I did where I showed my collection. I remember it vividly because she was THIRTEEN YEARS OLD, had braces, but was over 6 feet tall, and walked like a gazelle! The agency had sent her because she was a "new Face" and I immediately said to myself (and to her and her over 6 foot tall Mommie!) that she was going to go far! Of course, soon after that, she left LA and went on to model all over the world: At Paris , Milan and New York Fashion Weeks!
Good luck to all the Models ...ooops , I mean Oscar Escort Hopefuls.