Nick Verreos' Malibu Barbie--Part Two--Behind The Scenes

Pink, Pink, and More Pink!!!!Chantal "Barbie" with her Escorts: Designers Nick Verreos and David Paul, pose with their Barbie creation

Of course I couldn't just write about Barbie and the FIDM Debut 2009 in just one post so here's Part Deux. I have to say that it was such a wonderful experience working with Mattel on this collaboration and then bringing it to my Advanced Fashion Design students at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and seeing what they would do with the fashion icon that is Barbie.Prom Photo 2009: Model Chantal Jones and Nick Verreos

Most of the eleven students were ready for the challenge but some of the students were hesitant, I cannot lie. Especially some of the male student designers. There was this "my design aesthetic is a hard-edge power woman in black skinny pants and black leather jackets...I'm not into designing feminine pink things..." Well, get over it. Your client is Barbie and you gotta, as Tim Gunn famously (repeat after me) said "Make it Work!" And they did.Nick Plays With Dolls: Nick Verreos poses with "Barbie of the Ascot Races", "Hamptons Barbie" and "Malibu Dream Gown Barbie"

We decided to give each student designer a month out of Barbie's busy year-long international traveling schedule and they were to design for that month--with a specific theme in mind. For example, one student got the month of June and "Barbie Goes to the Ascot Races"; another one got July and "Barbie Goes to The Hamptons" ; for August, Barbie was "Sunning In St. Tropez "; for October, Barbie was the guest of honor at the "Save Venice Masked Ball"; for the month of December, Barbie "Goes to Aspen to Ski". Where's The Queen of England: "Ascot Barbie" designed by FIDM student designer Lacey Osberg

I got the month of March and Barbie's Birthday at her Malibu Mansion, of course, which is where she would return after all her year-long travels and "special appearances". After twelve months of travel, you would think Barbie would just want to end up at fabulous Spa Retreat in Beverly Hills! Maybe next time! For her "Special Birthday" year Barbie hosted her celebration in a Nick Verreos Couture Gown!Sea and Ski: "Aspen Barbie" by Charles Ryan Sands and "Cruise Ship Barbie" by Sara Lighthall

The results were fantastic , as seen here in these photos , as well as in the runway video from the previous post (in case you didn't get to see it, click HERE). The show was so well received, some guests called it the "Best FIDM Debut 2009 they had seen in years...". Ready For Her Close-Up: Nick's Malibu Barbie seconds before her runway debut

After months and months of planing, sketching, designing, draping, pattern making, it all came to fruition in a 15 minute show! The models, well, they all became life-sized Barbies and kept up the energy, even after the two-hour long show (and trust me, after doing 2 TWO HOUR FASHION SHOWS each evening, these beauties were spent!). Heather From Season 2 Project Runway: Heather Brown (far right) and two lifesize Barbies

It was a special treat for me to see model Heather Brown--one of the models from Project Runway Season 2--who modeled in the Barbie show. She brought to life "Barbie Goes South of the Border, to San Miguel de Allende" . Dressing Gals: The AMAZING "Barbie" dressers pose with "Uncle Nick" backstage

Everyone backstage was so wonderful and accommodating. All the dressers--students from FIDM--were unbelievably helpful. The make-up artists and the hairstylists did an amazing job with all their life-sized Barbies, bringing everyone's hairstyle sketches to life. From the traditional pony-tail and bangs to my "Can you mimic the bow on my gown..but on her hair?" request, the stylists "brought it"! Nick Verreos and actress Allie Grant from "Weeds", pose on the FIDM Debut 2009 "Pink Carpet"

I was very excited to see 15 year old actress Allie Grant, from Showtime's "Weeds", who was one of my "special guests" at the "Debut Barbie Gala". And at each event, I even had my own "bodyguard"! Everywhere I went, I had a "Shadow" and his name was Rick. All the models and my students were making fun of me and found it quite amusing, to say the least.Who Am I? Whitney Houston: Nick Verreos with his bodyguard, Rick

Now, why should I need security, you may ask? Well, a couple of years ago when I told all the 3000 guests of a Debut Show that I would be "available for photos", I began posing with people and a stampede of 500 kids and their parents came charging in, pushing me to the floor, and what ensued was a minor version of "American Idol"-esque mayhem. Kids screaming and mothers shouting at me, mad because I was not taking photos with them. And I was ALONE, with no one to help me! Needless to say, the following year, I got my "bodyguard", just in case.... Every five minutes I tried to embarrass Rick by telling him I felt like Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguad". He smiled.
Nick and his Escorts: Nick Verreos poses with Barbie's male model escorts

All in all, I had a ball with all the kids this time, taking as many Facebook and MySpace photos as I could and even giving them impromptu "red carpet fashion commentary". I should have just called Lisa Rinna and set up two chairs by the entrance and began our own new "FIDM Debut/Barbie Fashion Wrap with Lisa and Nick"!

Click HERE on ShavingsFromMyHead.com for a little bit more on the show and the Debut Barbie fashions.
Click Below for a fun little video of me doing my Debut 2009 Runway Walk at the Santa Monica Barker catwalk:

Nick Verreos Debuts his Second Barbie!!!!

Nick Verreos "Hearts" Barbie!
50Th Anniversary Barbie: Nick Verreos' "Malibu Birthday Gala" Barbie Doll

Over the weekend, I had the honor and privilege of unveiling my one-of-a-kind design for Barbie at the fabulous FIDM Debut 2009 Gala in the Santa Monica Barker Hangar. Last year, a friend of mine who designs for Mattel, contacted me to discuss doing something very special for them as part of Barbie's upcoming 50Th Anniversary Celebration.

Final (Pink) Bow: Nick and his Barbie take a Bow
Photo Courtesy of Philip Cuenco

They thought it would be wonderful to partner with a fashion design school and possibly have a selected group of students design an outfit for Barbie and a one-of-a-kind doll would then be made, from the student designers' visions. As an instructor and Official Spokesperson at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM Los Angeles, they thought I would be the perfect conduit to help facilitate this, and naturally I did. Now, of course I also told them that it would not be a complete Barbie Fashion Show, unless I also designed a very special gown for Barbie as part of the celebration.
Ever since I was very young, I loved Barbie for her fabulousness and as many of you may know, during Season 2 of Project Runway, I won the "Design an Outfit for the My Scene Barbie Challenge". My winning Barbie Doll was subsequently produced and eventually sold-out at Toys 'R Us. It is now considered a "Collector's Barbie".
Nick Barbie No. 1: The Project Runway Nick Verreos My Scene Barbie--and dress

So of course, I was "tickled pink" at the thought of designing for Barbie once again. For this very special anniversary, I was to design a gown for Barbie's "Birthday Celebration", basically my vision for how Barbie would dress as she hosted her Birthday Gala at her Malibu Mansion. I was inspired by many things, including 1950's Hollywood Glamour, Haute Couture and even Japanese Anime Characters.
Tokyo Bow: Inspiration for my "Malibu Barbie Gown"

I also wanted to do a variation on the strapless gown that Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin wore at the 2008 Oscars from my NIKOLAKI Spring 2008 Collection but of course add lots of DRAMA, lots of PINK and Barbie-ize it!
Oscars Red Carpet: Actress Marlee Matlin wears NIKOLAKI gown at the 2008 Academy Awards

After I sketched the final illustration, it was handed to the genius "petite mains" at Mattel to create the doll. Even before my gown was finished, I got to see my doll, and can I just tell you: It was AMAZING!!!! (see at the beginning of the posting) It looked just like my sketch! They really can make magic happen at Mattel.

Etch-a-Sketch: My original illustration, for the doll and the actual gown
Photos Courtesy of Philip Cuenco

Now, I had to "step it up" and create a life-size gown worthy of the 12 inch doll--as well as my original illustration. The gown took over 75 hours to make (50 hours for sewing the gown plus about 25 for the hand beading) not counting my draping, fitting and pattern time. It took over 30 yards of light pink "strawberry" and "bubblegum" pink duchesse silk and rayon satin.

In the end, it was certainly a labor of Love for Barbie by everyone who had a hand in creating it. I was also honored to have had Crystallized Swarovski Elements sponsor my "Nick Verreos Barbie" and they provided all the gorgeous Swarovski crystals which envelop the back Obi-Bow detail, as seen below.

The Exit Bow: Hundreds of Swarovski crystals in degrade' style cover the back Obi-Bow
Photo Courtesy of Philip Cuenco

Since Barbie is famous for her love for crystals, sequins and stars, I wanted my gown to have this "surprise" back detail and have the crystals look as if a Star had shattered beautifully and miraculously behind Barbie--and right on her Couture Gown! My design partner David Paul, did a fantastic job of hand-beading all those crystals. The final outcome was exquisite, if don't say so myself (wait, I just did!).America's Next Top Barbie: Model Chantal Jones

And just in case you thought my life size Barbie looked a bit familiar: Well, it was none other than the stunning (and oh so sweet!) Chantal Jones, the six-foot tall runner-up from Cycle 9 of "America's Next Top Model" .

Below is great video of the Barbie Fashion Show:
Part One:

Part Two:

Central Saint Martins Graduate Show--London Fashion Week Fall '09/10

Central Saint Martins Graduate Show in London Fashion Week:
Futurist Uniformity by Wayne Fitzell

Last week, in London, the graduating students of the Masters Program of Fashion at the prestigious school of Central Saint Martins debuted their collections during London Fashion Week. Central Saint Martins is considered one of the foremost design schools in Europe if not the world. It is comprised of five schools: The School of Art, the School of Fashion and Textiles, School of Graphic and Industrial Design, Drama Centre London, and the Byam Shaw School of Art. Notable graduates include John Galliano, Sophia Kokosalaki, Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and Rifat Ozbek.
Two Dresses-In-One by Michael Van Der Ham

It is said that European design houses from Versace to Prada send their headhunters to the Central Saint Martins show to scout for the best new Design Assistants. And I am sure if someone did an informal poll of European design houses, there would probably be a lot of Saint Martins graduates.
Salmon pink cut-out shift dress with pea-green and black tights shift by Laura Mackness

This year's designers looked to the future in their designs and silhouettes and certainly pushed the edge of what is considered Fashion in the first decade of the new Millennium. There was Minimalist as well as Avant Guarde designs. There were uniforms ideal for "London: 28 Days Later", and some could be perfect for a fabulous London nightclub in 1968 or 1988, but with a definite 2009 twist.
Coiled black and grey Cocktail Dress from Derek Lawlor

It was curious to see the lack of evening wear in terms of gowns. Or at least what is deemed as "traditional evening gowns". Separates and a modern take on "sportswear" reigned supreme at this runway show of the graduating students of design.
Joan Collins Shoulders 2009: Oden Wilison royal blue satin exaggerated shouldered top, pants and matching shoes

As an Instructor of Fashion Design myself, it is wonderful to see what student designers do, especially during their time in school--I feel this is the time to experiment and be ultra-creative, as long as it looks relevant and chic. These graduating student designers definitely showed that.
Click below for an edited runway video of the Central Saint Martins Fashion Show, Fall 2009/10