Carrie Ann Inaba wears Nikolaki to the Grammy Awards

Architectural Carrie!
Carrie Ann Inaba in NIKOLAKI Fall 2010, hosting TV Guide Network's Grammys Red Carpet Pre-Show

Late last year, when I did my Emmys Fashion Wrap with Carrie Ann Inaba, she took me aside and said "You know what? I need to wear NIKOLAKI when I host one of my upcoming Red Carpet Shows..." We decided the Grammys would be perfect. The next time I saw her while filming the Golden Globes Fashion Wrap, I brought sketches for her and her stylist extraordinaire, my fellow Fashion Wrap Panelist, Jen Rade, to see. They loved all of them but decided they should stop by my NIKOLAKI Design Studio to take a closer look and "play dress-up". And boy did she: She tried on half a dozen gowns and dresses. But her eyes began "wandering"... She couldn't take her eyes off a muslin/toile sample that we had made for our Fall 2010 line. Couture Muslin: Nick Verreos and Carrie Ann Inaba pose with the muslin/toile of her Grammys dress

She asked "What is that??" We said that it was just a mock-up (in cotton muslin) of one of the dresses in our upcoming line. "I HAVE to try it on!" she quipped. She did and both her and Jen found their dress. Done and done. My design partner, David Paul and I took her measurements and discussed length and any other minor adjustments. Now we just had to make it--custom--in just ONE WEEK!!! The final result: A strapless cocktail dress made with black Italian Silk-and-Wool Zibeline featuring Oragami-like "petal" folds up top and cascading down the bottom.
Hand Delivery: Nick Verreos at the Staples bringing THE dress to Carrie Ann Inaba's trailer for a fitting

These last few days prior to the Awards have been crazy, making trips back-and-forth to the Staples Center--site of the Grammys--for some final fitting last touches and today both David and I were at her hotel room, getting her dressed in our NIKOLAKI dress. We think she looks amazing!
Click below for Carry Ann Inaba (in NIKOLAKI) and Chris Harrison interviewing Taylor Swift at the Grammys 2010:


Click HERE for more videos.

FOTD: Rihanna Channeling Spring

I don't think Rihanna needs any more help looking gorgeous. 

However, I love this look created by her makeup artist, Mylah Morales.

 

How to get the look.... (after the jump)

WHO: Rihanna

WHERE: 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Salute To Icons party

WHEN: January 30, 2010

WHAT: Artist Mylah Morales used the NARS Orgasm Illuminator.

Additionally, Mylah used the following NARS products to create Rihanna’s ethereal glowing look:

∗ D. Gorgeous Single Eyeshadow (NEW for Spring 2010!)
∗ Casino Bronzing Powder
∗ Barbarella Lipstick
∗ Ophelia Lipgloss (NEW for Spring 2010!)

“It’s really important to me to make Rihanna look like she’s glowing, like she just stepped off the beach,” said Mylah about Rihanna’s look. “If I don’t like an element involved in her look, I won’t talk about it but tonight was a good night. Sleek hair, sleek fashion-everything was perfect for me to create this look.”

Boots (Drugstore) Haul

I popped int Boots today to pick up a few things (I even made a list for once and managed to stick to it!). I wanted to pick up a good foundation brush coz I'm feeling experimental and since I've never applied my foundation with anything else but my fingers, I wanted to see what the difference would be. I checked out the Ruby & Millie brushes and they looked good so decided to pick up a couple... The foundation brush was about £11 and the brow/lash one was about £7.50. I have noticed recently that when my mascaras get a little bit older (couple of months), they start to clump a bit more, I guess because the formula starts to dry up. Since I'm only half way through some of them, I don't see the need to go out and buy replacements, so I got the Ruby & Millie brush that has a metal comb on one end for separating lashes after mascara application and a brush to groom your brows. I reckon they are both suitable to use on your lashes though. The double ended brush ends flip down to create a compact case for travel which is handy.

I decided to get a back up of Revlon Colourstay Foundation in True Beige...I seem to have yo-yoed between Natural Beige and True Beige. Although I realised this week that Natural Beige is just slightly too light for me. It's hard to keep up with your perfect foundation shade when you use fake tan or gradual tan moisturisers! It's a daily challenge to try and get the match right! I also picked up another Loreal Double Extension Mascara/Serum because I still really like the formula and effect it gives. I think it's a fantastic mascara for the price!

I have known about Bio Oil for years and have heard alot of people raving about it for fading stretch marks, scars etc but I've also heard that it's great for Eczema, Uneven Skintone and Psoriasis. It contains Vitamin A, E, Calendula Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil, Chamomile Oil and Purcellin Oil. It can applied to the face or body before or instead of your moisturiser if your skin is particularly dehydrated. I sometimes get small patches of Psoriasis on the back of my neck, at the end of my nose/sides of my nostrils and also sometimes just under one eye. It's not that noticeable to be honest but it annoys me. The cold weather makes it worse so I decided to check out Bio Oil and see how I get on. I also think it will be a good moisturiser to prepare my skin and improve it's condition for my wedding day. It was £19.50 for a 200ml bottle so not cheap but if it turns out to be the answer to my problems then I have no problem spending that amount on it.

As I had finished yet another tub of my beloved Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment, I wanted to pick up another one. I sauntered down the aisle and they were out of stock! How annoying. I decided to try one of the other hair masks the line had to offer and picked up one called 'Bling Hair Rehab'. It's basically a super hydrating mask containing hydrolised silk that's particularly good for coloured or hair that's seen alot of heated appliances. Since I just had my hair coloured, I thought this would be a good time to test this out. I will let you guys know if it's as good as the Hair Growth Treatment.