Back From Maui!!

Aloha~~

Mahalo~~

........... Ah, definitely will go back again ......

The panoramic view from the hotel room.

The whale watching~~

The sunset!!


The Hawaii Hula cake at Kimo restaurant!!


The Luau show at Westin Hotel. 

The pupus (appetizer) served during the show.... :P

Dinner at Banyan tree restaurant when staying at Ritz Carlton.

The clear sky after rain!


An evening walking on Front st. after Yoga and Pilate reformer!!

Go bare!! (almost) :P 

Finally, packed light of ME!! 
(yes, I am very surprised that I didn't dress up at all in Maui!!!! ^O^)....ok, only a little bit. Just because I brought my YSL tribute heels!!!

..... Memory stays....... 

Thanks to fellow blogger/friends for such wonderful advices so I can make this family trip a wonderful experience!!

Love you all!!~~~

Ah~~ It is great to be back HOME!!

See you tomorrow!! xoxo Rachel

FIDM Debut 2010 Fashion Gala Show on TV next Saturday!

The Biggest Night of LA Fashion...Next Saturday Night on TV!!!Last month--as you may know from reading my lovely little blog--was the fabulous FIDM Debut 2010 Fashion Show Gala. Well, kiddies, in case you didn't get a chance to see it LIVE at the Santa Monica Barker Hanger last month, you have a chance to see it on TV next Saturday night, April 24Th! It will air on local LA TV station, KLCS, Channel 58, 9PM (but of course, check your local listings, on my TV, it's Channel 3/KLCS).Fashion Angels: Nick Verreos and his models in Nikolaki Collection dress and gowns, Debut 2010

In the show, I make a special appearance, giving a "sneak peak" at my next Nikolaki Collection! The Debut 2010 Show also features the collections of the ten top Advanced Fashion Design graduates from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (whom I mentored and instructed) as well as the designs from the Advanced Theater Costume Design grads whose theme this year was "Judy and Liza" (Hellooooo!!!). Gingham Explosion: Design for Judy Garland and "The Wizard of Oz", FIDM Debut 2010

There was also the GUESS Design Challenge, where the ten fashion design students were asked to design looks for GUESS and co-founder and co-chairman, Maurice Marciano, was on hand to announce the winner! Color of the Season: Yellow blouse, with black zig-zag skirt, FIDM Debut 2010

Again, the show will air THIS Saturday, April 24Th at 9 PM on Los Angeles local TV, KLCS, Channel 58. Check your local cable listings but if you live in the LA area, be sure to get some popcorn, and check it out!

Nick Verreos Hosts "The Style List" Next Thursday, April 29Th at Macy's Beverly Center

The Style List: One Man and His Four Fashion "Angels" Yes kids, I am SO EXCITED to be announcing that I will be hosting the upcoming fashion event "The Style List" at Macy's in The Beverly Center Los Angeles this coming Thursday April 29. As you may know, last month I toured the country hosting a slew of very successful events entitled "The Fashion Director/Macy's Fashion Challenge" and now they've invited me to host this great event in my "hometown"! Join me--your "Hostess With the Fashion Mostest" (did I just really say that?) and a QUADRUPLE Fashionista All-Girl Block of designers and Industry Insiders...including one of my favorite LA-based designers (the "Queen of Jersey") Rachel Pally. Fun Fact: I interviewed her a couple of years ago for her LA Fashion Week fashion show in a great Art Deco Downtown LA Penthouse!The always-chic Laurie Pike, Style Editor of Los Angeles Magazine. Fun Fact: Laurie attended--and sat Front Row--at my very first LA Fashion week back in 2003!Daniella Clarke, designer for the premium denim line Frankie B. and...Designer Corey Lynn Calter, who is known for her pretty and quirky sportswear and very comfortable printed dresses (every "It" girl from Newport Beach to The Hamptons has at least TWO in their closets!).

Here are the Details:
WHEN: Thursday, April 29
6:30pm Sips and Apps
7:15pm Fashion Show & Shopping Party

WHERE: Macy's Beverly Center
2nd Floor, Impulse Department

RSVP by Tuesday, April 27 to events@lamag.com

Nick Verreos to Host RockStar Haute Couture 2010 Next Week!!!

Architecture, Interior Design and Fashion ROCKSTAR!!!I am SO EXCITED to announce that next Wednesday, I will be hosting Rock Star Haute Couture 2010, a rock-music inspired showdown where music fashion and media collide. Orange County's interior design and architectural firms, independent designers and students compete in a runway showdown using materials and finishes typically used in interiors donated by textile and furniture manufacturers.

The Haute Couture designs will be "inspired" by a rock music category. This 10Th Annual show will benefit IIDA Southern California Chapter Student Scholarships and Working Wardrobes, a non-profit organization that empowers men, women and young adults in crises to confidently enter the workforce with career development and wardrobe services.
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM, the school of which I am the Spokesperson and an Instructor (of course, you guys know that!) has invited me to host this fabulous event! FIDM is known for being an outstanding Fashion Design college, but they also has a great Interior Design Major as well. In fact, during the infamous FIDM Debut Fashion Shows, there is a special segment: Chairing Styles--a collaboration between the Fashion Design, Textile Design and Interior Design students where ensembles and matching chairs are created--It has become a MAJOR highlight of the show (see photo above).
I arrive back from my MSN "Victory Project" filming in Atlanta the SAME day of the Rock Star Fashion Show, so I will get in my "Nick Fashion Mobile" from LAX and rush right over to host this amazing and rockin' event! I can't wait to see what the designers will come up with. Hope to see you there!

Here are the details:
When: Wednesday, April 21 2010
Where: Sutra Lounge
Triangle Square 1870 Harbor Blvd.
2nd Floor
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
*Tickets sales online is CLOSED BUT...you can get them at the door for only $35 !!!
*Make sure to TWEET about the event! Go HERE!

I Love Retro Glamour!

I don't know about you but I often watch old black and white films in awe. Those women were just so incredibly glamourous and sophisticated! Now I know that it wasn't effortless and they probably worked on their looks till the cows came home but they just make it look so easy! I love the look of the 40's bombshells...fuller, natural looking brows, slightly overdrawn ruby red lipstick, the pin curl look and pale skin. Everything was just so feminine and the clothes really celebrated a woman's curvaceous figure to the max. Here are some of my favourite actresses of that era...Whenever they do 1940's/50's specials on the Biography channel, I always find myself watching them because Hollywood just isn't the same anymore and that golden era has long gone. The look of that era was perfectly polished and flawless and I guess, being a perfectionist myself, that's what appeals to me. The colours worn in the 40's were fairly basic but they worked on pretty much everyone. I recently found out that a classic trick that Hollywood directors used to get that glowy, soft focus look to the film stars on screen was to smear a very thin layer of vaseline on the camera lens!

The 50's introduced actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, the makeup looks were similar but the hairstyles were slightly more relaxed. I'm always amazed when I hear about all the makeup tricks that Marilyn used to sculpt her face for the silver screen. Even if you would never wear this kind of look, I still think this video by Kandee The Makeup Artist is amazing and she really captures Marilyn's look. Kandee goes through the ways that Marilyn used to contour her nose to change it's shape and I think it's fascinating! I am still trying to perfect this eye look (red lipstick doesn't suit me so I just try to copy the eye makeup because I think it's really beautiful).

I would love for my makeup artist to do something similar to this on my eyes for my wedding day. It's just such a classic look, it never dates and it always looks stunning. I have my trial with her in June so I will take lots of pictures so you guys can see how that turns out!

I'm actually off to the wedding venue in Loch Lomond tomorrow to try out different decoration ideas so I'm really excited about that! I will be taking lots of photos so I will try and post them in the next few days.

Keeping with the vintage theme of this post, I got my hair comb for my wedding day from a really great website http://www.the-little-things-in-life.co.uk/. They are based in the UK and do vintage-style wedding jewellery and tiaras so if you are looking for anything like that for your big day...check it out. The prices are amazingly reasonable compared to wedding shops where the prices can be astronomical! Even if you're not getting married and you love vintage jewellery, you might find something there that you like, they have loads of cute things. I especially love their really girly Jewellery Stands:

I was recently informed by one of my lovely friends, Fiona, that there is now a shop called The Closet on Jopp's Lane in Aberdeen that sells and hires out vintage clothing and accessories! I need to rush down there asap because I would love to pick up some accessories to add some retro touches to my outfits. Everything in the shop is hand picked so they don't buy things in bulk and they sometimes hold open nights so you and your friends can have a look around whilst sipping on some yummy cocktails. I would love to own some bonafide vintage items!
So which era inspires you the most? Are you a fan of vintage clothing and accessories?