Miss Universes Brook Lee and Justine Pasek at NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show at Style Week Orange County...and more!!!

Crowning Couture...

Muses and Designers: Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2001, Nick Verreos, Rita Verreos, David Paul and Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997, Style Week OC, NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Fashion Show

As promised...I have more photos from our fabulous debut NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show at Style Week Orange County. In the previous post, I highlighted photos from the collection. Now, it's all about my special guests and some "Backstage Photos" including close-ups of the Make-Up and Hair plus trying to capture the madness of it all....

Our Hawaiian Beauty: NIKOLAKI Designers David Paul and Nick Verroes share the runway stage with Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997 in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Silk Zibeline strapless cocktail dress

David Paul (my NIKOLAKI Co-Designer and partner-in-crime) and I were ECSTATIC when we found out that two of the most GORGEOUS women in the Universe were attending our show: Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997 (and the last Miss USA to get that crown kiddies!) and just-as-beautiful from Panama, Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002. Brook wore one of our NIKOLAKI silk Zibeline pleated cascade cocktail dresses just for the occasion.

Sister Love: David Paul and Nick Verreos pose with Rita Verreos--in NIKOLAKI black & white printed plunging neckline dress, Style Week Orange County NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show

My mother is originally from Panama so she was SO excited to meet the gorgeous Justine Pasek. I was more than happy to see them--as well as my mom, and my sister, Rita Verreos and my niece Casia, who all flew from San Antonio Texas just for our show! Also, it was great to see David's entire family who drive up from San Diego just for the show. Speaking of beauty queens, my sister was a former Miss Venezuela 1988 Contestant and a contestant on Survivor: Fiji. Yep, she can eat bugs AND can do that "pageant pose"...

Backstage DISH:

Our exciting NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Fashion Show, as you may know, took place at the Irvine Spectrum Center, with the gorgeous Ferris Wheel as a backdrop (above). And like with every fashion show, the real exciting stuff is all backstage!

Model Holly Ridings showing the make-up for NIKOLAKI Spring 2011

We asked the Make-Up Artists to give DRAMA: Strong eyes, light pink lips; very Robert Palmer Girls thank you very much. After seen some of our models, I even went back to the make-up artists and asked for MORE!!!

We wanted the hair to be slicked-back, side-parted chignons: The best hairstyle to show off our gowns and sexy cocktail dresses. Again, one of my favorite models, Holly Ridings (above) shows off that perfect chignon. Even with all the craziness backstage, I somehow got some of our fabulous models to stop, pose and take a photo! I made sure their dresses were ON, before I captured these photos:

Backstage Divas: Models Lauren Gish and Carla Salomao in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011, Style Week Orange County

Hands On The Hips: Model Mercedes Cornet strikes a pose in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011, Style Week Orange County

Triple NIKOLAKI Threat: Models Eugena Washington, Saleisha Stowers and Lauren Gish, backstage, in NIKOLAKI Spring 2011, Style Week Orange County

I made sure the zippers were zipped, the hang-tape was hidden and that the dresses were on correctly. Thank Goodness David was back there with me. Without him and his fastidious Eagle-Eye, some of our gowns would have been on backwards (dressers can only do so much, bless their hearts!)

Zip It Up: David Paul zips up model Zdenka, backstage NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Fashion Show, Style Week Orange County

It all turned out great and we were very happy with the results. And the models loved our gowns and dresses and felt like FABULOUS Goddesses in them. Right Before they went out onto the runway, I gave them one advice: Be Beautiful!!! OK , I told them more...

Le Mariage: NIKOLAKI Designers David Paul and Nick Verreos pose with their final look, Sarah Deanna in the final NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Wedding Gown

I also said: "You Are Gorgeous!", "Work It!", and "Go out there and make EVERY woman jealous and EVERY man want you!". Yep, that's about it. They smiled and went on their runway merry way....

Click Below for a quick video of the beginning of our NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Runway Show:

Nick Verreos Is Coming To Minneapolis Minnesota for Macy's, Saturday Oct. 9Th!!

Well this Friday, I get on another airplane and head to Minneapolis, Minnesota! I'm hosting my Macy's Fashion Challenge Event Saturday October 9Th at the Macy's Southdale Center, in the suburb of Edina about 11 miles from Minneapolis I've been told. Details on what I'll be doing are above on the "Invite".

I'm very excited because this will be my first time in the state of Minnesota. The clients have warned me to bring a coat because it might be cold--I did my research and the "weatherman" says that on Saturday, it will be a high of 69 and a low of 54. Not too cold. Very San Francisco-esque. I'll take that!

I was going to bring my FABULOUS Marc Jacobs Collection parka with fur hood but...I have a feeling A) That might be to heavy for 60 Degree weather and B) The stares from the Minneapolis Airport Security might get me a "Full Body Scan"...

See you in Minneapolis!

CLICK HERE for the article about my Minneapolis Macy's Event visit and a mini-interview I did for Sara Glassman of the Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Star Tribune

The Details of my Macy's Event:
*What: Macy's Fashion Challenge Hosted by Nick Verreos
*Where: Macy's Southdale Center, Edina Minnesota; First Floor Impulse Department
*When: Saturday October 9Th, 2PM
*RSVP: Nope, just come!

Makeup Crush: Kelly Brook

As well as my new regular Style Crush of the week, I also wanted to start up a Makeup Crush post to show where I draw inspiration from.  I always find these kind of posts fun and sometimes they can encourage you to try something you wouldn't normally consider.  Over the time I have been blogging, I've started trying lots of makeup looks that I never thought would suit me...but sometimes you get a surprise and realise that it actually looks good.  I love seeing how celebs achieve their makeup looks and possibly find out what products they used.  I will try my best to find out what products were used in the looks I post but obviously it's not always possible to find out.  I personally avoid those 'promotional' pages in magazines where they only push one brand...diversity is the spice of life and I use both high end and drugstore/pharmacy products in my daily routine. 

Today's makeup crush is Kelly Brook who is sporting an almost Kim Kardashian combo of soft smokey eye and nude lip.  Now I know that not everyone is fond of the nude lip but I personally love it and I think Kelly looks amazing in this picture.  Granted there will have been some airbrushing as that's to be expected nowadays but let's just put that aside and concentrate on the makeup.

This look was created by Troy Jensen who's clients include Kim Kardashian, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Megan Fox and Nicole Scherzinger.  On his site he seems to punt one brand for each celeb look he does...not sure if that's to do with sponsorship or what but I'm sure there would be cheaper dupes you could use. 

In this particular look, he said he used Guerlain products so for the record, here's a rundown...

Guerlain Parure Aqua Foundation

Guerlain Glow Enhancing Perfector

Guerlain Tailor Made Bronzing Powder (Brunettes)

Guerlain Illuminating Perfecting Pressed Powder (Rose Frais)

Guerlain Mono Eyeshadows in L'Instant Nuit & L'Instant Prucieux

Guerlain Eyeliner and Eyeshadow in Smokey Metal

Guerlain Loose Powder in Noir

Guerlain Eyebrow Pencil in Brun

Guerlain Eye Pencil in Khol Me Black

Guerlain Two Brush Mascara in Noir 2 Noir

Sephora Collection Lashes

Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact in Gardenia

Guerlain Moisturising Sun Shimmer Gloss in Sable

Take that with a pinch of salt if you will because I'm never that convinced when makeup artists claim to use products all from the same brand.  But if there's something you see in the pic that you like, then maybe it will give you an idea of what to look at next time you pass the Guerlain counter.

I reckon you could use the Sleek Smokey Eye Palette to create the look above.  Urban Decay's 24/7 pencil in Zero would be great as soft definition for the eyes, with Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner in Black close to the lashes.  You could use one of the brown toned Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows as a base to stop the eyes from looking too dark.  For the flawless skin, I think my current foundation would be perfect (Estee Lauder Double Wear).  He hasn't used any blush on this look, he just used a quad bronzer, utilising the darker shades as contour shades.  Any highlighter such as the one you get in Sleek's Contour palette would suffice, or Dior's Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond would look amazing.  I think my favourite nude lipstick Estee Lauder Pure Colour lipstick in Vanilla Truffle would be perfect for this look with some Mac Cremesheen in Boy Bait on top.

This may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think Kelly looks stunning in this picture.  She normally rocks a retro red lip when she does red carpet appearances and that looks amazing on her too.  There's something very sultry and sexy about a subtely smokey eye and the secret is all in the blending to make sure there aren't any harsh lines.  Often you will find that layering the colours is the key to creating a really blended, effective eye.

On another note, how AMAZING was Natalie Imbruglia's makeup on the 'judge's house' episodes of the X Factor at the weekend?! I tried to find pictures of that look but they were all too blurry.  I heart that makeup though! She looked incredible!

Who is your makeup crush at the moment?

Hola Guapas

Well, as you can probably tell from my recent flurry of posts I am back from Holidays, so look out for some sunny snappy snaps coming your way soon ;) xxx

the red head..

Gone are the days of teesing the dorky red head and telling jokes about ranga's and ginger ninja's as the red hair colour is hitting the fashion scene more than ever in 2010... This trend, whilst hard to pull off, adds depth, dimension and dare to any look. It's uniqueness is utterly eyecatching.

Model Maryna Linchuk at Christian Dior 2011

Rise Fashion

I was flicking through the latest copy of Look magazine and I noticed a new clothes brand/website called Rise. 

I have never heard of or seen this brand before so I was intrigued to see what they had to offer.  Beverly Knight is the face of the brand and apparently they supplied many high street stores until they decided to start up a brand all of their own.  Alot of the dresses look very similar to those you would find in Monsoon, French Connection, Oasis and Warehouse BUT with more affordable price tags. 

The sizes range from 8-16 and the good news is that they ship worldwide.  There's also an Outlet Store on the website where alot of the stock is sold at a reduced price.

They have alot of lovely dresses however they really need to expand their range of tops, skirts, accessories lines etc.  Most of the styles are right up my street...embellished and glam! These are a few of my favourite items on the website...

Ursula Grey Dress Price £35

I will definitely be picking up a couple of items from this site soon and I will do a post on that to let you know what the quality/service is like.

Have you bought anything from this website? What were your thoughts?

I just thought I would also give you a quick update on what's happening with my dad.  Me, my mum and my older brother were all at the hospital yesterday while dad got the stent procedure done.  They found out that the artery at the back of his heart was completely blocked so they had to clear that and insert two stents.  It all went really well and dad was fine when he got out.  They said that if all is fine today then they will let him go home.  I know he can't wait to get out of there and experience some home comforts again.  I am feeling a bit exhausted today to be honest, I think all the stress just caught up with me in one go.  I was on autopilot before but now I feel a bit rundown.  Nothing some rest and relaxation won't fix though! Thanks again for all your good wishes over the past couple of days.