Nick Verreos Hosts Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 Bahamas Day 2: In Search of The Next Oscar, Indashio, Oliver Tolentino!!

Welcome To The Bahamas Club!

Turquoise Hosting: Nick Verreos poses at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 Red Carpet

Darlings: We're now onto Night Two--or "Runway 2"--of The Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010. This was the night I was to host the "In Search of The Next Oscar" Fashion Design Competition. After the previous evening's great start, with the NextGen Designers and Eco-Fashion Designs Presentations, I didn't know how IOTFW would be able to "bring it", but they sure did! They OUTDID themselves!!!

My day began, as I pulled the curtains in my hotel room and witnessed one of the two BIGGEST Cruise Ships known to man: The Royal Caribbean Allure of The Seas. The one with Central Park in the middle (along with REAL birds in it!), a skating rink and like 25 floors! Yep, THAT ONE! (see above photo). It was just arriving into Nassau as I was trying to make my morning coffee! They need to have a fabulous Project Runway-esque show up in there--and hire me to host it! Just sayin'...

Well, now onto the Second fashiontastic night of Islands of The World Fashion Week:

Caribbean Cocktail Hour: Tomas Frenes, Nick Verreos, Beverly Taylor, Oliver Tolentino, Owen Bethel and Louis Sarmiento, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

The night began with a VIP Cocktail Hour where attending fashion designers, editors, and fashionistas alike got to mingle and discuss the wonderful Bahamian weather, hospitality, and yes, the fabulous fashion! I opened the night's festivities with my "DIVA" (I have to put it in quotes thank you very much!) runway walk "blessing" and then we were off, starting with the "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Presentation.

Violet Sequins: A Design by Georgina Esther Dominican Republic, Finalist "In Search of the Next Oscar" Design Competition

This Contest was created to find the next great Island Designer and was coined after Dominican Republic-born Oscar de la Renta. The Finalists were Georgina Esther from the Dominican Republic, who showed cocktail and evening wear, and Raynelis Howell from the Turks & Caicos, who showed sportswear separates as well as cocktail ensembles:

Models showing the designs of Raynelis Howell, Finalist "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Competition

Both had their own unique point of view and the judges--Simon Collins Dean of Fashion Parsons The New School of Design, Louis Sarmiento, Senior Director for IMG Fashion, and Fashion Designer Jay McCarroll, had their work cut out for them (Thank goodness I was just hosting!).

Nina Michael Heidi...What Do You Think: Nick Verreos hosts "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Competition Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

I brought both Georgina and Raynelis out--with their model muses--for a Q&A session--a la Project Runway--with the judges, which turned out to be a big hit with the audience--maybe not so much with the finalists who were a bit , shall we say, nervous. The announcement of the Winner would actually happen on Day Three so stay tuned...

Red Bull Barbie: Indashio takes his Finale Walk, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Another highlight of the evening were the Runway Shows of Guest Designers Indashio and Oliver Tolentino. Indashio--whom you might remember winning VH1 Glam God Reality TV Show, is a stylist/designer out of NYC. Miss THANG pushes buttons. And huney, he sure did in The Bahamas. For his final walk, he danced his way--holding a Red Bull--in full DRAG bubblegum pink feathered dress, wig and make-up! The Crowd went CRAZY!

Strike A Pose: A look from Indashio modeled by Miss Bahamas 2010 (and Top 20 Finalist at Miss World 2010) Braneka Bassett, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 (photo courtesy of Adrian Richards)

As for his collection, it was very colorful, Club-Kid cool, and just the right side of H&M-meets-TopShop; lots of sexy neon-colored mini dresses, printed one-shoulder Resort-wear for that stylish girl arriving on to the Bahamas via the Royal Caribbean Allure of The Seas.

Six-Pack Sailor: A look from Indashio, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

And he didn't forget the boys: They were either wearing a THONG swimsuit or sexy low-slung colorful pants. Next up was Philippine-born Los Angeles-based fashion designer Oliver Tolentino. He was the complete opposite of Indashio--in terms of his Ladies-Who-Lunch...and Black-tie Gala Collection.

Fashion Designer Oliver Tolentino and his Muse, model Tutay Maristela, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Oliver has dressed former Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos, and was also a Finalist in the Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress Competition at this year's Academy Awards. His Collection was elegant, showed lots of intricate draping, bows and ties, and used fabrications such as pineapple and abaca fibers.

He even flew in his muse, Filipina model Tutay Maristela, who STOMPED the runway OVERTIME in his gowns. Take a look at that pose above which she did at the end of the runway: WOOOORK!!!!!!

Matchy-Matchy: Host Nick Verreos and model Tutay Maristela (wearing Oliver Tolentino) at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

It was a wonderful ending to a fantastic second night at the Islands of The World Fashion Week here in The Bahamas.
Stay Tuned for "Runway 3" or Day Three---darlings, there's even more from my fun time in The Bahamas to come!

Click below for the Finale of Indashio's Show:

Click below to watch me host "In Search Of The Next Oscar" Design Competition:

Nick Verreos Figure Skating Fashion Blog UniversalSports.com: Skate America!

Figure Skating Grand Prix Compare & Contrast...The Costumes

My Ponytail is Kissing the Ice: Canadians Crone and Poirer at Skate America this past weekend

The Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues and now, we're in the good ol' US of A for Skate America. This past weekend--while I was in The Bahamas taking in the fashion at Island of The World Fashion Week 2010, there was lots of skating happening in Portland Oregon--home of well, the newest Winner of Project Runway, the much-maligned Gretchen Jones. I wonder if she went. Doubt it. Too much color and sequins for her taste.

But I digress...At the start of this season's Grand Prix series several of the skaters either re-hashed old costumes or started out with costumes that just weren't quite right. Now that we are in the third Grand Prix city, some have decided to debut their new costumes or completely change their original concept--to good results and well, some to not so good. If you've been following my blog, I'm writing a fun "My Two Cents" fashion blog, giving my commentary on this season's costumes for UniversalSports.com.

Let's take a look at Skate America:

Stylish Ice Dancers David and White, USA

Vogue Magazine, the Figure Skating Issue: I absolutely LOVED Davis and White’s new costumes! They clearly decided they needed something more modern and while that often can translate to boring, these costumes were anything but. The asymmetry in the skirt is perfection and added just the right amount of drama to the simplicity of the top portion. Take note ladies: This is all you need; some beautiful beading and clean, modern lines. It was photo-editorial perfect and on-the-ice perfect.

Figure Skater Kanako Murakami, Japan

Victor (Mask of Zorro) Victoria: I have no idea why Murakami would change from the original half red/half black costume to this new half lavender/half black costume. They are both equally BAD. On a positive note, the plunging neckline works better on her and I must say that it definitely works better in movement than seen here in photographs. But somehow, it still looks like a cheap “Victor/Victoria” remake as opposed to “The Mask of Zorro”.

Figure Skater Rachael Flatt, USA

Grown Up Sequins: At first glance, I thought “why did she even bother switching costumes?” but then I looked closer. Rachael is all about the details and boy does this costume have details: The plunging neckline and DEEP back are perfection for her petite frame and the soft fluttery short on the sides, long in the front skirt was pure genius to make Rachael’s legs look as long as possible. The color is 2 shades lighter than the original which was a great choice and the beading is 1^st rate. Kudos Rachael! Looks like someone’s growing up! And this Design “poppa” is proud.

Now here's a Figure Skating Fashion Tease: Find out what I thought about German Pairs Skaters Savchenko and Szolkowy get-ups (hers mainly!) by clicking HERE!!!!

FOTD and Lip Combo

When my complexion is not looking its best after a few too many late nights I like to perk it up a little with an injection of colour on the lips and cheeks, while keeping the eyes neutral and effortless. Since I have been feeling very tired all week I have absolutely loved this lip combination as it's so quick to do in the mornings and really brightens the face.

 For this look I used:

Mix of Make Up For Ever HD and Dior Forever foundation

Bobbi Brown Creamy concealer (for the big carrier bags under my eyes lol)

MAC MSF Natural

MAC peachy keen blush

NARS laguna Bronzer

MAC all that glitters e/s all over the lid

L'Oreal Carbon gloss liquid liner

L'ancome Hypnose mascara

For the lips I used MAC Viva Glam Gaga topped with Revlon's lip gloss in Coral Reef (170). I love mixing the light bubblegum pink of MAC's Gaga with the vibrant peach of Coral Reef to create a perfect peachy pink that is vibrant enough to lift the face, but still natural enough to be appropriate for work.

What are your favourite lip combos at the moment? I am keen to use my ever growing stash of lipsticks and glosses to create new, unique colours so I would love to hear your recommendations! xxx

Secret Sales Discount

Just a quickie as I'm not too speedy at typing on my phone... Secretsales.com are offering an extra 25% off all orders today across their site.

All you have to do is enter the voucher code TWENTY5 at checkout to receive your discount.

I just purchased some beautiful scented candles at almost a third of their retail price so I highly recommend u check it out :). Xxx

Candy Covers from Les Tai Tai

Les Tai Tai, the creators of the Model Mirror, have recently launched their new line of products - Candy Covers and Deco Deluxe to personalise and add a little 'bling' to your phone. You all know that I love a little bit of sparkle so I was more than happy to test one of these new phone covers and see if it can really survive all the stresses my phone endures whilst rattling around in my bag.

My iPhone 4 has been wearing the Eden Candy Cover for just over 4 weeks and attracting many admiring, as well as curious glances in the process. I am happy to report that not only has the cover protected my phone from the multitude of drops and grazes I have subjected it to, it has also remained perfectly in tact. The adhesive used must be very strong, as even with my keys and all sorts of other sharp items doing their best to dislodge the crystals only one small black jewel has come off, as you can see in the photo below.

The covers do add some weight to your phone, but not excessively so as they are not bulky. They are also shaped well so they are easy to pop on and remove, and none of the crystals block the functioning parts such as the camera, or the buttons on the sides. The only thing I can think to criticize about this particular cover is the fact that the reflective film behind the crystals does not cover the whole back of the phone. This is only a very minor point, as I only noticed it when I took the photos above and looking at the pictures for the other covers on the website this doesn't seem to be an issue, as it only features in the Eden design.

If you fancy yourself a little more creative you can also order a Deco Deluxe set, which contains all the decorative pieces needed to fashion your own, personalised phone cover. One of my favourite sets is the Chloe Fashion Parts - vintage inspired, feminine and so very cute!

Another super girlie cover is the ready made Kala, which you can find here.

At £20 for the Candy Covers and £15 for the Deco Deluxe fashion parts these won't break the bank and would make a lovely gift. So many of my friends have been asking me where they can get similar covers so I have no doubt that these will be just as popular as the model mirrors! 

What do you think of Les Tai Tai's new Candy Covers? Are you tempted to add a little bit of bling to your phone? Which is your favourite design? xxx