0 In Memoriam: Costume Designer Nolan Miller--A Shoulder Pad GOD!

Praise to One of My First Design Gods:

Ruffles and Poufs: Joan Collins, John Forsythe and Linda Evans, "Dynasty" TV Show, Costume Designer Nolan Miller

Last Wednesday June 6th, American fashion designer and television costume designer Nolan Miller passed away, at the age of 79. Miller had been ill for a while and he finally succumbed to lung cancer. He was one of my first "Design Gods". As a young boy--who only DREAMED of being a Fashion Designer while looking at glossy Vogue magazines and shows like "Dynasty" back in the 80's (yes, I am aging myself and I do not care!), I was in awe of his designs and the world he created through his incomparable design eye.

Nolan Miller emphasized elegance, excess, glamour with a capital "G", and one word: DIVA. And yes, he was known for being the Emperor of the 80's Shoulder Pads. Of course, Miller is famous for being the Costume Designer for the TV Show "Dynasty" which aired from 1981-1989--spanning almost the entire decade. In case you may be "Fashion and Costume Design Illiterate", read on...and if you are a "Young UMS" born after 1990, studying to be a Fashion Designer and you do not know who Nolan Miller is, YOU BETTER!

Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere

 Lanvin designs by Alber Elbaz

Every other Fashion Designer worth his Croquis Salt is referencing him--whether they want to admit it or not, such as Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga and  Alber Elbaz of Lanvin (see photos above) as well as many, many others. Anyhow, here's a quick Bio on Mr. Nolan Miller:

Born in Texas, Nolan Miller studied design at the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Art Institute). He is best known for his costume design work for the long-running TV series "Dynasty" and especially for the looks that top stars Linda Evans, Joan  Collins and Diahann Carroll "featured". Miller exemplified the 80's Excess and Glamour Look.

Dynasty Divas: There were always LOTS of ruffles, lots of DRAMA, and yes, very, very STRONG SHOULDERS.

"The Colby's": Nolan Miller also designed for the "Dynasty" TV Show spinoff "The Colbys"--more shoulder pads, and more hand-beaded sequins darlings! Before he gained his "Shoulder Pad and Ruffle" TV Fame on that show as well as "Dynasty", Miller also was the Costume Designer for shows such as...

 "Charlie's Angels": Butch and Feminine Detective Chic

"The Love Boat": Hello Julie McCoy and her poly-jersey gathered off-the-shoulder "Cruise Ship" Dresses!

"Fantasy Island": Resort Glam

"Gilligan's Island": Ginger's sexy va-va-boom v-neck coral-colored sequined dress was designed by Nolan Miller

Branding and Licensing King:

Blouson Pattern: During the 80's, designer Nolan Miller also created McCall's Patterns--dresses, blouses and much more featuring those very shoulder-padded and BLOUSON'ed sleeves, nipped-in waists and over-all 80's "I-Got-Money-and-You-Don't" style--all based on "Dynasty" characters played by the ever-so-chic Joan Collins and Diahann Carroll.

Nolan Miller QVC: For 19 years, Nolan Miller was on QVC showcasing his fabulous "Nolan Miller Glamour Collection for QVC" jewelry and accessories; they were beautiful, colorful, costume-and Couture inspired and well, for 19 years, they did pretty well for him and QVC.  In 2011, he announced that he was retiring from QVC.

Nolan Miller on The Red Carpet:

Elizabeth Taylor in a Nolan Miller gown: Taylor wore it to the Golden Globes in 1985 when she received the Cecil B deMille Award for her Outstanding Contribution in the Entertainment Field. It went for $7,500 in the "Elizabeth Taylor Christie's Online Auction" last year.

Sophia Loren: Nolan Miller (left) and actress (and DIVA) Sophia Loren, wearing a Nolan Miller red gown at the 2000 Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Sketch Fab:

Illustration Fierce: Above are several Fashion Illustrations--including ones of "Dynasty" actresses and Muses Linda Evans and Joan Collins---Nolan Miller

Mr. Miller...

You will be missed. Thank you for inspiring a very young Greek-Venezuelan boy with a Dream!

0 Nick Verreos Wedding Gown sketch for Kate Middleton for Lifetime.com!!!

A Wedding Gown Fit for a (Future) Queen!

Nick Verreos/NIKOLAKI Design for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown

As part of a "promo" run-up to the Lifetime Network premiere of the much-anticipated "William & Kate: Let Love Rule" movie--based on the romance (of course!) of Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton...

I was asked, along with many, many Project Runway Alumni (over 50 so far!), to submit a sketch for "my vision" for Kate Middleton's wedding gown. After much thought--about two seconds--I said "Of Course!".

As you may know from reading my NICKVERREOS.COM Blog here, I LOVE me a Royal Wedding and I also love me a Royal or two. Reading one too many "Hola!" Magazines as a young child in Venezuela (and still to this day!!) leads to this syndrome I call "Royalty OBSESSED".

I sketched out my idea for Kate's perfect wedding gown which was: An ivory silk mikado fit-to-flare column high-neck drop-shoulder gown with hand-encrusted Swarovski crystals at the neckline, waist and hem of the gown. It featured a plunging back and a detachable train with stiffened cascaded folds for dramatic architectural effect.

My design also has a Chantilly Lace and silk tulle veil and of course, the same Spencer Crown worn by Princess Diana on her Wedding Day (above). White gloves and THAT engagement ring finish off the look.

Hope you like my fashion illustration and design vision for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown.

Click HERE to check out some of the other great designs the former Project Runway designers sketched for Kate's "Big Day".

0 Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from NIKOLAKI Nick Verreos, David Paul...and Benny!!!

HAPPY DIVA HOLIDAYS...and A FABULOUS 2011!!!Here at my lovely blog, we all wish you a very Happy Holidays and a FABULOUS and FASHIONABLE New Year! I'm off to San Antonio Texas to spend Xmas with my family but will return to Los Angeles to ring in the New Year! For 2011...

I promise there will be more NIKOLAKI Fashion...

More Red Carpet Coverage...

More Events, hosting and "surprise" appearances by moi...

More Figure Skating Fashion (of course!)...

More Euro-Royals Wearing Couture...

More Beauty Pageant Gowns, Slits and (hopefully), NO clear Lucite Stripper Heels to go with them...and more of EVERYTHING in between---

Happy New Year! xoxo Nick Verreos, David Paul...and our doggie Benny!!!

0 Nick Verreos, Lawrence Zarian and Jen Rade: TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team": The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM Episode!

TV Guide's "The Fashion Team" Goes Back To School...

Museum Chic: Jen Rade and Nick Verreos, filming the TV Guide Network "The Fashion team" TV segment, FIDM Museum & Galleries

Hello fashion darlings: Last week, I had the privilege of shooting one of my weekly "Fashion Team What's The Fashion?" segments for the TV Guide Network at my Alma Mater and the College of which I am not only an Instructor but also the Spokesperson: The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. They asked if maybe they could film an episode there, and let's just say I might have "helped" in making it happen...

As you may know, every week, Stylist and Costume Designer Jennifer Rade and I give our expert "two cents" in the week's rundown of celeb red carpet fashion--and we have our Host-with-the-Most, Lawrence Zarian keep us in check...

Three Fashion Musketeers: Lawrence Zarian, Jennifer Rade and Nick Verreos, FIDM Museum & Galleries

This time, we actually filmed at the wonderful FIDM Museum & Galleries Exhibition, Re-Designing History: FIDM Museum Study Collection 1850-2000, which runs until NEXT WEEK (December 17Th).

Disco Fever: Bob Mackie Design from the late 1970s, FIDM Museum & Galleries

The exhibition showcases the creations through the decades from designers such as Cristobal Balenciaga, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, James Galanos and Bob Mackie.

Orient Express: Yves Saint Laurent Cotton Corduroy Jacket and Wool Gabardine pants ensemble,c. 1977, FIDM Museum & Galleries

The FIDM Museum Study Collection is unique in that it is a major inspiration resource for students and research and if, for example, I wanted to pull items to show my students, THIS "Study Collection" would be fully available to me. It was at the FIDM Museum & Galleries, where Jen Rade and I filmed a little segment highlighting some of our favorite pieces from the exhibition.

Find Professor Nick: Nick Verreos (background) with students, FIDM Classroom

We also filmed at some of the fabulous FIDM classrooms. In fact, Jen, Lawrence, and I actually shot our "What's The Fashion?" segment in one of the classrooms where Project Runway Season 6 filmed in! We had actual students going about their draping, pattern making and sketching "business" in the classroom, as we commented on what the latest Hollywood A-List celebs were wearing on the red carpet.

Drawing Board: Nick Verreos Fashion Illustrations from the TV Guide Network "The Fashion Team" shoot at FIDM Campus

Speaking of Sketches...the producers asked if I could quickly do some of my fashion illustrations for "background art", for the shoot. Well, naturally, I was like "done and done"! I had such a great time shooting my TV Guide "The Fashion Team" segment at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM and I am so thankful that they were able to make it happen!!!!

Check out the latest What's The Fashion video below: