0 Nick Verreos on Project Runway Finale "After The Runway"

Tying Up Loose Ends...

Thursday night was the Finale of Project Runway Season 9. In case you might have been sleepin' --or not watching TV on Thursday night--they "crowned" a new Winner. Sorry for the lack of "Spoiler Alert" but Anya Ayoung-Chee, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, was the winner.

The former beauty pageant contestant and "Miss Trinidad and Tobago 2008" in the Miss Universe pageant beat out Joshua McKinley, Viktor Luna and Kimberly Goldson for the top spot, showing a collection of ten very "Luxe Resort" looks, from long flowing printed caftan gowns, swimsuits, and off-the-body tunic dresses. All sleeveless, mostly plunging.

Dressed To The Nines: Nick Verreos and Zanna Roberts Rassi, "Project Runway: After The Runway"

Toward the end of the season, Lifetime decided to do several "After The Runway" half-hour shows, where host Zanna Roberts Rassi of Marie Claire would moderate a post-show discussion about what had just happened in the episode. Very much like what MTV does for "Real World", "Jersey Shore". PS: I can't believe I put "Project Runway" in (almost) the same sentence as those two brain-numbing shows! I apologize.

Fashion Chattin' : Kimberly Goldson, Joshua McKinley and Nick Verreos, "Project Runway: After The Runway"

I was invited--once again--to be a "special guest" on the last "After The Runway" episode entitled "Tying Up Loose Ends". Anya, as well as the rest of the finalists were all there. I gave my Congratulations to the Winner as well as gave a couple "Nick Two Cents" on each of the Finalists' NY Fashion Week Collections. My time with them was "short & sweet" in that we had to remain separated and sequestered from each other--until we shot the segment.

Nick Verreos, "Project Runway: After The Runway"

But I have to add, that Anya was THE ONLY one who came up to me at the end of the segment and told me what a pleasure it was to have met me and something to the effect of "Thank you for being a great 'Ambassador' for Project Runway..." I was floored by how classy and professional of a move that was. All and all, I was happy to be there and to get to congratulate all of them for a job well done--

If you missed it, you can watch the entire "After The Runway" Episode 4 "Tying Up Loose Ends" with a "Special Appearance" by yours truly---CLICK HERE
on the myLifetime.com Project Runway website!

0 Project Runway Season 9 "After The Runway" TV Show--Nick Verreos "Special Appearance"

After The Show Cat-Talkin'

Group Hug: Nick Verreos and Zanna Roberts Rassi with designers from Project Runway Season 9, "After The Runway" TV Show

Last night, right after Episode 12 of Season 9 of "Project Runway", the second "After The Runway" episode aired . In case you didn't know--Lifetime Network is doing "After The Show" shows right after--yes, you guessed it--Project Runway. They are hosted by the chic and very fabulous Zanna Roberts Rassi, Senior Fashion Editor of Marie Claire. On this week's episode, I was the "Special Guest". YEAAAYYY! It was a "You're on The 'Hot Seat' with Nick" segment. I was so excited to come on and ask the questions that the viewers, fans, my BLOG Recap readers, want to ask. I was "sequestered" away form the designers so we never got to see--or speak--beforehand. Once I showed up and the segment began--they were all very sweet!

So I asked about "Accentgate"--or Olivier Green's accent. He was born in Ohio and spent only 2-3 years in the UK, yet, he sounds like Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge. So, I had to ask. I also asked about "The SISTAHS"" (the boobies).

I also welcomed Laura Kathleen (above) into the "No. 5" Club, of which I am a proud member. I was in the "Top 5" on my season--Season 2.

If you missed it, Click HERE for the entire episode! And stay tuned..I may be BACK!!!!!

0 Nick Verreos Attends Project Runway Emmy Awards After Party at Lexington Social House

Emmys Project Runway Bash...

Nick Verreos and Marie Claire Fashion Editor Zanna Roberts-Rassi, Project Runway Emmy Awards After Party, Lexington Social House Hollywood

Sunday night were the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards, as we all know. A little ol' show called "Project Runway" was nominated--once again, as it has been since it's creation!--for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. "Amazing Race" won unfortunately.

Last year "Top Chef" had won and broke the "Amazing Race" streak, but...now AR was back! Well, this disappointing loss for the producers of Project Runway didn't mean that they still couldn't PARTY!!! I was invited to the Project Runway Emmy Awards After Party, held at the Lexington Social House, a nightclub-restaurant in the heart of Hollywood. After a day of LIVE Emmy's Red Carpet Fashion Blogging, I threw on my white Dinner Jacket, black tuxedo pants and bow tie, Brooks Brothers pink polka-dot hankie and dragged--kicking and screaming--my NIKOLAKI partner David Paul with me (it's hard to leave our doggie Benny by himself!).

Lexington Social House Hollywood interior

The party began at 8pm right as the awards show ended and we arrived soon afterward.
Early on, I really didn't recognize anyone except a couple of the producers of the show. But soon enough, some editors made their way toward my white dinner jacket, introducing themselves as well as telling me some DISH on this season's designers and that dreaded "Oh, THEY edited me THAT way..." excuse. I LOVE talking to the editors!!

I didn't see any other Project Runway Alumn, except, I did run into Season 8 Designer Michael Costello (above, right) who just finished his stint on the upcoming Project Runway All Stars Season.

Project Runway 2011 Emmy Awards After Party Cocktails

I did see the fabulously chic Zanna Roberts-Rassi Senior Fashion Editor for Marie Claire (and my LA Casting Partner-in-Crime) who showed up with her dashing husband, MILK Studios Founder and Creative Director Mazdack Rassi. INSIDE DISH: Zanna was wearing Alexander Wang and texting/emailing Marie Claire Fashion Director Nina Garcia trying to find out where she was (at the Emmy's Governor's Ball I am sure!). After I embarrassed myself profusely by confessing to her husband my love of Persian Cuisine--and especially Tahdig and Gormeh Zabzi--I made sure to make a beeline to the exit.

The Scene: Project Runway Emmy Awards 2011 After Party Lexington Social House Hollywood

Both David and I had a blast at the Project Runway 2011 Emmy Awards After Party but...it was time to:
A) Get some take-home dinner;
B) Get back to Benny, our son--I mean Doggie--and
C) Go home and actually watch the show--in our comfortable pj's.

0 Project Runway Casting Special "Road To Runway" Video--featuring Nick Verreos Judging the LA Castings!

Casting...to Runway



Three weeks ago, Season 9 of Project Runway premiered and before the very first episode, Lifetime Network featured a Project Runway Casting Special "Road To Runway", hosted by the one and only Tim Gunn. It is an inside scoop on the behind-the-scenes casting selection process of which I, yes I, was part of. For the Lord-knows-how-many-seasons-now, I have been honored (and humbled) to be invited as a Casting Selection Judge.

Marie Claire's Senior Fashion Editor Zanna Roberts Rassi, Seth Aaron Henderson and Nick Verreos

This time around, I was joined by Marie Claire's Zanna Roberts-Rossi, as well as Season 7 Winner Seth Aaron Henderson--who was the "Head Daddy" at all of this season's castings. I think he racked up MANY Frequent Flyer Miles on this gig (so jealous!). During the LA Castings, we picked TWO of this season's final cast members:



Bert Keeter--the "102 year old" designer who's worked for Halston, Arnold Scassi, among others. His story and well "come back" of sorts, got Zanna, Seth Aaron and I all verklempt during the Casting Day.



As well as Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM's Joshua Christensen. Joshua is a current student in the Advanced Fashion Design/Debut Program and was unfortunately eliminated last week during the "Haute Pee Pee" Challenge, as I call it. But Bert, well, he's still "in it to win it".



In case you missed the Project Runway Season 9 "Road To Runway" Special, click HERE !