0 Nick Verreos Blogs from Universal Sports and the Grand Prix Figure Skating Costumes

Figure Skating is BAAACK!!! And so are my Costume Hits and Misses...

Yes, it's Figure Skating Grand Prix Season and you know what that means: I am looking at the Costumes!!! As you may know, I am a big Figure Skating fan (I love you Michelle!!!) and during the last Olympics, I had the pleasure of doing some TV Commentary on the Figure Skating Costumes for Universal Sports. They have invited me again to give my "Nick Verreos Two Cents" on their Universal Sports Figure Skating Blog. After every Grand Prix city, I will be posting my thoughts on the site HERE, as well as of course, adding a couple extra ones here on my blog---

Enjoy and let's hope for More Sequins, More Color and More Male Plunging Necklines!

Lilac Flower: Mao Asada at NHK Grand Prix

Mao may have shocked her hometown by not doing well in this Grand Prix NHK Trophy but I think that in terms of her costume, she’s still has some magic…fashion magic that is. This was a “Softer/Gentler Mao”; I loved the lilac color and light beading. New Coach…New Costume Attitude…but lackluster scores unfortunately.

Havana by way of Tokyo: Daisuke Takahashi at NHK Grand Prix

Daisuke did a Mambo-inspired Short Program and chose to go the "Ricky Ricardo" route with his costume. Loved the multi-colored sequined print shirt with a very plunging neckline and he kept it simple with the black pants (good choice). BTW: Figure Skating Trend Alert: Men's PLUNGING necklines (Jeremy Abbott also did it! JEREMY ABBOTT!!!!!)

Spray Tan Illusion Mesh: Carolina Kostner at NHK Grand Prix

Carolina Kostner won the NHK Trophy skating to “L’Apres-Midi D’un Faune” and she (almost) wins here in terms of her fashion. I’m a fan of the asymmetrical details and of course, the lilacs and pinks. I just wished her illusion mesh was lighter (was she tan when she had her fitting? No more laying out in Positano Miss Kostner!) and the colors of her costume were STRONGER!

Don't Cry For Me Finland: Kiira Korpi at NHK Grand Prix

Kiira is just a Nordic Princess; absolutely doll-like beauty. She could wear a Hefty trash bag and look GORGEOUS! She skated to "Evita" and evoked every bit of the DIVA in this violet Ombre side-pleated costume. An 8.5 out of 10 in my book.

Mummy Muscle: Kevin Van Der Perren at NHK Grand Prix

Kevin skated to "The Mummy Soundtrack". His costume was all a bit of a mish-mash, from the one-armed flutter to the "taped-up" accents. At the same time, those BIG muscles of his did make me forget that his costume was less Pharaoh more "Abbott and Costello Mummy" movie.

Plunging Passion: Cappellini-Lanotte at NHK Grand Prix

Italian Ice Dance couple Cappellini-Lanotte skated to a romantic soundtrack and therefore chose to keep their costumes on the sublime and "traditional" side. They were pretty standard and not exciting in terms of Ice Dance. I liked hers but didn't like the color of his shirt. Dirty Creme? Really? And once again, we see the Male PLUNGING Neckline! I told you it was a TREND!

Click HERE for MORE of my Figure Skating Costume Review, including what I thought of Jeremy Abbott, and Reed and Reed's "Addams Family" costumes!!!!

0 Nick Verreos On TV Guide Network's "The Fashion Team" EVERY Sunday: Debuts today!!

Fashion Bar!

Sitting Pretty: Stylist Jennifer Rade and Fashion Designer Nick Verreos, filming TV Guide's The Fashion Team, at Dry Bar Studio City

TV Guide Network's The Fashion Team show is BAAACK! And now better than ever. Why? Well, for one, I'll be on EVERY WEEK! (Yeaaayyy!). And guess who else with be with me? Yep, my trusty--and most CHIC--"TV Guide Award Fashion Wrap" girlfriend, the one and only Jennifer Rade, stylist to the stars (Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Manson, Pink). Beginning today (Sunday), we will be giving our "Hot" or "Not" take on Celebs on the Red Carpet as part of The Fashion Team.

The show--hosted by Lawrence Zarian, who also is our "ringleader" for the TV Guide Awards Show Fashion Wrap, will lead us in talking about a certain celeb at a certain event. And then, kiddies, we go to town.

A Fashion Team: Jennifer Rade, Lawrence Zarian, Nick Verreos, Dry Bar Studio City

And we'll make sure to not just say "Ooooh, Girl that was a MESS!" but also let you know why and how not to make it a mess next time! For this first installment, we were at the brand new Studio City location of...

Dry Bar is a "No Cuts, No Color, just Blow Outs" salon whose co-owner happens to be actress Rose McGowan. When both Jen and I arrived, Lawrence was already filming his segment with Rose. I didn't get a chance to meet her because she was too busy filming naturally, but she looked great!

You can click HERE to watch that interview.

And don't forget: Watch: TV Guide Network's The Fashion Team, hosted by Lawrence Zarian w/ Nick Verreos and Jen Rade
When: Sundays, 1 PM, 5 PM , 5:30 PM, and 1:30 AM

0 Nick Verreos Season 8 Project Runway MyLifetime.com Blog/Recap: Finale-Part 1!!!

Lacroix 2.0, Pattaya Bay, Whole Foods Sales Girls and Mommy-Daddy Therapy...Yep, It's Project Runway, the Almost-last Episode!

Is the Camera On: Andy South consoles Michael Costello during "Finale Part 1", Project Runway Season 8

Oh Dear! Yes, those were basically the only two words I could muster after watching Thursday night's "Finale Part 1" of Project Runway Season 8. The episode began cute enough and pretty typical in terms of previous "Road to NY Fashion Week" Project Runway Episodes...

The remaining 4 Designers get their "Congratulations" from Heidi and Tim and then are sent off to their respective home bases to make their Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week Collections. Tim jets off to Hawaii, Denver, Palm Springs and Portland. After 6 weeks, they return to NY for their last Challenge that will narrow down the Top Three Finalists who will show at NY Fashion Week. The Runway Show at Parsons occurs and then it all heads south from there, concluding in what could have been an advertisement for Mommy-Daddy Therapy sessions.

Highlight: Mondo's Circus

For me, there was one Winner and that's it. When Mondo Guerra's 3-piece mini collection came out, it was like "Done and Done". The judges gave him both positives and negatives, saying he had to somehow learn how to tame the "Print Beast" inside him. Well, he can't do much, because the collection is done kiddies! And I like it , circus prints and all.

It all reminded me of Christian Lacroix (Spring 2009 Haute Couture above), well, the H&M version. After Mondo, in my opinion, any of the other three could have been out. Yes, I might have chosen Andy or Gretchen instead of Michael C. but I KNEW Gretchen wasn't going--she's the "Wendy Pepper" of the Season, so you know they were keeping her!

Lowlights: Andy's Warrior Divas go to Pattaya Bay

What happened to Andy South? I was so looking forward to a whole army of Andy Warrior Goddesses ready for battle in almost all black, fierce, well-fitted dresses. He went from this FIERCE look above...to this below...

Is this what happens when Project Runway Finalists go home. They do great in the pressure cooker of the show's surreal competition environment but then they return home and lose their style? Wassup Andy?

Instead of Warrior Divas, his 3-piece Laos/Buddha-inspired mini-collection was a cross between something Imelda Marcos would wear (Hello Silk Shantung!!??) and...

Something you'd see on the Pattaya Bay Girls in Thailand. Now, mind you those two inspirations sound HOT, but I don't think that's what he had in mind.

Lowlights: Gretchen's Vegetarian Girls Who Don't Want to Get Laid

Her designs were so not exciting, so not NY Fashion Week and so something you might see at some Granola-Crunchy store, as Michael Kors kept alluding to. All that was missing was some Birkenstocks and some incense. Take a look at this lovely example:

Muffin Top Alert: This poor girl is a size 2 or size 4 MAX...AND somehow, Gretchen still gave her a Muffin Top! Seriously.

Lowlights: Housewives of New Jersey Meets Liza Minelli

I really liked (and so did the judges), the one copper silk charmeuse gown he made but the other two choices were not my faves, especially that fringed top (Miss Heidi LOOOVED it!) and lace embroidered pants look: On top, she's a cast member in "Chicago" and on the bottom, she's Liza Minelli!

It looked a little too "Real Housewives of New Jersey" on a night out on the town. Michael Costello was Auf'ed and proceeded to have THE "I'm a Failure To My Parents" meltdown. After he dried his tears, Michael C. actually did get to show at Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week--along with like 44 of the other contestants (yes, I'm exaggerating!). I know it's not the same, but still. In case you missed Michael C.'s NYC Fashion Week Finale Collection...you can click HERE to see it. I liked most of the looks but I wasn't a fan of...

Nipple Alert: This multi, multi, MULTI-layered ruffled gown with a see-through bustier seen on Season 1 Models of The Runway Model Lisa Blades. I love Miss Lisa, she's my friend, muse, and of course, has modeled LOTS of my gowns and dresses. But I, as a designer, would probably have NEVER put her in this. But what a trooper Miss Lisa! So, there you go. I'm betting on Miss Mondo to win. Anyway, to read what I REALLY thought of this last episode:

Here's the Beginning of my MyLifetime.com Blog/Recap for this "Finale Part 1" Episode:

Road To Therapy (I Mean New York Fashion Week!)

I cannot believe it's almost OVER! We are in the last lap of this season's "Project Runway" and it's been a KRAZEE marathon! This episode left me shaken. To be honest, immediately after watching, all I could focus on was that I may need to re-think my recap and instead write an open letter to all parents entitled "How Not to Mess Up Your Children's Lives." But then I wouldn't be able to discuss this last DRAMATIC (and oh-so-fashion-boring) penultimate episode. So here we go…

Click HERE to read my Entire Recap and make sure to leave your "two cents".

0 Nick Verreos on Logo's "The Arrangement" next Monday night Oct. 25, 11/10c

It's Getting Haute In Here!

This Monday Night (Oct. 25th 11PM/10PM central) I will be on the next episode of Logo Network's new show "The Arrangement". No, not as a contestant, but well, let's just say as a "Special Guest" (that's all I can say for now kiddies!) What I can hint at is that it will have something to do with this:

NIKOLAKI gown, and this:

Floral Arrangements (of course!!)

The Arrangement is a Reality Competition Show where ten contestants compete for the title of The Next Best Floral Designer. The show just debuted early this month and you can catch up and see who has been "weeded out" so far HERE.

It's Hostess with the Mostess is the gorgeous (OH MY GOD has she got a BODY!!!) Gigi Levangie Grazer. In case you didn't know, she's a very successful novelist (Rescue Me, Maneater, The Starter Wife) as well as a screenwriter ("Stepmom" starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon). And (I Love this part!), she graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science, just like me!

It's Mentor and Judge is one of America's premier floral designers, Eric Buterbaugh, who has his namesake Floral Design Boutique at the fabulous Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles and has an extensive list of celebrity clientele including Madonna, Naomi Campbell and Jennifer Lopez.

Flower Power: Cast of Logo's "The Arrangement"

Click below for a SNEAK PEAK of this coming Monday's Episode, featuring...moi: