EUROPE 2015.....LONDON: Tour of "Mademoiselle Prive" Exhibition at Saatchi Gallery + More!

London Boys: Nick Verreos and David Paul explore London, November 2015

Nick Verreos and David Paul at the "Chanel Salon" stairs reproduction--Mademoiselle Privé Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

A couple of weeks ago, I was in London for the Debut of my NV Nick Verreos clothing line on QVC UK. Naturally I went with my better half--David Paul. We had been here before, several years back, and did the requisite tourist visits to Westminster Abbey, the Victoria & Albert Museum plus much much more, so this time around for our short stay in London, we decided to just shop and make sure to go to the Mademoiselle Privé Exhibition. 

                    Tourist Nick: Nick Verreos in front of iconic London red telephone booths

In case you are not aware of the Mademoiselle Privé Exhibition, it was a "journey" through the House of Chanel's creativity. It was organized by Karl Lagerfeld--along with Chanel--as a showcase of the original Chanel Salon, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's design origins (hat making) and fabric, chain and camellia inspirations plus a lot more, of course. 

Get in Line: The scene on the last day of the "Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery                                                                                  London UK



Before we left to London--after some research--we realized that the day after we arrived would be THE FINAL DAY of the Exhibition. In other words, we had no option but to go. Of course, once we showed up, there was a very long, long line to attend (it was free!). The line took about an hour and a half (not bad, considering) but yes, we did it. Here are photos from the exhibit:

 

Reproduction of the Chanel Salon iconic curved stairs--Mademoiselle Privé Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

Gabrielle Chanel Hat Box and Wall Renderings--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

                       Chanel Haute Couture--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery                     London UK

Chanel Haute Couture gold sequin gown--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery                                                                                        London UK

Chanel Haute Couture sequined and lace gown--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery                                                                              London UK

Chanel Haute Couture worn by Julianne Moore and Vanessa Paradis--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

 Chanel pleated black and white cocktail dress--Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

 Haute Couture Wool--Swaths of fabric at the Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

Chain Bucket: Mademoiselle Privé" Exhibition Saatchi Gallery London UK

Shopping, Food...

Nick Verreos--walking through the Knightsbridge neighborhood, London UK

London Double Deckers--London UK

Chinatown Scene--London UK

Shopping London:

Gorgeous Gown in the Window: Plaid gown from Emilia Wickstead boutique, London UK

 Harrods London

Foodie London:

Indian Delish: Enjoying a DELICIOUS dinner with David at "Masala Zone" Bayswater district

 English Breakfast: Eggs, Bacon, Beans...Heaven: Park Grand Lancaster Gate London Hotel Breakfast

Kabob Happy: Persian Dinner of Ground Lamb and Filet Kabob Combo at Alounak Bayswater Restaurant London UK

Cheers London! David Paul and Nick Verreos at Kensington Gardens

**NEXT STOP: SPAIN!

NICK HOSTS.....STYLE WEEK OC 2015 Fashion Island: Blog Recap of Hosting Fashion Island Collection + Celebrity Cruises Design Competition

Style Week OC Begins! Images from last Saturday's Style Week OC Fashion Island 

STYLE WEEK OC 2015 officially began last Thursday with runway shows, fashion parties and in-store events happening at the three top fashion/retail destinations in Orange County: Fashion Island, The Market Place and Irvine Spectrum Center. This past Saturday, I hosted my first Style Week OC event at the gorgeous Fashion Island...

Nick Verreos hosting "Style Week OC 2015" last Saturday night at Fashion Island Newport Beach

On the Style Week OC Fashion Island runway agenda were the Fashion Island Collections showcasing the latest Fall 2015 from Fashion Island retailers like Neiman Marcus, Bebe, Halston Heritage and many more. And finally there was the Project Runway-like "Celebrity Cruises Design Competition" where four FIDM students/graduates created designs for Celebrity Cruises onboard activities.

Fashion Island Tuxedo'ed: Nick Verreos at Fashion Island ready to host Style Week OC 2015 Fashion Island Newport Beach

VIP STYLE WEEK OC Fashion Island Pre-Party Pics:

The Scene: Beautiful flower table displays, Partida Tequila Bar as well as Celebrity Cruises Wine Tasting--Style Week OC Fashion Island Pre-Party Newport Beach

Mingling Chic: Nick Verreos with VIP Pre-Party guests including special guests from Mexico City (top photo) and "Celebrity Cruises" guests (lower photo)--Style Week OC Fashion Island Pre-Party Newport Beach

The Runway: Style Week OC 2015 Fashion Island runway stage and audience--Earlier in the day, it had rained and so as the afternoon progressed and showtime got closer and closer, thank goodness the Weather Gods and Goddesses were on our side and it was a perfect and rain-free sky!



Fashion Island Collection:

Nordstrom: Fall 2015 looks from Nordstom--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Bebe: Fall 2015 looks from Bebe--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Fall 2014 looks from Halston Heritage (left) and Elie Tahari (right)--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Bloomingdale's: Fall 2015 looks from Bloomingdale's--Style week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Garys Men's Clothing: Fall 2015 looks from Garys--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Neiman Marcus: Fall 2015 looks from Neiman Marcus--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Celebrity Cruises Design Competition--Fashion Island:

Judges Ready: (L to R) Nick Verreos; Julie Gallego, Orange Coast Magazine Style Editor; Marilys Ward, Team Manager LA/Palm Springs DMA Celebrity Cruises; Sung Cho-Rothe, Store Manager Nordstrom Fashion Island--Fashion Island Newport Beach

For STYLE WEEK OC 2015, Celebrity Cruises has TWO design competitions: the first was held at Fashion Island. Students and graduates of my Alma Mater, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM were challenged to create looks for "onboard cruise ship activities", for example: designing an outfit for shopping and dining at the ship's Qzine Restaurant; one inspired by the Celebrity Cruises' top-deck Green Lounge, another design inspired by the light source of the Cruises' Luminae Restaurant and finally, a design inspired by the ship's Liquid Lounge...

FIDM Designers Peivand Mirzaie (top) and Francesca Lake (lower) describe their "Celebrity Cruises" designs to the judges--Fashion Island Newport Beach

FIDM Designers Ali Jawad (top) and Lilit Markosyan (bottom) showing off their "Celebrity Cruises" designs to the judges--Fashion Island Newport Beach

Celebrity Cruises Design Competition Fab: Nick Verreos with (L to R) models Aleksandra, Nadya, Talesha Byrd and Lisa Malambri of L.A. Models in the FIDM designers' looks inspired by Celebrity Cruises onboard activities/restaurants/lounges--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Onboard Chic: Models on the STYLE WEEK OC Fashion Island runway showing the "Celebrity Cruises" designs--Clockwise from the top: Francesca Lake "Luminae Restaurant" inspired outfit; Ali Jawad "Liquid Lounge" under-the-sea inspired design; Peivand Mirzaie's chartreuse ensemble for onboard dining and shopping; and Lilit Markosyan's embroidered netting dress inspired by the ship's "Green Lounge"



And The Winner Is...

It was a very difficult decision since all the designs were so creative and impacting but the design which garnered the highest scores was...

FIDM designer Francesca Lake won the top prize of $2,000 for her "Celebrity Cruises" Luminae Restaurant-inspired ensemble which featured a reflective halter top with embroidered lace, pleated trousers and a detachable overskirt.



Post Show Meet-and-Greet Time:

Fashion Island Ladies: Nick Verreos with Style Week OC Fashion Island guests, including one of my co-judges Marilys Ward of Celebrity Cruises (second from right)--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Puppy Style: Nick Verreos with Style Week OC guests--and their super cute doggies--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Nick Verreos with FIDM "Celebrity Cruises" designers, models and guests--Style Week OC Fashion Island Newport Beach

Step-and-Repeat Dapper: Nick Verreos and David Paul of NIKOLAKI, Style Week OC Fashion                                                                          Island Newport Beach



**AND DON'T FORGET: I'll be HOSTING THIS SATURDAY NIGHT'S Style Week OC Irvine Spectrum Center on September 19th--including the Irvine Spectrum Collection runway show + the "Celebrity Cruises Design Competition: Irvine Spectrum"



It's OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and FREE!!!



For more info. Click HERE



and Stay tuned for that BLOG RECAP next week!