Since competing on season two of Project Runway, Nick Verreos’s career has flourished into something he had never dreamed of. A lover of fashion since the age of four, Verreos never thought that in addition to having his own successful clothing line Nikolaki with his partner David Paul, he would one day be fashion expert and red carpet personality for E! Entertainment, a prominent stylist and a designer for celebrities the likes of Heidi Klum and Kathy Griffin. His vivacious personality has made him a stand out amongst the fashion world and with many exciting new projects already underway, it seems this designer’s star can only get brighter.

CG: What has been the most rewarding part about all of the opportunities that have come your way since being on Project Runway?

NV: The most rewarding part of being on the show is this “side career” that I never expected to have, of being called upon as a “Fashion Guru”/Fashion Expert and Red Carpet Personality. As a designer and as a Fashion Instructor, of course, I feel I am capable but I never expected that it would have been a result of being on Project Runway. I did the show in hopes of winning and getting the money to show my collection and back my clothing line. But all this that has happened since [Project Runway] has been incredible and very unexpected.

CG: Your label Nikolaki experienced a great amount of success. Can we expect to see another collection soon?

NV: Yes. In fact, I will be debuting my next Spring 2011 Collection at the Second Annual Orange County Style Week at the Irvine Spectrum on October 1st. I hosted a Fashion Competition last year for OC Style Week called “The Needle & Thread” Contest and I was very impressed on how the entire production and event was organized. It was very New York Fashion Week! This year they have invited me and sponsored me to show my next collection so I will be the “Star Designer” for the entire event. I am so excited. So mark your calendars: Oct 1st!

CG: Where do you get your inspiration for the Nikolaki collections?

NV: I’m inspired by my travels (last year I went to the Amalfi Coast in Italy and I am going back again in one month) and my upbringing in Venezuela. I also love visiting museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the DeYoung Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco and the Queen Sofia Museum in Madrid. I am inspired by art, sculpture, the Mediterranean, South Amercia and the Spanish Royalty that’s always featured in Hola Magazine Go figure!

CG: You have worked with many celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Kathy Griffin. If you could choose, what celebrity would you most like to dress?

NV: Of course I love dressing Heidi Klum, but if I had my choice, I would love to dress Penelope Cruz, Charleze Theron or Queen Rania of Jordan. But designers hardly ever have a choice unless you are a multi-million dollar brand like Christian Dior or Yves Saint Laurent.

CG: Which do you prefer: designing or styling?

NV: Designing hands down! I love the whole process. From sketch to drape to pattern to muslin fitting to cutting – I love every thing. You just don’t get that process with styling. Styling is about spending 14 hours in four different stores and shopping. It’s cute when you’re shopping for yourself. Not cute when you’re doing it for someone else, unless the client is paying you a lot!

CG: In addition to being a designer, a stylist and making appearances on television programs and at events you are also an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in Los Angeles. How do you balance it all?

NV: I have a fabulous team behind me: My partner in life and Nikolaki design partner, David Paul, as well as a great manager and agents who, somehow, make it all work. I don’t get a lot of sleep and, yes, I have a permanent bottle of Pepto Bismol next to me. But if having stomach pains and a lack of sleep are the only problems I have while making women smile and look fabulous and hoping to inspire at least one student into being the best they can be, then bring on all the Pepto Bismol bottles darling!

CG: Did you always know that you wanted to work in fashion?

NV: Yes! Since the age of four, I was always drawing. And I would draw women in fashion! My first muses were flight attendants. My dad was a diplomat and we always traveled. But yes, I wanted to be a Fashion Illustrator in the beginning but a high school counselor told me there was “no money in that.” So then I figured I would learn the craft of being the “complete fashion designer.” I could draw better than anyone else in high school and college, but then I went to school at FIDM to learn how to sew, make patterns, drape and try to learn a little bit of the business.

CG: Can you tell our readers about some of your upcoming projects?

NV: I am so excited to have just made a gown for Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez, that is inspired by the new fabulous Orbit Gum wrappers and now they are flying me to Miami in the second week of July to create another dress for the Latina Orbit Gum Girl. I will also be walking the red carpet of the Latino “Teen Choice Awards” (Premios Juventud) on July 15^th and will debut the dress on national television.

I have also being invited back to lecture for Miami University of Ohio’s Europe Summer Program and will be in Florence, Italy to speak there. I am working on my new Spring 2011 Collection, a possible line for QVC and I have filmed three television pilots. So hopefully you will be seeing a lot more “Nick” in the near future.

To keep up with all things Nick Verreos follow his blog Nick Verreos: Where Style Happens.

Interview by: Chic Galleria magazine

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