TV Guide Network's Academy Awards Countdown To The Red Carpet: Nick Verreos Pics!!!

My First Time...at the Oscars!!!

Dapper Threesome: Supermodel Paulina Porizkova, TV Guide host/anchor Marc Istook, and Fashion Designer Nick Verreos, covering 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet

Last Sunday, as you all well know, was the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. And TV Guide Network asked me to be part of their 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet Show and cover the red carpet fashions along with TV Guide host (and cutie!) Marc Istook and Supermodel Paulina Porizkova! Well, as you can imagine, when I got the call, I just about went into MAJAH screaming convulsions!!! I was thrilled. Host Chris Harrison, Hair DIVA Tabatha Coffey and TV Guide red carpet host Maria Sansone would also round out the Academy Awards Live Red Carpet team.

Up until now, I had commented on awards show red carpet fashions afterward on the TV Guide Fashion Wrap Shows and/or actually covered the award shows (Daytime Emmys, Primetime Emmys) from below on the red carpet (along with 200 other pushing interviewers from places like Slovakian TV!!) but NEVER from THE Oscars and from the coveted "Atop the Kodak Theater Red Carpet" bridge.

2011 Oscars Hollywood & Highland

The week leading up to last Sunday was a blur of crazy activities for me: I met my co-stars, Tabatha, Mark, Maria and Paulina Porizkova of course. I was a bit nervous to meet her since well, I'm "just a fashion designer" and she's A SUPERMODEL!!! But, of course, she was SOOO lovely: The first thing she said to me was "I absolutely love you, loved you on the show (Project Runway) and I know all about you!". Well, DONE and DONE, as they say; she had me at "Hello!". We had Read-Through Meetings as well as an actual Rehearsal the day before, right at the Kodak Theater atop the Red Carpet.

Make It Work: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos, outside the Kodak Theater, Oscars Rehearsals

That day, while walking to my "TV Guide Bridge" position, I ran into my good ol' friend, Mr. Tim Gunn!!! He was also rehearsing for his ABC Live Oscars Pre-Show Hosting Duties. Looking dapper as always) in a blue plaid suit and multi-colored tie. Love him!

I then finally made it up to the Bridge and met up with Mark Istook (above) and began rehearsals for my "Oscars Red Carpet Coverage". The day before the Oscars was rainy and VERY COLD, so the tarps were up covering the red carpet. We were a bit concerned about not being able to see the stars 30 feet below us as they walked down the Red Carpet the following day. We hoped and prayed that the next day would be a beautiful NO-TARP day and as it turned out: It was!

Bridge Reporting: Nick Verreos on the TV Guide Network Oscars "Bridge" position during Saturday Rehearsals.

The Day of The Oscars!!!

Oscar Bleachers: View of the crowd in position to begin their Star Sightings, Academy awards Red Carpet

The Day was finally here and I put on my Marc Jacobs Collection tuxedo (that I bought thank you very much!), my Zegna tuxedo shirt and black-silver-and-white bow tie (perfectly tied by my TV Guide Wardrobe boy, Jesse Jacobs-Love you!!). My NIKOLAKI partner David Paul, let me borrowed his beautiful vintage gold-and-pearl shirt studs and cuff links his Grandfather gave to him, to finish off my "Oscar Look".

Dashing Penguins: Marc Istook and Nick Verreos, atop the 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet

My "TV Guide Red Carpet Bridge" partners Marc and Paulina also looked very elegant and Oscar night worthy: Mark in a white-tie tuxedo and Paulina in her own Dolce & Gabbana gold off-the-shoulder stretch satin gown that her hubby Ric Ocasek got for her (how cute!). Tabatha and Maria, unfortunately were not with us but having a "ball" atop the TV Guide Network building at a rooftop party overlooking the Hollywood sign.

Designing Duo: Nick Verreos and Rachel Roy, 2011 Academy Awards

I was so excited to see that next to our TV Guide Network position was STUNNING Fashion designer Rachel Roy, who was covering for another network. Rachel could not have been sweeter! She, in fact kept teasing me, saying "Nick! Tell me what they're wearing PLEASE!!!!"And next to her was "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Camille Grammer doing her thang for CNN's "Showbiz Tonight"--go figure! Rachel Roy as a fashion insider/expert I can understand, Camille...well, that's a whole other matter.

View From Above: The 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet

The LIVE show went on without a hitch and seriously, I was PINCHING myself the entire time! I still could not believe that I was there, at the Academy Awards, covering the red carpet fashions! I realize that there are more important things in the world (Hello, Libya!) but still, this was an incredibly exciting and humbling moment for me!

Having An Oscars Moment: Nick Verreos near the Academy Awards Red Carpet

Thank You TV Guide for recognizing a real Fashion Designer and Instructor of Fashion can give educated-yet entertaining--fashion commentary on TV and for the BIGGEST Red Carpet Night of the Year!

Click Below to watch ENTIRE "TV Guide Academy Awards Red Carpet with Chris Harrison" Show featuring Mark Istook, Paulina Porizkova, and ME!!!! (from the Kodak Theater Balcony):

Oscars 2011 | Best Dressed

If there’s any night Hollywood gets truly glamorous, it’s Oscars night. See which  celebrities stars were big winners on the red carpet at the 2011 Academy Awards!

 source
 http://www.fashioncraz.com

2011 Oscar Jewelry Roundup: The Trends & Top Ten from Tinseltown

Oscar jewelry fashion at the 2011 Academy Awards was a smattering of surprises paired with the usual classic diamond deluge. Fasten your seatbelts, jewelry hounds. Here's my glittering recap to the red carpet Super Bowl. 

Red-hued frocks with elegant diamond looks were a big trend (Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Hudson), along with emerald jewels (Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Annette Bening), knock-out necklaces (Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren), and colorful earrings in surprising silhouettes (Marisa Tomei, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman).

While there was a very real fear that the 'less is more' trend would dominate the night - (Michelle Williams, Mandy Moore and Jennifer Lawrence all opted for minimal jewels - among many others), Oscar always brings out the best in some of our go-to fashion divas.

Here are my top ten looks of the night, but be sure to visit Jewelry.com on Facebook for my complete album with rants and raves capturing all the Oscar looks. And better yet? Check in with JewelClub Monday morning to get all the hot 2011 Oscar jewels at prices that don't need their own body guard.


1. Anne Hathaway Oscar Jewelry

Some might say Tiffany diamonds and a red dress are safe Oscar bets. I say - that's the kind of red carpet fashion we jewelry hounds are looking for (and dare I say) expect from the A-list. And Annie's jewelry looks just kept on coming throughout the show (I'll be tracking down pics and credits for all - so stay tuned!)

2. Nicole Kidman Oscar Jewelry

How can you make a stunning 150-carat Fred Leighton diamond necklace look even more beautiful? Put it on Nicole Kidman and have it DRAPE DOWN HER BACK! Win!

3. Marisa Tomei Oscar Jewelry

Van Cleef & Arpels is responsible for these sapphire, diamond and emerald statement stunners. And her Charles James dress from 1950 almost made Tim Gunn hyperventilate, bless his heart. She's never looked better.

4. Natalie Portman Oscar Jewelry

The sensational Live Twitter Chat gang (some of the best minds in jewelry and fashion participated - click here for more!) were either in LOVE with these Tiffany ruby tassels or thought them to be, um, pedestrian. I love the pomegranate color - not the silhouette so much. It just wasn't the knock-out moment the belle of the Oscar ball needed to bring (a la Gwyneth in Cathy Waterman and Ralph Lauren when she won back in the day).

5. Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar Jewelry

Speaking of G-Pal - only she could pull off this Calvin Klein silvery sensation of a dress paired with these unique Louis Vuitton gemstone (bird?) earrings from their L’Ame du Voyage collection. A bold choice and a big win!

6. Helen Mirren Oscar Jewelry

Dame Mirren reigned over the red carpet in a pearl, diamond and platinum necklace from 1907 and a diamond bracelet from Cartier’s Archive Museum Collection. This woman always looks lovely - although the length of her necklace is a bit long here for my taste.

7. Reese Witherspoon Oscar Jewelry

This year's Angelina Jolie-emerald-earring copycat award goes to...Reese Witherspoon, who looked lovely in 35-carat emerald drops by Neil Lane (her jewelry totaled $1 million). Annette Bening? You come in second place...

8. Jennifer Hudson Oscar Jewelry

Jaws dropped when this dream girl stepped on the red carpet in a 'tangerine/red' Versace number and Neil Lane diamonds. And I am telling you. You don't have to go anywhere, sister.

9. Mandy Moore Oscar Jewelry

The 'less is more' win of the night for me went to this pretty diamond cluster earring on Mandy Moore. The overall look is the perfect example of how to wear jewelry with a sparkly dress. Just lovely.

10. Amy Adams Oscar Jewelry
 

Such a bold choice to wear navy, no neck line and this Cartier emerald and diamond wrap necklace and a 30.75-carat carved emerald and diamond bracelet-watch worth $1.025 million. Everyone is talking about her jewelry - despite the fact that it belonged with a different ensemble.

Whew! So what do you guys think of my Top Ten Oscar jewels for 2011? Who did I miss? Weigh in - and be sure to double back tomorrow for my 'after party' jewelry gawk-fest. Hoping for an Angelina sighting at the Vanity Fair party. Stay tuned!

(By request, a close-up of Amy Adams' Cartier wrist bling. Wow!)

2011 Oscar Jewelry Predictions

The art of Oscar fashion forecasting hasn't been around long, but I can guarantee I'll either be the smartest person in the world come Monday morning, or I'll just join the chorus of fashionistas who found the red carpet to be full of (gasp!) "sartorial surprises".

One thing I do know for sure? Guiliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest are going to drive me to drink. So the champagne is already chilling and the aspirin strategically placed on the nightstand.

AND, as usual,  I'll be joined this Sunday by the best and brightest jewelry minds in the Twitter-sphere as we Live Tweet our way through the E! Oscar Red Carpet Coverage starting at 6:00PM EST using #oscarjewelry. You don't want to miss it, jewelry hounds. We all get cheeky about 7:00 after the champagne kicks in.

One more quick shout out to all you fashion forecasters: JewelClub is having a 'Guess What Jewelry Anne Hathaway Will Wear" contest on their Facebook Page (Love it!) and they're giving away free jewelry. You guys are some of the brightest diamonds in the jewelry box, so click here, weigh in and enjoy the spoils of your 'labor'.

2011 Oscar Jewelry Predictions:

1. Dainty, Delicate, Diamonds

Sheer, lacey looks rocked the New York Fashion Week runways earlier this month, and my guess is the trend will trickle down to Oscar jewelry choices. The Golden Globes had a few key light-weight looks back in January (Natalie Portman, Dianna Agron), and I expect the 'less is more' elegance to continue Sunday night.

2. Big Rings

I love big rings. The problem is: we never really get a good look at them on the red carpet. That said, the Grammy's were littered with this statement style this year, and I think Oscar stylists will play that trendy tune as well. Who could forget Zoe Saldana's Oscar amethyst show-stopper last year?

3. Flower Power

According to jewelry guru, Michael O'Connor, this flower cuff was included in the ultra-exclusive StyleLab Oscar jewelry selection that Anne Hathaway (among others) got to peruse this week.

While Nicole Kidman's floral Fred Leighton piece at the SAGs was a 'love it or hate it' choice, I think some key celebs are going to get in touch with their inner flower child and make a statement with this silhouette. Peace out, starchild.

4. Color Blind Couture

While the Golden Globes were all about green and pink, I'm going out on a limb to say that no one color is going to dominate this red carpet. Some folks say red, some say blue - but I think we're in color transition-land right now, and we can expect to see a rainbow of hues. (How's that for hedging my bets?)

Seriously, though, I think stars have the freedom to go in any direction with color in gown choice or jewels - as long as they don't try to copy a winner from past years (a la Michelle Williams in her tangerine Vera Wang winner, Angelina's emeralds, etc).

5. The Statement Necklace: It's BAAAAACCCK

I have a funny feeling that the statement necklace craze that peaked in 2009 and waned to nothingness this past year is going to ramp up again at the 2011 Oscars. You can't keep this baby in the corner long. It's a hunch - but if we don't see at least 3 or 4 big stars in this look, I'll chug an entire glass of champagne. Twist my arm!

So be sure to check back with me Sunday night to see if my predictions come true. I'll post my top looks of the night with some champagne-soaked trend commentary thrown in for good measure. I gawk harder...so you don't have to.