Haute Olive Has Moved...to Donwtown LA!

Downtown Haute!
My friend Amara Wilson just dropped me a "little note" telling me that her little Echo Park Vintage Boutique, Haute Olive, has moved to Downtown LA! Editorial: Amara Wilson in NIKOLAKI one shoulder silk dress

Miss Amara was my "original" muse back when I began my company, NIKOLAKI, in 2001 and modeled in all my LA Fashion Week runway shows (she used to model in Paris, back in the day). I was honored enough to have been invited to her Birthday Bash back in January at the Echo Park location and got to see for myself all the fabulous Vintage "goodies" her and her minions of super-chic buyers have. Runway: Amara Wilson in NIKOLAKI runway show "A Night in Morocco", LA Fashion Week (LA Magazine style editor Laurie Pike--in black top--and singer Nikka Costa--with hat--sitting front row to the right)

When I was there, there were lots of flowy jersey caftans, DVF-looking wrap dresses, great Lacroix-inspired boleros and a mass array of vintage heels. I'm sure it's all made it's way "East" to Downtown and the Downtown fashionista hipsters will eat it up!
The new address is on 838 South Spring Street, Los Angeles California 90014. It's very near the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, so all my FIDM students-on-a-budget should get themselves over to Haute Olive!

Echo Park Fashion: Nick Verreos Attends Haute Olive Bash

Echo Park HAUTE!
Last week--before all the crazy Golden Globe Awards madness---I was invited to my beautiful friend Amara Wilson's Birthday Bash at her chic little Vintage Boutique in Echo Park, Haute Olive.Birthday Kisses: Nick Verreos and Amara Wilson, Haute Olive

So of course, I had to show up--gift in tow (Olive-based beauty products) of course (never come empty handed!). Amara was working a strapless bubblegum pink bustier and the most Olivia Newton-John "Grease" stretch skinny pants I have ever seen. They fit her PERFECTLY, by the way. Lucky her!The party was in full swing once I got there (finding easy parking is not like it used to be in Echo Park!) with all of Amara's and Haute Olive's friends sipping Champagne, doing some shopping and even dancing to the DJ's Retro disco-soul tunes.Party Scene: Amara Wilson's Birthday at Haute Olive, Echo Park

I have known Miss Amara for over 8 years, ever since I picked her at a runway show casting. She had just arrived back from Paris and was on her way to making a name for herself here on the West Coast. Ever since then, she has "stuck with me" for life! Not only did she become my fit model--or as I called her "My House Model/Muse", she opened and/or closed a lot of my shows--including my first Smashbox Los Angeles Fashion Week show back in 2003.Miss Amara was also my "Good Luck Charm". I brought Amara to the LA casting of Season 2 of Project Runway one fateful weekend A LONG TIME AGO! She wore the printed silk "butterfly winged" gown shown above as I stood in front of Tim Gunn to await their decision. Needless to say, I was "In"--Thanks Amara!

Haute Olive Chic: A pouf-sleeve iridescent satin bolero at Haute Olive Boutique

Amara now runs a fabulous little vintage store in Echo Park (Los Angeles), where she collects and sells the best 70's jersey wrap dresses, printed caftans that would make Mrs. Roper blush; as well as Lacroix-worthy cropped bolero jackets. Haute Olive, by the way, also carries Menswear, ranging from Member's Only jackets, Vintage Tees to Western Shirts that both a Silverlake hipster or a Oil Can Harry's line dancin' boy would love.

You're The One That I Want: Birthday Girl Amara Wilson, Haute Olive Boutique

Just when you think that you've been to every vintage store this side of the Mississippi, think again: You must check out Haute Olive! Happy Birthday Miss Amara! And keep working those Olivia Newton-John skinny pants! Love ya!

Nikolaki in California Apparel News

Nikolaki Fall 2007

Two weeks ago, here in Los Angeles, we celebrated yet another LA Fashion Week. I have shown several times, either as part of the "official" Smashbox L.A Fashion Week and also by having my own show in a fabulous gallery space in Downtown L.A. called The Woman's Building . I've also shown in several "group shows", where along with other designers , we present our collections. This includes shows with CLAD (The Coalition of Los Angeles Designers) where we presented our designs for several seasons to press and buyers here on the West Coast.

I was asked by my friend, muse and model, Amara, if I could host the 6th Anniversary of "Siren And Sailors", a great boutique in the uber hip neighborhood of Silver Lake. Besides being a fabulous DIVA all around, and my "partner-in-crime" when the time came for me to go to the Season 2 casting of "Project Runway" two years ago, she also happens to be the manager of "Sirens And Sailors" and co-runs a production art-and-fashion outlet called "Globe Trekk" here and in Paris.

She said that they were going to have a huge party celebrating the anniversary with an "installation" which would include fashion, music, art, food and cocktails. I told her that I would agree to do it if I could also show my NIKOLAKI collection , along with the other designers that would be featured. Most of the designers were designers that are currently being carried at the eponymous Silver Lake boutique.

I ended up showing a "capsule" collection, a "preview" of my Fall 2007 collection; six beautiful pieces ranging from a few metallic gold linen cocktail numbers to Grecian-inspired (of course) Goddess draped dresses in an aubergine-colored jersey. I ended my mini-showing with a strapless black Duchesse siren gown with a metallic gold Obi back detail.

The show was held near Downtown L.A.'s Chinatown at the Marvimon House and it was a complete success! The space reached capacity so early on that several hundred people were not allowed in, including some of my best friends! I was so happy that I got to host such a great fashion-music-and-art event in LA that celebrated what is HOT right now in this fabulous town, but also, got to show a mini preview of some of my new designs and styles.

It was great to see the write up in the California Apparel News (click on the image to read) and to check out more on the event click HERE and HERE for more photos from some of the other designers.

FIDM Spokesperson Plus DEBUT 2007

And the drum roll please........ I am proud to announce that I just "inked" a deal with the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) to be their "Spokesperson" for 2007-2008. It brings me immense joy to represent the college I teach at as well as where I received my formal education in fashion design studies. FIDM is kind enough to recognize the value I have in possibly inspiring future students of design wherever they may attend school--and I know that that students all over the country still want to hear "inside dish" on "Project Runway".

Besides still doing my duties as an Instructor at FIDM, I will now also represent the school in several of their important marketing and recruiting events, not only in their Los Angeles campus, but also San Francisco and San Diego. The details are still being discussed but I will make "special appearances" at certain FIDM events, such as their "Open Houses" and will write a column for their popular "Prom Advice" website. I will also still be able to travel all over the country and speak to other design schools and universities. I have planned appearances in Tampa, FL and possibly Seattle this year and I will provide more information on those later.

Last week was the beginning of my first "official" duties in my new position. I was the Special Surprise Guest Speaker at the FIDM Debut 2007 Fashion Show, held in Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hanger. DEBUT 2007 is the gala finale show for the top fashion and theater costume design students. Here, they get to showcase their very first 10-12-piece collections or costume designs in front of thousands of Industry leaders, designers and all-around Hollywood glitterati. Over a decade ago (now I am REALLY aging myself!), I was one of those 10 "Debut" students that were handpicked to show their collections. There is a video of this which should be permanently put in a time capsule.

I attended a special "Pink Party" for FIDM's Fashion Club members, held in a tent near the Hanger with a DJ, make-up artists and Marie Antoinette-themed models. I brought my friend and favorite model, Amara to the event. She wore a gold/metallic linen bolero and tulip skirt suit from my line, NIKOLAKI,of course. There were hundreds of students who lined up to pose for photos with us. It was a delight meeting each and every one of them.

Afterwards, I introduced the "Debut 2007" fashion show to a screaming crowd of over 2500 high school students from all over the country. The kids were yelling so loud that I felt like Justin Timberlake!! It was an amazing experience which then lasted after the show, when I posed for more photos with hundreds of kids who were not at the "Pink Party" beforehand. The experience was repeated on Friday with similar results.

The "DEBUT 2007" Fashion Show itself was great! It began wth the Theater Costume designers who were given a "Circus" theme to work with. The production, and the costumes were fabulous! I could see the awestruck faces on the visiting Junior and Senior students out in the audience. Then , the Advanced Fashion Design students showed their collections and I was surprised. It was a definite step up from previous years, where frankly the designs looked awkward and "fashion--student-esque". I could name the page number in the pattern book where the the jackets came from (not a good sign). But not this year. The collections looked fresh, WEARABLE and still creative. Kudos to all the designers. There was even a fun children's collection that brought the house down. Britney's most recent ex-boy toy, Isaac Cohen, also modeled in the show (to more yelling and screaming from girls--and boys--in the audience) One of my favorite collections was from Angelo Estrada. His "Matrix-meets Dominitrix-meets-Secret Berlin Spy" collection (that's what I'm calling it) in wools, leathers and furs, combined the creativity of a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster with the realism of having great sellable pieces.

The "Debut" weekend ended Saturday evening with the black-tie Gala dinner show, hosted by FIDM grad, designer Randolph Duke. Besides my date, David, my dinner buddies included former student, Lauren Conrad from MTV's "The Hills", her lovely sister and her beautiful mom. We had a great time dishing on the show, her former girlfriend, Heidi, and her future plans to launch the "Lauren Conrad" fashion empire! Move over Beyonce, Gwen, and Jessica...

For more on my appearances with FIDM click HERE