Nick Verreos Hosts Project Style The Promenade in Temecula: The Recap!

Temecula Gives FASHION!!!

Temecula Stylistas: Nick Verreos (center) with the "Project Style" Finalists, (L to R) Kei Pham, Lexi Lorah, Emily Fontaine and Daniel Castillo, Project Style at The Promenade Mall in Temecula

Last Saturday I drove--along with my trusty NIKOLAKI partner David Paul--to Temecula, California, to host the next "Project Style" LIVE Style Off at The Promenade Mall. Temecula is about 85 miles Southeast of LA--between Los Angeles and San Diego. It's gorgeously sunny and from what the locals (later) told me, it also has some fantastic wineries. No time for wine tasting...it's all about STYLING, SHOPPING and choosing The Next Top Trendsetter in the Temecula Valley!

Nick Verreos Hosting Project Style at The Promenade in Temecula

The Promenade has stores like J. C. Penney, Macy's, Sears, plus Apple, Aeropostale, Victoria's Secret, Williams-Sonoma and a newly-revamped Charlotte Russe, among others. For the upcoming Holiday Season, in fact new stores will be opening including (wait for it!) H & M (yeayyy!), G by Guess, and MAC Makeup.

Charming Nick: Nick Verreos, Charming Charlie Fashion Show "Project Style" The Promenade in Temecula

Now, back to "Project Style": Since May, through a series of monthly style competitions, budding fashionistas went on shoptopia.com, applied and then won spots to be here! Now, the four Finalists were at The Promenade in Temecula for the LIVE Style Off, hosted by MOI! After introducing the finalists, I gave them $200 Promenade Gift Cards and they each had only ONE HOUR to shop for an entire new look for themselves, change and get ready for the runway!

Swivel Nick: Nick Verreos shows a shopper how to use the "swivel" Virtual Dressing Room, The Promenade in Temecula

While the Finalists were out shopping and using their hour wisely, I entertained the crowd by doing my own little runway walk, having a fun "Project Runway Fan Q & A", and hosting a great "Charming Charlie" accessory Fashion Show. I also demonstrated to some "lucky" guests from the audience how to use the FAB Swivel Virtual Dressing Room and showed them how my Red Carpet NIKOLAKI Gowns would look like...on them!

Top Two: Nick Verreos with Lexy Lorah (left) and Daniel Castillo (right)

Once, the shopping-and-styling hour was up, the finalists were back and then it was up to the three very esteemed judges of Barbara Contreras of FIDM, Rita Griggs of Palomar Community College and last year's "Project Style" Winner Sinead Copely, to pick the 2011 Winner, who, by the way, would win a $1,000 Promenade Gift Card!
And the Winner Is...

Lexi Lorah (above) The judges (and I) loved her use of color, prints, her styling (of course) and how directional the entire look was. She also was ON TREND when it came to Fall 2011. Congrats Lexi! (she was very excited--and surprised). Afterward, everyone wanted to take photos...And as in "Everyone", I mean ME!

ManBag Divas: I HAD to get a "ManBag" Photo with Finalist Kei Pham and his brown leather shoulder Messenger Bag.

There were a couple of young Temecula Fashionistas looking very cute, who wanted to take a photo--and yes, I couldn't resist! Look at her printed top/cropped skinny pant/peep-toe bootie heel ensemble and his Chucks-cardigan-and-jean short look: Love! Ten out of Ten "Nick V." Red Carpet Points.

Project Style Winner 202o: I also had some "Mini Fashionista Fans" in Temecula with the cutest little girl above, looking very adorable in a multi-colored flower-print top and bright pink pants --Maybe she'll be a Finalist in "Project Style 2020"! I wonder if I'll be hosting that one too???
Finally...

Prom Kids 2011: Chrissy and David

Guess who came to my event? My NIKOLAKI Partner's (David Paul) High School Prom Date, Chrissy! I won't even say what year they went to the Prom because well, he might not be my NIKOLAKI partner after that! Anyhow, I made sure to get a "Prom Photo" of the two of them. All that is missing is a Corsage, Boutonniere and some BAD 80's hairdo's (Ooops, I gave away the decade!! He's gonna be sooooo mad!).

I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST in Temecula and cannot wait to come back --maybe for some of that famous Temecula Wine Tasting...Thanks for all the great "Project Style" fun and especially for being such a FABULOUS audience!!! Love ya!!!