Nick Verreos Does Chicago! A "Sneak Peak" at MSN.com "The Victory Project Chicago"!!!

Shopping, Eating...and Filming...in Chicago!Nick Verreos Loves Shopping...and Macy's!

Happy Labor Day Weekend Kids! Labor Day is about relaxing , traveling, maybe spending time with friends and family...unfortunately for me (and my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul) we are "sequestered" at our L.A. Nikolaki Studio working on our upcoming Spring 2011 Collection (soon I will post Details on the "When and Where" of our show for Style Week Orange County!) But...I figured this would be a great time to post some photos from my trip last week to Chicago! (see how I tie-in the "traveling" part of Labor Day Weekend??).

Brian Entringer--a friend who met me for breakfast while I was in Chicago--and I pose in front of The Peninsula Hotel Chicago Lion Statues

I flew to the "Windy City" (it was GA-GA-GORGEOUS!! And not windy...or raining..or humid) to shoot my "Fashion Makeover" segments for the four AMAZING ladies of the MSN.com Web-show "The Victory Project". I spent about a week there--I will post my Recap with photos of the "Makeovers" soon!--during my stay in Chicago, I was lucky enough to stay at the beautiful Peninsula Hotel.

The Peninsula Hotel Chicago Bathtub in my room...which I didn't get to use :(

Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend much time in my fabulously appointed room since I spent most of my time shopping for the ladies to get just the right looks as well as filming. I shopped at Macy's Water Tower Place for TEN HOURS!
Jennifer Castaneda, a Producer on "The Victory Project"( and a doppelganger for Vanessa Hudgens!) "holds" my jewelry, Macy's Chicago Water Tower Place

I host a lot of Fashion Director Events for Macy's across the country so you know I love me some Macy's. But let me tell you, the sales associates at this particular store were AMAZING! Nick "hearts" them!

Posing and Filming: Nick Verreos with Producers Jennifer Castaneda and Erin Nikaido, Cinnamon Boutique Chicago, MSN.com The Victory Project

We also shopped--and actually filmed my segments at two very chic Chicago boutiques, including Cinnamon in Roscoe Village, as well as Perchance, in the Southport Corridor shopping district.

Nick Verreos holds a very special Red Peanut Mole Cake, Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill Restaurant Chicago

After all the shopping and hours and hours of filming, there was nothing else but to go to sleep! But first: One night I had the pleasure of having a late-night dinner with my clients at the very-sought after Frontera Grill and Topolobampo Restaurant. Somehow, they procured a reservation--at like 9:30 pm!--and as tired as I was, I decided I also needed to eat! After the dinner (Owner Rick Bayless was THERE! Eating at a nearby counter kids!), I was about to get up and leave, when THE Frontera Grill Pastry Chef, Melissa Novak and one of the executive waiters Paco Zamora, came and brought me--yes, ME! A succulent Red Peanut Mole Cake! It's NOT on the Menu, they reassured me--and it was OUT of this WORLD!!!!!

Finally, speaking of food, on my last night--after filming for fourteen hours, I came back to my Peninsula Hotel and ordered in. I decided to just get "The Burger"--a $50 Peninsula Burger (see photo above)-- Yep, $50!! That's what the total came out to...but HUNEY...it was SOOOOOOO worth it! Between that Burger (sorry Vegetarians!) and that aforementioned cake---there's nothing better to cap off my evenings in Chicago!

Go to MSN.com The Victory Project for updates on the 4 FABULOUS Chicago Ladies!!!

MSN.com The Victory Project: Atlanta--Nick Verreos Goes Shopping!!

HOTLANTA Fashion Babes!Color Divas: MSN Fashion Guru Nick Verreos and Renee, Victory Project Atlanta

Back in April, I flew to Atlanta Georgia to do my "Nick Magic" on the four Atlanta Ladies of MSN.com and Special K's The Victory Project. As you may know, I am the "Fashion Guru" for this great Web-exclusive program which follows women from various parts of the country in their quest to be VICTORIOUS. The women have a "special" goal they want to conquer for a unique event in their lives--be it an Anniversary, a Job Interview, a Honeymoon or maybe even a Reunion--Their goal is to become healthier and fit with the aid of Work-Out Diva Kacy Duke, and Nutritionist Katherine Brooking.Yellow Gorgeous: Nick Verreos and Holly, Victory Project Atlanta

After months of getting their body and nutrition program in tip-top Special K shape, Beauty Expert Chantal Moore comes in for the hair and makeup make-over and I come in to work my "Have You Ever Thought of Wearing Heels HUUUUUNEEEEYYYY!!!!!????" Nick Verreos fashion "Moment".
Well Appointed: The Room at The Mansion Peachtree Hotel, Atalnta

I arrived in Atlanta, checked into my stupendous The Mansion Peachtree Hotel Suite in the tony area of Buckhead (I heard Beyonce had just been there and left her room at 1 AM to check out her husband's performance!) and went right to work. A full 16-hour day of pre-shopping and I was "armed and ready" for my Victory Project Atlanta Babes. For my first two Fashion Subjects, we filmed (and shopped) at the gorgeous Macy's Lenox Square Mall in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. As you know, I host a TON of events for Macy's across the USA so I was "at home" with all the stylish INC/International Concepts separates, directional Rachel Roy jackets and tops and very cute Jessica Simpson pumps around me, thank you very much!For the other two ladies, Nikki and Amanda (above), I had them meet me at my favorite Atlanta "specialty" boutique, Fa-brik. Angelique Dorier and Kara Dedecker, Fa-brik's fashion "goddesses" (above with moi) were so accommodating, in making myself--and the Victory Project Atlanta ladies, feel right at home, and as if this was their very own closet!Brick Fashion Loft: Interior of Fa-Brik Boutique Atlanta

I LOVED hanging out with my Atlanta girls and getting our "Shopping ON!!" Each of them had their own unique goal, unique tastes and unique way of dealing with fashion and I just made them make FASHION their FRIEND...not their enemy. I think that I helped them...one FAB fitted jacket ,flowy dress, and fierce strappy heel...at a time! Bye Atlanta. I Will Miss You!

Click BELOW for my Shopping Video with Holly from The Victory Project Atlanta:


And click HERE for all the rest of the "Reveal" shopping videos.
Next City, Take a Guess:
a) San Francisco b) Chicago, or c) Dallas
I'm not saying....