Nick Verreos Hosts Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 Bahamas Day 2: In Search of The Next Oscar, Indashio, Oliver Tolentino!!

Welcome To The Bahamas Club!

Turquoise Hosting: Nick Verreos poses at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 Red Carpet

Darlings: We're now onto Night Two--or "Runway 2"--of The Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010. This was the night I was to host the "In Search of The Next Oscar" Fashion Design Competition. After the previous evening's great start, with the NextGen Designers and Eco-Fashion Designs Presentations, I didn't know how IOTFW would be able to "bring it", but they sure did! They OUTDID themselves!!!

My day began, as I pulled the curtains in my hotel room and witnessed one of the two BIGGEST Cruise Ships known to man: The Royal Caribbean Allure of The Seas. The one with Central Park in the middle (along with REAL birds in it!), a skating rink and like 25 floors! Yep, THAT ONE! (see above photo). It was just arriving into Nassau as I was trying to make my morning coffee! They need to have a fabulous Project Runway-esque show up in there--and hire me to host it! Just sayin'...

Well, now onto the Second fashiontastic night of Islands of The World Fashion Week:

Caribbean Cocktail Hour: Tomas Frenes, Nick Verreos, Beverly Taylor, Oliver Tolentino, Owen Bethel and Louis Sarmiento, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

The night began with a VIP Cocktail Hour where attending fashion designers, editors, and fashionistas alike got to mingle and discuss the wonderful Bahamian weather, hospitality, and yes, the fabulous fashion! I opened the night's festivities with my "DIVA" (I have to put it in quotes thank you very much!) runway walk "blessing" and then we were off, starting with the "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Presentation.

Violet Sequins: A Design by Georgina Esther Dominican Republic, Finalist "In Search of the Next Oscar" Design Competition

This Contest was created to find the next great Island Designer and was coined after Dominican Republic-born Oscar de la Renta. The Finalists were Georgina Esther from the Dominican Republic, who showed cocktail and evening wear, and Raynelis Howell from the Turks & Caicos, who showed sportswear separates as well as cocktail ensembles:

Models showing the designs of Raynelis Howell, Finalist "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Competition

Both had their own unique point of view and the judges--Simon Collins Dean of Fashion Parsons The New School of Design, Louis Sarmiento, Senior Director for IMG Fashion, and Fashion Designer Jay McCarroll, had their work cut out for them (Thank goodness I was just hosting!).

Nina Michael Heidi...What Do You Think: Nick Verreos hosts "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Competition Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

I brought both Georgina and Raynelis out--with their model muses--for a Q&A session--a la Project Runway--with the judges, which turned out to be a big hit with the audience--maybe not so much with the finalists who were a bit , shall we say, nervous. The announcement of the Winner would actually happen on Day Three so stay tuned...

Red Bull Barbie: Indashio takes his Finale Walk, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Another highlight of the evening were the Runway Shows of Guest Designers Indashio and Oliver Tolentino. Indashio--whom you might remember winning VH1 Glam God Reality TV Show, is a stylist/designer out of NYC. Miss THANG pushes buttons. And huney, he sure did in The Bahamas. For his final walk, he danced his way--holding a Red Bull--in full DRAG bubblegum pink feathered dress, wig and make-up! The Crowd went CRAZY!

Strike A Pose: A look from Indashio modeled by Miss Bahamas 2010 (and Top 20 Finalist at Miss World 2010) Braneka Bassett, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 (photo courtesy of Adrian Richards)

As for his collection, it was very colorful, Club-Kid cool, and just the right side of H&M-meets-TopShop; lots of sexy neon-colored mini dresses, printed one-shoulder Resort-wear for that stylish girl arriving on to the Bahamas via the Royal Caribbean Allure of The Seas.

Six-Pack Sailor: A look from Indashio, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

And he didn't forget the boys: They were either wearing a THONG swimsuit or sexy low-slung colorful pants. Next up was Philippine-born Los Angeles-based fashion designer Oliver Tolentino. He was the complete opposite of Indashio--in terms of his Ladies-Who-Lunch...and Black-tie Gala Collection.

Fashion Designer Oliver Tolentino and his Muse, model Tutay Maristela, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Oliver has dressed former Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos, and was also a Finalist in the Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress Competition at this year's Academy Awards. His Collection was elegant, showed lots of intricate draping, bows and ties, and used fabrications such as pineapple and abaca fibers.

He even flew in his muse, Filipina model Tutay Maristela, who STOMPED the runway OVERTIME in his gowns. Take a look at that pose above which she did at the end of the runway: WOOOORK!!!!!!

Matchy-Matchy: Host Nick Verreos and model Tutay Maristela (wearing Oliver Tolentino) at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

It was a wonderful ending to a fantastic second night at the Islands of The World Fashion Week here in The Bahamas.
Stay Tuned for "Runway 3" or Day Three---darlings, there's even more from my fun time in The Bahamas to come!

Click below for the Finale of Indashio's Show:

Click below to watch me host "In Search Of The Next Oscar" Design Competition:

Nick Verreos and Islands Of The World Fashion Week 2010--Arrival and the Bahamas Screening of Jay McCarroll's "Eleven Minutes"!

The Bahamas...Here I Come!!!!

Uncle Nick and Mommy Peach: Nick Verreos with Project Runway Season 8 Designer Peach Carr and Daughter Molly at LAX

Last week, I flew to the Caribbean island nation of The Bahamas to host The Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010. Two years ago, I had the pleasure of actually debuting my Spring 2009 Collection at the Islands of The World Fashion Week...but this time, I was invited back to host. Less steaming...less model fitting...less alterations...less stress!! And more hosting fun time. My trip began at LAX with a BANG...as I made my way to my gate, my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul (who of course came with me), yelled "Is that Peach?" Yep, wouldn't you just know that Peach Carr, Project Runway Season 8 Designer was in the same terminal waiting to catch a flight back to Chicago (she had flown to LA to attend an event) with her daughter! Well, I thought this was a fabulous start to my Bahamas Islands of The World Fashion Week Adventure!

Flossy-Flossy Limo: Nick Verreos and Mr. Brooks, the "Ultimate VIP Driver" in The Bahamas, Nassau Airport

After about 8 hours of flying and a Miami-to-Nassau connection, David and I finally arrived in The Bahamas, where our unofficial "Mr. Bahamas", the dashing Mr. Brooks, our driver awaited us with a LONG white limousine and a big smile! We had the pleasure of originally meeting Mr. Brooks two years ago when I showed my collection in The Bahamas and we were more than ecstatic to re-unite with him...and his LONG WHITE LIMOUSINE!!!

Crusing: Cruise Ships parked outside our British Colonial Hilton Pool and Private Beach

After checking in to the British Colonial Hilton, site of the 2010 Islands of The World Fashion Week, and getting some much needed rest, we ventured into the gorgeous Caribbean sun-drenched pool area of the hotel, only to be greeted by THREE of the biggest Cruise ships parked (literally) outside!!! These Cruise Ships weren't stuck off the coast of Mexico waiting to be rescued!

Dip In The Pool: View of the pool and private beach from our hotel room, The British Colonial Hilton Nassau Bahamas

On this first evening, we were invited to an exclusive Bahamas screening of Project Runway Season One Winner Jay McCarroll's Documentary "Eleven Minutes". Jay, in fact, was one of the starring "Guest Celeb Designers" showing at this year's Island of The World Fashion Week and so it was only natural that the documentary that followed his first official Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week Runway Show several years back, would "kick off" this week's events.

White Pant Screening: Nick Verreos at the "Eleven Minutes" Screening, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Over 100 VIP guests were invited to the screening-- including editors, designers and yes, myself.

I had seen "Eleven Minutes" back at the official OUTFEST Hollywood Screening a couple of years ago along with my Season 2 Alumn Raymundo Baltazar and Season One Finalist Kara Saun (above photo), yet I was excited to see the film again. After the film, Jay (who had just arrived from Pennsylvania) held a Post-Screening Q & A. He had not even unpacked and in fact was driven straight from airport to the movie theater so I'm sure all he wanted was a post-flight cocktail. Yet, he was gracious enough to answer all the questions.

Caribbean Queens: Jay McCarroll and Nick Verreos, "Eleven Minutes" Screening, The Bahamas

As he looked out in the audience, he almost choked...on his words...as he saw me and David and exclaimed "Nick Verreos! What Are YOU doing here???" I guess no one informed him that I would be hosting the Islands of The World Fashion Week events, and he was happily (I think!) surprised to see me there. Needless to say, it was wonderful to see Miss Jay. You never know who you might run into...in The Bahamas!!!

Next Up: Islands Of The World Fashion Week 2010 Recap: Day One

Click below for a fun little video showing the beautiful beach at the Hilton in the Bahamas--and those HUGE Crusie ships:

Nick Verreos to Host "In Search of The Next Oscar" Design Competition: Islands of The World Fashion Week Bahamas 2010!

Caribbean Red Carpet Couture Hosting!!

Junkanoo Nick: Nick Verreos in The Bahamas, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2008 Welcoming Night Party

I am beyond excited to announce that I will be flying to The Bahamas TOMORROW!!! No, not to ride the dolphins, or slide on the Atlantis's Leap of Faith but to be part of...

The Island Of The World Fashion Week 2010 fashion shows and festivities. In addition, I have also been invited to host a fabulous Fashion Design Competition "In Search of The Next Oscar". Not as in the Academy Awards Oscar, but as in Oscar de la Renta, the Dominican Republic-born fashion designer. This competition will recognize and honor the island-based designer whose collection reflects a cohesive meeting point between ready-to-wear and Haute Couture.

Take A Bow: NIKOLAKI designers Nick Verreos and David Paul with models, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2008

As many of you may know, I was privileged enough--along with my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul--to go to the Bahamas two years ago to show our NIKOLAKI Collection at the Islands of The World Fashion Week 2008.

NIKOLAKI at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2008

Showing our gorgeous gowns and dresses at the Islands of The World Fashion Week was an amazing one-of-a-kind experience which needless to say garnered TONS of press for us, including many top US and international publications.

NIKOLAKI at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2008

The elegant venue, the stunning models--everything was up to par with any top Fashion Week around the World. In short, The Bahamas does it right when it comes to showcasing the best of Fashion from the World's Islands!!!

This year's IOTW Fashion Week will run November 11-13th with fashion shows EVERY NIGHT at the elegant British Colonial Hilton. Highlights include Special Celebrity Designer Jay McCarroll--yes, Winner of Season One Project Runway--who will be showing his collection on Opening Night; the Search For The Next Oscar design competition on November 12Th and ending with the Haiti Relief Fashion Show on November 13Th.

Above are the Schedule of Events for Islands of The World Fashion week 2010. Click HERE for Tickets!!

See you in The Bahamas!!!!