Project S.A.
Nick Verreos Interview
with Lacey Gruetzner
So, there I was… at the International Institute of Design and Technology’s 2009 “Imagine” fashion show in San Antonio. I was getting set up to cover the event, hopefully grab some interviews with the designers and check out some of San Antonio’s local talent when I start reading the program and notice that the host of the show is none other than Nick Verreos. Anyone who claims to love the show “Project Runway”, or pays any attention to fashion these days for that matter, knows who this is. Needless to say, I was excited. The opportunity to grab an interview with a person so accomplished in the fashion world right here in my own hometown… that just doesn’t happen every day. I took advantage of it.
MFM: So Nick, how are you tonight?
Nick: I’m so exited! You know I hosted the IIDT fashion show last year, and it was the inaugural show, so I can’t wait to see the fashions this year. I’m “doubly” excited to be here because my family lives here. So it gives me an excuse to fly in from L.A. every now and then, because you know usually they get on my case because I only see them once a year. So every time I get a call and get the opportunity to come host IIDT San Antonio, I’m like Yes!
MFM: That’s awesome, so how do you like living in L. A.? What are you doing there now?
Nick: Well I have my studio there, so I do all of my designs and all of the celebrities are there obviously so I do a lot of red carpet gowns. It’s nice to be there so they can just come straight to my studio and we can do everything there. Just recently, I’ve been getting a lot of offers to do some TV stuff and some hosting, so its good to be there... but you have to remember to separate yourself at times because it can get a little bit crazy.
MFM: I can imagine. Do you do quite a few shows like this?
Nick: Yes I do. Actually, I do other IIDT fashion shows. I’ve been doing the Imagine show for the IIDT in Seattle. I’m always doing seminars and workshops. Things like that. Especially because I am a professor, I teach fashion.
MFM: I saw you on “The Hills”!
Nick: (laughing) Yes, yes, I did teach Lauren (Conrad), but that was all real! I can’t answer about the other stuff, If that’s real, but at least my teaching was real. I taught her for ten weeks, and she only missed one week. You heard it here!
MFM: Was that kind of a distraction do you think, with all the cameras in the classroom?
Nick: Um, not to me. It was funny because right before they started filming you know all the other students had to be told because it’s a real class and they (The Hills producers) said, “We’re going to film The Hills here and Lauren Conrad is going to be in this class, does anyone have a problem with this?”. And all the students, mostly the girls where like, “ugh, ugh, I just don’t know,” rolling their eyes “like oh my god, I just don’t know”. They were like haters and then I kid you not, you know where I’m going with this… The first day of filming for my class, Oh honey, they all had on makeup, hair, outfits, and they were like, “huh, what, who? We’re being filmed today?” Ya’ll are haters!! You know they were all dying for their fifteen minutes.
MFM: So tell me about the show. I have to say a nearly died when I saw your name as the host on the program!
Nick: Oh, girl this is going to be such a great show. All of the designers are graduating. There are gonna be twenty five collections shown tonight. There’s gonna be a lot of fashion tonight. So you better get some wine before hand. It’s just amazing to see the new talent coming out of San Antonio right now.
MFM: And what can we expect from Nick Verreos in the future?
Nick: Well, a lot of designing and possibly again, some TV work. You might be seeing me, you know, host a show or two… But about fashion! Maybe making over people.
MFM: Well you look fabulous!
Nick: Thank you, Thank you. You won’t see me on the tool academy that’s for sure!
MFM: Thank you for taking the time to come talk to me Nick.
Nick: No, Thank you! I love San Antonio! Muah! Muah!
// MFM
Lacey Gruetzner
Monster Fashion Magazine
