Thursday, May 26, 2016

EUROPE.....Museum Visits Recap Part Two: Les Arts Decoratifs Museum "Fashion Forward: 3 Centuries of Fashion" and "Barbie" Exhibitions!




Couture and Barbie: Collage of the "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" and "Barbie" Exhibitions--Les Arts Decoratifs Paris



Continuing with my EUROPE MUSEUM RECAP, here's Part 2 of my Blog. In my previous blog HERE I covered attending the "Vogue 100 Years of Style" London Exhibition as well as the "James Bond: 50 Years of Style" Exhibit in Paris. David and I were in Paris for less than 24 hours but we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the brief time we had.






David Paul and Nick Verreos--Barbie Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Paris








Mon Dieu!--Nick Verreos at the "Fashion Forward: 3 Centuries of Fashion" Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Paris



We were very excited when we found out that there were TWO fabulous fashion exhibitions in Paris and in ONE Museum: Les Arts Decoratifs. The exhibitions were "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" (3 Centuries of Fashion), and the "Barbie" Exhibition (enough said!). So, naturally, we had to attend!








Les Arts Decoratifs Museum, Paris France




So, let's begin with the "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" fashion exhibition. This amazing exhibition celebrates three centuries of fashion--from the 1715-2016. The Exhibition is a fashion designer's/fashion historian/fashionista/fashion lover's DREAM! It begins with stunning 18th Century clothing from the Louis XIV time including all the fabulous Watteau-backed gowns, elaborate brocade waistcoats, and then into the Napoleon and Empress Josephine era with the delicately gorgeous Empire gowns. The exhibition segues right into the bustle-backed fashion period and the start of modern Haute Couture with Charles Frederick Worth in the late 1800's and early 20th Century Chanel, Lanvin, Schiaparelli and so many more...






Pannier Divine: Court Dress, around 1778--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris






Watteau Couture: Watteau-back dress and petticoat (robe a la francaise), around 1740--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition, Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris






Striped Bustle: Striped satin gown "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







Worth Sublime: An 1865 gown from Couturier Charles Frederick Worth--"Fashion Forward: 3                                      Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







  Fortuny Chic: "Delphos" Dress from Mariano Fortuny 1905-1907--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles                                          de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







     Empire Couture: Dress from Callot Soeurs 1909-1913--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode"                                                Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris









Empire Train: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum                                                                                    Paris





Early 20th Century Mode: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs                                                                            Museum Paris







The exhibition then moved onto the 20th Century highlighting the height of Haute Couture with late 1940s/1950's designs from Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain as well as the fabulous 1960's looks of Andre Courreges, Paco Rabanne, Emanuel Ungaro. When I walked into the main hall of Les Arts Decoratifs which contained these designs...I almost began to cry...





1950's Couture Superb: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs                                                                             Museum Paris







Dior 1947 New Look: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs                                                                             Museum Paris







Toreador and Picasso: Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode"                                           Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris









Emanuel Ungaro and Andre Courreges: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les                                                              Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







Cardin Caftan: 1960s Pierre Cardin flower printed silk gown (right)--"Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles                                   de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







   Balenciaga Pouf: Cristobal Balenciaga evening ensemble Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1961--                 "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







Comme des Garcons, 2016: "Fashion Forward: 3 Siecles de Mode" Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs                                                                      Museum Paris







Next up was the "Barbie" Exhibition---------------------------------------------------------------------------





Barbie!--Les Arts Decoratifs Museum in Paris also had the wonderful "Barbie" exhibition, showcasing...Barbie (!), of course. The exhibit pays tribute to the iconic doll, featuring 700 versions of the doll with many different styles of Barbie fashion. I was especially excited to seeing this exhibition since naturally, I am and have always been, a big Barbie fan. Also, if you might remember, I had a very nice moment during my time on Season 2 "Project Runway" when my design won the "Barbie Challenge"...






Nick Verreos "My Scene Barbie" Winning Design--Season 2 "Project Runway"










 Nick Verreos "Malibu Barbie" design--FIDM 2009 DEBUT show





I eventually had my own Barbie design sold all over the world. I also designed a "Malibu Barbie" look for the 50th Anniversary of Barbie celebration at the FIDM DEBUT fashion gala show. I was a bit sad that these creations/designs did not make it into the exhibition but, alas, there was enough there, to keep my attention.






Lots of Barbies--Barbie Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris








Barbie Couture Salon Fashion Show--Barbie Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris







Barbie Fab: Barbie Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris








Barbie & Ken Skating: Roller Skating and Figure Skating Barbie and Ken--Barbie Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Paris






Stewardess Barbie: American Airlines Stewardess Barbie--Barbie Exhibition Les Arts Decoratifs Museum Paris






Nick Verreos at the Louvre Pyramid and Louvre Palace Museum Courtyard, Paris France










Paris Sketch: I was so inspired by being in Paris--even for such a short time--that I did a "Couture Fashion Sketch" in my hotel :)



Au Revoir Paris! XO, Nick


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

EUROPE.....Museum Visits London and Paris Part One: "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" and "James Bond 007 L'Exposition"






London, Paris: Attending the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style", "James Bond L'Exposition: 50 Years of Style"





Earlier this month, my partner David Paul and I had the opportunity to fly to Europe. It was a business trip; I was making appearances for my NV Nick Verreos clothing line on QVC UK in London and QVC Italia in Milan. But in between the frenetic traveling and packing-and-unpacking and hotel-hopping, we somehow scheduled some Fashion Museums time! Here's my Part One BLOG RECAP of that...





       Nick Verreos and David Paul at the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" Exhibition, National                                                                      Portrait Gallery London



First up, visiting the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" photo exhibition at London's National Portrait Gallery:





Mind The Gap: David Paul and Nick Verreos at the Oxford Circus Underground, London







"Vogue 100: A Century of Style" exhibition, National Portrait Gallery, London--The exhibition celebrates 100 years of British Vogue and all the iconic photos, photographers, models, stylists and yes, fashion, that has made the magazine such an inspiration for fashion designers like myself.






Vogue 100: A Century of Style--British Vogue's iconic covers and photos






 Alexander McQueen Photo--"Vogue 100: A Century of Style" Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery London






Lips/Pearl and Naomi--"Vogue 100: A Century of Style" Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery London






Diva Linda: Photo of model Linda Evangelista in Versace Atelier, British Vogue--"Vogue 100: A Century of Style" Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery London





Next up, Paris! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While we were in London, David and I had a few days to "waste" before my QVC UK appearance so...we decided to take the Eurostar train to Paris for a couple of days of Paris Museum fun...






Nick Verreos and David Paul--Paris Garde du Nord






Place de la Republique Paris












Parisian Breakfast: Breakfast at the Best Western Premier Marais Grands Boulevards Hotel





First up on our Paris Fashion Museum Itinerary was, the James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style Exhibition at the Grand Halle de la Villette:




Nick Bond: Nick Verreos at the "James Bond: 007 L'Exposition" Grand Halle de la Villette Paris






Grand Casino 007: Photos from the "James Bond 007 L'Exposition" 50 Years of Style Exhibition--Grand Halle de la Villette Paris France






007 Mode--Fashions from James Bond and Bond Girls, "James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style" Exhibition, Grand Halle de la Villettte Paris France







Costume for Madonna from "Die Another Day" James Bond film--James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style Exhibition Paris France Grand Halle de la Villettte






Bond Girl Bikinis: Bikinis from Ursula Andress (left) and Halle Berry (right)--James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style Exhibition, Grand Halle de la Villette Paris France






Costume for Grace Jones by designer Azzedine Alaia for "View to a Kill"--James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style Grand Halle de la Villettte Paris






Roberto Cavalli gown for James Bond film--James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style Exhibition, Grand Halle de Villette Paris France










Costumes from James Bond film "Spectre"--James Bond 007 L'Exposition 50 Years of Style, Grand Halle de la Villette Paris France






James Bond 007 L'Exposition, Grand Halle de Villette Paris France






**NEXT UP on my BLOG: Three Centuries of COUTURE and BARBIE!!!



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