Nick Verreos Figure Skating Fashion Blog UniversalSports.com: Grand Prix Cup of Russia!

Babushkas Loves Sequins!

Tango Hands Abbott: US Figure Skater Jeremy Abbott at Cup of Russia

Figure Skating Fever: If you've been keeping up with my blog here, you might know that I have been covering the Costume "Hot's" and "Not's" for UniversalSports.com for this season's Grand Prix series.

Now we are in St. Petersburg Russia for the Cup of Russia 2010. Several Figure Skaters changed up their costumes from the last time they competed--some good and some not so much. Here are some improved ones:

Ashley Wagner US Figure Skater

Where Are My Castanets: I think Ashley’s Long Program costume is a step in the right direction. She always looks elegant and regal and I think this more traditional style suits her skating better. Although a bit fussy for my taste (not a fan of the ruffled “rickety-rack” trim that looks as if it came from JoAnn’s Fabric Store), the strapless effect of the dress and the beautiful Ombre-dyed skirt enhance her beautiful skating.

Akiko Suzuki Japanese Figure Skater Skating to "Fiddler On The Roof"

And the Award For “Much Improved” Goes To: I think this is a big improvement from the costume Akiko wore at Cup of China. It is more sophisticated and reflective of what is happening in fashion now; the asymmetry of the neckline, the diagonal ruffles, the contrast edging, the rosette details. The previous costume looked juvenile and meant more for a Junior Skater. She went from 15 to 25 in ONE beautiful Costume!

The "Why Bother"...

Tomas Verner Czech Republic Figure Skater Skating to a Michael Jackson Medley

Beat It: Czech boy-wonder Verner changed up his costume by going from a blue shirt to a black shirt (boy, that was a STRETCH!). While I understand that he is simplifying everything this year, I think this is taking things a step too far. He went from looking like he worked on the Lido Deck to becoming a student at the Marcel Marceau School of Mime!

And Then...

Lucie Mysliveckova and Matej Novak: Let My People Go: Remix

Russia's Mysliveckova and Novak skated to music that included--among others--an African-American Spiritual Song, ABBA and well, everything in between. The soundtrack was a potpourri of a MESS and what did I think of their corresponding costumes?

Click HERE to read what I really thought plus view all my comments from the Cup of Russia Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Nawaz Sharif Letter to President Zardari

Nawaz Sharif sent a letter to President Zardari. Click here to read that letter

NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos and David Paul Wedding Gown: Lifetime Promotes Lucy Liu's New Movie "Marry Me"

Catch the Couture Bouquet:

Where's the Bride: NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Demi-Couture Wedding Gown, Silk organza strapless gown with hand-beaded paillette bustier *photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

To promote Lucy Liu's new Lifetime Movie: Marry Me premiering Sunday, December 12 at 9 pm et/pt , I was asked by Lifetime to send them some photos of recent Wedding Dresses from my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Demi-Couture Collection. And although we do not have a full line of Wedding Dresses, I always have one or two special Bridal Pieces to complete each collection, so I was happy to send images of these new looks. They also asked several other Project Runway Designers--Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao, Season One's Austin Scarlett, and Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall to name but a few.

For Spring 2011, my NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul and I designed a couple of (we think) beautiful dresses for a very stylish bride. The first is a Strapless Gown featuring a Silk Chiffon Hand Beaded Bustier with a Silk Organza Raw Cut High-Low Skirt, shown here:

*photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

On one of our fabulous (and favorite) models, Amanda Fields from Season 3 Project Runway. It is fully lined in taffeta and has Horsehair trim to stiffen the hem. It also has hidden side pockets!

A Mykonos Wedding: NIKOLAKI Demi-Couture Wedding Dress, hand-beaded paillettes over silk chiffon cowl-draped dress with matching capelet *photo courtesy of Evans Vestal Ward

The other Wedding Dress we submitted is this short-and-sexy number for that adventurous bride. Seen above on model Lauren Gish, it is a hand-beaded Ecru-colored mini bias-cut dress featuring a cowl-draped front and back. It also has a matching hand-beaded paillette sequin capelet. Think Mykonos Wedding...for a very rich Supermodel...or a sexy Dubai Emira!

*Click HERE to view all the wedding dresses by Project Runway Winners and Alumn as well as Wedding Gown Design Veterans such as Angel Sanchez, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, and Monique Lhullier.