Grace Kelly, Marella Agnelli, Bianca Jagger and Marilyn Monroe are a few of the iconic and powerful women that influenced Nikolaki's latest red carpet collection. "Project Runway: Under The Gunn" mentor and former "Project Runway" contestant Nick Verreos feted the Fall '14 collection with a champagne reception and red carpet trend preview at FIDM this week. Verreos said this season he was inspired by goddesses and women of great style to create the collection he designs with his partner David Paul. They looked at old photos of Euro divas such as Agnelli and couture collections displayed at museums and wanted to know more about who these women were. “It was about paying an homage to women who took chances in fashion through the ages,” said Verreos who added that 1950s and ‘70s era goddesses were especially influential. Sequin gowns with plunging necklines harkened back to Bianca Jagger and the Studio 54 disco era while silhouettes and fabrications paid homage to chic ‘50s starlets such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. To modernize looks for today, the design duo altered silhouettes slightly for full effect. For example, a stunning lemon yellow dress was made with a flat front, beautiful open back and softly gathered full skirt that looked utterly effortless. “I think it’s something you might see at [this year's] Academy Awards,” said Verreos of the ball gown silhouette “[It] was a big trend on the Paris Haute Couture runways.” Though made for the svelte figures that grace the runway and the red carpet, much consideration was also given to dressing real women. “There’s a feeling of comfortability and I think about that when I’m designing and to really pay tribute to different body types,” said Verreos. For example, a jersey gown has diagonal draping that can literally almost “perform plastic surgery” and cinch you in and a printed silk gazar dress featured a silhouette that had a trapeze effect which created airiness around the body. “It’s about really wrapping your arms softly as a designer on a woman’s body - not constricting it or restraining it,” said Verreos. “I think the woman herself will feel that way. She wants to feel comfortable.” No doubt today's glamour girls including Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence know that feeling on the red carpet. I can't wait to see what they wear today at the Oscars. To get in the spirit, here are some looks from Nikolaki’s red carpet preview.
More images after the break.
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