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Hello again "Under The Gunn" fans and faithful readers of my "Inside Dish" here on my blog---This week was the 4th episode of Lifetime Network's "Under the Gunn" entitled "Unconventional Vampire". The challenge was to create a look inspired by the new film "Vampire Academy" and use a mix of both "regular" fabric as well as unconventional.





I loved the whole spooky imagery created by the lights and scenic production team of "Under The Gunn". The entire "set" was AMAZING! It was all done at Grand Hope Park right outside of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM campus, yet these professionals "turned it out"; making everything look like a scary movie, of sorts. There was SO much dry ice "fog" air that, several times, we could barely see Tim introducing the challenge--or "Vampire Academy" actress Sarah Highland--and therefore filming had to be stopped, and re-shot.



So let's get to my "Inside Dish" and yes, Miss Isabelle...




The Tim Nudge: When Tim Gunn and I went into the workroom to visit my designers--and specifically Isabelle, she was ALL OVER THE PLACE. When she was trying to explain to both of us what she was doing, it was evident that she needed to focus. When Tim Gunn nudged me as she was talking, it was as if he was saying to me "That Isabelle is CRAY CRAY...and Good Luck!".




Inside Beauty Dish: Something you guys didn't see on the episode was the fact that during the hair-and-makeup time, and after Benefit Cosmetics and Blow Pro finished their job of making her model look fab, Isabelle was NOT HAPPY (she looked perfectly fine, BTW!). She decided to take her model, sit her in a Benefit "Pretty Room" chair and re-do her model's hair.







She was OBSESSED with this and shaking at the thought of her model going out during the runway with what the actual professionals had done. I tried to tell her that the Blow Pro stylists had done a great job on her model's hair but she was totally against it so she went "Hair Rogue". In the end, her model's hair was OK and not an issue but I, personally, thought it was rather disrespectful to do this.












Natalia Fedner: Natalia's wine-red silk dress was a good one. Behind the scenes, she struggled a bit with this but in the end, she pulled it out.

Inside Dish: The black netting midriff was the issue, but like I said., it all worked out.




Stephanie Ohnmacht: I LOVED Stephanie's ivory fitted "Vampira Chic" dress. I have to say that it was one of my faves and not just because she was one of my designers. Her design was sleek and reminded me of a Stephane Rolland or Rolland Mouret dress. This look, however, was not problem-free.




Inside Dish: Stephanie used this black netting "unconventional" material which she incorporated in the neckline. The netting was very harsh and itchy and eventually made her model cry as it rubbed up against her skin. Her whole neck was red from the irritation. I reached out to the production people to get some medical tape that possibly could be put against her skin to lessen her pain. To make a long story short, we got it done. But her model gets TEN RUNWAY POINTS for not CRYING through the whole runway experience.




Oscar Lopez: This was my favorite look of the night and I was surprised it did not win. Oscar hit the whole "Vampire Academy Chic" look on the nose!

Inside Dish: Oscar used red "unconventional" material and black jersey. He completely doubled this jumpsuit in the jersey fabrication. Completely. During the fitting with his model, however, we hit a problem: it was too short in the torso. He miscalculated the model's torso length. I came in and suggested to Oscar that he add a 2-2 1/2" waistband in the black jersey and sew it to the waist to "extend" the torso. Not only did Oscar do that but he also (wisely) added it to the red front panel. No one would ever notice the "mistake". I was in awe of his quick sewing "fixing" ability.








Isabelle Donola: Oh Miss Isabelle. Let me just say that when Tim and I went into the workroom, I quickly got the sense that she A) did not want to be mentored (at least by me); and B) she wasn't going to listen to my suggestions. I liked her idea but asked her to edit and think about having her look be less kooky and more fashion-friendly. I also asked Isabelle to do an "Option 2" in terms of a wrap-around red accent. Only because I thought her first idea would be considered too "avant garde" and would not be flattering for her wearer.




Oh Dear Isabelle: The following day, I found out that she had not done as I suggested and half-made the inner-dress. I almost choked when judge Zanna Roberts Rassi said that the aforementioned inner dress was so well-done (if Zanna only knew that it was half sewn!). But in "Project Runway"-style, Isabelle made it work. But trust me kids, this experience with Isabelle made me think twice about choosing her as one of my group's designers. It was beginning to be obvious that she did not like me, respect me or wanted  my advice.

Thursday night was the Premiere of "Under The Gunn" on Lifetime. I'm honored and proud to be one of the three Mentors along with Season 9 Winner Anya Ayoung-Chee and Project Runway All Stars Season 1 Winner Mondo Guerra. On the show, it will be our job to mentor, guide, manage, coach,
cheerlead and, when necessary, knock down with tough love, a team of designers in order to
lead them to runway success. The premiere episode was a doozy, to say the least. Before I give you my "Nick Take" on a couple of things (yes, I'm talking about being rejected OVER and OVER...and OVER again, by the designers), I want to begin with how AMAZING it was to be standing at my Alma Mater--the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--along with my fellow mentors but more importantly with TIM GUNN:









Mentor Nick: I never thought that A) I would get a call from Tim to ask me to be on this show and to be a Mentor, and B) I would be in a position to take Tim's mentoring that he gave me back in 2005 on Season 2 Project Runway and "pay it back" to other designers.



The Mentors Lounge:


Lounging: This above, my dear friends, was The Mentors Lounge--or as I like to call it "My Home Away From Home". This is where Anya, Mondo and I "hung out" while the designers were creating their designs and where we the Mentors discussed our thoughts on the designers and well, so much more (I'll leave that little nugget for later!).











The Workroom: For this first episode, there were 8 (of the total 15) designers who we had workroom visits with to survey what they were creating and also how they were working. Our job was not to give them any "design" direction but just to find out what they were doing. From looking at their portfolios before we made this workroom visit, out of these 8 designers, I really liked what Michelle, Shan, Blake and Brady were doing especially. I also liked Natalia and Oscar. And yes, I ended up with them (Oscar and Natalia) on my team...




Natalia Fedner: I had the privilege of judging the LA Castings of "Project Runway Season 12" (and this show) and Natalia was one of the designers I saw and I remembered her designs and I liked what I saw. What did concern me--and the other mentors--was how frantic and all-over-the-place she was when we visited her in the workroom; she barely stopped to make eye contact with us or even listen to what we were saying. She was too busy trying to work, I guess. But it did put up a red flag.




Is That Her Cha-Cha? Then, when it came time for the runway, she created this WAAAY too short micro mini dress. It was two seconds from being Hoochie Vulgar. But there was something about how passionate she was during the castings and how great those other dresses were that made  me consider Natalia for my "team".




Oscar Garcia-Lopez: Oscar was the other designer that I chose. I was a bit "on the fence" with Oscar to be honest. His portfolio included pics of A LOT of crystals and ruffles...and gowns. Now, I'm a gown designer, yes, which actually was why I was thinking that maybe I shouldn't pick Oscar; I should "challenge myself", I thought. And then he made this:




Golden Girl: OK--on the negative side, this was A LOT; the hat, the fingerless gloves, the been there/done that peplum....but IT WAS DONE! Finished to perfection and well, he thought of an entire look. It was of questionable taste level, but it was DONE. Instead of focusing on the fact that it was two minutes from tacky-licious and over-done, I tried to focus on the fact that A) this guy can CREATE (he made all this in SIX HOURS!), and B) maybe, just maybe I can try to help him edit and recognize a good taste level. This would be my challenge, perhaps.




Well, as you know now, the second half of this Premiere episode focused on the Mentors--choosing the designers we wanted for our team--and the fact that several times, we all wanted the same designers. At this point, the designers then picked which mentor they wanted. No one wanted me. Well, almost no one (Thank You Natalia!).




The Three-Legged Puppy At The Dog Shelter: Going through all the rejection made me feel like I was back in high school and I was the last one picked for the (name a sport). I also felt like the three-legged Rottweiler at the dog shelter that no one wanted. Many people on Social Media (Twitter, etc.) have speculated that the designers (especially the younger "kids") might have been intimidated by my experience, instructor background, being the "not so cool" older Mentor...who knows. And maybe all this had something to do with it. But I have a different take: they couldn't remember WHO I WAS. While Anya was the winner of Project Runway Season 9 (which was not too long ago) and Mondo, well, it's MONDO, after all. Compared to those two, I was "chopped liver". I was heartened to see Tim Gunn's take on all this, and well, he said THE SAME THING. Click HERE to watch it.



We'll see what happens next week during our second round of Mentor/Designer Picking. Wanna guess what happens? Let me know what you think...



The trailer for next week might give you hints!

THIS THURSDAY is the PREMIERE of "Under The Gunn" on Lifetime. As you may know, I am one of the three Mentors that will guide fashion designers through challenges and hopefully get them to the end--and have them win "Under The Gunn" and well, be the "Top Mentor".




You will have to tune in to see...I am so excited for the premiere and I hope all my NICKVERREOS.COM blog fans will tune in--it will be like "Project Runway 2.0". Seriously! Here are some "exclusive" pics from the first episodes including...











 Plus the "Under The Gunn"Runway Stage:






And the "Under The Gunn" Workroom at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM":











Click Below For New Lifetime Network "Under The Gunn" Promo/Commercial:

ONE WEEK UNTIL THE PREMIERE!!! Next Thursday January 16th...the new Lifetime Network series "Under The Gunn" premieres! I am so excited since yes, I am part of this new TV reality competition show hosted by the one and only Tim Gunn.








I am one of the three Mentors which will guide fashion designers through "Project Runway"-style challenges and eventually (and hopefully) help them to the end. The other two Mentors include "Project Runway All Stars" Season One Winner Mondo Guerra and "Project Runway" Season 9 Winner Anya Ayoung-Chee. We shot the promos/commercial for the new show (the commercial debuted several weeks back) at Siren Studios Hollywood and here are some behind-the-scenes photos I took: