Europe 2012: Florence Italy --Polimoda Visit and Lecture for Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Program

Moda School:

Nice Sneakers: Nick Verreos, POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Florence Italy

In my last post, I wrote about the wonderful "Florence Meets Hollywood" Fashion Presentation, which I was invited to be a part of by my hosts, the Miami University of Ohio Summer in Italy Program, who were the chief sponsors.

Besides the fact that it was a fabulous fashion event, it was also part of the Miami University of Ohio "Summer in Italy" students curriculum. In other words, they were invited to attend as part of the Journalism Class, to check out a fashion presentation in Florence Italy and write a "review" and/or blog recap about the event as part of a class assignment.

Students Take Note: Nick Verreos discussing  his NIKOLAKI Collection silk chiffon printed gown, "Florence Meets Hollywood", Sala Rosa FUA Florence Italy

The Ponte Vecchio Florence Italy

In addition, I was also giving a very special lecture the following day discussing the event and much more. This is my fourth year being invited as a "guest lecturer" to the wonderful Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" program and as always, I am so excited and very happy to be part of it. It's Director, Dr. Mark Bernheim, understands that in addition to the English and Journalism classes, the "Summer In Italy" program students should also be injected with some fashion knowledge, since A) Florence is such a NUCLEUS of Fashion and B) who knows if one of them might get thrust into a journalism job to cover a Fashion Week or two. I LOVE Firenze and well, it is pretty obvious, that I cannot get enough!

The day after the "Florence Meets Hollywood" Fashion Presentation, the Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" journalism students began Part Two of  their "Fashion In Florence" experience. We first visited the POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, located at the expansive and very beautiful Villa Favard.

 POLIMODA Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Villa Favard Florence Italy

The College is one of the top institutions on the subject of fashion in all of Italy. The Miami University of Ohio students listened to several lecturers from POLIMODA, who spoke on everything from branding and marketing to licensing.

POLIMODA's Dean, the lovely Linda Loppa (above photo), was on hand to welcome us as well as give her very insightful "two cents" to the entire day.

Nick Verreos, with muslin creations of POLIMODA students (notice Dean of Polimoda, Linda Loppa smiling on the far left of the photo)

These are some of those muslin designs from students that were displayed in the foyer/entrance of the POLIMODA International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing in Florence Italy. The Institute had their famous "Graduate Fashion Show" just a few weeks prior to us being there and I heard these jackets were worn by the "pages" who introduced each different section and designer at the Polimoda Fashion Show:

Muslin Incredible: Yes kids, these are made of muslin (unbleached cotton)--POLIMODA's Dean, Linda Loppa, told me that these were jackets from the first class on jackets their students take (PS: WOW!)

Fashion Recess: After the POLIMODA tour and lectures, it was time for my Lecture, back at the Miami University of Ohio "Summer In Italy" Program Journalism students. Here is a photo that was taken afterwards with some of the students (above).

Following my Lecture, I got to do a "Meet-and-Greet" with some of the "Summer In Italy" program students and chatted with them about their time in Europe, their goals for the future and gave them some advice on how to be the best and most successful. Afterward, my NIKOLAKI design--and traveling partner--David Paul and I, had the pleasure of meeting up with the Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" Program Director Dr. Mark Bernheim as well as "Florence Meets Hollywood" Creative Director Jerry Lee Ingram, to say "Ciao" and See You Next Time!

We met up at the rooftop bar of the beautiful Grand Hotel Minerva (above, on the left)--one of my favorite spots in the city, located near the Santa Maria Novella train station.

Left to right: Summer In Italy Program Director, Dr Mark Bernheim and Nick Verreos; Nick Verreos and "Florence Meets Italy" Creative Director Jerry Lee Ingram, Grand Hotel Miverva Florence Italy

Ciao Firenze: Nick Verreos and David Paul, Grand Hotel Miverva Florence Italy (with the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore --The Duomo--in the background)

It was another successful year of "Fashion in Firenze" and I was happy once again to bring some of my fashion knowledge to the wonderful students of Miami University of Ohio's "Summer In Italy" Program.