Nikki Poulos kicked off the 2013 Greek American Fashion Week runway event.
Nikki Poulos does retro right. The fashion designer’s eponymous ready-to-wear collection has vintage appeal with modern sensibilities. Poulos’ designs are all about bold graphic prints, feisty colors, and flirty cuts. They’re figure-flattering and sexy but never uncouth.
Take this punchy Palm Beach look for instance. The model has mile-long legs in these chic high-waisted shorts. The shorts are perfectly balanced with a conservatively cut shirt in bright stripes colors. Is it any surprise that Poulos is based in Delray Beach, Florida?
Poulos is tops when it comes to bottoms. In addition to those killer-cute shorts, she has designed pants and a jumpsuit that ooze femininity. Poulos pulls off the printed pant with a nod to the seventies.
Her printed dresses offer something for everyone. Poulos’ maxis achieve that ideal balance between unfussy and stylish. Whereas the maxis may have plunging necklines, the tighter, shorter dresses—which have a Lily Pulitzer vibe—feature higher necklines, so that the right amount of skin is always showing. Right in the middle is the knee-length, button-down blouse dress, whose cut is reminiscent of the office wear of the fifties and sixties.
Poulos is also a fan of stripes, and this little number is simply adorable. The boat neck collar, synch-tied sleeves, and belt are very gamine. The short scarf is quintessential fifties, adding a playful twist. (If someone finds the accessory too retro, they could swap it with a short red beaded necklace or a chunky gold necklace, but really the scarf does the trick!)
Given the nautical stripes of this look, it’s not surprising that Nikki Poulos’ heritage stems from Kythera, a Greek island off the Peloponnese that was a naval crossroads.
Poulos starred on NBC’s “Fashion Star,” and her collection was included in the European spin-off of “Next Top Model.” She recently launched ‘nikki by nikki poulos’ on HSN. Her designs have been featured in the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Elle, Lucky, and Fitness magazines.
Fun fact: Poulos studied marine biology and worked in coral reef conservation:
In the 1990’s, Nikki was the designer and proprietor of ‘ecobaby’ an environmentally friendly babies and children’s clothing business in her native hometown Sydney, Australia. A love affair with the ocean led Nikki to pursue a career in marine biology and her Bachelor of Science degree and a scholarship opportunity brought Nikki to US shores. Working in coral reef conservation, Nikki juggled the dichotomy between science and fashion; ultimately her creativity lured her back to the fashion world.
I wish I could raid Poulos’ closet. I love, love, love her designs. Her nikki collection on HSN is actually quite affordable and adorable.
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 