Oscars Dress: A Cry For Fashion

I'm headed to the Oscars!  In exactly 19 days from now, I will be on the red carpet interviewing all of the nominees on Hollywood's biggest night.  There's only one problem...I still need a dress.  So, I am putting a call out to you...on the internet, on social media, and wherever else this little post might get passed around.  So, if you are a designer, established or up-and-coming, or if you know someone, pass them my information.  I can always be contacted here.

Me and my dress at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in the Toledo Free Press

In exchange for letting me borrow the gown, the designer will be promoted with a video, photos, across all social media outlets, and of course, it will be plugged on any media appearances I make before and after the show.  As we all know, the biggest question on Oscar night is, "Who are you wearing?"

If you want to see what I've worn in the past, take a look at Oscars 2011 and Oscars 2012.  I also found a beautiful vintage dress in the window at Decades.  That might be my dream dress.

While I am LA-based, I am hitting the road on Friday to cover Oscars trip across the country. I will be in Chicago through February 13th, so if there are any Chicago designers out there....hit me up!

My Top 3 Posts of 2011

I am a total nerd, but I've known this since elementary school.  I love analyzing numbers and seeing what is working and what isn't.  I love looking into the psychology of what makes people stop and pay attention.  That is why I love analytics for my blog.  It is fun to see what makes you come here and read my posts, whether you are a regular reader or you came through a Google search.  So, here are my Top 3 posts of 2011.  They aren't necessarily my favorites, but they are your favorites.  For my regular readers, one of the Top 3's popularity may surprise you, it sure surprised me.

Simone Harouche, one of my favorite stylists on the list. 

1.  The Stylist Edition:  This article was the number one most trafficked post this year.  I compiled the list of top stylists for the celebrities from a Hollywood Reporter article.  I loved it because it gave us insight into who is consistently setting trends as a stylist for their clients (Rachel Zoe and Anne Hathaway with that amazing tuxedo at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.) and it also made me note who needs to change stylists. (e.g. Amy Adams) This is also a fun one to read because Brad Goreski made an appearance on the list at number 22 while his former mentor, Rachel Zoe, was listed at number 1.  Will that change with this awards season and the premiere of his reality show?  Only time will tell.

2.  Saturn Awards, EZ Curler, and Interviews, Oh My!:  This one was a bit of shock to me as it was just a quick "here's what I've been up to" post, but I sure covered my bases on popular internet searches:  Anna Torv from Fringe, anything related to The Bachelor, and an infomercial sensation called the EZ Curler.  Really, there is something for everyone in this post.  Enjoy the photos and video because I'm sure Google sent you here for this one.

3.  The Oscar Looks of Elizabeth Taylor:  We lost the divine Elizabeth Taylor this year, but there are stunning photographs of her that will live on and endure the test of time.  Following her death, I compiled a series of photos from some of the Academy Awards ceremonies she attended.  I will let the photos speak for themselves.

So, there you have it, the Top 3 Posts of 2011.  Did your favorites make it into the Top 3?  If not, tell me what was your favorite article from Red Carpet Closet this year?

We Have A Winner!

Thank you for all of your entries and I am announcing the winner at the bottom of this post.  The best part of this giveaway for me was learning everyone's favorite posts of 2011.  This also helps me write more articles that interest you when you stop by Red Carpet Closet.  The top 3 posts mentioned:

1. Oscars-Yeah, that might be my favorite week of 2011 too.

2. The Deets on the Dress-One of my looks this year, thanks to Roni B.

3. A tie:  Ode to New Orleans-A magical trip for me this year.

   Thirst Project Gala-A worthy charity providing wells to regions that don't have access to clean water.  

I did giggle when one of you selected a post from 2010 and another one picked their favorite post that was merely an invite to an event.  So, even though you slacked a little on following directions, I still let you enter because I got a good chuckle out of it.  

Now, it's time to announce our winner for our Gift Bag Giveaway chosen by Random.org.  Congratulations to Jessica E.!  I will be emailing you today so I can ship out all of your goodies.  Thanks for entering, everyone!

The Tale of the iPhone Case

This weekend, a few of you may be stopping by Red Carpet Closet because of this post by my friend, Ken Davenport.  Yep, I love my iPhone and I thought it was wasted advertising space lately.  I am currently using my own case, but in the past I have utilized cases given to my by PR agencies to advertise certain products.  I thought, why don't I advertise for Godspell?  (By the way, it's no secret that I am an investor in the show.)

Photo Courtesy of Ken Davenport.

Just to prove that my iPhone is with me at all times, here are a few photos from the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in February. I will be sure to take a picture on the red carpet with my new Godspell iPhone case once it reaches the Left Coast. Be sure to leave a comment below, so I can learn more about you.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Get your Godspell iPhone case here.

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Taking video with my iPhone of the cute kids from PS 22 walking the red carpet.

 Showing Mr. Brainwash the photo I took alongside his artwork.  

2012 Oscar Season: Are You Ready?

If you thought awards season was over, think again.  In the next few months, we have the MTV Movie Awards, the ESPYs, the Tonys, and the Daytime Emmys.  I seriously feel like I was just doing this and this, but now, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wants to make sure I am ready for the 2012 Academy Awards.  Have I recovered from 2011 yet?  I'm not sure.

Here are all of the important dates for you Oscar aficionados out there.  Mark your calendars now:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012:  Nominations 5:30 AM PT
Monday, February 6, 2012:  Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 11, 2012:  Scientific and Technical Awards
Sunday, February 26, 2012:  84th Annual Academy Awards

In case you missed it, click on the links above for 2011 Academy Awards coverage.

Photos courtesy of Mingle Media TV.

That's A Wrap: Oscars 2011

Okay, we have finally hit the one week mark since The 83rd Annual Academy Awards and it is time to put this show officially to bed........BUT NOT BEFORE WE ROLL MY FINAL VIDEO!!  The interviews from the red carpet:



If you missed my appearance on My Sentiment ExactLee where I discussed fashions on the red carpet, you can watch it here.

Also, thank you to Liz Kelly from the Examiner.com for including my photo with Oscar-winning cinematographer for Inception, Wally Pfister, in her article about Mingle Media TV and Break Media.

That's a wrap!  Thanks for all of your support, comments, and questions.  I hope you enjoyed this season as much as I did, I promise to bring you even more coverage when awards season begins in September with the Emmys.

Who Are You Wearing?

I received so many questions about my outfit and my overall look, so here is the entire rundown.  I joked that it took a village to put me together, but I wasn't kidding.  I am so grateful to the team that assisted me, not only for their time and patience, but for really helping me shine on Oscar Sunday.

Stylist:  Roni Binshtock:  You know I talk about her all of the time, but her talents are immense and she was with me every step of the way.  She even made a last minute decision to bring me a stunning gray Sans Souci wrap that I wore through most of my red carpet interviews. (It was cold!)

Hair: Ozlem Dalgic:  She has done my hair now for two Academy Award shows and the DGA Awards.  No one does it better.

Makeup:  Carolina Groppa:  This gal has held me together for the last month and I don't know what I would do without her.  (Thanks, Bonnie Gillespie!)  My makeup and lashes held for a marathon 14 hours and that is impressive in my book.

Dress #2 outside of the after-Oscar party at the Polo Lounge.

Dress:  Chagoury Couture:  Gilbert Chagoury and Marco D'Angelo loaned me the most beautiful gown with such delicate beadwork on the flower.  It fit me like a glove, I felt like a million bucks, and it had two front pockets that added to the comfort of the gown.  After the show, I was able to change into a short dress with draping and incredible trimming on the sleeve and strap.  Thank you, gentlemen!

Even in a goofy iPhone shot, that Charles Winston ring is divine.

  My beautiful Charles Winston bracelet to accessorize my gown.

And don't forget my Charles Winston earrings!

Jewelry:  Charles Winston: I worked with Charles Winston on air back in my ShopNBC days.  I emailed him asking to borrow jewelry.  He immediately said "yes' and he and his partner, Sandy McMillan, made sure I had everything I needed and more.  The cocktail ring alone drew so many compliments, I knew I made the right choice in contacting Charles.

A HUGE THANK YOU to the entire team because I could not have done it without you.  Your contributions to my big night were immeasurable.

Just a few more photos that show the incredible beadwork on my Chagoury Couture gown.....

Oscar Wrap-Up

As I wake up from my Oscar haze, I realize there is so much to do:  photos to share, articles to read, and videos to upload.  This will be a week of Oscar wrap-ups, thoughts, and more behind the scenes scoop.  Next week, we get back to our regularly scheduled program. I hope I remember what that is!

First up, my article on Starpulse, "Secrets From The Red Carpet" is up.  You can also see more of my exclusive personal photos from the day.  I will also have another article coming in the next few days from the Makeup and Hair Symposium featuring all three nominated movies in this category.  It was one of my favorite events of the week, so stay tuned.

Here is my final personal Oscar video where I take you from the hair to makeup to the show:



I will leave you with a few photos from yesterday:

Interviewing Best Supporting Actor nominee, John Hawkes.

Javier, Javier, look at me!

What is that behind me?

Wally Pfister, the winner of Best Cinematography for Inception.

All photos are property of Mingle Media TV.

Live Blogging The Oscars

I finally made it inside and I will be live blogging from inside the interview room. I am typing slow because my hands are thawing out from outside. Feel free to hit me up with questions and comments as the night goes on.  Here we go!

5:44 PM:  Art Direction is the first award with Tom Hanks.  Alice in Wonderland wins!

5:45 PM:  Trying really hard to update photos and videos from the red carpet while watching a show. I need to pee and I want a snack.  The press food back here smells good.

5:46 PM:  Well, you get a 2 for 1 with Tom Hanks. He's also doing Best Cinematography.  Wally!  Inception won.  I interviewed him on the red carpet so thrilled!

5:49 PM:  First winners coming into the room now.  This is when they turn down the volume and I have to wear headsets to hear the show.  Lots of multi-tasking.

5:52 PM:  Most of the room is focused on Kirk Douglas.  It's the first time everyone piped down.  Supporting category.  Do we get our first upset here?

5:54 PM:  And the Oscar goes to?  Melissa Leo.  No upset.  She swept the awards season.
And by the way, Kirk Douglas is amazing.  It takes a lot of courage to get up there live in front of an international audience.  He was so funny, but the ladies must have been dying to hear the winner!

5:58 PM:  You may be speechless, but you have 45 seconds.  F-BOMB!!!  Damn. I hope this is the sign of a fun night.

6:00 PM:  I hope we hear an F-BOMB in the pressroom from her.  Justin Timberlake got the loudest cheers on the red carpet.

6:03 PM:  I feel young and hip.  I just explained to the media around me who Banksy was.  And here's my Banksy photo!!

6:07 PM  No suprise, Toy Story 3 won.  Well-deserved!  I did interview the How to Train Your Dragon nominees and I really liked them, so I was secretly rooting for the underdog too.

6:11 PM  I am listening to the Oscars via headset in one ear and leaving the other ear open to hear the backstage interviews.  The two reporters across from me are snarky and it's kind of fun to listen to.

6:13 PM  Oooo, this is a good catetory. Adapted Screenplay.  This is Aaron Sorkin's.  Let's see if I am right.

6:15 PM Okay, I was right.  Now let's take a moment to pause and see how close I got to Javier Bardem on the red carpet:

6:17 PM  Melissa Leo is here and very apologetic about her F-BOMB.  And so happy to see that David Seidler of The King's Speech won for Best Original Screenplay.  I can't wait to show you my interview with him.

6:21 PM:  Melissa made no apologies for her Variety "For Your Consideration" ad.  Good girl!

6:25 PM:  Here comes the singing.  It's hard for the winners to see us in the press room. They keep looking for the reporter barking a question.

6:26 PM:  By the way, Taylor Hackford is a lucky man.  Helen Mirren is a total babe.

6:28 PM:  Denmark wins for Best Foreign Language Film.  Nice!  I interviewed her on the red carpet as well.  I didn't do too badly.

6:32 PM:  Looking like a predictable night so far.  Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor.  I was rooting for Geoffrey Rush.

6:34 PM:  But here's your Christian Bale photo from earlier today:

 6:41 PM:  David Seidler is in here.  I have a complete crush on him.  His writing was beautiful in The King's Speech.

6:42:  Is it me or did Nicole Kidman's dress look similar to Anne Hathaway's opening monologue dress? Rachel Zoe will not be pleased.

6:44 PM  Never in my lifetime did I ever think I would utter, "Trent Reznor, Oscar winner".  Way to go, Nine Inch Nails.  I loved The Social Network's soundtrack. 

6:46 PM:  Red Carpet Gossip alert:  Scarlett Johansson was the least gracious on the red carpet.  Yep, I said it.  

6:47 PM:  Sorkin is here.  My favorite first five minutes in a film-The Social Network. He's so smart. 

6:54 PM:  Aaron is still yapping away.  Just a reminder, all photos posted tonight belong to me.  Please ask for permission to repost.  I am happy to grant permission in exchange for a link.  Now back to your regularly scheduled program.  

6:56 PM:  Rick Baker wins ANOTHER Oscar for makeup for The Wolfman. His work is undeniably groundbreaking in the makeup category beginning with An American Werewolf in London.  I can't wait to share my article about yesterday's Makeup Symposium.  He offered a lot of interesting insight on CGI versus traditional makeup techniques.  He is spot on in his opinions on this.  

7:04 PM:  I, for one, missed the performances last year at the Oscars, so it is nice to see so many artists hit the stage and sing their songs.  

7:05 PM:  Christian Bale is here and he started by asking the media a question about his speech.  He was worried he forgot to thank Mark Walhberg and Melissa Leo.

7:07 PM:  The musical theatre geek in me was so excited to interview Alan Menken on the red carpet tonight where he talked about his performance with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.

7:11 PM:  Ted Casablanca from E! just asked the question of the night:  "Since you have been know for a few meltdowns, what do you think of Charlie Sheen?"  Christian Bale:  "I don't know a thing, I've been in China". Nice way out of that sticky spot.  Big laughs and of course, Charlie Sheen found a way to sneak into the Oscars.  

7:16 PM:  I need to take a quick break.  Caffeine and a bathroom and a snack are in my future.  

7:22 PM:  I'm back with food, beverage, and the realization that I interviewed the winners of Inside Job on the red carpet.  Yes!

7:26 PM:  If you have been following the Nikki Finke drama, Billy Crystal was the worst kept surprise in the industry.

7:28 PM:  I feel bad for the winner of Sound Mixing for Inception. Everyone keeps laughing, but they are listening to Billy Crystal, not him.

7:30 PM  Rick Baker is here.  He doesn't have an agent, rarely chases jobs, and he chased after The Wolfman job.  I think he made the right decision.

7:37 PM:  Red Carpet Gossip Alert: Jennifer Hudson had a Personal Dress Train handler on the red carpet:

7:45 PM  Has Gwyneth sung at every awards show this year? Time to retire. Ouch.  She looked amazing tonight though. Her body was flawless in a dress that does not allow flaws.  

7:54 PM  Love her music or not, Celine is one of Hollywood's nicest celebrities.  That is a fact.  And the lady can sing.  I'm sorry for the lousy photo, Celine.  My fault.

7:57 PM:  Even though Christopher Nolan is not nominated for Best Director, the press likes his movie quite a bit.  Winners in ANY category from the movie get the most questions.  The omission is noted on all sides of the media.

8:01 PM:  Halle is a little bit of crazy, but she always looks good. 

8:04 PM  Loud cheers in the pressroom for Best Director winner, Tom Hooper, for The King's Speech.  The favoritism amongst the press is always one that intrigues me.

8:05 PM:  We have been informed that the rest of the winners are being held in the theatre until the end of the night. This show is moving quicker than previous years.

8:10 PM:  Sorry, I got distracted. Some good overheard snark:  "It's a night to remember" is heard on onscreen. A press member repeats it in the most sarcastic way possible.  Then another press member replies, "Yeah, you want a young crowd, entice them with Kirk Douglas".  It's hard to dodge the snark in here.

8:12 PM:  Do we think there will be an upset in this category after such a predictable night?

8:16 PM:  Nobody wants Natalie to win. Hmmm.....but she does.  Predictable night. Oh, the press is still not happy with her after this.  So, Annette, I am giving you this, my chocolate Oscar:

8:22 PM  A few gifts to someone who has been supporting me all Awards Season long.  To Michelle:  here is your Zachary Levi photo:

8:25 PM:  Colin Firth.  The most predictable predict of the entire season. He was good, but go see him in A Single Man.  He's even better.

8:26 PM:  When I grow up, I want Mr. Valentino to walk me down the red carpet like Anne Hathaway. Her red carpet dress was divine.  Now, that's a star!

8:34 PM:  I am going to predict that it is The King's Speech for the trifecta....Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay.

8:35 PM:  And that announcement made the press happy. Good job, Academy!

8:36 PM:  I wish I could take pictures in here.  The reporters across from me are awesome.  They remind me of Statler and Waldorf. I hope you get this reference.

8:36 PM:  PS 22, save this show!  Now do you guys miss Ricky Gervais as host?  PS 22 was the hit of the red carpet, by the way!

8:46 PM:  Winner should be coming in soon.  Will add a few updates here until I leave to eat my STEAK.

8:49 PM:  Randy Newman, Oscar #2 for him. I love his song for Toy Story 3.

8:56 PM:  Lots of waiting.  Press is eating.  I picked up my Oscar program and returned my headsets.  Exciting, no?  I can't stop thinking about meat, potatoes, mac and cheese, a glass of wine, dessert.  Remember all of you who said I looked thin?  You won't say that tomorrow. Ha!

9:01 PM:  While you are waiting, here is a photo of Armie Hammer to stare at. Yum.

9:07 PM:  Still nothing. I am going to post the article and link on the Nikki Finke controversy up at the 7:26 PM mark.

9:10 PM:  Natalie is here!  Journalist asked if she was going to name her baby "Oscar".  This is the loveliest outfit on her yet-Rodarte.

9:12 PM  Okay, it's getting interesting in here.  Someone just asked whether her baby was moving when she won.  Nope, he moved during the song portion of the night.  Then another journalist asked about the John Galliano and the Anti-Semitic remarks that have him currently suspended from Dior.  They also didn't understand why she wasn't wearing Dior when she is the face of Dior.  Oops, moderator moved on quickly from that one.

9:19 PM:  Colin is here and handsome.  Even though he just won an Oscar, everyone wanted to know if he was invited to the royal wedding. Really?  Do Kate and Prince William really figure into tonight's events?

9:23 PM:  Okay, kids, time for me to wrap up here and go change to outfit #2!  It's party time. I will bring you more video and photos tomorrow.  Thanks for joining me in such an incredible ride.  My dreams came true tonight! xo

2011 Oscars, Day 6

I'm Banksy!

This is it!  The night before the Oscars.  It feels like the Olympics, Christmas, and the Super Bowl all rolled into one for me.  I leave you with lots of videos and photos from the last two days including this awesome video of what the red carpet looks like the day before the show....a total mess!  It's cleaned and shined pretty for Sunday, so it is hilarious to see the transformation.  It's also going to be a cold day in LA. We had SNOW for the first time since 1911.  I never thought I would see that in my lifetime.  Well, reporting LIVE from the red carpet in 14 hours, it's KB!

Just a reminder you can find all of my red carpet updates and backstage interview room LIVE blog information here.

Thank you to Zennie Abraham from SFGate for the nice article and video interview on the red carpet today with my pal, Marla Schulman.  

Finally, my video tour of the red carpet today:

My spot on the red carpet.

Congratulations to MTVu's Correspondent winners:  Luz Pena and Phillip Robibero from Hofstra University!

GBK Gifting Suite with Fred Willard, Regina King, and Constantine Maroulis talking about their Oscar Night rituals:  

 This one is for AI fans, Constantine Maroulis.

I love Fred Willard.  That is all.