Sony Store Opening: Century City

Some weeks, my world is more glamorous than others.  Other weeks, I am home on my couch in my sweats.  I really enjoy both scenarios, so while this week has been busy with press junkets, store openings, Kids' Choice Awards events, and screenings, I will be spending my Friday night on the couch.  Last night, I was at the Sony store opening in Century City to preview the company's latest offerings in HD technology.  Stars like Adrian Grenier, Melissa Joan Hart, Craig Robinson, Ali and Roberto (for you Bachelorette fans), Spencer Grammer, and Lisa Rinna showed up to support the event and of course, go home with a swag bag.  Sony label artist and Dancing With The Stars performer, Mark Ballas, sang from his CD while the guest played the latest Playstation games and noshed on shrimp cocktail.  It was a lot of fun and I even ran into a few people from the tech and social media world.

In true Hollywood form, it wasn't my only stop of the night as I ran off to the LA Film School to interview James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the creators of the new horror flick, Insidious.  So, expect that article tomorrow on Starpulse. Let's just say, I haven't walked into a dark room in my house alone since I saw the movie last week..........

Mark Ballas is tiny....like really tiny.

Proof that LA will put a red carpet anywhere, including the middle of a mall.

The Q&A after the screening of Insidious at LA Film School

Two notes:
1. This is my second post this week with Lisa Rinna and Melissa Joan Hart in it.  What are the chances?
2. I decided to run upstairs to The Container Store at the end of the Sony party because I needed storage folders for my home office.  Hey, there are only two Container stores in LA and a girl needs to multitask!

InvenTORI

Before I picked up some clothes at Roni B's for Kids' Choice Awards week, I decided to make a stop at Tori Spelling's new antique/gift store called InvenTORI.  While I have never worked with Tori, my life always seems to orbit within six degrees of separation or less.  I've been on a job with her first husband, Charlie, I spent six weeks on a AOL show I hosted in 2007 with her makeup artist, Brandy, and Tori used to socialize with an acquaintance of mine from NY.  I am also happy to report that everyone says she is kind, hard-working, and a lot of fun to be around.  Exactly how I think Donna Martin should act.

Well, lucky me, Sunday was the day to see her in person.  I was there to shop, but Tori and Dean, her hubby, were there to promote, promote, promote their new wedding show, sTORIbook Weddings on the Oxygen Network.  Are you sensing a TORI theme here?  Anyway, they had brides, grooms, balloons, champagne, and plenty of cupcakes on hand to celebrate the day. Tori and Dean were signing books and taking pictures, but I wanted to shop.  Her tastefully decorated store is a mishmash of baby items, antiques, high-end toiletries, and goodies for your pooch.  The most interesting pieces in the store are the antiques that come from Tori's own collection.  They are for sale, they are fantastic, and they are overpriced.  I called it "Tori pricing".  If you bought the beautiful lavender vintage bottles at the flea market, the set of 3 would cost you about $45.  Here, the set of 3 would set you back about $80.  It's truly a store for the hardcore fan.  So, while I loved the idea of her collection, I was not in love with the prices.

A couple of juicy tidbits to take away from all of this.  Don't be surprised if you read a Tori Spelling pregnancy article soon.  I can't be 100% sure since I am not her OB, but she sure looked like she might be sporting a baby bump. (Just remember you heard it here at Red Carpet Closet first!)  Finally, if InveTORI isn't enough for you, Lisa Rinna's store, Belle Gray, is 2 doors down selling overpriced clothing and Melissa Joan Hart's candy store, Sweet Harts, is a block away and it's the most affordable of the celebrity store bunch.  Be sure to try Carnie Wilson's Red Velvet Moon Pies!  What?  You thought they would sell ordinary, pedestrian moon pies?  For shame, it's Hollywood, kids, so only a celeb baked good will do.

UPDATE:  Since many of you are searching for the addresses for Ventura Boulevard's Celebrity Row, here they are all in one spot.  The celebs are not always in store, but Tori and Dean do lots of promotions there.  You can stay in touch with their appearances on their Facebook page.

InvenTORI
13826 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA

Belle Gray
13812 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA

Sweet Harts
13704 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA

Roni B.
13626 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA
(Be sure to tell Roni that KB at Red Carpet Closet sent you!)

Shop Local

With the news about economy going from bad to worse, it is important for all of us to remember Mom and Pop.  They are the ones that run the stores in your neighborhood.  They sometimes get overlooked for the big brick and mortar stores like Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's, or even Target.  It's time for us to go back to Main Street and remember "Who are the people in your neighborhood?".  (Thanks, Sesame Street!).  I stumbled upon my favorite neighborhood store by chance last summer.  My friend, Maria, and I decided to have a celebrity store run one lazy Saturday afternoon.  That entailed a trip to Lisa Rinna's Belle Gray and Melissa Joan Hart's, SweetHarts in Sherman Oaks.  The excursion turned out to be a mixed bag.  Lisa's store is impeccably decorated, clean, and well-designed.  Unfortunately, the price tag for simple items like a white t-shirt are well out of the norm for most shoppers.  So, we looked and we left.  To comfort our shopping souls, we headed over to Melissa Joan Hart's candy/ice cream/bake shop.  I ate a delicious red velvet moon pie baked by Carnie Wilson.  Yep, Wilson Phillips baked some goodies for Sabrina the Teenage Witch's candy store. Only in Hollywood, kids, only in Hollywood.

                                                     
After a little sugar, we wanted to continue shopping, so we headed a block down the street and stumbled upon one of the greatest boutique finds ever, Roni B.  The store is inviting with its pink and black decor and a friendly, Roni B, ready to style, accessorize, and dress you down to the last detail.  With a stylist's eye, she knows when to add a belt or an earring to complete the look for the red carpet or the wedding or the birthday party.  The best part?  The looks are all affordable.  Many of the dresses are under $100 and the styles are right on trend.  If you see that expensive designer look in Lucky Magazine, chances are a more affordable version is available that month in store.  The greatest thing about shopping local is the people you meet and the friends you make, that is exactly what you will find at Roni B.

Below are some of the looks styled and created by Roni B that I have worn on the red carpet or on my show, The Web Files.  For those of you in LA, make sure to stop by and tell Roni that KB sent you.  I bet you will walk out with a Roni B. bag in hand.

Let me know what look is your favorite in the comments below. Don't forget to follow Red Carpet Closet at Bloglovin.