The Coach Kristin Collection

 Kristin Spectacular Leather Willow Small Shoulder Bag in Silver/Grey Multi

I am no stranger to Coach bags, so I was thrilled to open my mailbox today and find a wonderful surprise from Coach:  a gift certificate!  Coincidentally, their summer offerings are from the Kristin Collection.  I think it was meant to be even if the spelling is just a bit off.  I picked out three different looks from the designer; two based on size and one based on color.  I like the small shoulder bag for those nights out on the town when you just want to carry your iPhone, ID, lip gloss, and keys.  I think the sunny yellow (Although I do have an ASOS yellow clutch already.) in the satchel is the perfect pick for summer.  Finally, the tote is ideal because I am often lugging a laptop, iPad, iPhone, makeup, shoes, and hair necessities all in one bag.   Which one should I pick?  Help me decide in the poll listed below.  You have until Monday, May 30th to vote. (As you know, my polls are always a bit tongue in cheek.

 Kristin Leather Satchel in Silver/Yellow

Kristin Elevated Leather Tote

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Monthly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday!  I am going to do a weekly and monthly wrap-up all in one for this Labor Day Weekend. Let's get started so all of you can enjoy your long weekend sooner versus later.  Here we go!

For those of you who are Twilight fans, here's a blast from the past with BooBoo Stewart who plays, Seth Clearwater, in the series.  I worked on an adorable series with him called Blue Dolphin Kids back in 2006-2007.  BooBoo and his sister, Fivel, were so charming in this series about discovering the fun of Hawaii.  I narrated and they hosted.  Check out this one minute clip with all of us and see how little BooBoo looks.  Cute!

Yesterday, I was shooting on location in San Diego at Streamlight Video for one of my regular clients, LawInfo.  Here's a great look behind the scenes of what it is really like on set.  The clothes don't fit? Call in your instant tailor:  the clothespin!

The reality is much less glamorous than the illusion.....

If you are in the LA area, here are two great charity events that I will be participating in.

September 10th:  Fashion's Night Out:

September 22nd: Web TV Prom:

For the September 10th event, I will be covering it for Mingle Media TV and the September 22nd event, I will be hosting the Live Stream for This Week In, so for those of you who live outside of LA, you can watch it live from your computer.  They are both great events to support some terrific charitable causes.  I hope to see you there!

Last but not least, here are the Top 5 posts you were reading in the month of August.  If you missed them, this long weekend is the perfect time to catch up:

1.  I guess you are just like me, you love your Bad TV.  A lot of you were searching for Jeff Lewis of Bravo TV's Flipping Out, so thanks for coming to me as your source.

2.  It's no secret that I do a lot of work in the Web TV community, so it is fitting that my round-up of Web TV news made it to the Top 5 last month.

3.  The Coach Poppy Project has brought a lot of you here.  The winners were announced the other day. Were you one of the winners?  I wasn't.  Boo!

4.  Every month, this post makes the Top 5.  You all want to get into Disneyland's secret Club 33.  Oh, you didn't know Disneyland had a private club?  Well, I got in!  Take a look.

5.  Anytime there is a big awards show, this post resurrects itself.  I am glad it is useful to those of you sashaying down the red carpet.  Here's my perspective on some Dos and Don'ts on the red carpet.

Okay, I call that a week!  Have a great long weekend.  Let me know what you are doing to celebrate Labor Day in the comments and remember, you have three more days to enter the Emmys Event Weekend gift basket.

Coach Poppy Project

An trendy everyday bag in the Pop C Denim Appliqué Glam Tote.  $278

I have always been a fan of Coach bags.  When I was a struggling student back in my NYU days, I used to window shop for the bag I might own once I was earning more than my measly Sony Movie Theatre cashier paycheck.  Yes, I was your movie cashier on the 3rd Avenue and 11th Street theatre back in the day.  I didn't get my first Coach bag until Valentine's Day, 2001 when my boyfriend at the time noticed the longing I had every time I passed a Coach window.  I still use that classic bag today and I appreciate his efforts towards starting my purse collection (addiction).  


Today, I am thrilled to be participating in Coach's Poppy Project.  To get the word out about their new collection, Coach is having a fun contest that will benefit all of you as well.  If you head to the upper right hand corner of this page and you will find a poppy pattern growing.  Here are two ways to join in the action:

A pop of color with the Leather Glam Tote in Persimmon.  $278

1.  Tweet using #CoachPoppy to make all of the patterns grow, or use my site's personal #hashtag (#RedCarpetCloset) to make that pattern grow.  Or you can “Like” the Poppy Project on Facebook. Try secret keywords. Be creative!  


2. Or how about a gift?  Look for Poppy surprises in the pattern on the upper right hand corner of this page. If you spot a Coach Poppy bag, it’s your lucky day! Just click on the bag for a special gift.  Who doesn't like free gifts?  

Every girl needs a Sequins Disco Bag.  Glam, shiny, and fabulous in Blue Jean.  $148

If you can continue using the #RedCarpetCloset in your Tweets, here's how we all benefit:  the site with the most tweets about the Poppy Project wins a $2500 gift certificate.  I will then go out and buy a Coach bag to give away on this site.  It will be a win-win for all!  


So, get out there, check out the Coach Poppy Collection, and tweet away!  Let me know if you find the poppy and receive a gift off of my site too. I want to know how many winners there are from Red Carpet Closet.  I also selected a few of my favorite bags from the collection.  Check them out in the photos above and let me know which ones are your favorite.  


**GIVEAWAY DEADLINE for CITY SLIPS**
The deadline is upon us and I will be giving away that fabulous pair of silver City Slips on Thursday, August 19th at 9AM PST.  Enter now at my Online Shopping post.  Good luck!

May Musings

Photo Courtesy of Kathryn Gray.

1.  Jewelry:  Since my trip to NYC in April, I realized how much I missed my East Coast home.  Even though I keep forgetting to watch my 2009 SAG screener of Julie and Julia, I am well aware of the nostalgic token necklace Amy Adams wore in the movie.  Score!  A fun way to carry NYC with me at all times....until I saw the price:  $75 at the Transit Museum.  For a token that costs nothing for the Transit Authority with a simple silver chain, that's a mighty fine mark-up.  Nice try, but I am a more savvy shopper than that.  So, I searched around Etsy and came across this fantastic vintage spin on the token necklace.  While the necklace is no longer sold on Etsy, the designer, Kathryn Gray, still sells it on Ebay.  You will find her under the name "gallery54s".  In fact, there is one of for sale right now.   I scooped mine up for $29.99.  I love a bargain and a better design than the original one!

                                                               Photo courtesy of Best of LA.
2. Angelini Osteria:  Each month, my pal, Andre, and I get together for our unofficial Supper Club.  Yep, I am a foodie who used to live and die by her NY Zagat's Guide.  So, this is my informal way to keep the foodie in me alive.  This month's choice was Dre's pick.  We headed to Angelini Osteria for an amazing Italian meal.  Even with reservations, we still had a wait, but it was well worth the wait even with the cramped quarters.  From the duck to the pasta with black truffles and Italian sausage to the Branzino to their signature Lasagna Verde, it all made for a meal that I am still thinking about.  It was filling enough that I skipped dessert that night, and I rarely skip dessert.  If you are in LA, be sure to add this to your list and be sure to make a reservation over at OpenTable.  If you have a suggestion for next month's Supper Club, let me know.  I am always looking for new places to try.

                                                               Photo Courtesy of Reprise.
3.  Reprise:  I am a big proponent of theatre, not only as a musical theatre geek, but as a supporter of the arts.  In my recent Tonys post, I mentioned my upcoming visit to Reprise's How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  Instead of writing a review, I will give you the rundown on how I feel about this show:
Broadway
Promises, Promises
Ticket Price:  $126.50 for 4th row, Center Orchestra
Stars:  Kristin Chenoweth, Sean Hayes
Supporting Bombshell:  Katie Finneran
Director:  Rob Ashford (Nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Best Choreography)
Show: 1960's Office-Based Musical Comedy
When I Attended the Show:  Day 2 of Previews.
Thoughts:  Too long, miscast leading lady, sloppy 
choreography,  rough around the edges, star turn for 
Katie Finneran (nominated for a 2010 Tony), a fun performance
by Sean Hayes (2010 Tony nominee), a few bright spots dulled by an uninspired cast.
Final Thought: Promises, Promises is Mediocre, Mediocre
LA
How To Succeed
Ticket Price:  $39.50 for 12th row, Center Orchestra (with a Facebook promo code offer)
Stars:  John O'Hurley, Vicki Lewis, Jason Alexander (He is not in the show, but he often makes the introductory announcements like the night I was there.  By the way, the Jenny Craig endorsement deal is working, he looks fantastic.)
Supporting Bombshell:  Melissa Fahn
Director:  Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Ragtime)
Show:  1960's Office-Based Musical Comedy
When I Attended the Show:  Second week of a two-week run
Thoughts:  Josh Grisetti carries the show surrounded by a strong supporting cast, clean chorus numbers, tight direction, a cast that looks like they are really happy to be there, the show has the same running time as Promises, Promises, but still feels shorter.  
Final Thought:  A great night for the LA theatre scene.


So, while the Great White Way is an amazing place to see theatre, don't forget that sometimes the best productions are often in your own backyard.  I had a more enjoyable night at the theatre for less money.  So, support Reprise, they have a terrific slate of shows coming up next season.  

                                                           Photo Courtesy of Cupcakes and Cashmere.
4.  Coach Bag: It's no secret that I have a ridiculous affinity for accessories.  I am always looking for the latest shoe, bag, or cocktail ring.  Well, the talented Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere recently designed a new bag for Coach.  It is a limited edition collection that I have added to the top of my "Want" List.  Her inspiration board for the design truly tempts my credit card to backflip out of my purse and over to the Coach site.  Pre-orders are being taken online now.  


Let me know what your May musings are in the comment section below.  I am always looking for a new fashion, food, or cultural obsession.