On The Red Carpet With Sofia Alves

Sometimes when you are at the biggest event in Hollywood, you need a little perspective. Well, I got that perspective from Sofia Alves who traveled all the way from Portugal as a part of the Make-A-Wish program.  They flew her in to see the red carpet action at the Oscars.  The group then surprised her with the opportunity to walk the red carpet and hold an Oscar statuette. What a fun night!

I've been working with IBM with their #MySmarterCommerce campaign and how technology affects my career and my life.  It is stories like this that make me so proud to work in the online space and introduce you to a special girl like Sofia.


It was such a pleasure to meet you, Sofia! (By the way, she's on Twitter:  @ana_ralves)

My interview with Sofia Alves:


Photo courtesy of James Molnar

My Week With the Acura ILX

If you saw my tweet yesterday, you might have heard that Acura is giving me the opportunity to drive the ILX this week.  I'm planning on taking it all over Los Angeles with me to test drive the technology and ride quality of the vehicle.  I hope you join me on some of my adventures as I take the car to set, to workout, to a screening for Oscar season and for a little R&R in Palm Springs.  I will be posting photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @KristynBurtt, Pinterest, Google + , and logging my locale on Four Square....yep, all over every possible social media outlet.

So here's where I need YOUR help....and you will want to read #2 because it involves some cool giveaways.

1.  Help me decide where I should take the ILX during my week:  should I go for cupcakes (Gluten-Free, of course.)?  Shopping for a new dress?  To watch the sunset at the beach?  Give me some suggestions in the comments below.

2.  Tell me what you would do if Acura gave you a free ILX for the week.  Respond in the comments below or on Twitter using the hashtag #WeekWithILX (You must use this hashtag to qualify.). The best responses will receive $50 or $100 gift certificates or a FREE week with the ILX!  Not a bad giveaway, right?

So, join me for all of the fun as I kick off my ILX week beginning tomorrow.  Ready, set, go.......tell me what you would do with this sweet ride:

Disclosure: Acura has invited me to test the new ILX and share my honest thoughts through social media. I may receive product, access or content, but all commentary is my own.

Mildred Pierce

If you have been with me since the beginning of Red Carpet Closet, you know that I am a huge fan of the the film noir classic, Mildred Pierce.  I was a guest on the internet show, Movies You May Have Missed, back in the summer of 2009 discussing the Joan Crawford film.  Well, this weekend brings the remake with the always solid Kate Winslet slipping into the role on HBO on Sunday.  This adaption promises to be true to the 1941 James M. Cain novel and it brings the delicious Evan Rachel Woods as Mildred's incorrigible daughter, Veda.  So before you dive into the remake, do yourself a favor and see the original.  It is the role that won the "washed up" Joan Crawford an Oscar. If you are a fan of Mommy Dearest, you know she was home with the "flu" on Oscar night and skipped the ceremony.  Her impromptu acceptance speech took place on her door stoop in front of the gathered press like a true diva.  Of course, her hair and makeup artists just happened to be hanging out at her estate that night too.  How convenient.

Also, make a note of the classically tailored suits created by Milo Anderson.  Forget pant suits, this is how women should look in a suit:  pencil skirt, power shoulder pads, and a floral brooch for that feminine touch.

I cannot wait to compare the two films.  I would love to hear your thoughts about your favorite. The classic?  The remake?  Or the book?

Kate or Joan?  Who is the real Mildred Pierce?

Looking fabulous in bed with Oscar and "the flu".

The Oscar Looks of Elizabeth Taylor

Photo Credit:  Everett via People.com

The news of Elizabeth Taylor's passing hit Twitter fast yesterday morning.  Life Magazine had their gorgeous retrospective in photos up within minutes and it was a great day to honor such a full, vibrant life.  Miss Taylor was one of those irreplaceable legends whose grace, foibles, and philanthropy were all a part of her imperfect, charismatic persona.  To the woman who thrilled me in National Velvet, amazed me in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and made me green with envy at 11 years of age because she was friends with Michael Jackson, here is my tribute to her.  Elizabeth Taylor at the Academy Awards.....

Miss Taylor rockin' the tiara with husband number 3, Mike Todd, after his Best Picture win in 1957 for Around the World in 80 Days.

At the 1961 Oscars with husband number 4, Eddie Fisher, on her winning night for Butterfield 8 in a dress by Dior.  In a true testament to her strength and fortititude, Elizabeth had a tracheotomy only weeks before after a bout of pneumonia.  Tracheotomy scar and all, Miss Taylor showed up at the Oscars like all dramatic divas should.  She promptly fainted in the bathroom after her win.  Awesome.

Her acceptance speech is here.

I know smoking is gross, but this was back in the day when it looked glamorous and sexy......

Win number two in 1967 for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and dripping in her gorgeous stones.  Yes, they are real and yes, they are hers....but she didn't attend the ceremony because she knew her beloved Richard was not going to win that night.  She won.  He didn't.

Oh my!  How can you not love this dress! And those boobs!  (Yes, I said it, but they look fabulous!) And that baked in the sun look!  This divine dress is by Edith Head, eight-time Academy Award winner for Costume Design, and probably one of the biggest Hollywood fashion legends. Don't forget to check out Miss Taylor's "small" diamond dripping down to her decolletage. 1970 Oscars with 2-time husband, Richard Burton.

At the 1974 Academy Awards, the inner flower child comes out with her continuous deep tan and spectacular chandelier earrings.  

A refined and elegant Miss Taylor presenting at the 1992 Academy Awards and proudly sporting her red ribbon.  Oh, to have violet eyes!

 In 1993, Miss Taylor captures an honorary Oscar for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.  Her work for HIV/AIDS charities was done in a time when the topic was controversial and the community was dying a unprecendented pace.  Miss Taylor took up the cause and raised millions for research that has prevented an AIDS diagnosis from becoming a death sentence in 2011.

In an unusual move, she borrowed the daisy necklace from Van Cleef and Arpels.  Later, she bought it because she believed it brought her good luck.  I'm not sure we ever saw her wear it again......

Enjoy the video of her gracious acceptance speech and be amazed at the height of her hair, thanks to José Eber.

What is your favorite Elizabeth Taylor look?

Photos from the archives of AMPAS.

2009 in Review: February

February brought my annual trip to Chicago for two weeks. That means cold weather, snow, wind, and a lot of hibernation for this LA girl. Not a super exciting month, but March is jam-packed, I promise.

I like to call this "Bored at the Hotel". Too much hibernation and I start playing with the Photo Booth on my MacBook. I am partial to the Comic Book Effect though.

I did get to meet my super cute cousin, Amina, while in Chicago. She's so squishy, I love it!

Interviewing Chicago Bears player, Jason McKie on our stage.....

Well, I didn't work the show this year, but I did get to hold an Oscar one more time.

Nothing is better than going home and grabbing my puppy for a hike......

Episode 8: Oz Girl

The whole gang with purple bookends........Another interview wrapped!................
My favorite photo of tall Shaun Crawford and our petite makeup artist, Marybeth Bagonghasa....
Guess I wasn't ready for this shot..........
Ah, much better............

I cannot believe I let a week slip by without a post! I was off doing a corporate host gig and I completely fell off of the grid. With that said, I am thrilled we are at the two-month mark with "The Web Files" and that our 8th episode features the talented cast of "Oz Girl". What can I say? This interview fell into our laps on the red carpet at iTVFest in July. We were interviewing them on the red carpet and before you know it, we had to scramble to find a location to shoot our episode with them in 3 days.

The cast and crew, comprised of Sophie Tilson, Shanrah Wakefield, Nick Carlton, and Shaun Crawford, were the hit of iTVFest where the show won Best Web Series and Best Acting. Everywhere they went, people stopped to congratulate them about "Oz Girl". They came in all the from Melbourne, Australia and they were rock stars that week. The show is fresh and funny. The cast is young and so cute! The crew is just genius. When Nick told me he began posting short films on the web in 2000 when he was 10-years-old, I started thinking this episode of "The Web Files" will be pulled out of the archives for E! after his wins his first Oscar.

I noticed an online comment that we needed a bigger couch for the episode. I laughed and I totally agree. We normally plan interviews about a month in advance, but with only 3 days to scramble to assemble our crew and equipment, we took advantage of whatever we could. So, we had a small couch, but a fabulous suite donated by the Ramada Plaza Hotel in West Hollywood. So, many thanks to them for making our show with "Oz Girl" a reality.

I recommend everyone reading this to bookmark, "Oz Girl", and watch one of the most addicting shows on the internet. The story is compelling and Shanrah Wakefield's (AKA Megan) one-liners are hilarious. Beyond being a group of young actors, writers, directors, and producers to watch, they are a fun gang of people to hang out with. Now, hurry with Season 2!!

(And come back to LA soon!)

Check out Episode 8 here: Oz Girl.