Behind The Red Carpet: Absurd Photo Edition

Beginning today, I will be doing a weekly series called, Behind the Red Carpet.  I am going to break down the myths of Hollywood because this town is nothing but smoke and mirrors.  I've done a few pieces like this before (See Kardashian House, Oscars Red Carpet, and What is a Press Junket?), but I think it is time to make this a regular feature on Red Carpet Closet.  So, if you have questions about how things operate in Hollywood, why certain celebrities are photographed more than others, or why this town is so darn crazy, contact me in the comments below, on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.  I look forward to hearing what you want to know about Hollywood.

Now, let's get cracking with three absurd Hollywood photos of the week:

1.  Leann Rimes Cibrian:  Um, who gives their husband a birthday cake with his favorite things including sexy bedtime and his two little boys (Watching? Listening in? Thinking about the therapy they are going to need?) on the front of the cake and then TWEETS it out to over 298,000 followers?  Awkward.  When I see things like this, I think Team Brandi.

2.  Ashley Olsen:  So our gal Ashley is dating an older man, Olivier Sarkozy, who happens to be the half brother of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.  He's 43, she's 26.  Oh yeah, one of the girls in the photo is Olivier's daughter and the other one is his date.  It's hard to tell the two apart, no?

3.  Kim Kardashian:  Sigh.  I hate to give this gal more press, but I am going to call her out on this dress.  Kim was complaining on Twitter that the press was saying she was wearing Spanx under her Stella McCartney dress.  She set the record straight and said the dress came with nude panels.  I am setting the record straight to let her know that Spanx or nude panels, the dress is still ugly.  

Okay, it's your turn.  What do you think of this week's Behind the Red Carpet? What do you want to see next week?

Hollywood Secrets: Reality Show Edition

I always love demystifying Hollywood whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows.......they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

1. The Kardashian House:  Yes, I try to keep this site as Kardashian-free as possible, but this fact irks me.  The house that they show in Keeping Up With The Kardashians is not even in Calabasas.  It is in Studio City on a heavily-traveled street that not only counts George Clooney as a neighbor, but it is also the exit of a well-trafficked canyon and hiking trail in LA.  This house is so recognizable, I have no idea why the producers tried to pretend that it is their home. (I know the Kardashians want privacy, but this home is SO well-known.)  In fact, they need to figure out what they are going to do for next season because the house is for sale. I hope the new owners negotiate a fat fee to pass their home off as a Kardashian home.  Below are a few photos I took on my recent hike and check out a recent real estate article about this farce.

2.  Housewives:  Let's all just admit it, most of us watch one franchise or the other.  I am a huge fan of the Beverly Hills edition because it is so close to home.  The stories that have evolved from this series are dramatic and often tragic, but they are real.  It's is sometimes hard to remember that what we are watching on camera is a person's real life.  This fact hit me on Friday when I was at the GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards gifting suite when I interviewed Taylor Armstrong who has had a tough year.  In my mind, she is always crying, breaking down, and fighting demons in her life because that is what I have watched on the show the last two seasons.  Well, it was refreshing to see her happy and full of joy during our interview.  She couldn't confirm that they were currently filming the next season, but I can confirm they are.  Let's hope her story takes a turn towards happiness:



If you want to see the Chagoury Couture dress we both wore and mentioned in this interview, click here.


3.  The Bachelor:  This is probably one of the most fake shows on TV.  I used to watch it for the cheese factor, but it is amazing to me how many people buy into this fantasy. If you don't believe me, go visit my friend, Reality Steve.  He will give you the inside scoop on the smoke and mirrors of this franchise.  I honestly think this show needs to fade away, but y'all keep watching.  Stop it!  Anyway, here's a 2010 interview with Vienna Girardi, "winner" of Jake Pavelka's season.  She debunks the fancy food and timeline of the show.  You can see her comments at the 1:14 mark:



What do you think about the "reality" of reality television and why do you keep watching The Bachelor?

I Ran Off And Joined The Circus

Last night was the premiere of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus' Fully Charged at the Staples Center.  The evening was also a benefit for the Starlight Foundation which "provides entertainment, education, and family activities for seriously ill children in the United States and their families."  It was an interesting mix of celebrities from the Disney Channel to Dancing With the Stars to The Office to the Real Housewives series.  The big question of the night was "If you joined the circus, what would your act be?"  We received some great answers, but no one topped Leah Remini who took three takes to get the answer done.  We included that whole hilarious sequences in our highlight video, so check it out and let me know what your circus act would be.  (By the way, no one ever mentioned being the ringmaster in the top hat!)

 Corbin Bleu of High School Musical was so much fun to interview. I'm seeing him in Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl on August 7th.  

 Anything for a gag:  donning the clown nose.

 Kyle Richards of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  Her husband is pretty hot, they make a striking couple.

 Leah Remini of The Talk.  She's just badass fun.  

 This is the second or third time I've interviewed Melora Hardin of The Office.  She is always kind, sweet, and wearing cute hats.

Olivia Holt of Kickin' It on Disney XD.  Yep, you probably need to be 12 years old to know who she is, but I really like the current crop of Disney kids.  

My circus act:  tight rope walker in 5" Jessica Simpson shoes.

All About The Dress

Aryeh designed this dress and also THIS one that I wore to ITVFest 2010.

I received so many inquiries about this dress from the ElfQuest fan trailer premiere, so I figured that it merited its own post.  Many thanks to Roni B. for styling me and to her mom, Sonia, for making sure the dress fit just right. (I actually picked up the dress an hour before hair/makeup in a grocery store parking lot!)  If you haven't read my post about The Undergarments Edition, now would be a good time to do so.  I was taped and pastied within every inch of my décolletage.  It wasn't the night for wardrobe malfunctions when you are broadcasting live.

Here is all of the scoop on my outfit:

Dress:   Aryeh, $65, available at Roni B.
Shoes:  Guess, from 6 years ago!
Jewelry:  Bracelet, ring:  Aldo, from 4 years ago!
               Garnet Necklace:  Gift from Prague
               Earrings: Gifted from Charles Winston, 14K White Gold 8mm Moissanite studs

Makeup:  Carolina Groppa

If you played along with my tongue-in-cheek poll last week of Who Wore It Best?  Here are the results:

I think you guys were just being nice because it is my site, but I love, love, love those who voted for "This poll is lame".  I'm glad someone has a sense of humor.  I honestly think the real winner is Chagoury Couture, they get free publicity any time someone wears their dress on the red carpet.  It's a no-lose situation.

Who Wore It Best?

Okay, I've never had this happen, but it finally did!  Someone wore the same dress that I did, different events, but the exact dress from Chagoury Couture.  You've seen the this feature in US Weekly and People, it's time we do it here at Red Carpet Closet!  In this corner, the tall and lithe, Taylor Armstrong, from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and a true champion of Chagoury Couture wearing the dress to the Bravo upfronts.  In this corner, KB (me!), also a lover of Chagoury Couture, noticeably shorter than Ms. Armstrong, but rockin' the curves of the dress at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills after the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.  (You may have seen the dress in this post.)

It's time to vote!  You have 4 options to choose from and the winning response will be announced on Monday, April 11th.  That means you have until Sunday, April 10th at 11:59PM PST to vote.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Just as a reminder, this dress was kindly loaned to me from Chagoury Couture for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. This poll is just for fun. I am okay if I lose this poll, I already won by having the privilege of wearing this beautiful design.