9 Red Carpet Secrets You Can Use

Sandra Bullock, pictured at the SAG Awards in January, is up for Best Actress. INFDaily.com.

LimeLife teams with OK!'s senior reporter to teach you red carpet savvy.

Think there's any chance in your life that you could come close to a red carpet? You'd be surprised: with so much young rising talent in Hollywood, red carpets are more accessible to industry outsiders than ever before. Plus, these days, any vacation to L.A., New York, Miami, Las Vegas, London, France, Italy and now Canada could see you skimming the velvet ropes. When it came to smart bystander skills, celeb beauty tricks, or paparazzi etiquette...would you have any idea what was going on? LimeLife has the answers (including the #1 actor every reporter will seek at the Oscars!).

Quiz: Take the LimeLife Oscars Quiz and win your own movie award.

When I met Laura Lane at the star-stocked PokerStars Carribean Adventure recently, I knew I'd encountered an unparalelled force in Hollywood news. An O.C. native, Laura Lane boasts the titles of senior reporter at OK! Magazine, host of ESPN's Inside Deal, and one-time Ryan Seacrest intern. She's also attended every red carpet from the Oscars to President Obama's inauguration to this year's Super Bowl. (So yyyeah, she's met a few celebs.) Laura Lane may have more red carpet experience than Meryl Streep herself -- and here she's sharing her hush-hush know-how exclusively with LimeLife.

For your consideration, as they say in the industry, here are the red carpet secrets everyone should know. (LimeLife extends a special thanks to Laura Lane!)

Red carpet secrets among celebs:

1. Body slimmers are ubiquitous. Think we mere mortals are the only ones who need Spanx? You're wrong - Laura Lane says nearly every female who walks down the carpet has some type of body slimmer under her dress. Even for a casual jeans-and-heels red carpet approach, Laura Lane says "Don't look at red carpet celebrities [and think] that's how you should always look," says Laura Lane. "It took them, like, three hours." Alleluia!

2. Poses have power. "Celebrities who do red carpets all the time know to put their hand on their hip," says Laura Lane, "because it elongates the arm." Celebs will also place one foot forward and put their weight on their back leg, creating a slant effect with the body because it creates a more slimming effect than standing full-on.

3. Some celebs primp themselves. Is it possible there just aren't enough stylists in Hollywood for every Oscar attendee? Laura Lane tells us absolutely. If a female celeb can't get a hair appointment, the no-fail last resort is electric hair rollers because full volume can fool the crowd. Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson and Carrie Underwood are known self-curlers. The other red carpet beauty must? Get the eye makeup right. Laura Lane says up-and-coming celebrities often have to practice to strike the balance between not-a-clown and not-washed-out on camera.

Red carpet secrets among press:

1. Don't say paparazzi. I learned at Paris Hilton's birthday party in Las Vegas that the gaggle of hungry camera-carriers that swarm celebrities prefer to be called "celebrity photographers," not paparazzi. Celeb photographers generally form in strong powerhouse huddles, so you'll want to get the lingo right. They're very nice if you are.

2. The press line goes as follows: celeb photogs first, then TV personalities and videographers, then print reporters. The entertainment industry is more visual than intellectual, and cameras need to snap that fresh-faced shot of, say, Sandra Bullock just as the steps onto the carpet and before she's exhausted by interviews. What shot do the photographers fight for? Laura Lane says it's the "sunshine factor": the smiling celeb picture with eyes staring right at the camera. These sell to photo agencies more than any other shot.

3. Media have homework. The biggest pice of knowledge for reporters to have is who the talkative celebs are. Laura Lane says you'll get a sweet chat from Paris Hilton, but don't take it personally if Adrian Grenier passes you by (like he's done to me). Who will be every reporter's hopeful "get" on Sunday at the Oscars? George Clooney, because he's a nominee this year. Laura Lane adds that on a red carpet, George Clooney is "really funny, he can go along with any question, he's charming, gorgeous -- the full package. Clooney's definitely a celebrity [whom] everybody's gonna be vying for." Laura Lane also says that celeb couples can be tough to navigate because sometimes one is friendlier than the other - this is typical of Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo and Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz. (Lane says that in both cases, the guys are the friendly S.O.)

Red carpet secrets for all of us:

1. No shockers. Don't yell rude comments or obscenities at a celebrity just to get their attention. This could send them packing too early from the red carpet, and you could be escorted straight off the premises.

2. Don't interrupt. This is especially true for media, but it goes for passers-by as well. Laura Lane says a big red carpet don't is to try to snag a celeb who's in the middle of a chat with a reporter. It will annoy an in-command celebrity publicist, and the celeb is likely to ignore you completely when it comes your turn for face time.

3. Avoid the media pen. Trying to squeeze inside the velvet ropes where the media are penned is a horrible idea -- I once saw a guy do that, and a group of celeb photographers made a scene to have the dude removed. Also keep your camera hidden, because as Laura Lane says, the celeb photogs' flashbulbs are so bright that your pic is going to come out looking blank.

Want more Oscars-related news? We have it here -- also visit our celeb Photos section if you can't get enough eye candy of your favorites! (Told you this field was visual!)