Los Angeles Fashion Awards Returns

The Los Angeles Fashion Awards returned for its sophomore run at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 20 at the close of Los Angeles Fashion Week and the opening of the Los Angeles Fashion Market.

This year’s show, sponsored by Saturn, featured “Extra TV”’s Jon Kelley and “NCIS” actress Lauren Holly as hosts and a crowd packed with designers and industry insiders.

Rozae Nichols walked away with the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award, beating out nominees Juan Carlos Obando and Society for Rational Dress’ Corinne Grassini.

“I had to write this down, but it’s in my heart,” said Nichols, taking handwritten notes out of her pocket. “This reward is a reflection of the passion and talent of everyone in my factory and they are all here tonight.”

“Desperate Housewives” costume designer Catherine Adair presented Cameron Silver and Christos Garkinos with the Fashion Retailer Award for their Decades and Decades Two boutiques.

“I want to thank all the closets in L.A.,” said Silver. “Thank you, you compulsive shoppers. You keep us in business.”

Journalist-turned-retailer Rose Apodaca presented and accepted the Fashion Communications Award for stylist Arianne Phillips, who was on location with her next film and unable to be at the awards ceremony in person. David Cardona accepted the Marketing Excellence Award on behalf of Collection Bebe. Jennifer Egan, regional director of Gen Art Los Angeles, accepted the Inspiration Award on behalf of the nonprofit organization. Nasdaq’s Bruce Aust presented Charlotte Russe with the Nasdaq California Apparel Stock of the Year award, accepted by Charlotte Russe Chief Executive Officer Mark Hoffman.

Monique Lhuillier took away the Wells Fargo Century Fashion Achievement Award, which was presented by Wells Fargo Century’s Kevin Sullivan. “When I think of the glamour and fashion of L.A., I think of Monique Lhuillier,” said actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who introduced the designer. Lhuillier is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. She told the crowd that when she was just starting out in the apparel business, she worried that she would have to move her company to New York.

“A lot of my inspiration is from this city of ours, and I’m staying,” she said.—Alison A. Nieder