Nicole Richie Is 'Influencer of the Year'

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The ACE Awards (that stands for Accessories Council of Excellence) winners were announced today, and the big kahuna went to Nicole Richie--Influence of the Year. Her House of Harlow 1960 line sells sunglasses, jewelry, bags, and apparel. But in a market where so many celebrities have gone and failed, Richie keeps becoming more successful. And with her upcoming role as a judge on The Fashion Show, her profile will only get bigger. So what's her secret? "It’s really important for me for each business to develop its own identity. With everything I do, I want to make sure that I take the time and make each category the best that it can be," she told WWD. "To me, success isn’t measured by dollar signs. It’s really about paying attention to feedback and talking to my customer and I’m able to do that with the various appearances I do — and also through Twitter and Facebook."

She adds, "I absolutely would never design anything that I wouldn’t wear myself. But for me, the most important thing is to listen to my customers and get their feedback — I design for them." Wait, so does she design for herself or for her customers? This last part is confusing. When asked who the typical House of Harlow consumer is, Richie says, "I would say that she’s a multitasker, a woman who wears many hats, someone who isn’t afraid to take risks and have fun with fashion." Sounds like we're about to see a hat line.
· ACE Influencer of the Year Award: Nicole Richie [WWD]
· 4 Possible Names for Nicole Richie's New Fragrance [Racked]