Patty FOX

FOX, Patty Patty Fox, whose name was synonymous with elegance in the Los Angeles fashion community, died Sunday, September 26, in Santa Monica, surrounded by close friends. Her career highlights include serving as western regional fashion director for thirteen Saks Fifth Avenue stores, fashion director of the annual Academy Awards fashion show, fashion director of Project Angel Food's Divine Design, and Los Angeles regional director of Fashion Group International. Fox's two books, "Star Style: Hollywood Legends as Fashion Icons," (1995, Angel City Press) and "Star Style at the Academy Awards," (2000, Angel City Press) were international best sellers and affirmed her place as a dean of Hollywood fashion history. Her career in fashion began in the 1970s as a model with the John Robert Powers agency in Los Angeles. However, her intelligence and business acumen quickly helped her to broaden her horizons. While at Saks, Fox introduced the collections of designers Christian Lacroix, Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi to Los Angeles, producing trend-setting fashion shows that impressed the international fashion world. When she left Saks in the late 1980s, she regularly appeared on local and national television shows, talking about the subject she knew so well. In 1997, she produced a star-studded event to celebrate Rodeo Drive's 25th anniversary as an international fashion capital--the street was closed to traffic, and models strutted a catwalk two blocks long, at the time the longest runway in history. For two decades Fox oversaw the annual Academy Awards fashion show for international press, working first under Fred Hayman of Giorgio fame, and then directing the show herself. The production was a preview of what stars would wear on Academy Awards night. Under her watch, the Academy Awards became known as the world's largest fashion show, with millions of viewers tuned in to see each star's style. Fox was also fashion director of Divine Design for Project Angel Food from 1999 until 2005. She helped raise millions of dollars to feed AIDS patients by assembling thousands of designer-name clothing donations. Most recently Fox was chief creative officer at myshape.com, an online shopping site based on the premise that every woman can find clothes that fit and look becoming. The site fueled Fox's ever-present passion to help all women look and feel their very best. Born Patricia Lucille Davis in Inglewood, California, she graduated from El Camino College and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. After leaving Saks, she continued her education, earning a B.A. from UCLA with an art history major and graduating summa cum laude. Although her work focused on fashion, much of her time was devoted to research, artistic pursuits and philosophical thought. Hers was a life of truth and deep meaning, a life that brought resounding joy to everyone whom she called a friend. Her valiant effort to conquer ovarian cancer was proof positive of her indefatigable spirit and her belief that all things are possible. She is survived by her brother, Robert Davis and his family, as well as an aunt and several cousins, and an extended family of devoted friends. A private memorial service is planned for later this month. Contributions in her name can be made to Project Angel Food in Los Angeles (323-845-1800; www.angelfood.org) or the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation at UCLA (310-206-0675; www.cancer.ucla.edu).