Anyone who has taken it upon him or herself to put a word on paper about fashion has had to mention the force that is Tom Ford.
I really started to pay close attention during his last years reining over Gucci as creative director. In a short period of time he managed to go from head of women’s wear to the top of the food chain. His final say was heard from the runway to accessories, over to fragrance, into advertising, and even managed to trickle all the way down to the furniture featured in the stores. This attention to detail is the essence of Ford design and one of the attributes responsible for Gucci’s rise from near bankruptcy.
In 1999 the Gucci Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent and Ford was again in the drivers seat of yet another iconic fashion house, thus sparking a feud between Ford and the namesake designer. Ford was quoted saying in an interview with The Advocate Magazine that, “Being at Yves Saint Laurent was such a negative experience for me even though business boomed while I was there.” Despite his critics, he helped put YSL back on fashion editor’s and stylist’s radars. On top of the duties he was simultaneously responsible for at Gucci, Ford still managed to win many awards and accolades from the industry as well as capture the respect of his adoring fans.
Tom Ford left The Group in 2004, when Gucci was acquired by PPR, and his artistic control was compromised.
Almost exactly one year later the Tom Ford Empire was born, a company so close to his heart the flagship stores are modeled after his own home. Along with Domenico De Sole as chairman of the Tom Ford brand, they have managed to create a fashion house with as a much buzz as any iconic designer who has preceded. Tom Ford has succeeded not only under the pressure of bringing legends back from near obscurity, but also with his own name. Even more remarkable is his ability to do so, not with all the comforts of a women’s line, but with sunglasses, fragrance, and the fashion world’s redheaded stepchild…men’s wear.
God only knows what gift the world’s fashionistas have coming to them when Ford unveils his much-anticipated women’s collection. Until then, all hail the 2010 CFDA designer of the year. It’s going to be legendary.
Photo Credits: Tom Ford campaign
Edited by: Gina Conforti
