Tom Ford

TOM FORD

Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American Fashion Designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man. I chose to write about Tom Ford at this point in time because his support of my blog's overarching theme of being who you want to be and having your own style. I write about people who inspire me in my life, and today, he has inspired me to explore art and the process of designing, and to appreciate all forms of art, including fashion. Also, Tom Ford is so dynamic in his work. He is an Oscar nominated film director but also is one of the most influential people in the world of art and fashion. Tom Ford pushes his artistic creativity through his clothing, his art and through his films. He is an authentic and an inspiring artist and designer. Although his ads are a bit over the topic and edgy, the work he puts out makes up for it.

Tom Ford was born August 27 in Austin. Ford moved several times in his childhood, throughout Texas and to California. Ford left Santa Fe at age 16, when he enrolled at Bard College but dropped out quickly. He then moved to New York City to study art history at New York University.

Ford dropped out of NYU after only a year, preferring to concentrate on acting in television commercials; at one time, he was in 12 national advertising campaigns simultaneously. Ford then began studying interior architecture at The New School's famous art and design college, Parsons The New School For Design. Ford learned the principles of design and art. His perfected art skills are exposed in his work. During his time in New York, Ford became a fixture at the legendary nightclub Studio 54. The club's disco-era glamor would be a major influence on his later designs. Before his last year at New School, Ford spent a year and a half in Paris, where he worked as an intern in Chloe's press office. Though his work primarily involved sending clothes out on photo shoots, it triggered his love of fashion. He spent his final year at The New School studying fashion, but nonetheless graduated with a degree in architecture. Tom Ford was educated at Parsons and NYU, both are schools I would love to attend. Ford traveled as a teen which is why I think his work is so diverse.

His Work

Tom Ford is arguably the most influential fashion designer in the last decade, but this title wasn't just given to him, it was earned. Tom Ford certainly did his homework and has experience. He studied and studied and his hard work paid off. His work has become known internationally. His work is personalized and original which is rare in the world of art. Tom Ford possesses such admirable traits, such as his ability to transfer his vision into his work. Tom Ford seems like one who will never give up on a idea, and understands that all ideas have potential to turn into something great.

How did he become this successful?
In 1994, at the age of 32, Ford was promoted to creative director. In his first year at the helm, he was credited with putting the glamour back into fashion introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters skinny stain shirts and car-finish metallic patent boots. In 1995, he brought in French stylist Carine Roitfeld and photographer Mario Testino to create a series of new, modern ad campaigns for the company. (Leave it to Testino to create a modern campaign!) Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%. On the strength of Ford’s collections, Gucci went public in October 1995 with an IPOof $22 per share, followed by an additional global offering in March 1996 at $48 per share and a third offering in 1999 at $75 per share. At one point, Ford was the largest individual shareholder of Gucci stock and options. However, it was all Ford's drive and determination that caused his ultra-successful career. Career doesn't seem like the correct word to be used to describe Ford. He is more than just a successful career. He has, and continues to revolutionize the fashion and mainstream, commercialized world.

By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at about $4.3 billion. When Ford left in 2004, Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion.

When Gucci acquired the house of (YSL), Ford was named the creative director of that label as well. During his time as Creative Director for YSL, Ford won numerous Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Like his work at Gucci, Ford was able to catapult the classic fashion house back into the mainstream. His work became so publicized after each collection he created. His advertising campaigns for the YSL fragrances Opium (with a red-haired Sophie Dahl completely naked wearing only a necklace and stiletto heels in a sexually suggestive pose) and YSL M7 (with martial arts champion Samuel de Cubber in complete full-frontal nudity) have been famous and provocative by pushing fragrance ads to a new level of creativity in artistic expression and commercial impact.

In April 2004, Ford parted ways with the Gucci group after he and CEO Domenico Del Sole. who is credited as Ford's partner in the success story that is Gucci, failed to agree with PPR bosses over artistic control of the Group. Ford left Gucci in the Spring of 2004.

Tom Ford (2004–present)

(Tom Ford boutique)

In April 2005, Ford announced the creation of the TOM FORD brand. Ford was joined in this venture by former Gucci Group President and CEO Domenico Del Sole who serves as Chairman of the company. In that same year, Ford announced his partnership with Marcolin Group to produce and distribute optical frames and sunglasses as well as an alliance with Estee Lauder to create the TOM FORD Beauty brand.

In April 2007, his first directly-owned flagship store opened in New York at 845 Madison Avenue and coincided with the debut of the TOM FORD menswear and accessory collections. Presently, there are 21 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops in locations such as Milan, Tokyo, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Dubai, Zurich and Russia.

In March 2011, Ford featured as the cover star of bi-annual publication AnOther Man, the fraternal counterpart to Another Magazine, giving his opinion on what makes the modern day gentleman. He was interviewed by the magazine's founder Jefferson Hack for the featured article.

What I admire most about Tom Ford is his determination and perseverance. This quote is an example that shows it:

"When I want something I'm going to get it. I had decided I was going to be a fashion designer and one of those people was going to hire me!"

His positive attitude is what brought him to this great success.

Here are some interesting and thought provoking quotes by him:

"I like to make [my designs] a little tacky. Push them so they're a little too much. When things are too perfect, they're kind of dull."

"Fashion is everything. Art, music, furniture design, graphic design, hair, makeup, architecture, the way cars look--all those things go together to make a moment in time, and that's what excites me."

"As a fashion designer, I was always aware that I was not an artist, because I was creating something that was made to be sold, marketed, used, and ultimately discarded."