TOM FORD

Tom Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer. He is well known within the fashion industry for his legendary turnaround of Gucci, one of the most influential fashion houses in the world.

Ford was born in Austin, Texas. After graduating from the Parsons School of Design in 1986, initially having studied architecture, he took design jobs with Cathy Hardwick and Perry Ellis. In 1990, Gucci's creative director Dawn Mello recruited him to design women's ready-to-wear, and Ford later moved on to become the chief director for Gucci. Ford called french editor Carine Roitfeld and peruvian photgrapher Mario Testino and asked them to help him revamp the old fashioned house. By 1999, Ford had helped propel Gucci into a fashion power worth over $4 billion. When Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint Laurent, Ford was named the creative director of that label as well.

In 2004, Ford stepped down or was asked to step down from both of his positions, amid rumours he wished to direct films.

In May 2005, Ford was awarded the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design.


Scarlett Johansson, Tom Ford and Keira Knightley on the February 2006 cover of Vanity Fair (Ford was superimposed into the photograph)

In early 2006, Ford was asked to be the guest editor and creative director for the February 2006 Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair. Originally planned to showcase three of Hollywood's most promising young actresses on the cover in the nude -- Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson, and Rachel McAdams -- McAdams was excluded from the cover shot after refusing to appear nude. Ford's edition underwent heavy criticism after it hit stands, where McAdams was replaced with a clothed Ford. Many claimed his edition further perpetuated the need for Hollywood actresses to be sexual icons since the edition featured no nude actors inside the magazine while featuring several nude actresses, including Angelina Jolie.