An American
Artist Across
the Pond
TOM FORD
In a time of lacking American luxury, Tom Ford broke the stereotype and returned Gucci to the multi-million dollar fashion house that it previously was.
Ford was born in Austin, Texas, and grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to The Council of Fashion Designers of America’s website. For college, he moved to New York City, where he switched majors, universities, and creative programs within the city. He graduated with an architecture degree from Parsons School of Design, and in 1990, he moved to Italy to work with Gucci as their Womenswear Designer. By 1994, Ford climbed his way up to Creative Director and managed the company’s image, brand and campaigns.
ELLE magazine considers Tom Ford’s early designs as the “unmistakable embodiment” of the 90s. Sleek, form fitting ensembles, bold colors, and see-through fabrics were hot on the runway during Ford’s reign.
“Doing a Gucci”: Ford’s
Glamorous
Transformation
Tom Ford’s instrumental designs and leadership changed Gucci’s image from overlooked, to obsessed. Sales skyrocketed, and A-list celebrities and models worked with Gucci, including Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna.
“Doing a Gucci”, a term coined by fashion insiders in the mid 90s, refers to Ford’s achievements of pulling the fashion house out of bankruptcy and into success (Tokatli). This sharp turnaround from Gucci’s inmemorable presence in the 80s and early 90s gave Ford the respect and fame to reach other professional goals like working with Yves Saint Laurent, and starting his own fashion brand in 2005.
Ford describes himself as a perfectionist who can always achieve more. His professional career reflects project-based perfection, as his pieces from Gucci are timeless yet trendy, and still have great appeal today.
Written by
Seda Propes