The Designer Who Made Glamour Dangerous Again
“Most designers sell clothing,
Tom Ford sold temptation”
I've always been fascinated by Tom Ford. He arrived at Gucci in the mid-1990s when the house was struggling, and almost overniglit, everything changed.' He brought desire back. He brought drama back. He brought people back.
The facts are well documented.
The rumors are more interesting
One story I've heard for years is that when Tom Ford was creating a collection, he cared as much about the atmosphere as the clothes.?
The lighting.
The music.
The scent in the air.
Even the hotel where the show would take place.?
People who worked with him have said he was obsessive about every last detail.* Whether that meant the cut of a jacket or the temperature in a room, nothing was too small.
I also love the rumor that Tom Ford believed glamour begins long before you get dressed.
It starts with anticipation.
It starts with mood.
It starts with a little bit of danger.
I have no idea if that is exactly what he said.
But after reading interviews and listening to the people who knew him, I can understand why the story exists.
Tom Ford never seemed interested in playing by the rules.
He wasn't trying to be liked. He was trying to create a feeling Whether every detail of these stories is true or not, I don't know.
But the best fashion stories usually aren't about facts.
They're about the truth behind the fantasy.
Fashion Notes by Anita Teglasi, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
All images courtesy of Pexels.com
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