Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
No one understands sex appeal quite like American designer Tom Ford.
An avowed perfectionist from an early age, Ford was rearranging furniture at the age of six and offering his mother advice on her hair and shoes. The designer, author, film director and chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is one of the most successful people working in fashion today.
Born in Austin, Texas, Ford grew up in the suburbs of Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He briefly attended New York University, where he studied art history before dropping out to pursue acting. He became a regular at Studio 54, with its decadent nightlife later informing his high-octane fashion. He studied architecture at Parsons School of Design before shifting his focus to fashion and spending time at the Parsons Paris campus, graduating in 1985. The rest of the decade he worked for designers Perry Ellis and Cathy Hardwick. In 1990, Gucci’s creative director Dawn Mello hired him as a womens-wear designer.
At the time, the Italian label was better known for leather goods than luxury fashion. It was also nearly bankrupt. After Mello left in 1994, following a Bahrain-based investment group becoming Gucci’s majority shareholder, Ford was named creative director. He soon infused the brand with a fresh sensuality and bold style. His fall 1995 show, in which Kate Moss walked down the runway in an unbuttoned satin shirt, velvet hip-huggers and tousled hair, heralded an exciting, glammed-up era for the once fusty brand. Vogue critic Sarah Mower called it “one of those hitting-in-the-solar-plexus moments.”
As Ford shot to fame, he continued to explore plunging necklines, such as in the black and white looks of the Fall 1996 collection, and sumptuous fabrics like leather and tweed, with the Fall 2000 ready-to-wear collection ranging from sultry silk evening dresses to plush belted coats. He also cranked up the seduction in the provocative ads for the fashion house, particularly with regard to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, which Gucci acquired in 1999 (Ford was also named creative director for YSL and designed the brand’s ready-to-wear collection). Gucci's Fall/Winter 1997 campaign featured Carolyn Murphy grasping Angela Lindvall in what looked like a video still; in another shot, a face pressed against a foot in a lipstick-red heel. Each promoted a vision of modern fashion where women were sexually confident, the materials were luxurious and the styles were fearless.
In 2004, Ford and Gucci president Domenico De Sole left the company after failing to agree on the renewal of their contracts. In 2006, with De Sole as chairman, Ford launched his wildly successful eponymous menswear label. The brand has expanded into womens wear, beauty, accessories — vintage Tom Ford handbags are universally adored by celebrities and collectors alike — as well as eyewear and fragrance, with the unisex Black Orchid introduced in 2006. Ford broke into film directing with the critically acclaimed A Single Man in 2009 and Nocturnal Animals in 2016, continuing to blur the boundaries between fashion and culture.
Find vintage Tom Ford day dresses, purses, shoes and other clothing and accessories now on 1stDibs.
2010s Italian Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
2010s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
21st Century and Contemporary Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
2010s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
Early 2000s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
Early 2000s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1970s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1960s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s European Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s French Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1990s Italian Tom Ford Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
Tom Ford suits, outfits and ensembles for sale on 1stDibs.
Designers Similar to Tom Ford
- Does Tom Ford own Gucci?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024No, Tom Ford doesn't own Gucci. However, he has had a major impact on the Italian luxury fashion house, serving as its creative director from 1994 to 2004. He infused the brand with a fresh sensuality and bold style that helped revive Gucci, elevating it from the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most successful fashion houses. Explore a variety of Tom Ford for Gucci apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.
- What did Tom Ford do at Gucci?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024At Gucci, Tom Ford served as the creative director from 1994 to 2004. He infused the brand with fresh sensuality and a bold style. His fall 1995 show, in which Kate Moss walked down the runway in an unbuttoned satin shirt, velvet hip-huggers and tousled hair, heralded an exciting, glammed-up era for the brand. As Ford shot to fame, he continued to explore plunging necklines, such as in the black and white looks of the Fall 1996 collection, and sumptuous fabrics like leather and tweed. The Fall 2000 ready-to-wear collection ranged from sultry silk evening dresses to plush belted coats. He also cranked up the seduction in the provocative ads for the fashion house. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Gucci apparel and accessories.
- Is Gucci made by Tom Ford?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024No, Tom Ford does not currently make Gucci. However, the American fashion designer did design for Gucci in the past. He served as the creative director for the Italian luxury fashion house from 1994 to 2004, and many credit him for reviving the company, which struggled financially during the 1980s. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Gucci apparel and accessories.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Two designers took over Gucci after Tom Ford left the Italian fashion house in 2004. John Ray headed up menswear designs, while Alessandra Facchinetti oversaw womenswear. Two years later, Frida Giannini became the creative director for the entire brand. During her tenure, she reimagined Gucci's Flora pattern, bringing feminine flair to the collection. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Gucci apparel and accessories.
- Does Tom Ford design for Gucci?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024No, Tom Ford does not design for Gucci. However, he has in the past. The American fashion designer served as the creative director for the Italian luxury fashion house from 1994 to 2004. During his tenure, Ford was responsible for infusing the brand with fresh sensuality and a bold style. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Gucci apparel and accessories.