GUCCI by Tom Ford Leather Dress
View Similar Items
GUCCI by Tom Ford Leather Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4 (US)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Hip: 34 in (86.36 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:leather
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU42610203502
Tom Ford for Gucci
No one understands sex appeal quite like Tom Ford, who joined Gucci as a womens-wear designer in 1990.
At the time, the internationally renowned Italian label was better known for leather goods than luxury fashion. It was also nearly bankrupt. After creative director Dawn Mello left in 1994, following a Bahrain-based investment group becoming Gucci’s majority shareholder, Ford was named creative director. The American designer soon infused the brand with a fresh sensuality and bold style.
Ford's potent vision of sexed-up femininity spanned everything from shirts to shoes to handbags and other accessories at Gucci — he reimagined the house's iconic double-ring-and-bar Horsebit hardware, a reference to the brand’s equestrian history, as a seductive low-slung belt, worn by Madonna when accepting an MTV video music award in 1995. For his fall show during that year, 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.
Ford also cranked up the seduction in the provocative ads for Gucci, particularly with regard to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, which the fashion house 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. Today Ford is also an author, film director and chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Find vintage Tom Ford Gucci day dresses, jackets and shoulder bags on 1stDibs.
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- 1960s Creme Silk Sleeveless Cocktail Dress with EmbroideryLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1960s Jackie O Creme Duchesse Satin Silk sleeveless dress embroidered with black velvet floral appliqué and beaded with white bugle beads. Perfect for summer cocktail party. Size 6-8...Category
1960s American Wedding Dresses
- RODARTE 2011 Runway DressBy RodarteLocated in Beverly Hills, CARodarte creme croc and silk cocktail dress ( runway 2011) (neiman marcus price tag attached $16.000)Category
Early 2000s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1960s yellow silk gown with red and silver sequin vintage embroidered gownLocated in Beverly Hills, CAVintage 1960s profils du monde Yellow silk chiffon gown adorned with red , silver sequins and pearls. Timeless and chic old hollywood glamour style. F...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
$1,250 Sale Price24% Off - 1930s Orange and Black Plaid Print Silk Chiffon Dress and CapeletLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1930s Orange and Black plaid print Silk chiffon sleeveless dress and capelet. ( 2pcs) Fit Size US 2 **Dress has some fabric distressed. AS ISCategory
1930s Unknown Wedding Dresses
- 1970s Andre Laug Creme Silk Floral Print Maxi DressBy André LaugLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1970s creme Andre Laug silk chiffon off shoulder maxi dress. Perfect for summer party or wedding. Size: Small Bust: 32 inches/ Waist: 25 inches / Hip: free/ Dress length: 54.5 inc...Category
1970s French Cocktail Dresses
- Gucci by Tom Ford Tan Silk Shirt DressBy Tom Ford, GucciLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGucci by Tom Ford tan silk shirt dress with belt. Size: Small Marked size 40 but it fit smaller. ( small smudge near pocket) see image attached Bust: 32 inche...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Christian Dior by John Galliano floral silk and lace draped dress, fw 2005By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in London, GB▪ Christian Dior dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Apricot floral printed silk chiffon ▪ Velvet trim ▪ Lace bust ▪ Draped skirt ▪ Spaghetti straps ▪ Fabric buttons at the side ...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alexander McQueen striped cotton and lace dress with pleated skirt, ss 2005By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GB▪ Alexander McQueen dress ▪ Constructed from a fine cotton-silk fabric in two colour-ways of red, cream and blue stripes ▪ Ivory lace inserts and trim ▪ Low-waisted skirt made up of...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Prada by Miuccia Prada orange silk chiffon slip dress, fw 1996By Miuccia PradaLocated in London, GB▪ Rare Prada evening slip dress ▪ Designed by Miuccia Prada ▪ Fine silk chiffon with geometric print in orange, brown and cream ▪ Sold with a matching Prada nude silk slip dress t...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Christian Dior by John Galliano equestrian printed silk scarf dress, ss 2000By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in London, GB▪ Important Christian Dior evening dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Equestrian printed silk twill in pink and yellow with an ivory base ▪ Tan leather strap at the neck ▪ Open bac...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1960s Maggy Rouff Pink Silk DressBy Maggy RouffLocated in Paris, FRMaggy Rouff pink silk dress featuring a white ribbon detail, a center back zip opening, a silk lining. Label: Maggy Rouff - 14 Avenue Montaigne Paris...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1960s Natural Linen Vintage Handwoven Folk Dress W Fringe & Pink Applique TrimLocated in Portland, ORThis one of a kind vintage dress came from an estate of collectible higher end ethnic folk clothing from Mexico, Central America and Sout...Category
1960s Unknown Day Dresses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.