Tom Ford for Gucci Angel Sleeve Shirt
View Similar Items
Tom Ford for Gucci Angel Sleeve Shirt
About the Item
Tom Ford
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.
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.
- Antonio Berardi Straps and Grommets Draped ShirtBy Antonio BerardiLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous bright blue fine cotton shirt, top, blouse by Antonio Berardi. It has a shawl collar, matching mother of pearl button cuffs, and an asymmetrical hem longer in the front. ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Saint Laurent Revolver Print Runway Silk Shirt F/W 2014By Saint LaurentLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black silk shirt with a revolver print in beige from Saint Laurent. It has a shirt collar, shirt tail hem, button cuffs and black button front closure Fits sizes Extra Sma...Category
2010s Italian Blouses
$375 Sale Price51% Off - Emmanuelle Khanh White Silk Blouse Shirt 1980sBy Emmanuelle KahnLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous white silk organza blouse, shirt, top by Emmanuelle Khanh. It is double breasted with large mother of pearl buttons and a large notched portrait collar. The long, full raglan sleeves have french cuffs with matching mother of pearl cuff links...Category
1980s French Blouses
- Valentino Boutique Silk Ruffle Neck Blouse 1980sBy Valentino, Valentino CoutureLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous black silk charmeuse blouse shirt by Valentino. It buttons on the side front with delicate black faceted glass buttons and is adorned with layers of beautiful gold flower dotted...Category
1980s Italian Blouses
- Jean Colonna New Beaded Sheer Panel Top 1990sLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black beaded top from Jean Colonna. It is sleeveless with a crew neckline and a front sheer panel adorned with an elaborate pattern of black ...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Mary Katrantzou Mixed Paid Tie ShirtLocated in Water Mill, NYA great mixed plaid light weight soft woven shirt in blue, green on the lower portion and grey, black and white on the upper chest and sleeves by Belgium designer Mary Katrantzou. I...Category
2010s Belgian Blouses and Tops
- Escada Margaretha Ley Blue Silk Fedora Hat Novelty Print BlouseBy Escada, Escada Margaretha LeyLocated in Portland, ORThis is such a fun vintage Escada by Margaretha Ley silk blouse in blue with a great black and red fedora hat print with abstract gradient squares of green ...Category
1980s German Blouses and Tops
$118 Sale Price60% Off - 1990s Moschino "Roman CarWash" Bandage Bodycon TopBy MoschinoLocated in Scottsdale, AZA rare style from Moschino early 90's "Roman Carwash" Bandage bodycon top with black piping at the seams. This top as 3 thick straps that makes a sexy cap sleeve marked a size 8 but ...Category
1990s Italian Blouses
- Hermes 'Christophe Colomb Decouvre l’Amerique' BlouseBy HermèsLocated in Scottsdale, AZComplete your Hermes collection with this amazing and rare piece! Circa 1992 designed by Carl de Parcevaux, this design is titled 'Christophe Colomb Decouvre l’Amerique' or Christoph...Category
1990s French Blouses
- S/S 1999 Gucci by Tom Ford Blue Psychedelic Floral Button Up Men's ShirtBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a blue men's psychedelic floral Gucci button-down, designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 1999 "Las Vegas Hippy" collection, this bold blue psychedelic floral shirt ...Category
1990s Italian Blouses
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Fringe Medusa Bamboo Orchid Jungle TopBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous jungle and orchid print Gianni Versace Couture shirt, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 2000 collection, this top debuted as part of look 68 modeled by Isabeli Fontana. From the same collection as JLo's infamous jungle dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses
- S/S 1992 Gianni Versace Runway Ad Gold Medusa Blue Jean Denim Button Down TopBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a blue cotton denim button-down designed by Gianni Versace for his Spring/Summer 1992 collection. Similar jackets denim tops debuted on the runway on Marpessa Hennink, Yas...Category
1990s Italian Blouses