Gucci by Tom Ford over the knee skin tight lizard boots, c. 1999
View Similar Items
Gucci by Tom Ford over the knee skin tight lizard boots, c. 1999
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.
- Gianni Versace snakeskin and Persian lamb platform sandals, fw 1999By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace platform sandals ▪ White snakeskin heel, platform and ankle straps ▪ Grey Persian lamb strap ▪ Size European 37 ▪ Fall-Winte...Category
1990s Italian Shoes
- Platform boots with screen printed Andy Warhol Marilyn Diptych print, c. 1960sLocated in London, GBPresenting an original pair of 1960s canvas platform boots, adorned with the iconic screen printed artwork of Andy Warhol's 'Marilyn Diptych'. These extra...Category
1960s Unknown Boots
- Hussein Chalayan Autumn-Winter 2002 black leather bondage shoes with metal heelBy Hussein ChalayanLocated in London, GBHussein Chalayan Autumn-Winter 2002 black leather shoes with metal heelCategory
Early 2000s British Shoes
- Martin Margiela black leather heeled pumps with sock boots, fw 1999By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBIntroducing the Martin Margiela Autumn-Winter 1999 shoes, a remarkable and innovative footwear creation from the avant-garde designer's iconic collection. Crafted from luxurious bla...Category
1990s Italian Shoes
- Alaia pony hair leopard print coat and boots ensemble, c. 2010By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBIntroducing an extraordinary Alaia pony hair leopard print coat and boots ensemble, a true statement of bold and luxurious style. This ensemble showcas...Category
2010s French Coats and Outerwear
- Dolce & Gabbana tan and brown leather platform sandals, sz 39By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana tan and brown leather platform sandals ca. 1990-1999Category
1990s Italian Shoes
- Versace Jeans Couture White Baroque Print Gold Sneakers SZ 36 New in BoxBy Versace, Versace Jeans CoutureLocated in PUTNEY, NSWLow top, lace-up sneakers with a chunky sole. The design from the Stargaze line boasts the Regalia Baroque print. Regalia Baroque print Low top lace-up Chunky sole Outer fabric: 70%...Category
2010s European Heels
$204 Sale Price20% Off - New Nike x Louis Vuitton "Air Force 1" Sneakers by V. Abloh in white and blueBy Louis VuittonLocated in Paris, IDFUltra Limited Series / Nike x Louis Vuitton collaboration by Virgil Abloh Originally designed by Nike in 1982, the Louis Vuitton "Air Force 1" are the first sneakers made outside the Nike factory. Coming from the streetwear community, Men's Artistic Director Virgil Abloh (1980-2021) considered the Nike Air Force 1 as a cultural symbol in its own right. Today, two icons merge to create the most authentic high-end sneakers. A cultural symbol in its own right, the Air Force 1 is elevated to an art object by Virgil Abloh. For the Spring-Summer 2022 collection, Virgil Abloh has imagined a collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Nike to create 9 exclusive editions of "Air Force 1" sneakers. Each model embodies the synthesis between classic codes of the original shoe, noble materials and signature emblems of the House. The Louis Vuitton x Nike...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Boots
- Balenciaga Grey/Silver Leather And Fabric Race Runner Low Top Sneakers Size 37By BalenciagaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Let your latest shoe addition be this pair of Race Runner sneakers from Balenciaga. These silver sneakers have been crafted from leather And fabric and...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Fendi Multicolor Zucca Canvas and Leather Bow Slide Sandals Size 37.5By FendiLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2From the house of Fendi, these sandals are tastefully designed. This classic pair in Zucca coated canvas and leather will match well with almost all your outfits. The slide sandals f...Category
2010s Italian Sandals
- Prada Two Tone Purple Leather Wave Ankle Strap Sandals Size 37By PradaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2These sandals from Prada are a perfect blend of fashion and comfort! These two-toned purple sandals are crafted from leather and feature an open-toe sil...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
$299 Sale Price40% Off - Casadei Tricolor Suede And Leather Studded High Top Wedge Sneakers Size 39By CasadeiLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Comfy and high on style, these wedge sneakers by Casadei have been created to be flaunted. They feature a tricolor exterior made from leather, suede and patent leather and enhanced w...Category
2010s Italian Shoes