StartingaClothingLine.com - News Edition: Tom Ford  - Fashion Designer and Label

Tom Ford  - Fashion Designer and Label
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John Thomas on 02/23/2009 18:31:00
 
Tom Ford
Leaving Gucci in 2004, where he had been creative director, celebrated designer
Tom Ford went on to establish his own brand. Ford first created a range of
cosmetics and fragrance in partnership with Estée Lauder, as well as an eyewear
brand in conjunction with the Italian Marcolin Group. Following on from this
success, Ford opened a store on New York’s legendary Madison Avenue to
showcase his menswear line (which was produced in partnership with Italian men's
luxury clothing and accessories brand, Ermenegildo Zegna Group). According to
the Tom Ford website, his menswear is “built on a vision of deeply
personalized luxury.”
Placing the emphasis on quality and style – rather than pure sex appeal –
Ford has described his menswear store as “an old-fashioned men's haberdashery
and tailor.” This seems consciously understated. Luxury is apparent at the Tom
Ford New York flagship store, as it is in his menswear, and sense of aesthetics
generally. But the glamour of Tom Ford’s menswear line is classical. It has
that touch of decadence that seems to be absent from many contemporary designers
that get swept up in the trends, at the expense of good taste. Buy a Tom Ford
suit and you’ll be able to wear it two decades from now. (As we all know, some
clothing can’t be worn for more than a season.)
Like the designer himself, Tom Ford’s clothing is formal, but also social. As
Ford says on his blog: “DRESSING WELL is a kind of good manners … it’s a
show of respect to try to put on your best face and look as good as you can.”
The classic suit is a given a twist, but everything is subtle. As Lynn
Hirschberg has said in The New York Times, Tom Ford “has the unique gift of
being able to design an easily identifiable, must-have item that is different,
but not too different.” But, if Ford himself plays down the sex appeal of his
suits, maybe that’s because seduction is subtle. Notably, last year, Ford
tailored the suits for Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond – gentleman,
spy, and seasoned playboy – in the 007 movie, ‘Quantum of Solace’.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the Tom Ford brand is going from strength to
strength. In the next couple of years his stores will appear in London, Los
Angeles, Las Vegas, Dubai, Moscow, and other cities around the globe. His first
European store – a five floor, 9,000 square-foot space – was opened in Milan
in 2008 during fashion week. And he is also about to open a store on Rodeo
Drive, Los Angeles.
And Ford also has a brand new jeans line, which is appearing in the stores now.
At nearly a thousand dollars a pair there’s no doubt that these are luxury
items, but they’re also classic jeans - pre-washed and pre-shrunken in indigo,
black or white. The fabric is Japanese selvedge denim, and the front button is
plated with 18 karat gold. For information on other fashion designers and
companies visit: www.StartingaClothingline.com