Tom Ford

Born to realtors in Austin, Texas, Ford spent his childhood in Texas and New Mexico, before decamping for New York to attend New York University, majoring in art history. Quitting after one year, Ford acted in television commercials before moving onto Parsons, where he studied architecture.

Ford became creative director at Gucci in 1994. He and Gucci’s then president, Domenico de Sole, took the company public and — in a bid to avoid a takeover by LVMH — joined forces with PPR (now Kering). By 2004, Gucci was valued at over $10 billion.

However, after creative differences with the PPR management, Ford and De Sole departed the company. Ford settled in Los Angeles, and directed and produced the film "A Single Man," which garnered an Oscar Academy nomination and Golden Globe nomination.

In 2006, Ford returned to fashion with his own label, initially with cosmetics and menswear before returning to womenswear that had become his trademark.

In 2023, Tom Ford stepped down from his role as creative director at his namesake brand.

Ford and his longtime partner, Richard Buckley, have a son, born September 2012.

In March 2019, Ford was voted chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), succeeding Diane von Furstenberg, who held the position for 13 years.