Fashion career profile
Tom Ford
Tom Ford is an American fashion designer and filmmaker whose career spans luxury-house leadership, an independent label and cinema. After studying interior architecture at Parsons, he entered fashion at Gucci in 1990, became design director in 1992 and was appointed creative director in 1994. From 2000 he also led Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche and YSL Beauté while retaining his Gucci remit. He left the Gucci Group in 2004 and launched the TOM FORD label in 2005 with Domenico De Sole. Ford led its fashion design until 2023, when Peter Hawkings succeeded him as creative director; the brand was acquired by Estée Lauder Companies in 2023. His later work as a film director is a separate chapter from his completed house appointments.
- Role
- Fashion Designer; Founder, TOM FORD; Filmmaker
- Nationality
- American
- Age
- 65
- Career appointments
- 3
- Fashion houses
- 3
- Verified awards
- 7
- Charlize Theron Goes Sheer in Tom Ford for the Academy Museum Gala 2026 Red CarpetWWD · 2026-10-18
- Tom Ford opens new South Coast Plaza storeLuxury Daily · 2026-10-15
- Tom Ford Opens New Boutique at South Coast PlazaThe Impression · 2026-10-14
- Gucci: Design roles from 1990; Creative Director from 1994 to 2004CFDA distinguishes his arrival, promotion to design director and creative-director appointment. · CFDA
- Education: Interior architecture, Parsons School of DesignCFDA records his Parsons study before his entry into the fashion industry. · CFDA
- TOM FORD: Peter Hawkings succeeded Ford as Creative Director in 2023The Estée Lauder Companies announced Hawkings’s appointment after acquiring the brand. · The Estée Lauder Companies
- 1994 — Becomes Creative Director of GucciHis appointment follows four years in design roles at the house.
- 2005 — Launches TOM FORD with Domenico De SoleThe independent label expands Ford’s work beyond his former Gucci Group roles.
- 2005–2023 — Founder and Creative Director — TOM FORDHistorical appointment · Estée Lauder Companies
- 2000–2004 — Creative Director — Saint LaurentHistorical appointment · Vogue
- 1994–2004 — Creative Director — GucciHistorical appointment · Gucci
- 2024 — Tom Ford — Outstanding Achievement AwardVerified fashion award
- 2015 — Tom Ford — Menswear Designer of the YearVerified fashion award
- 2014 — Tom Ford — Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement AwardVerified fashion award