Tom Ford studied design at the Parsons School of Design before he went on to work for Cathy Hardwick and Perry Ellis. He was hired in 1990 to oversee Gucci's women's wear collections, and had a breakthrough four years later when he was appointed creative director. The Gucci makeover masterminded by Ford was the biggest fashion success story of the late 90s. His sultry rock-star velvet hip-slung trousers, leather stilettos, and Halston-esque dresses were blockbusters. After Gucci's buyout of Yves Saint Laurent in 1999, Ford also became creative director of YSL Rive Gauche. In 2005, Ford launched the Tom Ford brand, including a stunning menswear line that quickly became de rigueur for stars such as Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig as James Bond in Quantum of Solace.

"Try as I do to break out of the 70s, references from that time continue to influence my sense of beauty in ways I am not even conscious of."