Trivia

He joined Gucci in 1990 as a designer when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 1994 he was promoted to creative director. By the time he left 10 years later (in 2004), Gucci was turning over profits in excess of $4 billion per annum.

Directed 2 actors to an Oscar nominated performance: Colin Firth and Michael Shannon.

American fashion designer. He is known for his legendary turnaround of Gucci.

Considers himself, first and foremost, a commercial designer who finds that filmmaking is what really speaks to his true artistic side.

During the interim between his directorial debut with A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016), Tom opened a reported 100 stores worldwide.

Counts George Cukor as one of his all-time favorite film directors and Cukor's Dinner at Eight (1933) as his all-time favorite film.

Is a staunch democrat who declined an offer to dress Melania Trump way before she ever became First Lady.

Favorite fashion critic is Suzy Menkes and favorite film critic is Peter Travers.

In 2013 hip-hop artist Jay-Z dedicated a song to him simply titled "Tom Ford" (from the album "Magna Carta Holy Grail").

For First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to Buckingham Palace (May 2011), Ford designed a white gown with a crisscross halter neckline and arm-length gloves for the regal occasion.

Started his own line of menswear in 2006 after a promising liaison with Gucci and later Yves Saint Laurent.

Companion of fashion writer Richard Buckley since 1987.

First met partner Richard Buckley in 1986 at a fashion show in New York when he was just 25 and Buckley was 38. At the time Buckley was fashion editor of "Women's Wear Daily". Ford and Buckley tied the knot in 2014 after same-sex marriage was legalized in the US.

Pioneered the "see now, buy now" fashion philosophy whereby prospective customers can immediately purchase his product and not have to typically wait for several months after a line of clothing has been showcased at fashion shows.

Grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Describes himself as an "insecure" person.

Son, with husband Richard Buckley, Alexander John "Jack" Buckley Ford was born in September 2012.

Throughout his illustrious career Tom has lived in Paris, Los Angeles and London where he maintains a home and business office and where his son was partly schooled.

His favorite films of all time are: Sabotage (1936), The Women (1939), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Last Picture Show (1971), In the Mood for Love (2000) and 13th (2016).