Tom Ford

Tom Ford was born in Austin, Texas and then spent most of his childhood in Santa FE, New Mexico.

He then moved to New York and studied art history at New York university and then onto Parsons school of design to study architecture. 

Brief timeline of Tom Ford's career:

1990 - Became Gucci's womanswear designer in Milan

1992 - Promoted to Gucci's design director

1994 - Appointed as their creative director - responsible for the design of all product lines. This includes perfume, clothing, ad campaigns, store designs and the group's corporate image

2000 - Became the creative director of YSL - defined overall image & positioning of the YSL brand (product categories & communication activities)

April 2004 - Resigned from the Gucci group following a buyout

April 2005 - Creation of the Tom Ford brand. Partnership with Marcolin group to produce and distribute optical frames & sunglasses. Also alliance with Estée Lauder to create Tom Ford beauty brand. Both brands now rank in the top 3 at speciality stores worldwide. 

April 2007 - First flagship store opened: 845 Madison Avenue, New York; Tom Ford menswear and accessory collections also launched

September 2010 - Presented womanswear collection on some of his style icons including Beyoncé

There are currently 98 freestanding Tom Ford stores.

He has one many many awards including:
4 Vogue fashion awards (1195, 1996, 1999, 2002)
Style Icon award at ELLE style awards (1999)
4 awards from the CFDA - Council of fashion designers of America (1995, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
GQ designer of the year (2001)

He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Colin McDowell

3rd October 2013

Described by top blogger libertylondongirl.com as ‘a Legendary fashion writer Colin McDowell, has recently started his own opinionated, vastly informed and always thought provoking blog which looks at the fashion industry in his own inimitable way."

After being educated at Durham University McDowell went on to teach in Rome and later became an assistant to Italian Pino Lancetti.

One of the world’s top fashion commentators during his 20 years as a journalist he has worked for every quality newspaper and magazine in Britain.

He has written 23 books on fashion and has also delivered many public talks with many individuals including Anna Wintour, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.

He is the only senior reporter who knows both sides to fashion as a business from both sides of the catwalk. This makes his insights into the fashion world shown through his blog more stimulating and well informed. This is due to him spending time as an illustrator, publicist and 10 years as a designer.

He not only writes about fashion but is also passionate about improving the world of fashion. In 2004 after noticing floors and problems in the London fashion scene he set up Fashion Fringe with IMG to address these. It helps up and coming labels and designers by encouraging businesses both creatively and commercially which he still remains the creative director of. Chairmen to it have included Donatella Versace, Tom Ford and John Galliano.

  Currently he is a fellow of the royal society of arts and has been awarded honorary doctorates and professorships by 5 British Universities, been named a graduate fashion week trustee and is also the creative director of Audi fashion festival in Singapore. Another one of his many achievements has been being appointed senior fellow of the Royal College of Art.