FORD FACTOR
With the recent launch of Tom Ford Beauty in Malaysia, Audra Roslani dissects what makes the world of Tom Ford unbelievably seductive.
When Tom Ford left Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as creative director in 2004, the Texan designer set out to create his own eponymous label the following year, with one singular vision in mind—to create a true luxury brand of the 21st century. But as the fashion underdog responsible for turning Gucci into one of the largest and most profitable luxury brands in the world at the time, Ford chose to delve into filmmaking instead of diving straight into designing collections. And not just any film—the critically acclaimed and award-winning A Single Man that Ford directed and financed cemented his reputation as being more than just a fashion designer. This winning streak continued as he designed his first luxury fragrance, Black Orchid, in 2006, that has since seen his fragrance collection grow into a wardrobe of sought-after Signature and Private Blends. The most recent limitededition scent, F***ing Fabulous, made headlines (and wish lists) for being named after Ford’s initial reaction when he first caught a whiff of the delicious accords of bitter almond oil, leather, and tonka bean. Outrageous? Yes. But why shouldn’t perfumes be named after expletives?
THE F-WORD
The appeal of Ford’s universe is that it is provocative, and more importantly, unabashedly so. Whether it’s high-glam womenswear collections, glossy beauty campaigns, or elegantly stylised films under his Fade to Black production company, Ford’s eye for creating beautiful, desirable things is his tour de force. Combine that with potent shock-factor marketing synonymous with the Tom Ford brand of brazen sexuality and seductive intellect, and everything he touches oozes Insta-sex appeal. And sex, as the saying goes, sells. After all, this is the unapologetic tastemaker of a specific aesthetic, one that gave the world controversial campaigns such as model Carmen Kass’s infamous “G”-shaven mons pubis during Ford’s time at Gucci, earning him the title “King of Sex”.
EVENING MUSE
As an architect of ’90s glamour, Ford’s eye for sophisticated design and his perfectionist streak have always been underlined by deep sensuality. It’s what loyalists have come to expect through his designs, knowing that owning a piece of Tom Ford, whether it’s a lipstick or a beautifully tailored suit jacket, immediately brings forth one’s inner provocateur. Material courage, personified.
“Any time I design something, whether it’s a shoe or a lipstick or a bag or a fragrance, I really use it, or try it,” Ford said in an interview with WWD. “I think, ‘Do I need this, do I want this, do women need this?’” One look at Ford’s muses over the years and you’ll see A-listers such as Lauren Hutton and Beyoncé all having sashayed down his runways. A perennial Ford favourite, Julianne Moore, was given the role of Charlotte in A Single Man, one that was scripted with her in mind. Suffice to say, this is the woman that Ford is designing for—modern-day icons and worldly intelligentsia aware of what’s happening culturally, all while looking like a million bucks. Enter Tom Ford Beauty, a vision of editorial glamour and the gateway into Ford’s seductive world. With the recently launched boutique at Suria KLCC—the second in the entire world after Covent Garden, #NBD—Malaysians now have first-hand access to Ford’s signature sculpted cheeks, glorious bronzed skin, and sexed-up smokey eyes.
Making the lips the centre of attention with one of the world’s most expensive lipsticks is also a must, and Tom Ford Beauty’s Lip Color in Cherry Lush—a cult favourite, is a red-hot lacquered hue, that screams high-octane glamour in its sleek, black-and-gold canister.
Then, there’s the much sought-after Boys & Girls lipstick collection, named after 50 boys and 50 girls from Ford’s inner circle (rapper Drake has one named after him in a deep burgundy berry, and yes, his men wear make-up). Personal grooming, as evident through his extensive collection of grooming products for men, shows the importance of image to Ford, a celebrity in his own right. With nary a hair out of place, always impeccably dressed in one of his own tailored suits or a denim shirt unbuttoned down to the chest, revealing his perfect Los Angeles tan, Ford is a designer who embodies what he preaches—he is his own best customer.
Ford’s understanding of what is sexy and expensive, is one that piques both the visual and the visceral effortlessly. “The client wants an emotional experience. They want to connect with our products in a sensorial way,” he once said. “They want to mix and layer our fragrances and cosmetics to make them their own. Now, they will finally have the perfect place to do that.” G04, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC. Tel: 03-2181 0787.
SENSUOUS PLEASURES