Tom Ford - Emperor of Illusions
Stylecatcher's Reflections on the interview with Russian Vogue

This was written before Tom Ford's
departure from Gucci - update

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Tom Ford Brand



From his power base in Gucci Tom Ford controls a substantial part of the fashion industry. Even a Vogue editor might have been apprehensive about interviewing such a magnate. But Aloina Doletskaya, editor of Russian Vogue, has already met him and knows that he values her and her magazine, so she approaches the interview with calm confidence.
Ms. Doletskaya flies to London for the meeting and Mr. Ford remains in London specially for it. He sends a Mercedes with a chauffeur who has a voice like Prince Charles to collect her. Interviews between people in positions of power are often ritualistic exercises in diplomacy. Ms. Doletskaya admires Mr. Ford as a fashion icon with business acumen. She remarks on his calmness in a industry in which is so fraught with drama and conflict. Mr. Ford,in modest mode, insists that he is bored with himself, would rather ask questions than answer them.
So initially Mr. Ford comes across as rather depressed, he is calm because, as his father used to say, nothing really matters. But when Tom Ford, Fashion Emperor, goes on to announce that fashion is an illusion it might seem that he is slipping off the rails. If your business depends on trading illusions don't tell your customers.

Tom Ford

 

 Though Ms. Doletskaya is a cautious interviewer, she ventures a couple of questions to liven up the dialogue.
''Tell me Tom, why are all great designers homosexuals?'Mr. Ford has to think about a reply to this one.
Had he thought a little longer he might have questioned its astounding assumption,viz. that all great designers are homosexuals. It might even occurred to him that some great designers have been women. But the focus of this interview is not fashion, but Tom Ford. So he replies that the reason why all great fashion designers are homosexuals is because they understand both the masculine and feminine nature.This interview is taking place because Tom Ford's Gucci Group is a big financial success. So the final question is, 'What does money mean for you?'
To which the rich man replies:
''Money for me is freedom. I love material and beautiful things. But not like a paranoiac. If I did not have any money I would put my dog in a truck and go off to Mexico. And probably be even happier.'
This is not a rational reply. It is free association. Mr. Ford may have everything under control, but he seems to have lost the plot.
(Aloina Doletskaya's interview with Tom Ford appears in Vogue, Russia
March 2002)
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