Tom Ford is a modern icon, an American fashion designer who is considered to be one of the world’s greatest couturiers and a leading tastemaker. He founded his eponymous label in New York City in 2005 having previously been the creative director at Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, where he transformed the brand into the global powerhouse it is today. Ford first emerged as a serious design talent whilst at Perry Ellis where he worked alongside his peer, Marc Jacobs. His signature style is overtly modernist, embracing sharp lines and angles, minimalist colour palettes and defined silhouettes, however Ford manages to pay homage to traditional methods and drapes in order to accentuate the figure. This style has won the label a great many admirers, with the brand being a go-to for the best-dressed members of High Society, silver screen stars and titans of industry. Indeed, Ford has regularly been sought out by Hollywood studios to craft bespoke pieces for their wardrobe departments, even dressing Daniel Craig’s James Bond – the manifestation of the British style, the Savile Row suited gentleman. Ford, a customer of Anderson & Sheppard, is an aficionado of the Row and its sartorial legacy. He has carefully studied the tailoring art and the English-style, borrowing heavily from the tradition for his own tailoring service. A full-suite fashion house, the Maison is now split between its beauty and cosmetic offer (owned by Estée Lauder) and the fashion business (under the Zegna group).
Tag Archives: CONTEMPORARY BRAND
ARTLING
Opened in 2010 as a made-to-measure tailoring establishment, Artling has grown to offer a full bespoke suiting and shirtmaking service to the most dapper of Parisian gentlemen. Famed for their vibrant and quirky flourishes, Artling has developed a reputation as a go-to outfitter in the fashion capital.
WALLY
Founded in 1994 in Monaco by Italian boatbuilder, Luca Bassani, Wally began as a maker of elegant and capable sailing yachts for discerning customers. The brand became renowned for its clean lines, modern designs, embrace of carbon fibre and lightweight materials to create supremely capable and ultra luxurious performance vessels for the superyacht class. The yard expanded their range to include motoryachts and smaller vessels and launches, maintaining their ultramodern, design-oriented ethos. The brand is now under the stewardship of the Ferretti Group and continues to be regarded as the pinnacle of modern yachtcraft.
ALAN FLUSSER
The celebrated arbiter of sartorial excellence, Alan Flusser has long been regarded as one of the foremost authorities on men’s style and the art of dressing well. Indeed, he literally wrote the book on the subject – ‘Dressing the Man’. Mr Flusser’s bespoke tailoring studio in New York City is one of the few true traditional tailors in the European tradition in the United States, offering Savile Row cut suits albeit with a strong nod towards American Trad to cater for even the most conservative of American tastes.
LAIRD HATTERS
A relatively new arrival to the gentlemen’s hatters scene, Laird was founded in 2009 and has branches in London, Oxford and Cambridge. The house focuses on producing high quality products for discerning, fashion and style conscious customers who seek hard-wearing apparel. This ethos has been driven forward by the launch of the brand’s own range of clothing, under the Laird Utility label, which includes countrywear and workwear pieces made to the same quality and standards as their hats. Their luxurious, traditional hat boxes have become collectables in their own right.
FITZGABRIELS 