One of the most sought after faces in the world of fashion, Tom Ford is a fashion designer and filmmaker. He owns his own designer label `Tom Ford` and is a former creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. It was under his leadership that Gucci rose from bankruptcy to being the leading world-class brand. In 2009, he directed, and produced the Academy Award nominated movie A Single Man (2009), starring Colin Firth.

Early Life
Born to realtors Tom Ford, Sr. and Shirley Bunton in Texas, Ford spent most of his childhood with his grandparents, where he developed a keen interest in art and painting. His parents always let him find his own ways. He once in an interview said, "My parents encouraged me to do anything. If wanted art lessons, they found paint and a teacher." From Texas, Ford moved to New York, where he enrolled at New York University to study history. He soon lost interest and started studying interior architecture at The New School`s art and design college, Parsons the New School for Design. Although, Ford finally graduated in architecture, he amid his graduation interned with the French fashion house Chloe, where he developed his zeal for fashion.

In 1990, Ford moved to Milan to take over as the women`s designer for Gucci. Gucci, at the time of his joining, was going through some major losses and was almost at the point of bankruptcy. He sensed a lack of creative ideas and introduced a series of new things, including men`s wear, evening wear, and home furnishings. Under his able mentorship, Gucci acquired the celebrated French brand Yves Saint Laurent, fueling extraordinary growth in the company`s success. In 1994, Ford was made the Creative Director of the label, increasing Gucci`s sales by 90% and in 1999, he was made the Creative Head of Yves Saint Laurent, reviving the fashion house to glory. In 2004, Ford resigned due to creative differences with the new management.

Personal Life
Ford was in a long-term relationship with his boyfriend Richard Buckley, a journalist, and ex-editor in chief of Vogue Hommes International. The two had been together, since 1986 and got married in 2014. The couple, welcomed their first son, Alexander, into the world in September 2012.

Movie Career
The multi-faceted designer turned filmmaker with the 2009 movie A Single Man. Directed, Produced and written by Tom Ford himself, the movie stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, and Nicholas Hoult in pivotal roles. Based on the novel of the same name, A Single Man follows the story of a homosexual college professor. The movie opened to a very good response at the box office, earning Ford an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay and Best First Feature.

His 2016 release includes the American psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals, based on Austin Wright`s novel Tony and Susan. Starring an ensemble cast comprising of Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, and Michael Sheen, the movie won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. With an approval rating of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a favorable response, critically.

Occupation:	Director • Writer • Producer
Born:	August 27, 1961
Birthplace:	Austin, Texas, United States