Life of Gay Married Designer Tom Ford

                                                                                     

Famed fashion designer Tom Ford, 52 and his long-time love of 27 years, Richard Buckley, 66, casually announced that they are now married at the Regent Street Apple store in London on April 7.  We think it is incredible that the couple is now committed in marriage after 27 years together. We wonder why the marriage was so under wraps but we are sure the dashing couple and their son, Alexander John Buckley Ford, are ready to take on married life!

Tom Ford Married To Richard Buckley

The couple met when Tom was 25 years old and Richard was 38.  We think it was about time for these two love birds to tie the knot!  Tom showed off his ring announcing to the audience, “We are now married, which is nice,” during his appearance at the Apple store.  He shocked us when he then added that they were married in the United States! 

Early on in their relationship, Tom’s fashion brand was just beginning to sky rocket and achieve success and Richard, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International , was also very much an integral part of the fashion scene.  Sadly, Richard was diagnosed with cancer in 1989 and after his recovery the couple moved from New York to Italy.  As their relationship began to grow, the couple announced that they started a family and revealed their son Alexander John Buckley Ford, to the world in 2012.  They are now residing in London where Ford’s famous fashion brand is based.

Life Story of Tom Ford

Tom Ford famously–and it seems incongruously–grew up in Austin, TX and Santa Fe, NM and it resonates with and influences him still. His childhood seemed idyllic, and he counts a grandmother–who was married six times and insisted on going by the name “Duckie” because she didn’t want to be called “Grandmother”–as a huge influence. Ford said, “She jingled and smelled good.” Despite a self-described happy childhood, he acknowledges that being different in the Texas school he attended was not celebrated. He experienced bullying for things like carrying a briefcase, but his parents continued to encourage him to do it, for which he was obviously grateful.

He went to NYU as an undergrad, but dropped out after a year. “Um, I was going to Studio 54 lot,” he said by way of explanation. In the meantime, he embarked on a short-lived acting career about which he said (totally tongue-in-cheek), “I didn’t want to be an actor. I wanted to be a movie star!” He ultimately attended Parsons , where he ended up with a degree in environmental design–not fashion design, and spent some time interning in Paris. But his ballsiness landed him a job in fashion after he hounded designer Cathy Hardwick until she agreed to see his sketches. Ford said, “She said [she hired me] because I had pretty hands.” He basically learned on-the-job, and told a story about being asked to draw some circle skirts. He ran down to Bloomingdale’s, looked at the seams of some skirts, then ran back to the office to sketch.

Fast forward a few years, where he landed a job at Perry Ellis in the jeans division. Working there in an environment where a few cents per yard of denim was a hotly debated topic seems to have convinced him that he doesn’t want to work in fast, or “accessible” fashion. “I’m really happy doing this,” he said. “This” meaning making really high-end clothes.

After an almost decade-long stint at Gucci and then YSL, Tom Ford started to feel burned out. “I bought a house and art and a lot of material things. But it did not make me happy,” he said. “In a way I think I willed my own departure from Gucci.” While he’s proud of the growth the company achieved (from near bankruptcy to a company worth billions) he regrets not leaving on good terms with Yves Saint Laurent (whose company was acquired by Gucci) himself. Ford claims to have “beautifully handwritten notes from Yves detailing how in 13 months I destroyed what he built in 40 years.” He started drinking to “escape” and knew he needed a change.

A year of retirement and playing golf (with wooden clubs and custom-made golf shoes, natch) didn’t sit well with him. He started his film company, and released A Single Man, to much acclaim. But fashion called to him. “I was shopping and couldn’t find anything I wanted,” he said. “At Gucci I just made myself things!” So Tom Ford the company was born–then came menswear, eyewear, beauty, and finally women’s RTW and a full beauty collection. While he claims to have three film projects in the works now, fashion is winning out. “The film industry is too slow. I would lose my mind,” he said. He will continue to show his collection to small groups of editors and plans to control the release of images as he’s done for the last year.

We could have listened to him for another hour, but it was not to be. However, the 92nd Street Y is hosting another talk that promises to be equally as exciting: “Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis: Michael Kors.”

Slated for June 6 at 8 PM, vente-privee will once again provide unparalleled access to this intimate conversation. Become a member and be on the lookout for these packages available soon on vente-privee, and you just might be rubbing VIP elbows with Mr. Kors himself.

Oh, and since Tom Ford was inspired by European style during his time in Paris, why not live that experience yourself? It’s not too late to enter our contest to win a trip to Paris courtesy of vente-privee! All you need to do is register here.

Sources: fashionista

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