There is no crowd more jaded than the fickle fashion industry. Withstanding a constant state of sensory
overload - who can blame them for Blase reactions to fashion hopefuls? After all, collections are launching daily with bigger and fancier launch parties every season. Store buyers and Magazine Editors can develop permanent lip pursing from all the mediocrity - think Miranda Priestley in "The Devil Wears Prada".
This makes the opening of Tom Ford's new boutique on Madison Avenue all the more significant. A private party at the spectacular space on Monday night has Fashion executives as excited as teens who win tickets to the MTV Music Awards! (it was the Gianfranco Ferre space for years)
They all turned out to support Mr. Ford in his next venture in the designer role.
Tom Ford put the F back in Fashion in the mid 90's. If you don't know what F I'm talking about, you don't have a pulse! There were no fashion ads sexier than Tom Ford for Gucci. Mr. Ford has always understood designer fashion at its core. It is the art of seduction that makes the difference between a pretty collection and one that becomes legend. Men and Women want one of two things from a designer campaign. People either want to look like the models in the ads - or sleep with them! It is as simple as that.
Never one to be shy about his vision Ford sent shock waves around the world with his direct approach to what was sexy and what inspired him. It was this maverick sensibility that took Gucci from a sleeping old Italian luggage company and turned it into the fashion collection of the decade.
Hollywood quickly took notice and embraced this hot new designer who looked more like a model or actor than your typical designer. It was in fact his acting background that allowed him to be so comfortable in his own skin.
One of the first style icons to jump on board was Madonna. Never one to miss a hot new style on the horizon, she famously wore head to toe Gucci to the 1995 MTV Music Awards. She uttered the words "Gucci, Gucci, Gucci" when asked what she was wearing. Tom Ford himself credits her with "starting it all".
Mr. Ford not only changed the look of the collection, he changed the look of the company. He and his long-time partner Richard Buckley had dreamed of living and working in London. Suddenly, Tom had the power to make that happen.
Once Gucci had the clear vision he wanted, the next challenge made itself clear. Taking the helm at Yves Saint Laurent. Parent company PPR had taken over the legendary design house and Mr. Ford would re-invent the wheel that was the life-force of the fashion industry during the 60's,70's, and 80's.
The most interesting aspect to this period was when Tom stayed true to his personal ideal of sensuality with the launch of M7. A musky scent in a sexy brown bottle was sure to be a success. Except, Mr. Ford insisted on launching the campaign with a portrait of a male model with natural body hair completely nude. Now chiseled male models nearly naked are nothing new. However, this was the full monty with penis in full few. It was beautiful , sexy and refreshing - of course it became banned by publishers in the United States. It is still one of the best mens fragrances out there. I have been wearing it since the launch- now I have to find it when traveling in Europe. 
With the new Boutique on Madison Avenue Mr. Ford is sure to give more of the same in terms of his sensual vision of the well dressed man. A large portion of the collection will be bespoke - or custom order, so don't expect to run in and find anything on sale - ever!