In an unexpected move, Tom Ford has announced his retirement from the fashion brand he founded 13 years ago. To commemorate his achievements, a surprise FW23 campaign, shot by Steven Klein, features familiar faces and iconic designs from the past.
The campaign stars house muses Joan Smalls, Karen Elson, and Amber Valletta, who have been present since the debut SS11 collection, along with Karlie Kloss and others. The designs pay tribute to some of the most memorable pieces Tom Ford has created, including the white caped gown famously worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2012 Oscars, a velvet suit from his Gucci days, and the broken mirror sheath first seen for SS14.
The campaign also includes a short film where the designer walks past models and his archive designs in glass boxes, literally taking a trip down memory lane. One image features the 3 muses, along with Karlie Kloss and others, dressed in black, attending the funeral of the Tom Ford era. The models inside a glass box overlook the designer, who is seen outside the box, shrieking in pain.
The news comes a few months after Estée Lauder bought the brand for $2.8 billion, with Ford remaining in charge creatively until the end of 2023. However, Ford made a quick exit in April, leaving fans and the fashion industry speculating about the reasons behind his decision.
Known for his creative passion and tendency to leave a fashion house when business and negotiations trump creativity, Tom Ford’s departure could be attributed to the recent changes in the brand’s ownership and management. What lies ahead for Tom Ford, both the brand and the person, remains unknown, but the industry is already buzzing with rumors of a possible officialization of the Gucci to Tom Ford pipeline by Alessandro Michele.
As always, Tom Ford knows how to make a comeback, and the world is eagerly waiting to see what his next move will be.
