Designer Spotlight: Tom Ford

Tom Ford is an American fashion designer. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label. In 1994, Ford was promoted to creative director. In his first year at the helm, he was credited with putting the glamor back into fashion introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters, skinny satin shirts and car-finish metallic patent boots. In 1995, he brought in French stylist Carine Rotifeld and photographer Mario Testino to create a series of new, modern ad campaigns for the company. Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%. By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at about $4.3 billion.

When Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint-Laurent, Ford was named the creative director of that label as well. During his time as Creative Director for YSL, Ford won numerous Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Like his work at Gucci, Ford was able to catapult the classic fashion house back into the mainstream. His advertising campaigns for the YSL fragrances Opium (with a red-haired Sophie Dahl completely naked wearing only a necklace and stiletto heels in a sexually suggestive pose) and YSL-M7 (with martial arts champion Samuel de Cubber in complete full-frontal nudity) have been famous and provocative by pushing fragrance ads to a new level of creativity in artistic expression and commercial impact.

In April 2004, Ford parted company with the Gucci group after he and CEO Domenico de Sole, who is credited as Ford's partner in the success story that is Gucci, failed to agree with PPR bosses over creative control of the Group. Following his departure from Gucci (and YSL), Ford opened the fashion house, Tom Ford. Ford began with accessories; his line of eyewear was the first to become successful. The Tom Ford line now covers Menswear, Beauty, Eyewear, and both Men and Women's Accessories. In 2006, he also established a fragrance line called Tom Ford Beauty. In early 2006, Ford attracted media attention for appearing fully clothed on the cover of Vanity Fair alongside Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson, both nude.

Ford's first 'Tom Ford' flagship store opened on April 12, 2007 on New York City's Madison Avenue. In Spring 2008, Ford opened his first boutique outside of the United States in Zurich,Switzerland located at Munsterhof 17. In September of 2008 Ford opened a boutique in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Harry Rosen store on Bloor street.

Game(s) at Toys R Us

So as you know, or don't know, I now work at Toys R Us. Today about 15 minutes after I clock in, a man asks me for help. When I look at him I did a double take. It was "The Game". He was the last person I'd expect to see at Toys R Us, I helped him pick some games, and he bought a PS3( Doesn't he already have one?) anyway He brought his son who was pretty excited. when he was checking out, we tried to charge his card about 4 times, turned out he had to call it in to authorize... so he chilled and was on the phone for about 10 mins. All I told him was that Lax is an album we need right now. what got me though was when someone else asked him if he does school shows he said "naw, I'm too vulgar for that, you should get lil bow wow", then the other guy said "oh, cause I work at a school for the mentally disabled." well I just felt like telling you guys lol. and I know, No Pics=Lies.

Song of The Day: UGK- One Day

One of my personal favorites for many reasons, also after reading Chico's entry it's fitting. This post is dedicated to a close friend of mine since the 4th grade who passed away back during the Summer of '06 right before I left for NYC. This also goes out to the homie Pimp C who's presence will forever be missed in Southern Hip Hop and for everyone out there who has lost someone close to them.

One day you're here, and then you're gone. 

Enjoy life, it's too short to be caught up in the bullshit.

Is it over yet??

Quick show of hands. Who's NOT completely sick of the election at this point? Can we vote already? It's been ugly, it only seems to be getting worse as the McCain campaign becomes more and more desperate and vindictive. It's a fucking circus at this point, honestly. I've BEEN sick of it for a long time already, and I just can't stand it anymore.

Let's boycott this crap. I will not click over to CNN. I will skip every article in the paper, refuse to click any newstory on the web, skip over every video on YouTube, mute every commercial on the TV, and keep far, far away from NPR, and everything else that has ANYTHING to do with this election. Who's with me?

I'm not going to post any shocking videos or pictures or ridiculous ads. Nor am I going to try and make fire rain from the sky as I SCREAM my opinion at any stranger who walks by. I will neither take part in nor listen to any discussion, argument or debate, let alone CONVERSATION about the election from this second forward. Until I cast my vote on November 4th.

MAKE IT STOP
SOLID85

Appreciate every day

Anyone close to me can vouch that I've been in pretty shitty mood as of late. I've been pretty stressed dealing with a lot of different stuff and I've lost sight of the daily blessing that is life.

I just spoke to a friend of mine and found out one of his close friends passed away over the weekend in a car crash. That caused me to reflect on my life and notice that things aren't that bad right now. Stressing is natural, but always try to keep yourself positive.

That joint really hit home with me even though I didn't know the guy myself, but I've had several people that I know just suddenly not be there anymore. So enjoy everyday people and don't sweat the small stuff.

Rox, Klean, and anyone else in NYC lets get up for Rox' bday and all have a good time and put the negative stressful shit in our lives aside for a night and just have a blast.