Tom Ford, whose full name is Thomas Carlyle Ford, is a renowned American fashion designer and film director, known for his impeccable style and refined taste. Born on August 27, 1961, in Austin, Texas, Ford’s creative journey has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion and entertainment. He gained prominence as the creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and later as the founder of his eponymous luxury brand, Tom Ford.
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Ford’s designs are characterized by their sophisticated elegance and sensuality, blending classic aesthetics with a contemporary edge. His keen eye for detail and impeccable craftsmanship have earned him numerous accolades and a loyal following among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike.
Beyond his contributions to the fashion industry, Ford has also made a successful foray into filmmaking. His directorial debut, “A Single Man” (2009), received critical acclaim and showcased his ability to create visually stunning narratives. Tom Ford’s artistic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence continue to shape the world of fashion and inspire creative minds across multiple disciplines.
Due to his influential presence within the fashion industry, where homosexuality is often associated with stereotypes and representation, fans assume Tom Ford is gay. Is there any concrete basis for these assumptions? Is Tom Ford gay? Let’s find out.
VOTE: What is Tom Ford’s Sexuality?
Tom Ford’s Sexuality: His Coming Out Story
There had always been speculations about the world-renowned fashion designer’s sexuality, and in a recent interview with Vogue, Tom Ford finally addressed the issue.
In the said interview, Ford shared that despite his love for clothes, being a fashion designer was not his original childhood dream.
Unlike many fashion designers, designing clothes was not something that I had dreamt of as a small child. I was indeed obsessed with clothes and very, very particular about what I wore and did often give my mother — and in fact my entire family — advice (instructions, really!) about how to dress and wear their hair. I guess looking back at my childhood it was inevitable that I would one day be drawn to fashion as a career.”
Tom Ford told Vogue, 2022
Aside from that, Ford also shared how he came to realize his own sexuality, admitting that he only realized that he was gay when he was in his late teens.
As for understanding that I was gay, it wasn’t really something that I figured out until my late teens, but then looking back at my childhood it all made sense, and I realized that I had actually had crushes on many of my best friends. However, I had girlfriends throughout high school, felt that I was in love with them, and had a great s*x life.”
the world-renowned fashion designer shared
Even after coming to terms with his sexuality, Ford admitted to occasionally sleeping with women.
Even occasionally after I began dating men, I continued to sleep with women off and on, and while definitely gay, I am someone for whom s*x is an expression of affection and love. I simply fall in love with men most of the time.”
he confessed
Tom Ford also added that he was lucky in coming to terms with his sexuality, as the process was really smooth for him. There was no need for a formal “coming out” since he was never really “in the closet,” given that his parents and everyone around him were very accepting.
I was very, very lucky: Coming to terms with my sexuality was a smooth transition for me, and I owe that to the struggle that all of the gay men and women who came before me had to endure. I was living in New York and my friends were all quite liberal and in the arts, and so I did not actually ever have to “come out,” so to speak, as I was never really in the closet. My parents were very accepting, and in New York, being gay or bisexual was considered kind of cool—or at least it was with my circle of friends…”
he shared
To conclude the said interview, the fashion icon expressed his desire for a more accepting society today, emphasizing everyone’s right to live their lives in an open and honest way.
I hope and pray that we manage to keep moving forward in our acceptance of individuality and of everyone’s right to live their lives in an open and honest way—and to have the freedom to love whomever they choose.”
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Tom Ford’s Relationship: Who Is His Long-Time Partner?
Tom Ford was married to Richard Buckley before the fashion editor passed away on September 19, 2021, at the age of 72. Buckley, Ford’s husband for seven years (although they had been together for a much longer period), was a prominent figure in the fashion media industry, having worked as the editor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International for six years until 2005.
It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley. Richard passed away peacefully at their home in Los Angeles last night with Tom and their son Jack by his side. He died of natural causes after a prolonged illness.”
Ford’s representatives stated in the statement sent to CNN Style
They met in 1986 when Tom Ford was working under sportswear designer Cathy Hardwick and Richard Buckley was fashion editor for Women’s Wear Daily. They first crossed paths inside an elevator at a fashion show in which Ford later shared to in an interview as love at first sight.
By the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I thought, ‘You’re the one.’ That’s it. Click. Sold.”
Ford told Cagle, 2016
Ford also revealed that they had become a couple approximately one month after they met.
Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together. We have been together ever since.”
He also expressed that finding someone with a great heart and soul like Buckley is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, and that he would never find anyone else like him.
If the person you’re with is someone you respect, who you believe has a great heart and a great soul, as good a heart and soul that you will ever find, don’t ever leave them. Because you won’t find anyone better.”
The couple was considered a fashion power couple in the 1990s. This was after Ford was hired by Gucci as a womenswear designer in 1990 and subsequently promoted to creative director in 1994.
Throughout their relationship, the couple had to move to several places for work, including fashion capitals like Milan and Paris. The fashion power couple officially tied the knot in 2014 after being together for 28 years. They have a nine-year-old son named Jack, who was born in September 2012, via a gestational surrogate. They had him two years before they got married.
In a recent interview, Ford shared how difficult it was to adjust after Buckley was gone, especially considering they had been together for 35 years.
It’s been hard after 35 years, very hard. I keep thinking, ‘Oh, God, I have to call Richard,’ or I need to send him a note about this. And he’s not here.”
Is Tom Ford Gay?
Yes, Tom Ford is openly gay. He came out when he was in his late teens and was in a 35-year relationship with his husband, Richard Buckley, for 7 years before Buckley passed away in 2021. They had a 9-year-old son together, who was born through a gestational surrogate.