From the sharp monochrome tailoring of his signature label to his own red carpet showmanship, Tom Ford has long been one of the most influential figures in menswear.
Now, the US designer is about to get a lot more influential as the newly-crowned chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) where he will succeed Diane von Furstenberg as the emperor of new clothes. The CFDA - an organisation founded in 1962 to strengthen American design within the global economy - votes for its figurehead, with Ford set to take the throne in June.
Why does this matter, exactly? Well, the CFDA hosts its own annual awards (dubbed 'the Oscars of fashion' by various news outlets). Those lucky enough to scoop a gong have often gone on to build illustrious careers, with Philip Lim, Public School, Alexander Wang and Hood By Air all notable past recipients. This prestige, combined with a financially significant funding programme, has made the CFDA a power player within an industry that's notoriously difficult to break into. Ford will be be its principle kingmaker.
What's more, the new chairman is breaking with America's political mood to gaze outwards. "Coming back from Europe, what's stunning to me was the isolation I feel here. I feel that America is one of the most isolated countries in the world. We're very inward looking," Ford said of the appointment. "What American fashion needs to become in order to be more relevant in the world is to think of itself as not just American, but as international." That means an increased presence abroad, and a greater effort to dress and inspire those without American passports.
All of which is good news for the CFDA's visibility. While the designer's personal brand remains high on the agenda, so too do his tastes. We won't just like what Tom Ford creates himself. We'll come to like what Tom Ford likes, too.
