Tom Ford- how did the Texas native with movie-star looks reinvent Gucci (a template nearly every luxury house borrows), establish his own fashion empire and then direct movie stars? Take a look at his resume.

1979  Born in Austin , Ford moves to New York to study art history ay NYU. And then… briefly tries acting in Hollywood landing  a few commercials.

1980 Back to New York, Ford hangs out at Studio 54. Lightbulb moment! Ford enrolls at Parsons School of Design.

1986 Working as a design assistant, he meets Richard Buckley (then WWD editor) at a fashion show.

1990 After time at Perry Ellis, he  lands a job in Milan with Gucci.

1994 Promoted to creative director of Gucci and overhauls the company’s branding.

1999 Gucci Group acquires YSL. After Ford’s debut YSL Laurent tells him “In 13 minutes on the runway you have destroyed 40 years of  my career”

2004 Pinault Printemps Redoute acquires Gucci Group; Ford leaves the company

2006 Launches own label; guest edits Vanity Fair and puts himself on the cover

2011 Watershed fashion  moments Ford dresses Mrs. Obama and 007

With 124 stores and sales past $1 billion per year. Ford lists his home in Santa Fe and returns to Hollywood “fashion is gone so quickly” he says ” but film lasts forever”.

Wearing Tom Ford gold rimmed  sun glasses today with Vanessa  Bruno dress.