Tom Ford

The Texan-born designer, who studied at New York’s Parson’s School of Design and began his working career at sportswear label Cathy Hardwick, really started to make waves at Perry Ellis working under Marc Jacobs. But he is of course best known for turning around the fortunes of Italian fashion house Gucci in the 1990s, restoring in it a kind of sexy 1970s glamour that the brand appeared to have lost. After a stint also designing for Yves Saint Laurent, he created the Tom Ford label that now takes in fragrance, sunglasses and luxurious menswear.