Tom
Ford has opened up on departing the Gucci Group as creative director 10 years
ago. The designer has since launched his own namesake womenswear line but says
that at the time, he felt that it was a big loss for him. He reveals that he
struggled initially to find his footing after exiting the label: ''After leaving Gucci Group, there was
a dramatic sense of loss and of not being worthy, so rebuilding my life
professionally and personally was an enormous struggle. I've probably not
cut myself any slack. And that's still going on.''
Look
back on his time now, Tom says that his progression following his departure
amazes him because so much has happened in ten years, and he is very happy with
how it has turned out: ''It was ten years in April since I left
Gucci, five years today since I quit drinking, and this award has made me think
the last ten years have actually been quite amazing, even if they didn't seem
so because I was busy putting out fires and I never stopped and said, 'OK, I
really did a lot of things, I made a movie, I built a business, had a child,
stopped drinking...' ''
Tom
will soon pick up the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
at the CFDA Awards but admits that at first he jumped to conclusions that
people thought he was passed his prime: ''At first I didn't like it,
but actually what it caused me to do was look back on my work, not only in my
mind but literally, and I have to say that was cathartic, and a pleasant
surprise. I actually liked some things and felt proud of them, and that
ultimately made me feel more comfortable with myself. And here I am, maybe
a little bit more relaxed and a little less desperate to achieve
more.''
