1) Gucci www.guccitimeless.com

Gucci is an Italian fashion and leather goods brand, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company Kering formerly known as PPR. Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. Gucci generated about € 4.2 billion in revenue worldwide in 2008 according to BusinessWeek magazine and climbed to 41st position in the magazine's annual 2009 "Top Global 100 Brands" chart created by Interbrand. Gucci is also the biggest-selling Italian brand. Gucci operates about 278 directly operated stores worldwide (as of September 2009) and it wholesales its products through franchisees and upscale department stores.

2) Kendra Scott www.kendrascott.com

Kendra Scott is an American jewelry designer. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Kendra Scott Design. In 2010 she was named the most influential woman in Central Texas by the Austin Business Journal. She is co-host of CNBC Prime's competition reality show Crowd Rules with Pat Kiernan.

Kendra Scott Design

In 2002, Scott withdrew $500 from her bank account to purchase stones which she made into handmade jewelry. She sold her jewelry through local stores. Today, her jewelry is sold in over 800 stores internationally, including Nordstrom and Henri Bendel. Approximately fifty employees work for the company, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas, along with a flagship store. Kendra Scott has stores in Dallas, Texas, Beverly Hills, California, Houston, Texas and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scott's jewelry has been worn by Hilary Duff, Katherine Heigl, Aretha Franklin and Cameron Diaz. The company works closely with nonprofit organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Blessings in a Backpack, and Dress for Success.

Awards and recognition

In 2013, Kendra Scott was listed as a "Fashion Influencer" in the Pantone Fashion Color Report 2013 alongside Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus and Colleen Sherin of Saks Fifth Avenue. Kendra graced the cover of So Scottsdale magazine, talking about her store located in the Scottsdale Quarter in Arizona. Kendra won an Austin Under 40 Award in the Business & Entrepreneurship category and was named the Austinite of the Year at the 2013 Austin Under 40 Awards. She was given the Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian of the Year Award at Luminaria 2013.

In 2012, Kendra Scott Design, Inc. was named the number one Fastest Growing Company in Austin in their under $10 million category at the Austin Business Journal's Fast 50 Awards.

In 2011, she was listed as one of the top ten "Austinites" of the year by Tribeza, a local Austin magazine. She has appeared on The Rachael Ray Show.

3) Sucre sucrenyc.com

Selima Salaun and Candace Mohr met 11 years ago and bonded over a shared love of accessories. In 2007 they started Sucre, a highly edited mix of clothing, jewelry, accessories and glasses located in the heart of New York City's West Village. It was a perfect match, bringing Selima's colorful, innovative eyewear to Candace's eclectic designer mix.

Through the years the store has built an impressive group of designers, some more established and many that are up and coming, just waiting to be discovered. A visit will find favorites Lulu Frost, Pamela Love and Saya Hibino alongside newer designers like Armor, Assad Mounser and Suzanna Dai.

4) Jennifer Meyer jennifermeyer.com

Jennifer Meyer returned to her jewelry making roots in 2004 when, frustrated by a search for a leaf charm for a necklace, she decided to make her own. After taking several jewelry making classes and consulting with other jewelers, Meyer designed her trademark leaf-shaped 18-karat gold charm, which to her represents "turning over a new leaf". Though Meyer has extensive Hollywood connections—her father is Universal Studios President Ron Meyer; her husband is actor Tobey Maguire—her jewelry made its national debut when a stylist picked out one of Meyer's leaf pendants for Jennifer Aniston to wear in The Break-Up. The exposure led to Meyer founding her own company, Jennifer Meyer Jewelry, and her line of rings, charms, pendants, and necklaces is distributed through such luxury stores as Barneys New York, Roseark in Los Angeles, California, and Maxfield in Beverly Hills, California.

She was named "2007 Jeweler of the Year" in the Us Magazine "Hot Hollywood Style" issue. Her heart-shaped locket adorns the neck of Kirsten Dunst's character Mary Jane Watson as a gift from her boyfriend Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3.

5) Jennifer Fisher jenniferfisherjewelry.com

A Santa Barbara, California native, Jennifer Fisher began her career as a wardrobe stylist working on feature films, television shows and commercials in both New York and Los Angeles. After ten years of dressing some of styling in Hollywood, Jennifer met her now-husband, and they settled in New York City, where Jennifer’s company is now based.

Upon the birth of the couple’s first child, Shane, Jennifer began to look for a piece of jewelry that not only spelled his name, but also expressed her own personal style. Unable to find anything unique, Jennifer designed a piece with Shane’s name stamped on the front that she styled with a long, thick link chain. When friends, family and even strangers began to request that Jennifer design one for them, Jennifer Fisher Jewelry was born in 2005.

One simple design inspired an extensive fine jewelry collection including over 4,000 charms, handmade chain link necklaces and bracelets, gold cuffs, as well as beautiful rings and earrings, all with a unique aesthetic. Jennifer continues to develop new, on-trend pieces that prove to be an extension of her edgy, yet sophisticated style.

“The feeling I strive to create for my customers is a casual edge, one that will make them feel dressed and finished the moment they put on my jewelry no matter what they are wearing,” Jennifer explains.

The designer specializes in custom designs; each piece can be personalized by shape, font, size, and metal color including either 14K or 18K yellow, rose, and white gold. She also offers pave white and black diamonds to embellish the jewelry, making for a more luxe alternative.

In 2011, Jennifer continued to expand her line with the launch of her brass collection. From large cuffs, statement chain necklaces and earrings to stackable rings and bracelets, the brass collection has garnered a significant following, allowing her to offer her signature jewelry to a growing customer base at an increasingly accessible price point.

Jennifer Fisher’s fine jewelry collection is available for purchase exclusively on her website and by appointment only, while the brass collection is available on her site as well as carried in high end retailers around the world such as all Barneys New York locations throughout the US and Lane Crawford in Japan.

Jennifer Fisher jewelry has established a loyal fan base of top celebrities such as Naomi Watts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kristen Wiig, Rita Ora, and Emma Stone to name a few. Her pieces have also been worn in films and hit television shows including both Sex and the City movies, Entourage, The Vampire Diaries, The L Word, Weeds, Gossip Girl, Elementary, SMASH, and Chelsea Lately.

Jennifer became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in June 2013. Additionally, Jennifer was recognized for her accomplishments as a designer when she was a top ten finalists in the 2012 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund competition.

6) Better Late Than Never bltnjewelry.com

Aten is the newest collection from Better Late Than Never jewelry. Portland-based jewelry designer, Sara Duzinsky is known for her exquisite handcrafted jewelry collection made from delicate raw materials like crystals, gem stones, studs and even sea urchin spines.

This time Sarah uses carefully cut metal gold plates partnered silver studs to create simple yet edgy Aztec inspired accessories.

7) Gemfields consumer.gemfields.co.uk

Gemfields PLC is an AIM-listed multinational natural resources company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, specializing in the mining, processing and sale of colored gemstones, in particular emeralds. The group’s operations are mainly based in Zambia where emeralds possess a range of green colors and are cheaper in comparison to their Colombian and Brazilian counterparts. Gemfields produces approximately 20% of the world’s emerald supply.

The company is adamant about the traceability of its stones and has implemented a “mine to market” strategy by which emeralds are “completely traceable from mine to market”.

8) Latest Revival latestrevival.com

Latest Revival is an online luxury retailer where jewelry is the sole focus. At Latest Revival, you will find a carefully curated collection of authentic baubles from the finest designer brands such as Chanel, Lanvin, and Hermes; one-of-a-kind estate pieces from established jewelry houses including Cartier, Van Cleef and Bvlgari; as well as up-and-coming talent like Eddie Borgo and Monique Pean.

Throughout the year, they offer exclusive limited edition pieces and original editorial content featuring jewelry news, trend stories and insider interviews. At Latest Revival, they encourage “the delineation of collecting” and welcome you to build upon an existing collection or to create a new treasure trove. Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply an admirer of beautiful bijoux.

9) Suzannah Wainhouse www.suzannahwainhouse.com/Suzannah_Website/STORES.html

Suzannah Wainhouse jewellery vision comes from influential sculpture and fine artists. Ancient and antique crafted pieces have always been a love for New York based Suzannah, incorporating these aspects to her various jewellery collections.

Her appreciation for handmade jewellery is shown through her timeless pieces and sourcing of stones from places such as Vermont. The personal touches of the handmade jewellery represent the crafter and the wearer, always using semi or precious stones and diamonds.

10) Winifred Grace winifredgrace.com

As a child in Miami, Florida, jewelry designer Winifred Grace Gundeck spent her days exploring the nature that surrounded her – finding beauty in the movement of rustling palm fronds, the reflection of light off water and the patterns of sand and shells.

At the age of 8, while other kids were selling lemonade, Winifred started making hand-painted barrettes and selling them to a local boutique. Garnering rave reviews, she moved on to hair combs adorned with exotic silk flowers, feathers, ribbons and beads, which her mother proudly wore to all of South Miami’s most stylish parties.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Spanish, Gundeck followed the pull of her artistic strings and continued on to a graduate degree in Graphic Design. She quickly realized how much she missed the tactile experience of designing accessories, and with that her eponymous jewelry line Winifred Grace was born in 2003.

From her Chicago-based studio, Winifred creates jewelry inspired by visually rich textures and patterns found in everything from nature to indigenous art, tapestries and adornments. Each season, she interprets the feminine mystique of natural wonders, but with a subtle edge that adds a bit of reality to the fantasy.

In 2007 Winifred was chosen as one of Gen Art's Fresh Faces in Fashion as well as The Fashion Group International's Rising Star. Today, Winifred Grace can be found in the finest luxury boutiques around the United States.

Winifred resides in Chicago with her husband Benjamin, son Alexander, and dog Guffman.

*Based on the most searched jewelry brand on Google for the year 2013.

Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and film director. In the past decade, he transformed Gucci from a moribund accessories label into one of the sexiest fashion brands in the world. His designs have increased sales at Gucci tenfold and have helped build the Gucci brand into the luxury goods conglomerate that it is today. Ford brought a hard-edged style synonymous with 21st century glamour to his clothes, and Hollywood sat up and took note.

He also created the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.

Watch Video: Tom Ford OWN Visionaries Documentary 

Early life (1961–86)

Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961, in Austin, Texas, to realtors Tom Ford and Shirley Burton. He spent his early life in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, and in San Marcos, outside Austin; his family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, when he was 11. In Santa Fe, he entered St. Michael's High School and later moved to Santa Fe Preparatory School, from which he graduated in 1979. Ford left Santa Fe at age 16, when he enrolled at Bard College at Simon's Rock, but quickly dropped out. He then moved to New York City to study art history at New York University.

Ford dropped out of NYU after only a year, preferring to concentrate on acting in television commercials; at one time, he was in 12 national advertising campaigns simultaneously. Ford then began studying interior architecture at The New School's famous art and design college, Parsons The New School for Design. During his time in New York, Ford became a fixture at the legendary nightclub Studio 54, where he realized he was gay. The club's disco-era glamor would be a major influence on his later designs. Before his last year at New School, Ford spent a year and a half in Paris, where he worked as an intern in Chloé's press office. Though his work primarily involved sending clothes out on photo shoots, it triggered his love of fashion. He spent his final year at The New School studying fashion, but nonetheless graduated with a degree in architecture.

Early career (1986–94)

When interviewing for jobs after graduation, he said that he had attended The New School's Parsons division, but concealed that he graduated in architecture and that his work at Chloe was a low-level public relations position. Despite his lack of experience, Ford called American designer Cathy Hardwick every day for a month in hopes of securing a job at her mid-price sportswear company. Eventually, she agreed to see him. Hardwick later recalled the incident: "I had every intention of giving him no hope. I asked him who his favorite European designers were. He said, 'Armani and Chanel.' Months later I asked him why he said that, and he said, 'Because you were wearing something Armani'. Is it any wonder he got the job?" Ford worked as a design assistant for Hardwick for two years.

In 1988, Ford moved to Perry Ellis, where he knew both Robert McDonald, the company's president, and Marc Jacobs, its designer, socially. He stayed at the company for two years, but grew tired of working in American fashion. In a later interview with the New York Times, he commented, "If I was ever going to become a good designer, I had to leave America. My own culture was inhibiting me. Too much style in America is tacky. It's looked down upon to be too stylish. Europeans, however, appreciate style." Ford would soon have the opportunity to enter the world of European fashion: Gucci, a faltering luxury goods company, was seeking to strengthen its women's ready-to-wear presence as a part of its brand overhaul. At the time, "no one would dream of wearing Gucci," said Dawn Mello, then the company's creative director. Mello hired Ford—then a near-unknown—as the brand's chief women's ready-to-wear designer in 1990. "I was talking to a lot of people, and most didn't want the job," Mello said. "For an American designer to move to Italy to join a company that was far from being a brand would have been pretty risky." Ford and his longtime partner, fashion journalist Richard Buckley, relocated to Milan that September.

Ford's role at Gucci rapidly expanded: he was designing menswear within six months, and shoes soon after that. When Richard Lambertson left as design director in 1992, Ford took over his position, heading the brand's ready-to-wear, fragrances, image, advertising, and store design. In 1993, when he was in charge of designing eleven product lines, Ford worked eighteen-hour days. During these years, there were creative tensions between Ford and Maurizio Gucci, the company's chairman and 50% owner. According to Mello, "Maurizio always wanted everything to be round and brown, and Tom wanted to make it square and black." Though Maurizio Gucci wanted to fire Ford, Domenico de Sole insisted that he remain. Nonetheless, Ford's work during the early 1990s was primarily behind the scenes; his contributions to Gucci were overshadowed by those of Mello, who was the company's public face.

Gucci and YSL creative director (1994–2004)

In 1994, Ford was promoted to creative director. In his first year at the helm, he was credited with putting the glamour back into fashion introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters, skinny satin shirts and car-finish metallic patent boots. In 1995, he brought in French stylist Carine Roitfeld and photographer Mario Testino to create a series of new, modern ad campaigns for the company. Between 1995 and 1996, sales at Gucci increased by 90%. On the strength of Ford's collections, Gucci went public in October 1995 with an IPO of $22 per share, followed by an additional global offering in March 1996 at $48 per share and a third offering in 1999 at $75 per share. In early 1999, luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, headed by Bernard Arnault, increased its shareholdings in Gucci with a view to takeover. Domenico de Sole reacted by issuing new shares of stock in an effort to dilute the value of Arnault's holdings. Ford and De Sole also approached French holding company Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) about the possibility of forming a strategic alliance. François Pinault, the company’s founder, agreed to the idea and purchased 37 million shares in the company, or a 40% stake. Arnault’s share was diluted to 20%. At one point, Ford was the largest individual shareholder of Gucci stock and options.

By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Ford joined, was valued at about $4.3 billion. When Ford left in 2004, Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion.

When Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Ford was named the creative director of that label as well. During his time as Creative Director for YSL, Ford won numerous Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Like his work at Gucci, Ford was able to catapult the classic fashion house back into the mainstream. His advertising campaigns for the YSL fragrances Opium (with a red-haired Sophie Dahl completely naked wearing only a necklace and stiletto heels in a sexually suggestive pose) and YSL M7 (with martial arts champion Samuel de Cubber in complete full-frontal nudity) have been famous and provocative by pushing fragrance ads to a new level of creativity in artistic expression and commercial impact.

In April 2004, Ford parted ways with the Gucci group after he and CEO Domenico de Sole, who is credited as Ford's partner in Gucci's success, failed to agree with PPR bosses over artistic control of the Group. He has since referred to this experience as "devastating" because he had "put everything into that for fifteen years."

Tom Ford (2004–present)

In March 2011, Ford was featured as the cover star of the bi-annual publication AnOther Man, the fraternal counterpart to Another Magazine, giving his opinion on what makes the modern day gentleman. He was interviewed by the magazine's founder Jefferson Hack for the featured article.

Career as a film director

In March 2005, Ford announced the opening of his film production company, FADE TO BLACK. In 2009, Ford made his film directorial debut with A Single Man, which was based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. The film stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult and Matthew Goode. The screenplay was adapted by Ford and David Scearce. Ford also produced the film, which premiered on September 11, 2009, at the 66th Venice International Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Lion. Colin Firth, who plays the protagonist George, was awarded the Volpi Cup as Best Actor for his performance and was also nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award and Screen Actors Guild Award. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Julianne Moore was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Abel Korzeniowski for Best Original Score at the Golden Globes. Tom Ford was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards in 2009, including Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay.

Personal life

Tom Ford is openly gay, and he and his partner, journalist Richard Buckley, have been together since 1986. Buckley was the former Editor in Chief of Vogue Hommes International. Buckley was diagnosed with cancer in 1989 and after his recovery the two moved from New York to Italy. The couple reported the birth of their son, Alexander John Buckley Ford, in September 2012.

The couple have owned three smooth fox terriers. Their first dog, named John, lived fourteen years with Ford and Buckley, and appeared on the runway and in some photos with Ford. Currently, they own Angus and India, who are six and four years old, respectively. These smooth fox terriers appeared in Ford's movie A Single Man.

Awards and nominations

Ford has been recognized by important design and cultural councils worldwide including the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and TIME.

1995: International Award – Council of Fashion Designers of America

1997: People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People

1999: Style Icon Award – Elle Style Awards UK

2000: Best International Designer – VH1/Vogue Awards

2000: Fashion Editors Club of Japan Award

2000: British GQ International Man of the Year Award

2000: Superstar Award – Fashion Group International

2001: Womenswear Designer of the Year – Council of Fashion Designers of America

2001: Best Fashion Designer – TIME Magazine

2001: Designer of the Year – GQ USA

2001: Board of Directors Special Tribute – Council of Fashion Designers of America

2002: Accessory Designer of the Year Award for Yves Saint-Laurent – Council of Fashion Designers of America

2003: Fashion Design Achievement Award – Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum's National Design Awards

2004: Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award

2004: International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame

2005: André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award – Savannah College of Art & Design

2006: Accessory Brand Launch – Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards

2007: GLAAD Media Awards – Victor Russo Award

2007: DNR's Person of the Year

2008: Menswear Designer of the Year – Council of Fashion Designers of America

2009: Venice Film Festival – Golden Lion for A Single Man (Nominee)

2009: Venice Film Festival – Queer Lion for A Single Man

2009: Critics Choice Awards – Best Adapted Screenplay for A Single Man (Nominee)

2009: Independent Spirit Awards – Best First Screenplay for A Single Man (Nominee)

2009: Independent Spirit Awards – Best First Feature for A Single Man (Nominee)

2009: Honored as one of GQ USA's Men of the Year

2009: GQ Germany Man of the Year

2010: GLAAD Media Awards – Outstanding Film Wide Release for A Single Man

2010: Menswear Designer of the Year – Council of Fashion Designers of America (Nominee)

Biography Further reading

Tom Ford [Hardcover] with Graydon Carter and Anna Wintour. Tom Ford. Thames  and Hudson (2008). ISBN 0-500-51197-7.

Read...

What to Look for When Buying Pearls? Your Guide to Buying Pearls

Searches related to tom ford

tom ford perfume, tom ford handbags, tom ford sunglasses, tom ford suits, tom ford eyeglasses, tom ford black orchid, tom ford glasses, tom ford pictures (Updated as of March 5, 2013)