Designer: Tom Ford (Warning: Questionable image ahead)

So my first post is going to be about fashion, and, namely, about my favorite designer (of the moment)- Tom Ford.  Ford is famous for several things- he revitalized the Gucci line (for those shocked by these words, yes, there was a time not too long ago when Gucci was a joke and dangerously close to bankruptcy) by introducing a new concept (designs based on black orthogonal lines versus the traditional Gucci trademark of brown and circular), headed the Yves Saint-Laurent fashion house as it was starting up, and for releasing an Academy Award nominated film on his first try at directing and producing.  You try doing that.

Go see this movie.  It's okay, we'll wait.

Of course, all of that savvy business manning and directing take a backseat to his work as a designer.  Ford is especially famous for his suits, which are renowned for their perfect cuts and unexpected patterns and colors. 

Try find a better suit.  It's okay, we'll wait.

In fact, out of all of the men saying who they were wearing at the Academy Awards this past year, I don't think I heard any name mentioned as much as Ford's (except, perhaps, Hugo Boss).

Tom Ford also has a fragrance, a beauty line (in association with Estee Lauder), and an eye wear line that's quickly gaining popularity.

We can't figure out WHY it's so popular...

And all of this before the age of 50.  Wow!

The other thing about Tom Ford that's so great- besides the beauty line and eye wear, he designs exclusively for men.  There's very few designers who do that, and while I hate to take sides in a gender war, it's nice to have a designer who only does stuff for guys for a change.

His personal life is almost as impressive as his professional life.  He's a public face of the GLBT community, and him and his partner (Richard Buckley), have been together in a steady, monogamous relationship for 23 years, helping to break stereotypes that gay men are just guys who can't keep it in their pants.

Oh, and finally, there's the final fact that, at the age of 49, he looks like this.

You will never be as attractive as this man.