cult of personality

Stefano Pilati: ‘Tom Ford Is Talented But Not Gifted’

Stefano PilatiPhoto: WireImage

Not everyone thinks Tom Ford is the greatest thing since reruns. It’s true! Yves Saint Laurent head designer Stefano Pilati said Ford was nothing compared to the late great Yves Saint Laurent himself. Ford took over designing the label in 1999 when the Gucci Group purchased it. Pilati served directly under him at the time as his design deputy. He tells Lynn Hirschberg in The New York Times Magazine coming out this Sunday:

“Tom had a very precise vision of the company that didn’t challenge women … Tom is talented but not gifted. That’s the way he managed the business. Tom would say: ‘We can’t do this silhouette because she looks fat.’ Or, ‘Oh, no — women don’t like this fabric; we can’t use it.’ That mentality was something to learn but was so far from my way of thinking. Why do you want to be safe? I’m more like: Why don’t you wear gray flannel for an evening dress? I find that fantastic! Not Tom, never.”

So we guess they won’t be summering together next year.

Stefano Pilati on Tom Ford [WWD]

Stefano Pilati: ‘Tom Ford Is Talented But Not Gifted’