Dressing well is a form of good manners.
Tom FordRead
There are many designers who have much greater talent as a designer than I do, but they may not have my drive, they may not work as hard, they may not have the focus, the desire... You have to have a talent because, at the end of the day, if the pants you design don't make someone's butt look great, they're not going to buy them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Talent is important, but hard work and focus are crucial for success in design.
In this quote, Tom Ford emphasizes that while many designers may possess greater innate talent, it is the combination of determination, hard work, and focus that ultimately leads to success. He highlights the practical side of design, stating that no matter how talented a designer might be, if their work does not deliver results that appeal to consumers, it will not be successful in the market.
Themes
TalentHard WorkFocusDesignSuccess
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a design workshop to motivate aspiring designers to value hard work over mere talent.
More from Tom Ford
All quotes →Moving fashion used to be one of my chief goals. It's not necessarily any more. Fashion needs to change when life changes. You only need to move fashion forward when there's a reason to move fashion forward.
Tom FordRead
It's funny, our beauty standard has become harder and tougher because we live in a tough age. I don't think anyone wants to walk down the street and feel vulnerable. You want to walk down the street and feel like you're in control.
Tom FordRead
I enjoy the speed of fashion. I love doing different things and I think I still have something valid to say in fashion.
Tom FordRead
People always ask me how I start a collection, and I tell them that I just look around. What am I tired of? What am I in the mood for? Real fashion change comes from real changes in real life. Everything else is just decoration.
Tom FordRead
I don't believe that clothes can start a revolution, but I do believe that fashion is often a manifestation of a sociological or political climate.
Tom FordRead
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