latest beauty campaign

The images in Tom Ford‘s latest beauty campaign feature Lara Stone made up in dramatic colours and high-impact looks. They also feature Ford’s beard.

Some people have questioned this as strange. A man’s stubble in a makeup ad? There’s nothing feminine about that. But I think that’s the point. The appearance of the man himself serves a dual purpose, making sure that brand Tom Ford is stamped all over the campaign (and after all Ford is the brand), and contrasting absolute masculinity against the feminine beauty, thus making Lara stand out as even more feminine. To my eye, the campaign also works extra well for Mr Ford’s darkly stubbled chin and yearning heads, for his attention is firmly directed towards the leading lady – and what beautiful, glamorously made up woman should be without a man’s attention?

As for the products themselves, they promise to be as carefully curated as his previous beauty offerings:

“I don’t like B.S. and a lot of promises, and there are a lot of products out there you don’t even need,” said the designer during an interview at his grand showroom and offices next door to Phillips de Pury & Co. in central London. “My brain works in the same way whatever I do. The approach is practical, architectural and I use the same vocabulary whether I’m designing clothing or color cosmetics.”

 The quote comes from WWD via Fashion Copious.