Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/221556
Ground Control to Major Tom Brian Bolke Faisal Halum Marika Baca Korey Williams BY BILLY FONG. PHOTOGRAPHY ERIN BROWN. I 've been waiting for this moment since 1996. That was the year I discovered Tom Ford. I was living in NYC and went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We were stumbling through the French Quarter, and upon turning a corner, I saw the Gucci window. It was a sobering, religious experience — as if the clouds were parting and a chorus of angels began to sing. I had grown up with plenty of girl friends in high school who had the G bag, but this luxury-goods house had fallen off my radar as I entered my 20s. After my return from the Big Easy, I was back in my studio apartment in Hell's Kitchen, and I saw Mr. Ford's first ad campaign for Gucci: the brilliant spread of Amber Valleta looking amazing with two bored jet-set boy models beside her. I decided to stop eating, save my money and purchase my first pair of loafers. Fast forward a few weeks: I learned for the first time about "the list" when I attempted to purchase said loafers at the Fifth Avenue store. The hysteria had grown throughout the country, and wait lists were insane. I sat at the über-chic Bowery Bar and overheard a conversation about someone who was flying to Scottsdale the next day because Neiman's had a pair of Tom Ford for Gucci sunglasses. Really? A legend was born. As most of you know, since the brilliant Mr. Ford left Gucci almost a decade ago, he spent time reinventing Yves Saint Laurent and then launched his namesake label. Along the way, he also dabbled in film — in case you missed A Single Man, it was nominated for an Oscar. And now, the TexasAngelo DeVito born boy has opened a store in our little Mayberry. Lucky us. To celebrate, the Tom Ford boutique in Highland Park Village chose one of my favorite charities for the opening fund-raiser: TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art. Cindy Rachofsky raised a glass in honor of Mr. Ford (who alas, could not make it to the opening) along with dapper Domenico de Sole, chairman of Tom Ford International, and COO Tom Mendenhall for their support of amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art. Guests kicked it up a notch for the new boutique in town, and my favorites included Elisa and Stephen Summers (both in head-to-toe Tom), Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson, Marlene and John Sughrue, Shelby Wagner, Brian Bolke, Faisal Halum, John Reoch, Ceron, Todd Fiscus, Niven Morgan, Sharon Young, and Rajan Patel. Robin McMonigle Elisa Summers Lisa Rocchio Howard Rachofsky Jared Reichart Dax Pass Caroline Summers Pass Antonio Blazevic John Reoch Whitney Bromberg Hawkins Ceron Gene Jones Charlotte Jones Anderson Cindy Rachofsky Trish Ireland Logan Waller Niven Morgan Russ Patrick Doris Almanza Stephen Summers Rajan Patel Karla McKinley Lucy Wrubel Shelby Wagner Muffin Lemak Melissa Meeks Ireland Emily Summers Steve Summers Domenico de Sole Tom Ford is like James Bond. What theme song should have accompanied your own arrival tonight? "Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls' makes the world go round!" — Jennifer Eagle "Since I am a DJ, people are going to expect something good, so Talking Heads' 'This Must Be The Place (Naïve melody).'" — Lucy Wrubel "Some electronica — so how about Underworld's 'Born Slippy.'" — Derek Wilson Marlene Sughrue Teffy Jacobs Doris Jacobs John Sughrue Fritz Hattan "Oh, I don't know ..." — Todd Fiscus [Thank god Lucy Wrubel was by his side and chimed in with "Todd has the musical tastes of a 13 year-old girl …" He came up with an oldie, but a goodie: Britney Spears' 'Oops … I did It Again.'"] "The Grateful Dead's 'Estimated Prophet.' BTW, I was just up in Cleveland for a meeting at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." — John Lemak Katie Walters Tracy Madans Cate Ford "Ooh, I loved the movie Velvet Goldmine, so 'Baby's on Fire' by Venus in Furs." — Niven Morgan Jen O'Neal Lori Jones "Katy Perry's 'Firework,' most definitely!" — Muffin Lemak Sarah Smith Thad Smith "You know I want some old-school rock playing when I walk in, so Led Zeppelin's 'When The Levee Breaks.'" — Christen Wilson "Peter Gabriel's 'Big Time'" — Howard Rachofsky [For those of you who don't remember the lyrics, take a listen … sooo Howard.]