Tom Ford: "I Have A Very Dark Side"

As a designer for the Gucci Group, Tom Ford used to rule the sartorial world, but after leaving the fashion house five years ago questions were raised about what Ford would do next. The answer came in the form of Ford's upcoming film, A Single Man, which opens on December 11. He spoke to W about his struggle with depression.

"I have a very dark side, a side that has struggled a lot with depression, and I've never been one who showed that to the outside world. I think when you say to someone, 'Good morning. How are you?' they should say, 'Great, terrific,' because everyone struggles in life. The Yves Saint Laurent thing used to drive me nuts--his depressions, his alcoholism, his whatever. Most people have a lot of problems. You can define yourself by them, or you can realize that everyone is going through what you're going through and you make the best of it and you get on with your life and you don't necessarily inflict that, because others probably have that too. They're just not inflicting it on you."

The depression intensified when he left Gucci in 2004:

"I started to sink emotionally, spiritually. I became a little bit lost. Leaving Gucci, it intensified because I had been able to cling to my job and to my work and to my identity as a successful fashion designer, and all of a sudden that was gone. It forced me to really think, Well, what am I, who am I, what am I about? It took me a bit of time to figure that out. I think this happens to most people in their life if they're insightful enough to indulge it and to get through to the other side."

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Comments

[Kelechineke]

Very courageous.

[Kisha Coleman]

Oh Tom! i'll make your depression go away!
Tom Ford = HOTTTTTTT!

[PatA]

I am thankful that Mr. Ford was truthful in his interview. It is so important for people who struggle with depression to see that they are not alone.
I would trade my depression for anyone's dark moments. They are not the same. A "dark moment" is that that...a moment (or day) in time. A lifetime of depression and the fight to get the help one needs is an hour to hour struggle.
It would take too long to list the obstacles that someone with mental health issues deals with every day.
Bravo, Mr. Ford!

[GreatLabels]

I think this definitely humanizes Tom Ford more. And I - for one - really like that. Way to go Tom! Can't wait to see the movie.

[Em Hall]

Anytime a person as powerful and famous and Ford comes forward to admit that it's not all sunshine and roses behind the red carpet, I think it's a good thing. Certainly there's a difference between "feeling blue" and clinical depression, and it seems that Ford -at least in these brief quotes- is pragmatic in speaking about his struggles and ability to overcome. The fashion industry certainly has its share of problems, but being ashamed to admit depression shouldn't be one of them.

[2centsplain]

When the going gets tough the tough get going. Who doesn't have these dark moments?