It started with a call.
If everything here is monochromatic, the world for Ackermann has quite recently exploded into color.
It wasnt much of a surprise, Ackermann says.
PICTURE THISAckermann at work—with mood boards of inspiration—at the Tom Ford offices in London. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Sittings Editor: Tabitha Simmons.Vogue, March 2025. On the mood board, top right: Szymon Roginski. Third row, right: © 2025 The Peter Hujar Archive/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Images on the wall, far right: © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved. DACS, London/ARS, NY 2025. Produced by AL Studio and Farago Projects.
All the same, I was nervous.
you’re free to go through a lot of emotions in one minute.
Only then will we finally see the results of that conversation between him and Ford.
Its all about seduction, desire, provoking something, he says.
More than talking about fabrics or colors, thats what he and I both search for.
Ask him what one piece represents the womens Ford-verse, and he laughs and says a fur coat.
But thats not happening.
Instead, he mentions the tuxedo shirt.
I see her in a tux shirt, even though its mens, he says.
Maybe thats what Ackermann will be wearing the day after his debut.
But this newest venture brings him firmly into the glare of the spotlight once more.
Its a place he finds comfortableespecially with where we are now.
Im happy to be back.
It feels like a massive embraceand I want to honor it.
In this story: Hair, Tatsu Yamanaka; grooming, Liz Taw; manicurist, Charly Avenell.
