Alright, so I got this itch, you know? I’ve always admired that Tom Ford aesthetic – super sharp, a bit dangerous, just oozing confidence. And I thought, why not try and recreate some of that vibe myself? Not like buying a bunch of thousand-dollar suits, ’cause let’s be real, who’s got that kind of cash lying around? More like, capturing the essence. So, I decided to embark on this little project: my own “Tom Ford inspired” lookbook.
Getting My Head in the Game
First things first, I had to really dig into what makes that look. I spent a good few evenings just scrolling through images, watching interviews, trying to absorb the details. It’s not just black suits, is it? It’s the cut, the way things fit, the textures. And the attitude! That was a big one. You can wear the clothes, but if you don’t have that certain something, it just falls flat.
So, I started by pulling out pieces from my own wardrobe. Stuff I thought might work. A well-fitting black shirt, some dark trousers, a decent jacket I own. I wasn’t aiming for exact copies, more like “inspired by.” You get me?
The Nitty-Gritty: Putting Looks Together
Then came the actual trying-on part. This is where it got… interesting. I set up my camera on a tripod, found a spot with decent-ish light (my apartment isn’t exactly a photo studio), and just started experimenting.
I’d throw on an outfit, look in the mirror, then look at some reference pics. “Nah, that’s not quite it.” I must have changed clothes about twenty times that first day. It’s funny, you see these slick photos and think it’s all effortless. Let me tell you, “effortless” takes a whole lot of effort.
- I played around with just a simple black shirt, unbuttoned a bit.
- Then I tried adding a blazer.
- Swapped out different pairs of shoes.
- Messed with accessories – a watch, maybe some sunglasses even indoors, just for the vibe.
I took a bunch of photos for each combination. Some were terrible. Like, really bad. Awkward poses, weird lighting. But slowly, I started getting a few shots that I thought, “Okay, that’s not half bad.”
Hitting Some Roadblocks
The biggest challenge, honestly? It was getting the fit to look as precise as it does in his actual collections. My off-the-rack stuff is good, but it’s not bespoke, you know? So I had to use a few tricks – a well-placed pin here and there (out of sight of the camera, of course!), making sure everything was ironed perfectly. The tiniest wrinkle can ruin the whole super-sleek effect.
And the lighting! Oh man, that was a battle. My living room has one big window, so one side of me was always brighter. I ended up dragging a lamp over, bouncing light off a white bedsheet I hung up. It was all very DIY, very makeshift. But hey, you gotta work with what you’ve got.
Seeing It Come Together
After a couple of sessions of styling and shooting, I went through all the photos. I deleted a LOT. But I also found a good handful that I was pretty pleased with. I did a little bit of editing – nothing major, just adjusting contrast and shadows to get that moody feel. I wasn’t trying to photoshop myself into a supermodel, just enhance what was there.
Then I put them together, kind of like a digital scrapbook. Just a simple layout, focusing on the images themselves. And looking at it, I felt a bit chuffed, to be honest. It wasn’t a professional Tom Ford campaign, obviously, but for a guy messing around in his apartment, I thought it captured a little bit of that spirit I was after.
What I Reckon I Learned
So, what did I take away from all this? Well, for one, I gained a new appreciation for the work that goes into high-fashion photography and styling. It’s not just pretty people in expensive clothes. There’s a real art to it.
And I also realized you don’t always need the exact designer gear to capture a certain style. It’s more about understanding the principles – the silhouette, the attitude, the attention to detail. I found a few new ways to wear stuff I already owned, which is always a bonus. Plus, it was just a fun, creative thing to do. Kept me busy, and I got some cool photos out of it. Definitely worth the effort, even if my living room looked like a jumble sale for a few days.
