A Single Man: Inimitable Tom Ford Prepares Debut London Fashion Week Show

Enigmatic American fashion designer Tom Ford will make his London Fashion Week debut in the capital tonight (February 18, 2013), no doubt attracting a slew of celebrities and a global audience of fashionistas. The former Gucci designer has previously introduced his collections at relatively low-key private showings in front of exclusively selected audiences.

The chance to attend Tom Ford's first womenswear catwalk show is a massive incentive for press and buyers though such is the rarity of the designer's show, the official London Fashion Week website simply lists tonight's venue as: SEE INVITE. Ford is certainly a shadowy figure in the world of fashion, though has his designing fingers in various pies. In 2005, he opened production company Fade To Black, through which he directed, produced and co-wrote his first feature film A Single Man, which landed Colin Firth a nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars.

Though an acclaimed designer in his own right, Ford is best known for his work at Gucci - the fashion house that was nearly bankrupt when he joined. By 1999, under Ford's stewardship, the company was valued at $4.3 billion. When he left in 2004, the Gucci Group was valued at $10 billion.

Monday's schedule at London Fashion Week also includes designers Christopher Kane, Erdem, Osman and Peter Pilotto.