The maestro himself, Tom Ford, signs individual bottles to commemorate his cosmetics collection’s debut

After much anticipation and speculation, Tom Ford has finally released his luxe cosmetics collection (a division of TOM FORD BEAUTY). I attended the launch at his flagship on Madison Avenue (where he also unveiled some recent additions to his fragrance line) and was excited beyond belief, mainly because I am mad for Tom Ford. This man is not only a talented designer, he’s also a fashion celebrity, a style icon and…well, he’s simply very cool. I’d visited the store when it first opened, but at that time, everything for sale was just for men: beautifully-designed and fun to look at, but nothing for me.

However, the recent launch party was a different story: since my first visit, Tom has introduced women’s fragrances, accessories, clothing and now cosmetics, and the beau monde turned out to greet the designer and sample his newest products. I tried two fragrances, Santal Blush and Jasmin Rouge, both heavily laden with what might be called a Middle Eastern inspiration. Perhaps Tom’s travels have recently taken him to that part of the world.

Tom Ford Beauty’s Eye Color Quad compact in Violet Dusk

The big news of the night, however, was Tom’s cosmetic collection. It’s gorgeously packaged, but I don’t wear a lot of makeup, so I gravitated more to things like nail polish and lip gloss. I couldn’t resist buying “Bordeax Lust” nail lacquer and Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in “Wet Violet” (above). I haven’t used the polish yet, but the lip gloss is fab: it’s moist, long-lasting and keeps lips hydrated for hours. And there are so many delicious colors to choose from, you could go crazy! The event was a huge success, and Tom wore a big smile as he moved around the store shaking hands and greeting guests. So charming and so elegant! I feel certain his new line is a winner.