Get inside the head of the world’s most famous street style photographers and fashion bloggers. D takes us to Tokyo for a three-part series with Tommy Ton, Phil Oh, and Susie Bubble.
Part 1 of 3: Tommy Ton
Style.com’s resident street style photographer is not just another kid on the block—he is a fashion savant. Setting him apart from other fashion photographers is a photographic memory, sharp shooting skills, and the ability to name any article of clothing or accessory—and its season. Infatuated with fashion since the age of 13, Ton has been quoted saying, “I would starve for fashion.” We believe him.
Tommy, now that you have visited the Middle East, how would you define our style?
Hmm. Opulent. Glamorous. Elegant. Indulgent. Frivolous—in a sense. Perfection.
These are all really great words.
Oh, thank you. (Laughing) …Bespoke. Mysterious. Intriguing. Sheltered. Curious.
Wow. Those are a lot of words, Tommy.
Of course!
What was your most defining fashion moment?
I think there are actually three: I think the first one is how I found fashion, and that was when I was 13. First of all, I was a comic book nerd before that—before I found fashion. My sister had asked me to tape Fashion Television while she was away for the summer.
My God, it was one of my favorite shows.
I’m more of a Fashion File…
Both. I loved both.
Fashion Television is more about the glamour of the show whereas Fashion File gets under the surface.
Yes.
So anyway, I was taping an episode of Fashion Television for my sister and there happened to be an episode on Tom Ford, the Spring ‘97 Heroin Chic collection. So, I was watching that and watching him speak about fashion. He spoke so eloquently—and to see the models walk with their smoldering, smoky eyes… And sweaty or wet… The clothes were made to look a little wet—I was just instantly seduced. And that’s what his job is—to seduce people. So, from that moment, I knew that I wanted to work in fashion. So that was defining moment number one. Defining moment number two happened ten years later, when I actually got to go to my first show in Paris. And, you know, I wasn’t invited; I was just let in at the very last minute. It was in Fall 2007 and it was at the Hotel Westin.
