>> It was hinted earlier this month that Tom Ford was actively recruiting for his womenswear design team; now comes word that he has hired Caroline Tixier, a women’s ready-to-wear designer at Givenchy, and Pablo Coppola, an accessories designer at Alexander McQueen, although neither a Tom Ford spokeswoman or Ford's business partner Domenico De Sole would comment to confirm.
Speculation out of Europe sets Ford's return to womenswear for just less than a year from now during the Fall 2011 season. The designer is said to be thinking of starting up again with a presentation instead of a runway show, set in either New York or Milan. He's also reportedly in the process of squaring away launch exclusives with top retail partners.
UPDATE: Word is Ford has also hired shoe designer Michael Lewis, who has collaborated with Ford at Gucci, Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, and Christopher Bailey at Burberry. [Fashionista]
