Miguel Vigil

Tom Ford needs a really big house in his native Santa Fe, and now he can have it! So said the Historic Design Review Board of the Santa Fe city council, in an 11 p.m. vote Tuesday night. (Thanks to Luxist for the initial link.) The Free New Mexican says:

Ford, 44, who grew up in Santa Fe, attended the meeting in his trademark outfit: a white shirt with its top buttons open, a dark sports coat, jeans and cowboy boots. He has said he needs a large house to accommodate his family, which often visits him. He already owns the east-side home where he grew up, plus a ranch with an orchard and vineyard near Galisteo, where he is building a house. He also has homes in Los Angeles and London.

Well, his plans to build a 14,000-square-foot hilltop home hovering over the east side of Santa Fe have already been through the wringer. Here's his "design consultant," Jennifer Jenkins:

Jenkins said the overall square-footage of the plan had been reduced by about 4,000 feet since it was first brought before the review board in December. She also said the garage had been scaled down, the height of the rooftops reduced and the exterior lighting overhauled to protect the view of the night sky. She read letters from Ford supporters who said Santa Fe was lucky to have a “local boy” turned celebrity who wants to return home.

Umm, in Santa Fe the locals are a smidgen jumpy about that last bit.  read more »

Just read the pages and pages of comments under the New Mexican piece to absorb the latent text about sexuality, class and race for yourself--or sample a couple of choice ones after the jump!