@Badgalriri’s #1 fan? Tom Ford – which is surprising, considering this is the same designer who used to ban cell phones from his super-exclusive runway shows.

But apparently, Gucci’s former leading man is starting to recognize the importance of social media in the fashion world. In an interview with Style.com, Tom claimed that celebrity Instagrams are now more important than media of the past. Said Tom:

Customers don’t care anymore about reviews or hard-copy publications. They care what picture Rihanna just Instagrammed while she’s naked in bed, what new shoes she has on, how she’s talking about them. That’s what they respond to.

Is he on to something? Only time will tell. But the real question here is whether Tom’s fandom is enough to make RiRi resurrect her Instagram. Because I for one miss her antics. (But could do without the bed shots.)

By Mairead McGonagle, Staff Writer