As anyone will tell you, when working in the industry, building bridges and making connections are one of the most important things to do. As any elite insider would tell you, building bridges with fashion’s biggest names will instantly trump any smaller connections made along the way. Well, things just so happen to work out in your favor when Tom Ford happens to take a liking to you.

Splashed all over Ford’s website and appearing in the designer’s eyewear campaign alongside Anna Jagodzinska, model Jon Kortajarena seems to have learned the advantages of having friends in high paces.

On Tuesday, the Spanish model took to Germany to claim his title as “GQ’s Model of the Year“. Arriving as the epitome of suave and sophistication in a black velvet diamond Jacquard jacket complete with bow-tie, I was sure he was drenched in Dolce & Gabbana. Seeing as the D&G duo have been dabbling in velvet for a while. Though, when looking back at Tom Ford’s Fall 2009 lookbook, it seems that Kortajarena reaped the benefits of working with the former brain behind Gucci.

Now it’s time to out your imagination to work – do you think he bought it, got it as a gift, was given it from the shoot, or stole it? I’m shooting with kept it from the shoot. Seeing as Ford was also in attendance at the awards, I’m pretty sure it’s not stolen goods.