Tom Ford announces death of beloved husband, fashion editor Richard Buckley, aged 72
Tom Ford and Richard Buckley at the 2017 Writers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills, California. (Todd Williamson/Getty)
Richard Buckley, the world-renowned writer, editor and husband to designer Tom Ford, has sadly passed away at the age of 72.
A representative for Tom Ford confirmed that his husband Richard Buckley died from “natural causes after a prolonged illness” at home on Sunday (19 September).
“It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley,” a statement read. “Richard passed away peacefully at their home in Los Angeles last night with Tom and their son Jack by his side.”
Buckley began his career as a fashion journalist at New York Magazine in 1979 before going on to write for Women’s Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Mirabella, and Vogue Hommes International.
He also became the European editor of Mirabella magazine, contributing editor at Italian Vogue, and later the editor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International.
Buckley met the love of his life, the acclaimed designer and filmmaker Tom Ford, at a fashion show in 1986.
Even after three decades, Ford, 60, said he could “vividly” remember the moment he first saw Buckley in an elevator and instantly knew he would spend the rest of his life with him.
“By the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I thought: ‘You’re the one.’ That’s it. Click. Sold,” he said in a 2016 appearance on The Jess Cagle Interview. “It was literally love at first sight.”
The pair were living together within a month and would spend the next 35 years at each others’ side, sharing homes in London, New York and Santa Fe.
Their son, Alexander John Buckley Ford, was born via surrogate in 2012, and the couple married two years later in 2014, shortly after same-sex marriage was legalised in the US.
Buckley is mourned by many in the fashion world, including the designer Rachel Zoe who was one of the first to pay tribute.
“We have lost such a beautiful and special soul, a gentleman of the greatest kind, Richard Buckley,” she shared on Facebook. “To know him was an honour, to have had deep meaningful conversation with Richard was a gift I will hold tight forever.
“He was brilliant, witty and unapologetically honest, but most extraordinary was his true love and dedication to Tom and his son Jack. I will miss you so very much Richard. May you Rest In Peace and with the angels friend.”
