Partners in both life and the world of fashion for more than three decades
Richard Buckley, jornalista de moda cujas palavras atravessaram décadas de publicações influentes, morreu aos 72 anos em Los Angeles, deixando para trás um legado construído tanto nas páginas das revistas quanto na intimidade de uma das parcerias mais duradouras do mundo da moda. Companheiro de Tom Ford por 35 anos e seu marido desde 2014, Buckley representava uma voz que soube equilibrar o efêmero da indústria com a permanência do afeto. Sua partida, cercado pelos que amava, encerra um capítulo silencioso mas essencial na história da moda contemporânea.
- Após prolongada doença, Richard Buckley morreu em paz em sua casa em Los Angeles, rodeado pelo marido Tom Ford e pelo filho Jack.
- A notícia abalou a comunidade do jornalismo de moda, que perde uma das vozes mais respeitadas e experientes de sua geração.
- A trajetória de Buckley em publicações como Vogue, Vanity Fair e Women's Wear Daily deixa um vazio difícil de preencher no registro cultural da moda.
- Para Tom Ford, a perda é ao mesmo tempo pública e profundamente íntima — o fim de 35 anos de parceria que foi âncora silenciosa de toda uma carreira criativa.
- A morte de Buckley reacende reflexões sobre os bastidores humanos de uma indústria que frequentemente celebra o brilho e esquece as histórias que o sustentam.
Richard Buckley, jornalista de moda com uma carreira de décadas nas publicações mais prestigiadas do setor, morreu em 21 de setembro aos 72 anos. Ele se foi em sua casa em Los Angeles, após prolongada doença, cercado pelo marido Tom Ford e pelo filho Jack.
A notícia foi confirmada por representantes de Ford, que descreveram a causa da morte como natural. Buckley construiu sua reputação em veículos como Women's Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Vogue Hommes International e New York Magazine, tornando-se uma referência no jornalismo de moda por gerações.
A história entre Buckley e Ford começou em 1986, num elevador de uma redação — um encontro casual que se transformou em 35 anos de parceria. Eles ficaram juntos por 27 anos antes de se casarem em 2014, e em 2012 tiveram um filho, Alexander John Buckley Ford. Sua relação tornou-se um dos vínculos mais duradouros e discretos de um setor marcado pela reinvenção constante.
A perda representa um momento significativo para o jornalismo de moda e, sobretudo, para Tom Ford, que ao longo de décadas de visibilidade pública teve em Buckley uma presença silenciosa e essencial. O que ficou foi uma vida dedicada às palavras, ao estilo e ao amor — três coisas que, no fundo, nunca saem de moda.
Richard Buckley, a fashion journalist whose byline appeared in some of the industry's most prestigious publications, died on September 21 at age 72. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles following a prolonged illness, surrounded by his husband Tom Ford and their son Jack.
Buckley's death was confirmed through a statement released by representatives of Ford, the acclaimed filmmaker and designer. The announcement revealed that Buckley had died of natural causes after an extended period of declining health. For more than three decades, Buckley and Ford had been partners in both life and the world of fashion—a relationship that began in an unlikely place: the elevator of a magazine office where Buckley worked in 1986.
The journalist's career spanned decades and touched nearly every major publication in the fashion world. He held positions at the New York Magazine, Women's Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Mirabella, and Vogue Hommes International, building a reputation as a knowledgeable and respected voice in covering fashion and design. His work had shaped conversations about style and culture across multiple generations of readers.
Buckley and Ford's personal journey mirrored the evolution of attitudes toward same-sex relationships in America. They dated for 27 years before marrying in 2014, a union that produced one son, Alexander John Buckley Ford, born in September 2012. The longevity of their partnership—35 years together by the time of Buckley's death—made them one of fashion's most enduring couples, their relationship a quiet constant in an industry often defined by flux and reinvention.
The loss marks a significant moment for the fashion journalism community, which has long depended on voices like Buckley's to interpret and document the industry's movements. His death also represents a deeply personal loss for Ford, who in recent years has become increasingly visible as a public figure while maintaining the privacy of his family life. Buckley's presence at Ford's side through decades of professional achievement and creative output had been a steady, largely private anchor to the designer's public world.
Citas Notables
Richard faleceu pacificamente em sua casa em Los Angeles com Tom e seu filho Jack ao seu lado— Statement from Tom Ford's representatives
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
How did two people in such a visible industry manage to keep their relationship relatively private for so long?
Fashion is paradoxical that way—it demands visibility and spectacle, but the people who work in it often crave the opposite in their personal lives. Buckley and Ford had the advantage of meeting before social media, before constant documentation. They built their life first, then the world caught up.
What made Buckley's voice distinctive as a journalist?
He worked across multiple publications at a time when fashion journalism was still developing its critical vocabulary. He wasn't just reporting on shows and collections—he was helping to shape how people understood fashion as culture. That kind of foundational work doesn't always get remembered.
The statement mentions he died "peacefully." Does that language matter?
It does. It suggests he wasn't in acute distress at the end, that he had time with the people he loved. For someone who'd been ill for a long time, that distinction carries weight. It's a small mercy, but it's real.
What does his death mean for Ford?
Losing a partner of 35 years is losing your witness to your own life. Ford has built an empire, but Buckley was there before any of it. That's irreplaceable.