To Francesco Cominelli.

Writing an obituary on someone you’ve only ever marvelled at through Google Images and with whom you once struck up a v. brief email correspondence is, well, nigh on impossible. The late Francesco Cominelli was reputed to be one of the warmest, most industrious stylists enlivening what can often times be perceived as the lacklustre world of men’s fashion and his reply to my somewhat presumptuous request to interview him months ago (which is all I’ve really got to go on…) goes some way in confirming such claims about his character.

I never did get the chance to ask Cominelli the questions I’d been labouring over but various biographies inform to an extent…

Born in Brescia, Italy, Cominelli first studied Photography at Milan’s prestigious European Institute of Design before upping sticks to NYC to intern at V Magazine, where he discovered his penchant for styling. Moving back across the pond, Cominelli began an internship at Vogue Hommes International in Paris, where – after a brief stint in design (customisation of vintage pieces, technically) back home in his native Italy – he remained, working in close collaboration with Anastasia Barbieri.

Cominelli was named Fashion Editor of Vogue Hommes International in 2009 and continued to contribute to other publications up to his death.

Although this is not intended as a news report of any kind, those more informed have confirmed that Cominelli was found in his Paris apartment on October 7th 2011. The coroner has confirmed that illicit substances were not responsible for Cominelli’s death and the most likely cause was a pulmonary embolism.

My sincere and heartfelt condolences go to Cominelli’s family, friends and all those who witnessed, and will forever miss watching, his genius.

R.I.P. Francesco.


See the legacy Cominelli leaves behind him at his homepage here.


Images from Stylish Minds, Mauverthomme, Douban, GQ Fashion, Neoretro, In Vogue, GlamboyEmman, Manlife, Front Row View, Double D Cherry, Needle Exchange and Kaidi Thinctank and mostly shot by Tommy Ton.