Stefano Tonchi

Stefano Tonchi (born 13 October 1959, Florence, Italy)^[1] is an Italian journalist,^[2] curator,^[3] and consultant.^[4][5]

In March 2022, he launched Palmer, a luxury media brand, with Michael J Berman, co-founder of George magazine.^[6]

He served as consulting chief creative officer of L’Officiel from January 2020^[7] until December 2021.^{[citation needed]}

He was the editor in chief of W magazine from March 2010 until June 2019.

He was previously editor of T: The New York Times Style Magazine. He earlier worked at Esquire and L'Uomo Vogue, Tonchi's editorial roots are in what he calls "niche" publications, he revealed in a 2007 interview in 032c magazine. In the same interview he also told the magazine that "tradition and 'good taste' are [...] the enemy of change and evolution."^[8]

Early life

Tonchi graduated with a Classic Studies degree from Liceo Classico Forteguerri in Pistoia, Italy. He has resided in New York City since 1994.

Career

W magazine

Tonchi was named Editor-in-Chief of W magazine in March 2010.^[9]

In June 2019, Tonchi exited W, when the publication was sold by Condé Nast to Surface Media.^[10] Tonchi voiced reluctance to accept the change of ownership, so his replacement by Sara Moonves didn't surprise observers.^[11] Tonchi sued for breach of contract, and in June 2022, Condé Nast settled the lawsuit and released the following statement: "Stefano Tonchi is a talented journalist and media executive who made enormous contributions to the success of W magazine as editor in chief for over nine years. We are pleased to have resolved this matter with him." Tonchi added: "Leading W magazine and working with talented teams at Condé Nast was a highlight of my career. I am glad we can all move on from our differences."^[12]

Prior career

Before W, Tonchi was the creator and Editor-in-Chief of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, which he introduced in 2004 after serving as Style Editor at the Sunday Times Magazine. Under his leadership, T increased to 15 issues annually, expanded internationally, launched a companion website, and was nominated for multiple National Magazine Awards. Tonchi was listed, along with other members of a so-called "queer cabal" at The New York Times, as #7 in Out magazine's "Power 50" in 2007.^[13] In 2008, T was awarded Magazine of the Year from the Society of Publication Designers.

From 1998 to 2003, Tonchi was the Fashion Creative Director for Esquire. In 2001, Esquire earned the Magazine of the Year award from the Society of Publication Designers, as well as National Magazine Award nominations for Photography and Design. Before joining Esquire, he worked as Creative Director for J. Crew. Tonchi returned to Conde Nast, having served as Self magazine's Creative Director from 1994 until 1996. Prior to that, he served as Editor, and later, Fashion Director, for L'Uomo Vogue from 1987 to 1994. At the start of his career in Italy, Tonchi co-founded and served as Editor and Art Director for Westuff magazine, a publication that later evolved into Emporio Armani Magazine.

Tonchi has curated a number of exhibitions and co-authored and edited the accompanying books, including "Excess: Fashion and the Underground in the '80s," "Human Game: Winners and Losers," (exhibitions created for Pitti Immagine at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence), "Uniform: Order and Disorder" (an exhibition in Florence and P.S.1/MOMA) and most recently, "Italiana: Italy Through the Lens of Fashion 1971-2001" at Palazzo Reale in Milan, and "Bellissima: Italy and High Fashion 1945-1968" at the MAXXI Museum in Rome and NSU Fort Lauderdale.

He has edited several books on the intersection of art and fashion. He was the co-author of "Total Living" and "Walter Albini and His Time," and a visual consultant for "Memos: On Fashion In This Millennium" at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan.

Personal life

Tonchi's partner is David Maupin;^[14] they met in 1987 when Maupin was studying in Florence.^[15] The couple has twin daughters.^[16] Since 2011, the family has been residing at Osborne Apartments,^[17] in a space designed by Annabelle Selldorf.^[16] They also maintain a weekend house in Bridgehampton.^[18][15][19]

References

1. Lindsay, Greg (2004). "So What Do You Do, Stefano Tonchi?". MediaBistro. Retrieved 2008-12-18. Published: September 7, 2004
2. Ilyashov, Alexandra (2018-10-05). "Stefano Tonchi Reflects On His Proudest Moments In Print". Daily Front Row. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
3. Row, The Daily Front (2022-02-17). "Where Are They Now? The Daily Checks In With The Major Editors Of The Past 20 Years". Daily Front Row. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
4. Ilyashov, Alexandra (2019-09-09). "EXCLUSIVE: Stefano Tonchi on His Next Chapter". Daily Front Row. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
5. Zargani, Luisa (2019-09-21). "Stefano Tonchi Developing New Project". WWD. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
6. "Stefano Tonchi's Next Move". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
7. Hays, Kali (2020-01-06). "Stefano Tonchi Lands at L'Officiel". WWD. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
8. Param Sharifi (Winter 2008). . 032c. No. 14. pp. 146–151. Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2020-03-26. I mean I also kind of hate the definition of "taste," "good taste" – I find that very boring, when everything is done in good taste, when actually, people that have style make mistakes and they're not about conforming. It's about breaking the rules or taking risks and doing experiments and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. There's nothing more boring than that sense of conforming to traditions.
9. Clifford, Stephanie (2010-03-23). "Condé Nast Names Stefano Tonchi Editor of W Magazine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
10. Kaly Hays (2019-07-02). "W Magazine Transition Off to Bumpy Start Under New Owner". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2020-03-26. As first reported by WWD, Tonchi wasn't keen on the deal with Surface, after WWD reported on some of the operational and business history of Surface and its chief executive officer Marc Lotenberg. This was a swerve for Tonchi, who had been eager to find a partner to keep the magazine alive in print and stay in his leadership role.
11. Marc Tracy (2019-06-25). "Condé Nast Sells W Magazine; Stefano Tonchi Out as Top Editor". The New York Times. p. B3. Retrieved 2020-03-26. Mr. Tonchi confirmed his departure in a statement. "My top priority in the last year has been to ensure that W finds a new home and carries its legacy into the future, and that every effort is made to protect my staff's job security," he said. He also noted that W, which Condé Nast bought from the Walt Disney Company 20 years ago, had been restored to profitability during his tenure.
12. Guthrie, Marisa (2022-06-28). "Condé Nast and Former W Magazine Editor Stefano Tonchi Settle Lawsuit". WWD. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
13. "'Out' Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-18. #7 The New York Times Gay Mafia Richard Berke, Ben Brantley, Frank Bruni, Stuart Elliot, Adam Nagourney, Stefano Tonchi, Eric Wilson; Yes, there really is a queer cabal in the Eastern elite media, and it works on West 43rd Street in New York City. Style editor Tonchi, style reporter Wilson, assistant managing editor Berke, national correspondent Nagourney, and advertising columnist Elliot can set agendas in their areas of expertise. In the case of restaurant critic Bruni and theater critic Brantley, the fate of fledgling enterprises rests in their hands. This is one group you don't want to run into in a dark alley. Published: April 3, 2007
14. . Conde Nast. Conde Nast. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
15. Ben Widdicombe (May 9, 2014), Gatekeeper: W Magazine’s Stefano Tonchi is Making Art and Fashion a Hot Mix New York Observer.
16. Holly Brubach (April 19, 2019), Inside a New York Family's Annabelle Selldorf-Designed Residence Architectural Digest.
17. Elise Knutsen (August 18, 2011), Manhattan Transfers: Stefano Tonchi and David Maupin’s Twins Can Have Their Own Rooms in the Osbourne New York Observer.
18. Kim Velsey (December 21, 2012), Manhattan Transfers: Art World Hamptons House Swap Puts David Maupin in Janelle Reiring’s Old Place New York Observer.
19. Robin Pogrebin (August 12, 2016), How David Maupin, an Art Dealer, Spends His Sundays New York Times.