David Livingstone: Social Media Tributes to the Former Men’s FASHION Editor

Date April 21, 2017

We were devastated to learn our dear friend and colleague David Livingstone, the former Editor-in-Chief of Men’s FASHION passed away April 20, 2017 at his apartment in Toronto. He was 69. David was a gifted writer and colourful character with a sharp, caustic tongue. He was well-loved in Canadian media circles, and while it might rankle him to know this, it didn’t take long for the social media tributes to roll in.

Noreen Flanagan, FASHION Editor-in-Chief

I was sorry to learn of David Livingstone’s passing this morning. He was a unique character. I admired his seasoned and sharp mind and was always amused by his dry wit. His knowledge of fashion and the arts was unparalleled. His commentary was thoughtful and he delighted in being a playful provocateur. He shall be immensely missed. #rip

A post shared by Noreen Flanagan (@noreen_flanagan) on Apr 21, 2017 at 7:55am PDT

Natalie Atkinson, The Globe and Mail newspaper

The Canadian journalist David Livingstone has died. He was terrifyingly smart and eclectic and in recent years, a friend. A cantankerous, curious and bracingly frank voice punctuated by coughing fits + laughter. And deaf in one ear, which usually meant that at runway shows etc his attempt at sotto voce withering running commentary was usually more of a roast than a whisper. He could be Stadler AND Waldorf. Charming and funny, scathing, often downright harrowing candour was just David being David. The kind of candour that most people find either embarrassing or rude (or both). I hope this doesn’t sound condescending—I mean it with deep affection and a lot of awe. Part of the 1970s Toronto punk scene he knew film and art and music, and saw fashion through a prismatic cultural lens. David had seen things and had taste and was something of a zelig, and if he didn’t know it, he researched the hell out of it. And if it didn’t measure up or was full of bullshit—consider what it was like for David to be David in today’s fashion journalism landscape—he could be counted on to be the one with integrity to heckle the emperor’s new clothes. But beauty? His enthusiastic rhapsodies were like nothing else. ?This is a photograph of Leonor Fini. David was inquisitive and impish and would, among the mostly limp and forgettable crowd-pleasing style book round-ups fashion editors are expected to churn out, slip in a monograph on someone like Fini. A fierce, influential and now mostly-forgotten avant-garde artist, libertine and the onetime bohemian queen of Paris who created Elsa Schiaparelli’s Shocking perfume bottle while generally being a chic unapologetic badass. In our recent conversations we sometimes (ok, often) commiserated with rueful gallows humour. How it feels like there is less welcoming room in fashion journalism for his sort of zig, when so much of the watered-down mainstream not only zags predictably, but air-kisses ass all the while. I am going to try not to feel discouraged and remember his usual riposte to my defence of anything that fell short. Oh come on David, be fair—she’s trying. “Well, she needs to try harder.” Okay David. I will.

A post shared by Nathalie Atkinson (@jadedjournalista) on Apr 21, 2017 at 10:01am PDT

Jeanne Beker, editor

Shocked and saddened to hear that legendary Toronto fashion journalist #DavidLivingstone has died suddenly of heart failure. David was a much loved, profoundly astute and highly respected writer and editor. His brilliant mind and acerbic wit will be sorely missed. #RIP

A post shared by Jeanne Beker (@thejeannebeker) on Apr 21, 2017 at 8:40am PDT

Bernadette Morra, former FASHION editor-in-chief

A brilliant mind and icon of fashion journalism, gone. David Livingstone dies of sudden heart failure #RIP

A post shared by Bernadette Morra (@bernadettemorra) on Apr 21, 2017 at 6:43am PDT

Susie Sheffman Fashion Stylist

The fashion world just lost a true original! #RIP David Livingstone #icon #fashion #journalist #legend #susiesays

A post shared by susie sheffman (@ssheffman) on Apr 21, 2017 at 9:37am PDT

Jane Gill PR

Brilliant, curious, honest. We will miss you David Livingstone! #RIP

A post shared by Jane Gill PR (@janegill_pr) on Apr 21, 2017 at 6:55am PDT

David challenged ideas of what fashion is and meant, so many of the designers I brought in considered being interviewed by him a highlight https://t.co/2WpMNcu966

— Nicholas Mellamphy (@NicholasMe) April 21, 2017

Eng C. Lau, art director

October 2016, after we wrapped up our Men’s FASHION final issue. Will be deeply missed. Thank you David for all your trusts and believes in me and guide me to where I am today. #thankyou #rip

A post shared by Eng C. Lau (@engclau) on Apr 21, 2017 at 10:40am PDT

So sad! David Livingtone was brilliant and extraordinary. #RIP https://t.co/2hNVfNg7WK

— Gwen Smith (@GwenSmithTO) April 21, 2017

Mary Dickie, writer

RIP David Livingstone. A beautiful writer and a brilliant man with a deadly accurate bullshit meter. The breadth of his knowledge about fashion, music, art, film, history and writing was constantly amazing. He made us laugh so hard. He was outrageous, and almost always right. We’ll miss him.

A post shared by marycdickie (@marycdickie) on Apr 21, 2017 at 9:22am PDT

Sorely missed, indeed. David had both an important voice + discerning eye. He gave me my thick skin in the early days of my career. RIP. https://t.co/irNIsK1Cx1

— Ashley Cassidy Seale (@ashleycseale) April 21, 2017

Absolutely crushed. My first editor. https://t.co/uunszGtlYT

— Beautyeditor (@beautyeditorhq) April 21, 2017

David was definitely intense (and scary at times) but he was thorough and funny as hell – he had no time for PR spiel. He’ll be missed #RIP https://t.co/62TWYw5D7D

— Winston Ma (@winstonma85) April 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/NicholasMe/status/855462573390663681