ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY, FASHION WRITER AND JOURNALIST, PASSED AWAY IN NEW YORK ON JANUARY 18TH AT THE AGE OF 73.
Born in Washington D.C. in 1948, Talley grew up in Durham, North Carolina. His interest in fashion emerged at an early age. On Sundays, after church, he would buy fashion magazines. In the future, he would become the creative director of Vogue, being the first African American to hold that position.
André Leon Talley began his journalism career after studying French and earning a master’s degree at Brown University.
After working for Interview magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, W, and a brief stint at The New York Times, Talley joined Vogue in 1983, the same year another key figure in fashion journalism, Anna Wintour, joined the publication.
WRITING, REALITY, AND CHIFFON TRENCHES
André worked for Vogue for thirty years, where he served as creative director, contributing editor, and finally editor-at-large until his departure in 2013. Talley was a strong advocate for diversity in the industry and was a great supporter of young talent.
In addition to his journalistic and editorial work, Talley gained massive exposure as a judge on “America’s Next Top Model” and made cameos in episodes of “Sex and The City” and “Empire”. The character Nigel in the movie The Devil Wears Prada is inspired by him.
He wrote three books, notably his memoirs, “The Chiffon Trenches”, in which he candidly discusses his falling out with Anna Wintour. Despite their differences, Wintour expressed her sorrow over Talley’s passing.
“Like many relationships spanning decades, there were complicated moments, but all I want to remember today, all that matters to me, is the brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend,” Wintour said in a statement after learning of his death.
In Memory
Other figures in the fashion industry and celebrities also paid tribute.
“Goodbye dear André… no one saw the world in such an elegant and glamorous way as you did,” designer Diane Von Furstenberg said on Instagram.
Actress Viola Davis posted a photo of her and Talley and wrote: “RIP Andre Leon Talley. Rest well, King.”
“For a little black gay boy looking at the stars from the south, there were few people up there among the stars that I could look up to who looked like me, except you, André,” tweeted playwright Jeremy O. Harris.
André Leon Talley was also an editor for other international magazines like Interview and held an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
André Leon Talley’s legacy is vast and an inspiration to all those who choose fashion as a way of life. May he rest in peace.
